Near the end of summer break, Harry and Sirius visited Diagon Alley. The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was outrageously requiring all students to buy seven of his own books. Harry asked Sirius about this wizard, Lockhart.
"What's Professor Lockhart like, Sirius? He seems impressive…"
Harry didn't trust most adults, but he generally believed Sirius, Hagrid, and Mr. Smirnov.
"Don't know him personally, Harry."
"He claims to be a great wizard who's adventured with trolls, hags, and other dark creatures, weaving heartwarming tales. If he's done all that, he's remarkable. His writing talent seems solid, at least."
Sirius spoke calmly. In his time, no wizard could achieve such feats. During the dark days, skilled wizards were nearly always recruited by You-Know-Who and forced into dark magic. Even talented wizards hid their best spells and didn't boast achievements—it was the norm then. Lockhart's ability to flaunt his prowess showed how peaceful times had become.
"You could do all that, couldn't you, Sirius?"
Harry didn't doubt Sirius's skill. He didn't know much about Lockhart, but felt Sirius could match him.
(I don't know much about other creatures, but after last year's troll adventure… Sirius could probably do it.)
Harry couldn't imagine Sirius failing at anything he, Ron, or Hermione had accomplished. He didn't fully grasp how extraordinary Lockhart's feats were to wizards.
"Me? No, Harry. Achievements aren't about capability—they're about doing it. I've never had heartwarming exchanges with various species like Lockhart. My past… isn't something to boast about openly."
Sirius didn't share his youthful memories. They involved friends' private matters, and he had no taste for self-promotion.
Sirius had mixed feelings about Lockhart. As someone who'd wanted the Defense job, Lockhart was a rival who'd snatched it. But as Harry's guardian, he'd be Harry's teacher for at least a year, so Sirius couldn't badmouth him in front of Harry.
Hogwarts tuition was free, but textbooks were families' burdens. Forcing students to buy seven expensive books didn't make Lockhart seem like a good teacher, but Sirius kept his thoughts hidden and headed to Flourish and Blotts.
"Quite a crowd," Harry noted, seeing witches gathered.
(No offense, but it's mostly older ladies…)
"Let's grab the books and go. If you want, I'll get you an extra Transfiguration book."
"Really?! Can you?!"
"You worked hard this summer, Harry. A little reward."
(Who knew a book would be a reward…)
Sirius gave a wry smile at Harry's gleaming green eyes. Harry was passionate about Transfiguration despite not getting an O, often asking Sirius questions. Sirius and James had better grades at that age but weren't as studious, having been forced to study excessively as kids. Muggle-born wizards faced vastly different learning environments than those raised in wizarding families, making academic success harder. But their drive came from magic's novelty. Harry had that drive.
Harry entered the bookstore eagerly but grew dismayed. A wizard—Lockhart—was signing books for witches, blocking the Transfiguration section.
"A signing in a bookstore. Lockhart's a shrewd businessman," Sirius remarked, spotting the handsome wizard in forget-me-not blue robes, beaming for photos.
"It's annoying. I can't get to the books…"
"Give up for today. I'll order them by mail."
Sirius smiled, picking up Lockhart's I Am Magic. Then, Lockhart shouted.
"Well, if it isn't Sirius Black and Harry Potter!?"
"Wrong person." "You've got the wrong guy."
Sirius and Harry denied it in unison, but the crowd didn't care. Witches swarmed from Lockhart to Sirius.
(Gotta end this quick, or we'll bother other customers…!)
Sirius acted fast. Telling Lockhart that Harry was too young for photos, he took the spotlight himself. Thanks to Sirius, Harry avoided the humiliation of being photographed like a doll. Even with Azrael's basic Occlumency, some things were unbearable.
"What a great day! With Sirius and me, this magazine's sure to sell out! Two heroes of wizarding Britain!" Lockhart grinned through the shoot, shaking Sirius's hand.
"Glad to hear it."
Sirius gave a perfunctory smile, one he'd never show Harry. Lockhart, thrilled, invited Sirius and Harry to dinner.
"I'll be busy. Sorry…"
"Pity! Let's meet again! When I achieve greatness at Hogwarts, I'll share it with you! As thanks, I'll gift Harry all my books!"
"Your kindness is appreciated, but we've already bought Harry's. Why not raffle them to other customers?"
"Brilliant idea!"
Sirius, exasperated, deflected Lockhart's generosity. He was used to handling people drawn by his "hero" status. A redheaded girl ended up with the free books. Harry spotted a familiar tall redhead—Ron—and smiled. Beside Ron was a bushy-haired, buck-toothed girl.
"Ron, you're at the bookstore too. Hermione too. …Your sister? She's cute. Nice to meet you."
"H-Hi… I'm Ginny."
Ron's sister seemed shy, hiding behind him after greeting Harry.
"She's got a crush on you," Fred teased.
"Ronnie's been regaling her with your exploits," George added.
Ginny glared fiercely at the twins, who took it with remarkable composure.
"Lockhart seems like an attention-seeking lousy teacher. Think he'll last a year?" Ron asked, eyeing his sister's new books enviously, worried about Defense class.
"Ron, don't call a teacher that. Classes haven't even started," Hermione chided. Top of her year, she was soft on handsome men.
