"Is something happening in there?" Hermione tiptoed to peek over the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on inside. Glenn could tell that the commotion was growing louder, and Hermione had clearly noticed something unusual as well.
Her expression turned a bit peculiar, as if she had just thought of something. "Could it be… someone started a fight over Lockhart's autograph? From what I've heard, his fans can be pretty fanatical," Hermione speculated.
"So, should we still go in?" The little girl asked for Glenn's opinion. Although Draco was most likely already inside Flourish and Blotts, the current situation suggested that staying outside might actually be the wiser choice.
Glenn understood the subtext of Hermione's question and nodded. "Let's observe from outside for now and decide afterward."
While they were quietly discussing and spectating from the sidelines, a booming voice, familiar to both of them, cut through the noise, silencing the crowd. "Move aside! Gentlemen, move aside!"
It was unmistakably their large friend, Hagrid.
"Hagrid?" Hermione looked puzzled. "What's he doing here in Diagon Alley?"
With a figure as imposing as Hagrid stepping in to mediate, the chaos inside Flourish and Blotts quickly subsided. The crowd gathered outside to watch the commotion also began to disperse, revealing a clear path into the bookstore.
"Looks like we can go in now." The little girl hopped off the step she had been sitting on, dusted off her skirt, and turned to Glenn. "Shall we?"
Glenn stood up as well. "Let's go."
Noticing that Hermione hadn't completely brushed the dust off her skirt, Glenn silently reached out and patted away the remaining dirt.
"!" Hermione's mouth fell open as she turned around in shock to look at Glenn.
Glenn didn't stop until he was sure all the dust was gone.
"What's wrong?" Glenn asked, noticing the little girl's strange expression.
Hermione, now both embarrassed and annoyed, grabbed Glenn's ear and pulled him closer. In a low, angry voice, she hissed, "What are you doing?! How could you pat my bottom in public? Are you some kind of pervert?!"
Feeling the warm breath from Hermione's little mouth, Glenn looked genuinely confused. He didn't know what a "pervert" was, but he felt the need to explain himself. "There was still dust on your skirt, so I helped you brush it off."
"You… I…" Hermione's words faltered, and she couldn't help but laugh in exasperation.
This guy! He really has no sense of propriety!
Hermione felt a bit overwhelmed. Should she scold him? Or just let it go?
Fortunately, before she could decide, someone appeared and saved her from her dilemma.
A man with pale, pointed features, cold gray eyes, and long, sleek blond hair stormed out of Flourish and Blotts, his face twisted in anger. Following closely behind was a boy both Glenn and Hermione knew well.
Draco.
Glenn immediately understood, and so did Hermione. The man who resembled Draco so closely must be his father—Lucius Malfoy.
It seemed that Glenn and Hermione were blocking Lucius's path. His brows furrowed as he spoke in an icy tone, "Move aside. Don't block the way." He made no effort to slow his stride or go around them, heading straight for the two children.
Hermione raised an eyebrow. This Lucius Malfoy—what a nasty personality, just like Draco.
No doubt about it, Draco was definitely his biological son.
"Father, slow down, wait—Glenn? Hermione?" Draco, who had been struggling to catch up with his father, finally managed to squeeze through the crowd. Looking up, he saw Glenn and Hermione standing directly in Lucius's path.
Lucius stopped in his tracks, his furrowed brows relaxing slightly. "Glenn Hawthorne and Hermione Granger? Are these the friends you told me about—the ones you made at Hogwarts?"
Since the beginning of the summer holiday, Lucius had heard his son mention these two young wizards quite frequently. However, as far as he knew, there were no families named Hawthorne or Granger among the pure-blood circles.
Half-bloods, perhaps? he wondered.
Draco's exceptional academic performance in his first year had greatly exceeded Lucius's expectations. Moreover, Draco hadn't slacked off during the summer, maintaining a disciplined routine of study and training. As a father, Lucius found this deeply gratifying. After all, his own academic achievements at Hogwarts had been far less impressive than his son's.
Lucius had also learned from Draco that his newfound diligence was largely influenced by these two friends and the Longbottom boy. Even if they were half-bloods, Lucius was willing to turn a blind eye and allow them to associate with Draco.
