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When they arrived at the entrance of Lihen Bookstore, Ryan and the others found the place packed with people. A large banner hung above the door, announcing today as the release of Lockhart's new book.
"This is even crazier than my dad's fans," Ryan murmured as he watched the crowd of middle-aged witches eagerly awaiting their chance to meet the author.
"We can meet him in person!" Hermione said excitedly. "After all, he wrote almost all the books on the reading list!"
"He might be good, but using his novels as textbooks feels a bit..."
"You're right," Hermione agreed, realization dawning on her. "Mr. Lambert's novels are well-written, but they shouldn't be used as textbooks."
Ryan noticed Harry and Ron standing near the front of the line, books in hand, waiting for autographs. Behind them, Mrs. Weasley nervously smoothed her hair, with Ginny close by her side.
When Ryan and Hermione approached Mrs. Weasley, they overheard her whispering to Ginny, "I'm sorry, dear. Most of your things had to be bought second-hand because Lockhart's novels aren't cheap."
"It's okay, Mom. Textbooks are important. I don't mind," Ginny replied softly.
Just then, a surge in the crowd pushed Ryan closer to the door. He saw the twins, Fred and George, entering the store. "Did I bring what you asked for?" Ryan called out to them.
"Yes, thanks," Fred responded, before adding, "But can we pay you later? Money's a bit tight right now."
"Of course, no rush. But it seems unfair that Ron had new robes last year, and Ginny has to wear second-hand ones this year," Ryan remarked.
Fred sighed. "It's because of Lockhart's books. We needed five sets, and they're expensive. We had to save money somewhere, so Ginny got the old robes. We even have to delay paying you because we wanted to buy her some new quills and ink."
"Wait, why five sets?" Ryan asked, puzzled.
"Five of us are at Hogwarts this year," Fred explained.
"But you're not all in the same year, and you won't need the books at the same time. Why not share them? You could just use notebooks to take notes when needed," Ryan suggested.
The twins exchanged a glance before rushing into the store, clearly eager to discuss the idea with their mother.
Ryan stayed by the door, watching Lockhart pose for photos with Harry, clearly enjoying the publicity. It reminded Ryan of how his own father, Mr. Lambert, had taken a photo with members of the U2 band at a signing event.
No wonder Lockhart had so many fans. His charisma and public image were managed as skillfully as a celebrity's. Combined with his good looks, it was easy to see why so many were captivated by him—even if Ryan knew the truth about his fraudulent heroics.
Once inside the store, Ryan witnessed the infamous scene of Harry awkwardly dumping a brand-new set of Lockhart's novels into Ginny's cauldron. This was followed by a heated confrontation between Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley, which quickly escalated into a physical fight.
Amid the chaos, Ryan guided the Grangers to a safe corner of the store. Mr. Granger, visibly shaken, asked, "Is it always this chaotic in the wizarding world? And is that kind of prejudice common?"
Ryan knew they were worried about Hermione's safety. He reassured them, "Not everyone is like that. In the wizarding world, knowledge equals power. Hermione is brilliant, and most people respect that. She'll be safe."
Mr. Granger relaxed slightly, relieved by Ryan's explanation.
Hagrid eventually arrived and broke up the fight, allowing everyone to leave the bookstore. Outside, Mrs. Granger still looked shaken, and Mr. Granger was doing his best to comfort her.
Hermione ran up to her parents, thanking Ryan for calming them down. "I was worried they'd be too anxious about me after seeing that."
"No need to thank me. We're friends," Ryan replied.
As they walked towards the Leaky Cauldron, Ryan deliberately lagged behind to walk alongside Ginny. Pretending to notice the old book in her cauldron for the first time, he asked, "You like exploring the knowledge in old books too?"
Startled, Ginny looked up at Ryan. She recognized him as one of Ron's friends.
"Hi, I'm Ryan. I love searching for old books in second-hand stores. Sometimes they have interesting or useful notes that you won't find anywhere else. Most people don't understand it, though. When I saw your second-hand books, I thought I'd found a kindred spirit. I hope I didn't bother you."
Ginny smiled. "I've heard about you. Ron said you were second in your year and one of his best friends. He also mentioned how you could afford new books but still like rummaging through used bookstores."
They chatted for a while before nearing the Leaky Cauldron. Suddenly, Ryan slapped his forehead theatrically. "You're starting at Hogwarts this year! As Ron's friend, I should give you a gift." He pulled out a neatly organized notebook from his bag. "These are my notes from last year. I hope they help."
Ginny's face lit up as she gratefully accepted the gift, tucking it into her cauldron. That's when Ryan noticed a worn, black notebook peeking out from under her old Transfiguration textbook. Feigning curiosity, he asked, "Wow, you're already taking notes before even starting school? Impressive!"
Ginny looked puzzled as she pulled out the black notebook. "I don't think this is mine." She opened it, revealing blank pages. The faded date on the cover suggested it was fifty years old. On the first page, only one name was legible: Tom Riddle. The back cover bore the name of a newsagent from Vauxhall Road, London, giving the impression of an antique.
"Who's Tom Riddle?" Ginny asked, confused. "Must be someone from the thrift store. Maybe they accidentally included it."
Seeing Ryan's interest, Ginny handed him the notebook. "If you like it, you can have it as a thank-you for your notes."
Ryan gratefully accepted the notebook and placed it in his bag, remarking, "It's rare to find an ordinary notebook in such good condition after fifty years. My dad loves antiques. He'll be fascinated by this."
Together, they continued walking towards the Leaky Cauldron, unaware of the dark magic tied to the seemingly ordinary notebook.
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