Chapter 2: At Flourish and Blotts
April 22, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Chapter 2: At Flourish and Blotts
Quickly Ave learned what life at the Burrow was like with Harry. Mrs. Weasley was always fussing about his socks or food, Mr. Weasley loved talking about Muggle devises, and Ron stayed by his side like he’d always been there.
Ave was abitdifferent. She and Ron had always been the two yelling at each other like the twins were the ones who made small explosions in their room, Percy was the smart one, and Ginny was the talker. Simply the way things worked. Ave only had four things that hadevermade her mad, and the first was stuck to Harry’s side. The second was mornings, the third was being wrong, and the fourth was sad books that made her want to burn the world down and also hide in hole and maybe run and never stop running.
So, whenever Ave spotted Harry, she sawRon. It got aggravating to bit her cheek to stop yelling about everything annoying he did. Of course, they still got in at least three fights a day.
But, finally, Ave got a letter from Hogwarts. Saturn, Grandma Cedrella’s owl, had the official letter. She was about to open it when Ginny’s portage knocked off the table. She looked up, Ron and Harry, ofcourse.
“Letters from school,” said Mr. Weasley, he passed the boys the envelopes. “Dumbledore already knows your here, Harry- doesn’t miss a trick, that man. You two’ve got them too,” he added as Fred and George ambled in, still in their pajamas.
For a few minutes there was silence as they read the letters. Normal first year requirements, Ave mussed. All Lockhart’s books along with the normal nessassarities.
“You’ve been too to get all Lockhart’s books, too,” Fred said looking at Harry’s. “The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan-“
“Bet it’s a witch,” Fred and Ave said at the same time. Fred caught his mothers eye, then busied himself with the marmalade.
“That lot won’t come cheap,” said George.
“Well, we’ll manage,” said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. “I expect we’ll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny and Ave’s things second-hand.”
“Oh, are you starting Hogwarts this year?” Harry asked them, but only Ginny nodded. Ave was much too busy quickly writing a letter for Saturn to give Grandma Cedrella. Right as she sent Saturn off Percy walked in with is Hogwarts prefect badge pinned to his knitted tank top.
“Morning, all,” he said briskly. “Lovely day.”
He said down in the only remaining chair but leapt up again almost immediately, pulling from underneath him a mounting grey feather duster- well not really, bit he looked like it until you focused on the fact he was breathing.
“Errol!” Said Ron, taking the lip owl from Percy and extracting a letter from under it’s wing. “Finally- Hermione’s answer. I wrote to her about going to try and rescue you from the Dursley's.”
“Without me,” Ave added in bitterly.
Ron shot her a glare she gladly returned.
He proceeded to read it out-loud, but Ave ignored it.
“Well, that fits in nicely, we can go and get all your things then, too,” Mrs. Weasley said, once the bloody idiot stopped speaking, and started to clear the table. “What’re you all up to today.”
They of course went out to Quidditch, which Ave justbarelystopped herself from yelling about not being invited again.
Instead, Ave half the day finishing up all her projects, the potions on random things, half knitted clothing pieces for Scabbers and Saturn and Errol, because they looked adorable with clothing, and books.
Then she cleaned up the messy room, mostly because of her. Ave folded up all the random clothes, everything away, watered all her flowers, shelved all her books, dusted, swept, made the beds, and cleaned the mirror.
Early the following Wednesday, they got ready. Ave wore a ruffled white dress just above her knees, one of her more walkable white heel books, a handful of butterfly clips making little ponytails, and only one bracelet.
She grabbed her handbag, with the letter and key Grandma Cedrella had sent just the day before. It had the key to her Gringotts vault, a small bag for the gold, about the size to perfect fit in her hand, and a note say to make sure to get all signed copies and hardbacks, and all thebestsupplies. Then of course a suggestion to save some to get sweets on the train.
Then, the last one down stairs, after all she wasnota morning person, came. Right as she came George left and Fred was gone.
“Sorry, a bit late,” she muttered.
“He’ll be fine, Molly, don’’t fuss,” said Mr. Weasley, helping himself to Floo powder too.
“But dear, if he got lost, how would we ever explain to his aunt and uncle?”
