After leaving Scrivenshaft's, nearly an hour had passed, and they began to head toward Flourish and Blotts.
But today was a special day; the people going to the bookstore were far more than just themselves. Outside the already cramped store entrance was a huge crowd, everyone trying their best to get into the store.
"Why are there so many people today!" Harry exclaimed in surprise, his mouth agape, after several failed attempts to squeeze inside.
"Maybe Flourish and Blotts is giving away eggs," Kael said casually.
"Really?" Ron's eyes lit up.
"Of course not!"
Hermione excitedly patted his arm and pointed to the window upstairs, "Look at that..."
There was a large banner hanging in front of the window:
"Gilderoy Lockhart
Autographing and Selling his Autobiography
'Magical Me'"
...
"We can meet him in person!" Hermione shouted excitedly, "I mean, almost every book on our list is written by him!"
"But how do we get in?" Harry rubbed his sore arm, "Those people are too strong."
"That's simple..."
Kael cleared his throat and shouted loudly, "Mr. Lockhart, what are you doing here!"
For a moment, the crowded people stopped moving and turned their heads, looking for something.
Kael and the others took the opportunity to reach the entrance, slipping inside through gaps in the crowd.
"You've got a way, Kael," Harry said with a smile.
"It's nothing." I was actually thinking of shouting Voldemort; that might have been even more effective.
"Please, don't say that name," Ron suddenly shivered, "That would definitely cause chaos."
"I know, that's why I didn't shout." Kael laughed, "But Ron, you also have to get used to that name."
"Many adult wizards can't do it..." Ron mumbled quietly: "Except for you and Harry."
The winding line stretched from the entrance all the way to the back of the bookstore, where Gilderoy Lockhart was signing and selling books.
Each took a book of 'Break with a Banshee' and sneaked to where the Weasleys and the Grangers were lined up.
"Oh, there you are, thank goodness!" Mrs. Weasley said breathlessly, constantly patting her hair, "We'll be able to see him soon..."
Gradually, they saw Gilderoy Lockhart. He sat behind a table, surrounded by large photos of himself, all the "Lockharts" in the photos winking at the crowd, flashing dazzlingly white teeth.
Lockhart himself wore a light blue long robe, with a mischievously tilted pointed wizard hat on his wavy blond hair.
"He's so charming..." Mrs. Weasley stood on tiptoe, looking like a fan about to meet her idol.
"Yes..." Mr. Granger next to her echoed, "His teeth are indeed charming, oh, and his hair is nice too... What brand of toiletries does he use, can you buy them here?"
"You can check the magic shop opposite Ollivander's, they should have what you need."
Kael chimed in, "I recommend trying Potter's Speedy Shampoo, one of our professors has hoarded several boxes at home, and he reluctantly uses it."
"Even a professor is reluctant to use it, it must be expensive..." Mr. Granger frowned.
They didn't exchange much gold, and most of it was saved for Hermione's schooling.
"Not expensive, just a few sickles for a big bottle."
Mr. Granger touched his thinning hair, somewhat tempted.
"Thank you, kid."
He said, "I suppose you must be the Kael that Arthur and Molly talked about, Hermione also often mentions you, saying you're the smartest young wizard at Hogwarts."
"That's high praise." Kael shook his head, "I've just been using the time others spend playing to read books."
Harry and Ron listened to Kael's words and subconsciously turned their heads away.
They felt like they were the "others" Kael was talking about.
However, Harry was more concerned about another matter, he walked over to Kael and hesitantly asked, "The shampoo you mentioned earlier, is it..."
"Yes, it's your Potter..." Kael said, "But that brand was sold to someone else a long time ago, and has nothing to do with your family anymore."
The excitement on Harry's face quickly vanished, returning disappointedly to Ron's side.
"What's wrong with you?" Ron asked.
"Nothing." Harry shook his head.
For a moment, he thought he had another uncle... or another relative, but it was another empty hope.
"Move aside!"
At this moment, a short-tempered man with a black camera pushed past Ron, "Don't block the way, this is for the Daily Prophet."
"Oh, really impressive!" Ron said, rubbing his foot which had been stepped on.
Gilderoy Lockhart heard, lifted his head, and saw Ron, then saw Harry.
He stared at Harry for a while, jumped up from his seat, and shouted, "Merlin, isn't this Harry Potter?"
The crowd made way, whispering excitedly.
Harry watched as Lockhart rushed over, seemingly wanting to pull him in for a photo.
In a flash of inspiration...
Under the threat of social mortification, Harry's mind suddenly awakened with wisdom beyond the usual.
"Kael is in the back!" he shouted loudly.
"Could it be that Kael, who received a second-class Merlin Knight Order medal?" Lockhart was even more excited, immediately looking in the direction Harry pointed.
But there were only two middle-aged men, and an excited witch...
Harry was dumbfounded.
Kael... he was just here, how did he suddenly disappear!
"I suppose that kid got too nervous seeing me and hid."
Lockhart flashed his dazzlingly white teeth, "You surely know, I have won the 'Most Charming Smile' award in Wizard Weekly five times."
This reason was clearly not convincing enough for Harry, though he didn't know what the Wizard Weekly's smile award was, it surely couldn't compare to a Merlin Order medal.
Moreover, Kael had met legendary wizards like Nicolas Flamel, how could he be nervous?
"Kael must have run away because he didn't want to take a picture!" thought Harry.
He would have liked to do that too, but Lockhart didn't give him the chance.
Though they didn't see Kael, a Harry Potter was enough to put them on the front page.
Harry was dragged to the front like a puppet, Lockhart warmly shaking his hand for the photographer to take pictures.
The short man furiously clicked the shutter, plumes of purple smoke drifting over the Weasleys.
The applause of the surrounding people and the shutter sound made Harry feel somewhat disoriented, his face turning redder than Ron's hair.
Even now, he couldn't figure out how Kael had suddenly disappeared.
...