Harry Potter and the Great Old Ones

Chapter 104 Gilderoy Lockhart
“Oh, you’ve come! That’s wonderful!” Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, her breath quickening as she patted her hair. “We’ll see him soon…”

Gradually, they came into view of Gilderoy Lohart.

He sat behind a table, surrounded by large photographs of himself, all of which showed faces winking at the crowd and flashing dazzling white teeth.

The real Lockhart wore a robe the same blue as forget-me-nots, which perfectly complemented his blue eyes. A pointed wizard's hat was playfully perched on his curly hair.

A grumpy little man held up a large black camera and jumped back and forth taking pictures.

Each time the flash flashed blindingly, streams of purple smoke spewed out of the camera.

“Get out of the way,” he yelled at Ron, backing away to find a better angle. “This is for the Daily Prophet.”

“Wow, that’s impressive,” Ron said, rubbing his foot where the man had stepped on it.

Gilderoy Lockhart seemed to hear Ron's complaint. He looked up at Ron, then his gaze swept arrogantly over the people around Ron—

A middle-aged woman as dirty as Ron, a little girl with messy hair, a fairly cute Asian boy, and a dusty, somewhat thin little boy standing next to him.

Gilderoy Lockhart scrutinized Harry from head to toe, then suddenly jumped up and exclaimed, "Oh, Merlin's beard! Isn't that Harry Potter?"

The crowd parted automatically, whispering excitedly. Lockhart rushed forward, grabbed Harry's arm, and pulled him to the front, to which the entire arena erupted in applause.

Harry felt his face burning and looked to Tyella for help...

But then Harry was blinded by the short man's flash, which made him feel a little dizzy.

Lockhart held Harry's hand tightly as the photographer took pictures.

The short man frantically pressed the shutter button repeatedly.

“That’s a beautiful smile, Harry.” Lockhart flashed a set of gleaming teeth. “We could be on the front page.”

Harry's fingers were numb when he finally let go of his hand.

Harry tried to sneak back to Tyella, but Lockhart had one arm around his shoulder, holding him firmly by his side.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Lockhart said loudly, waving for silence, "what an extraordinary moment! I have a little announcement to make on this wonderful occasion, something I've been keeping quiet for a while now."

"Young Harry walked into Flourish and Blotts today just to buy my autobiography, and I'd gladly give it to him for free on the spot." Another round of applause followed.

“But what he didn’t know was—” Lockhart continued, shaking Harry so that his glasses slipped down to the tip of his nose.

"He will soon get something more valuable than my humble work, 'The Magic-Powered Me.' In fact, he and his classmates will get a real, magical me!"

"Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I am extremely pleased and proud to announce that this September, I will become the Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

The crowd applauded and cheered. Harry found himself holding Gilderoy Lockhart's complete works, so heavy that he swayed as he walked.

He finally managed to escape the center of public attention and reach the wall—

Tierra had already been pushed there by the restless crowd.

"Here, take these." Harry tried to put the books in Tierra's hands, but she didn't take them. "I'll buy more myself—"

“No need, Harry,” Tyella said. “I’ve already bought my book and had it sent back by owl.”

“Then these books…” Harry asked, somewhat bewildered. This was the first time Tyrell had refused his gift.

“Let’s go sell them to those witches outside.” Tyrell took four books from Harry, holding them in one hand and pulling on Harry’s sleeve with the other, and led him to the end of the long line for autographs.

Ron and Hermione then also received signed copies of Gilderoy Lockhart's book, as did the Weasley twins.

Harry's nine Gilderoy Lockhart books sold for a total of 180 Galleons—a shrewd witch managed to haggle the price down from 270 Galleons to 180 Galleons. However, Tyella didn't lose out; she got the witch's contact information, revealed her status as a Hogwarts student, and now, with the book signing over for some time, rumors are starting to circulate that Gilderoy Lockhart will soon be taking a position at Hogwarts.

So Tiera promised to sell her autographed photos for two gold gallons and five silver sicoes each after school started.

Tiera had a camera, and the witch provided him with the film he needed.

Hermione's three books sold for a total of 170 Galleons, almost matching the price of Harry's nine books, because Hermione had Gilderoy Lockhart leave extra notes on four of the books in addition to signing them.

The book "You Are the Most Beautiful Girl - Gilderoy Lohart" sold forty Galleons.

"Your beauty is captivating, and I can't help but fall at your feet—Gidrolock Hart" This book sold fifty-five Galleons.

"Your smile is like the clouds of spring, your voice is like the nightingale of summer, your skin is like the snow of winter, you are my muse, my Venus—Gidrolock Hart." This book was the best-selling, selling seventy-five Galleons.

There's also a book titled "You are the most intelligent witch I have ever met—Giddy Lockhart," which Hermione kept herself.

George, Fred, and Ron Weasley did the same.

Ron only sold the two books he had.

George and Fred, however, saw a business opportunity. One stood in line, while the other ran to the back of the line with his book.

Unfortunately, the witches quickly saw through their plan, and George and Fred sold only seven books for fifteen Galleons before being angrily chased away by the owner of Flourish and Blotts.

They didn't even earn as much as Hermione.

"Come on! Tierra, let's go shopping!" Hermione said haughtily, grabbing Tierra's sleeve.

Tiera: ? ? ?
You guys don't actually think I'm Bao Si, do you?
I'm telling you, I sell smiles, not my body.

Perhaps because Lucius Malfoy was frightened by Tyrell disguised as Voldemort, the Malfoy father and son did not come to Flourish and Blotts, and they were not even in Diagon Alley.

Just as Tiera was strolling around, he sensed through the Dark Lord's mark that Lucius Malfoy and Draco Malfoy had already disappeared from Tiera's sensing range.

Without Lucius's arrival, there would have been no fight between Lucius and Arthur Weasley.

But Dobby still trailed far behind Tiera.

The children—mainly Tyella, Harry, Hermione, and Ron—traveled along Diagon Alley again that afternoon.

Ron bought some candy, two fragrant dragon sausages, and a pair of fried lizard legs.

Harry bought Tyella a new crucible—

"Perfect for making hot pot," Tierra thought.

Hermione, meanwhile, dragged a few people back to Flourish and Blotts after the book signing, investing half of her first pot of gold in books—

Besides buying a whole bunch of books for myself.

He also gave Tiera several copies of "The Complete Book of Alchemy Techniques," "The History of Potions," "The Dark Truth," and...

How to Pursue a Witch

Tiera: ? ? ?
With a puzzled look, he put the last book, "How to Pursue a Witch," back on the bookshelf.

“My mind is only on studying; studying makes me happy,” Tierra said. “I don’t want to be in a relationship.”

Tierra noticed the slight anger in Hermione's eyes. Looking directly at her, she said, "I don't want to date anyone."

Thank you Korsi for the 100 points!
Thank you, Guijiu, for the 500 points!
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(End of this chapter)