“They wouldn’t mind,” Harry reassured. “Dudley would think it was a brilliant joke if I got lost up a chimney, don’t worry about that.”
“They sound horrid,” Ave said dryly. She took a quick handful, walking into the fireplace. “Diagon Alley!”
Her stomach churned and it felt like everything was crushing in and tossing around before she finally came out coughing.
Mr. Weasley led her out of the fireplace and waved his wand, removing the ash.
“Thanks, Dad,” she sneezed.
Then Ron came through, “Hey.. Where’s Harry?”
“Oh great,” Ave said sarcastically. “Golden boy’s missing.”
“Why do you hate him so much?” Ron scrunched his nose and Ave paused.
She honestly didn’t mean to, she just hated Ron and his big idiotic self. Of course, she also didn’t exactly love how Ron felt more important and special in Harry’s presents. Not to mention how he changed Ginny.
Ave folded her arms, “I don’t.”
“You just mocked him!”
Ave stiffened, “I-I wasn’t.. I just… Ugh, I just don’t like him all that much. I mockeveryoneanyways.”
“No you don’t,” Fred said suddenly. “You only mock Ron like that, and normally joking, that was not joking, just mean. Rarely for you to mean even to Ron too, and you only do it on mornings or when he really does you dirty.”
Ave winced.
“He actually asked me if you hated him and I said you didn’t,” Ron admitted.
“You defended me?” Ave asked appalled.
“I’m regretting it now,” he snapped, and for once Ave couldn’t respond.
“I’m sorry,” she said, quiet as a mouse.
Then a bushy brown haired girl came over, hugging Ron lightly.
“I’m Hermione Granger.”
“We can’t find Harry,” Ron said. “Got lost in the Floo network.”
“Best split up,” Ave suggested.
“Ave and Hermione, the twins, Ginny and Molly, then me, Ron, and Percy work well?” Mr. Weasley asked.
“Perfect,” Hermione said. Once Ginny and Molly came out, the situation was explained, and they split up, Hermione turned to Ave. “I’ve got to get my gold.”
“Sounds good, I’ve got go into a vault too,” Ave took out the key Grandma Cedrella sent.
“What vault?” Hermione asked curiously.
“My grandmother’s.”
“Oh, wait,” Hermione snapped her fingers. “Ron said something about you at Christmas. Were you the one who sent a broom with the smell of pine and flies around within three feet of the person who turns it on by saying ‘I’m a bloody idiot’?”
“Yep,” Ave said proudly as they walked in.
“Ron hated that,” she smiled. “Because he loved how it smelled like pine and how it flew around and stuff, but the idiot part made him beyond annoyed.”
“It took forever to convince Mum to do the spell, and even longer to make a potion to make it smell like pine forever.”
Hermione blushed a little,”Right…”
“Key,” the goblin ordered.
“First her vault, then mine,” Ave said as they both handed over the keys.
He then led them away to the tracks.
“What is it?”Ave asked, looking sideways at Hermione.
“Well.. it’s just, he talked about how you probably just bought it with a bunch of money your grandmother gave you. How you were always the favorite and could just ask for something and she’d give it happily.”
Ave looked away as they reached the vault and Hermione grabbed a handful of her wizard money. In silence they got to Cedrella’s and Ave filled up the bag. The vault washugeand clearly Cedrella wasn’t going to give away it to anyone else. Both of them were clearly thinking of the possibilities with the money, and how well it could be used instead of rotting in the vault.
But Ave only took as much as was directed before they walked out.
Suddenly Hermione called out, “Harry! Harry! Over here!”
Harry was standing never to a huge man.
She ran over with Ave right behind her.
“What happened to your glasses? Hello, Hagrid… Oh, it’swonderfulto see you two again… Are you coming to Gringotts, Harry?”
“As soon as I’ve found the Weasleys,” said Harry.
“Hello to you too,” Ave said, surprisingly not even a little bit bitter. She’d remembered what Ron and Fred said.
Harry blinked at her.
“Yeh won’t have long term wait,” grinned Hagrid.
“True,” Ave nodded towards the two groups ahead; Fred, George, Percy, and Mr. Weasley.