"Sirius says Defense is something you learn yourself," Harry offered, unhelpfully.
"That's fine for Hermione, but I'm not as brilliant as you all…"
"Don't worry, you're plenty smart. If you're not, what does that make Zabini?" Harry teased.
"Exactly, little lion!" Fred chimed in, fond of Harry's un-Slytherin bravery.
"Caring about grades? Shame on a Weasley!" George nudged Ron.
Ron's grades weren't bad—better than Falcas and Zabini, even surpassing Azrael in practicals. Without Sirius's tutoring and senior past papers, Harry might've lost to him. But with Percy's stellar twelve-subject scores and Hermione's top marks, Ron's confidence waned.
As they chatted, a commotion arose outside. They hurried out.
"Well, well… Arthur Weasley…"
Passersby glanced at a wizard in fine robes, standing arrogantly with a dragon-shaped wand holder—Lucius Malfoy—addressing a balding redhead, Arthur Weasley. Draco, beside Lucius, mirrored his haughty expression. Near Arthur were a familiar-looking couple.
(Hermione's parents.)
Though Harry disliked Muggles, he knew he had to be polite to Hermione's parents. He'd practiced all summer and felt ready.
While Harry focused on the Grangers, Lucius insulted Arthur relentlessly—mocking his poverty and work ethic, even ridiculing Ginny's secondhand books. Harry felt sickened. Lucius was the worst kind of person.
"Why say that? We're all wizards…!" Harry blurted, but the adults didn't hear. Lucius insulted Arthur for associating with the Grangers, enraging Arthur, who lunged at him.
"Stop!" "Father!"
Draco paled, and Harry shouted at Arthur, but his voice didn't carry. The twins and Ron cheered Arthur on.
As Arthur and Lucius brawled, Hagrid tried to intervene. Then a wizard aimed his wand.
"Relashio!" "Protego!"
Sirius Black stopped the fight with magic. Lockhart, fearing Lucius, had vanished.
＊＊＊
Hearing the commotion, Sirius inwardly cheered Arthur.
(Go, Arthur! Rip out that fringe while you're at it!)
His Gryffindor spirit roared. Lucius's attitude was indefensible, and Arthur's anger was justified. Officially, Lucius was controlled by You-Know-Who's Imperius Curse and reformed, but his arrogance and power-wielding suggested otherwise. Considering those who died by Lucius's hand or orders, Arthur's restraint was rational.
But Sirius saw Draco, terrified by his father's actions—bad for his education. And Harry, visibly repelled by violence. Swallowing his feelings, Sirius intervened.
"Enough, Arthur, Lucius. Not in front of kids."
Sirius spoke firmly. The men, breathing heavily, glared at each other.
Hagrid calmed Arthur, leaving Sirius to deal with Lucius.
"Sirius… you never cease to amaze," Lucius said, regaining his arrogance.
"If my son associated with such people, I'd find it intolerable. Don't you lack guardian awareness?"
Pitying Lucius's narrow pure-bloodism while despising his character, Sirius replied, "If you call us family, at least show respect to my son's friends and their parents."
"If it were me, I'd monitor my son's associates closely. Especially Potter, with his inherited wealth—bad influences might target him."
Lucius occasionally spoke truth. Hermione wasn't a threat, but Harry's wealth could attract opportunists. Sirius nodded but trusted Harry.
"Harry can think for himself. I appreciate the concern, but I've taught him well."
"I hope so… I'd hate for Potter's Slytherin talent to be wasted. Hogwarts' education quality is already declining."
"True."
Sirius was skeptical of Dumbledore's hiring, especially Snape, whose teaching was deplorable per Jürgen Smirnov and other parents. Lucius expounded on education, concluding, "Dumbledore's known for poor hires. Lockhart's a fool. As a wizard, you know the difference between elite and mediocre, right?"
Sirius felt the sting of being passed over for teaching. He loved his job but resented not protecting Harry directly.
"We'll see if Lockhart's elite. I've got a reservation, so I'll take my leave. Come on, Harry. Say goodbye to your friends."
Sirius apologized to the Grangers for Lucius's insults, his family tie surprising them. They accepted graciously. At the café, Sirius was relieved to see Harry cheer up over curry.
＊＊＊
(Azrael was right…)
Savoring curry, Harry reflected. (Insulting people gets you punched.)
The scene felt familiar. Slytherin seniors like Ricardo Marthanas insulted other houses, angering even mild-mannered Banagher Bist into magical retaliation. Lucius's attitude was the result of fanatically applying Slytherin's pure-blood virtues.
(I hate Muggles, but showing it is wrong…)
Harry's prejudice lingered, but he couldn't hate Hermione's parents. The wizarding world had Muggle parents like Mrs. Smirnov and others. Showing prejudice brought no good.
Above all, Harry knew the pain of undeserved insults from the Dursleys. Hurting innocent Muggles wouldn't ease that.
Lucius Malfoy was the ultimate anti-role model. Harry resolved to seal his Muggle prejudice, at least at Hogwarts.
Lucius, in a way, was a capable (anti-)teacher. Worthy of the Order of the Phoenix's honor.
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