Besides, Draco had also told him that it was Glenn Hawthorne who had saved him from being kidnapped by a dark wizard in Knockturn Alley a year ago.
Such strength and skill at such a young age—perhaps the Malfoy family could take this half-blood boy under their wing.
"Glenn, as a half-blood, you should consider serving the Malfoy family in the future," Lucius said, lowering his gaze slightly to look at Glenn, completely ignoring the little girl beside him.
He did not extend his hand.
"I'm not a half-blood. I'm Muggle-born. And I refuse." Glenn's face remained expressionless, unfazed by the sudden invitation.
Although he now knew that his father wasn't entirely a Muggle, Glenn saw no need to change how he identified himself. It didn't matter to him.
Of course, the more important reason was Hermione. But the little girl didn't seem to mind.
Draco, however, broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing Glenn's response. This was bad. He hadn't told his father that Glenn and Hermione were Muggle-born wizards.
Lucius's brows furrowed even deeper, his expression and tone growing colder. Turning to his son, he demanded, "You didn't tell me that the friends you made at school were… Muggle-born."
Having been rejected and now learning this new information, Lucius's mood soured further. With a cold snort, he prepared to push past Glenn and Hermione and continue on his way.
Glenn pulled Hermione into his arms, stepping aside to let Lucius pass.
Draco, pale-faced, followed close behind. For once, his words carried no sarcasm as he quietly apologized to the two. "My father's views haven't changed yet. I hid your backgrounds from him. I'm really sorry for how he acted."
Hermione didn't respond, her gaze coldly fixed on Lucius's retreating figure.
Glenn said nothing either, seemingly lost in thought.
Noticing the increasingly tense atmosphere between the two, Draco swallowed nervously. Glancing at his father, who had already walked some distance away, he quickly bade them farewell and hurried to catch up.
It seemed their planned afternoon outing was off.
"Forget about Lucius Malfoy. Let's just go buy our books," Glenn said, tugging at Hermione, who was still glaring at Lucius. She nodded in agreement.
What a mess. What had started as a cheerful day had turned into this.
How frustrating.
The two put the encounter behind them and entered Flourish and Blotts, now that the crowd had dispersed.
"…This should definitely make the front page of the Daily Prophet! Who would've thought Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy would come to blows over my autograph? I bet this will cause quite the stir!" A deep, magnetic voice greeted them as they stepped inside. Hermione looked toward the source of the voice and saw…
Gilderoy Lockhart, seated behind a desk?
"Huh?" Hermione was stunned. So that's why Lucius had looked so angry—he'd been fighting with Mr. Weasley?
No, no, that wasn't the point. The point was, why had they been fighting over Gilderoy Lockhart's autograph?!
The sudden twist shattered Hermione's worldview, successfully diverting her attention.
She was dumbfounded, even beginning to reevaluate Lockhart's standing in the wizarding world.
What was this? Aside from young witches and some adult women, could Gilderoy Lockhart also attract grown wizards?!
Glenn, meanwhile, didn't notice Hermione's inner turmoil. His attention was drawn to a group of people nearby: the entire Weasley family, Harry Potter, and their giant friend, Hagrid.
Hagrid was fussing over Mr. Weasley, tidying his disheveled robes while muttering complaints.
"Typical Malfoy, always causing trouble. At least young Draco's turning out alright, thanks to Glenn and Hermione…" Hagrid's eyes lit up as he spotted the two entering the bookstore. "Glenn! Hermione! Hello there!" The giant waved enthusiastically, clearly delighted to see them.
"Hiiii, Hagrid!" Hermione waved back, equally pleased. "We're here to buy our new books. What about you?"
"Oh, I came to Diagon Alley to pick up some repellent for Flesh-Eating Slugs," Hagrid said, scratching his head. "Those blasted slugs are ruining the cabbages at school. Strange creatures, aren't they? Called Flesh-Eating Slugs, yet they're munching on vegetables…"
Hermione politely greeted the Weasleys and Harry before happily chatting with Hagrid.
Glenn, however, didn't join the conversation. He felt a faint, icy prickle in the air that made him uneasy, though he couldn't pinpoint its source.
Meanwhile, in Ginny Weasley's cauldron, a black leather-bound diary emitted a faint, sinister aura that slowly dissipated.
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