“Harry,” Mr. Weasley panted. “Wehopedyou’d only gone one grate too far… Molly’s frantic-she’s coming now.”
“Where did you come out?” Ron asked.
“Knockturn Alley,” I say.
“Brilliant,”Fred and George said together.
“Too bad me and Hermione didn’t get a peak in,” I say folding my arms.
“We’ve never been allowed in,” Ron agreed clearly envious of Harry.
“I should ruddy well think not,” growled Hagrid.
Mrs. Weasley now came galloping into view, her handbag swinging wildly in one hand, Ginny just clinging onto the other.
“Oh, Harry-oh, my dear- you could have been anywhere-“
She gasped for breath before sweeping the soot of Harry.
“Well, gotta be off,” said Hagrid.
“Guess who I saw in Borgin and Burkes?” Harry asked Ron and Hermione as they climbed the Gringotts steps. “Malfoy and his father.”
“Did Lucius Malfoy buy anything?” said Mr. Weasley sharply from behind them.
“No, he was selling.”
“So he’s worried,” said Mr. Weasley with grim satisfaction. “Oh, I’d love to get Lucius Malfoy for something…”
“You’d be careful, Arthur,” said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as they were ushered into the bank by a bowing goblin at the door. “That family’s trouble, don’t go biting off more than you can chew.”
Then I tuned them out as Mr. Weasley got distracted by the muggles. Honestly, I didn’t really any money. Despite what Hermione said, I felt better about getting my own gold when I sawourvault.
A small pile of Sickles and a Galleon.
Of course being the awkward Gryffindor Harry was, he tried to block the contents. Once they left Gringotts, they immediately separated. Mr. Weasley left with the Grangers for a drink, Mrs. Weasley tried to take me, which I quickly excused myself, and left Ginny to her fate, Percy went to get a new quill, and the twins spotted their friend.
“We’ll all meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour to buy your school books,” said Mrs. Weasley, setting off with Ginny. “And not one step down Knockturn Alley!”
I frowned and looked down the pathway in which Harry had come from. “One day,” I sigh. “Hmm,” yes. I need robes, a cauldron, my wand, and perhaps find a pet.
Hermione, Harry, and Ron strolled off.
I quickly started off with getting measured at Madam Malkin’s Robes for All Occasions. I got a normal black one and an extra one that had slightly less bulky fabric. Then I went off and bought a journal, a bunch of pretty quills, a couple bottles of ink, and a cauldron. Then to the wand shop.
After toning out the loony, Olivander, I eventually reached the sixth wand in which it didn’t promptly create ultimate destruction.
“Very odd indeed,” He frowned. “Not like most Weasley’s. Hazel wood. Unicorn hair, which very rarely works with the wood. Thirteen inches. Flexible enough.”
“It’s perfect,” I say with a shrug. I spin it in my hand, flick it again. It simply glows slightly. “Yes. This will do.”
Next I go to get a pet, Grandma Cedrella did say to spoil myself.
Immediately I spot it. “That one.” I point at the small golden bunny sitting peacefully.
“It’s a holland lop, just got it this morning,” the worker grinned lazily. “Adorable isn’t she. Until you hear the price. A galleon.”
I blink, “Dang. Does the adorable thing do anything?”
“Well,” he hummed. “It’s a suspicion, that yes, it does. It’s mother was part Kneazle somehow, and a witch owned this little thing for six months before we got it. Kept trying to do spells to make it gorgeous and potions.”
“She succeeded,” I shrug and pull out the money from the small pouch. “Here, I’ll take her now.”
“What are you naming her?” He asked while handing over the cage.
“Honey, she looks like a Honey, right?” I ask.
“I approve,” he grinned and snatched the gold. “Now, get lost.”
I roll my eyes, “Thanks.”
I leave the store and open up the cage. Honey hops out and climbs onto my hand. Sniffs me.
I gently place her on the top of the piles of books in my bag. She can peak over and look out, but also secure enough I don’t have to worrytoomuch about her falling out. Although, I do that anyway. Cause, honestly, she’s too delicate.
By the time I get out, I realize its’s already time. Quickly I pocket the money and stroll over to Flourish and Blotts.
It wascrowded.And a big golden haired reason for that.
Gilderoy Lockhard
will be signing copies of his autobiography
MAGICAL ME
today 12:30-4:30 p. m.
“We can actually meet him!” Hermione was squealing. “I mean, he’s written almost the whole booklist.”
“Tell me about it,” I groan. “He sounds even more self absorbed than Ron.”
Before Ron can reply I get out of the huge crowd and stroll over to the overhanging to wait out the line and the noise. The only other person up there was some blonde guy. I nod at him before dropping by the rail and take Honey out of the bag.
She wassosoft andsocute, I felt my heartmelt.
I took a while just petting her telling her more compliments thanI’d ever heard in my life. By the time I looked away from Honey, the blonde guy was gone, and
Harrywas with Lockhart snapping photos.Right, and Lockhart was talking about how great he was again and handing books over.
I tuck Honey back into the bag and get up to walk over to the group.
Oh, the blonde guy.. he was.. talking to them-more like sneering.
“FamousHarry Potter,” he said. “Can’t even go into a bookshop without making the front page.”
“Leave him alone, he didn’t want all that!” Said Ginny.
“Potter, you’ve got yourself agirlfriend.”
My mouth caught up before my brain, which was a regular accurence.
“Better than you, so lonely you’ve settled for simply making fun of people who have the things you want. Bet you’ve wanted all the fame and attention from day one, huh? Suppose you’re a Malfoy, blonde hair, bricks for brains, prick at heart, and drawls in a way that you always think they have some sort of disease.”
He barely turned to me before Ron and Hermione were there.
“Oh, it’s you,” said Ron, looking at Malfoy as is her were something unpleasant on the sole of his shoe. “Bet your surprised to see Harry here, eh?”
“Not as surprised as I am to see you in a shop, Weasley,” Malfoy retorted. “I supposed your parents will go hungry for a month to pay for that lot.”
I held out my arm to stop Ron from doing something rash. “You wish you parents would evendreamof sacrificing anything for you.”
Harry and Hermione quickly calmed down Ron, which wasn’t too hard after he saw Malfoy’s face flush slightly.
“Ron!” Mr. Weasley came over with Fred and George. “What are you doing? It’s crowded in here, let’s go outside.”
“Well, well, well-Arthur Weasley.”
Mr. Malfoy.
“Lucius,” Mr. Weasley nodded coldly.
I looked between the two before quickly deciding to jump ship.
After I got out of the bustling shop, I just walked near the middle of the street and stroked Honey. “I do hopethatisn’t too regular, I do want to do school at Hogwarts,” I mutter to myself.
After about twenty minutes the Malfoy’s left, Mr. Malfoy looking slightly ragged.
He passed I and nodded to him politely, “Sir.”
“Who even are you?” Malfoy Jr. scowled.
“I could ask you the same,” I say evenly. “We haven’t been properly introduce anyway.”
“You’re friends with Potter, Weasley, and Granger though?”
“Not really,” I shrug. “IamAvelainieWeasley, but honestly it’s just me protecting what little pride my family has. Looks like they lost it no matter, based on your father’s state I’d guess they got into a little brawl. I’m sure Lockhart was over the moons about that, by then he’s sure the front page.”
His scowl deepened, probably not liking me for being so polite after going at him just half an hour ago.
Mr. Malfoy turned around, “You’re Cedrella’s granddaughter, right? The one with pink hair instead of red. Yes, she’s told me about you.”
“I’m sure, she for some reason seems fond of me,” I frown slight. “Not sure where she got that from.”
“We best go now, Draco,” Mr. Malfoy said, nodded at me, then left.
Just three minutes later Mrs. Weasley came out to fetch me and brought me to the rest of the family at the Leaky Cauldron. Leaving by Floo power back to the house.
“Well, that was.. interesting,” I say slowly. “Not a bad day to introduce myself to the wizarding world.”
Ron grinned, “Malfoy’ll hate you for jabbing at his parents.”
“He hates all Weasley’s,” I shrug. “And I didn’t jab at his parents. He started it.”
“I know,” Ron huffed. “I just”-
“Don’t start this when ya’ll are actually united on you opinion,” Mrs. Weasley fussed.
I laugh and quickly Floo to the Burrow.
