Harry Potter: Eclipse.-Chapter 78:

Harry looked up then and saw that the rest of their party was hovering near them and Remus was clearly holding Sirius back.

"Look at you! Turning your back on everything your parents died for, running around with Death Eaters like Malfoy and Black. You're a disgrace, Potter!" Ron shouted and the shop seemed to go silent. The reporters who Harry had barely noted seemed to suddenly still before exploding with action, quills scribbling quickly. Harry turned then and barely kept his magic under wraps. "My parents died for me so that I could live. You will not ever mention them again or I swear—"

Harry was cut off when Molly Weasley appeared. "RONALD WEASLEY!" she bellowed. "How could you say such a thing? And to poor Harry! You were raised better!" she berated, the shop silently watching.

Harry spared the boy another cold look and felt eyes on him. Sirius was now being held back by Remus with both arms, and the man looked torn between joining Molly in her rant and just wanting to hold Harry. Neville, Draco, and the girls looked like they wanted to jump the redhead and beat him to death with their bare hands while Lucius was sneering with disgust.

"It's fine Mrs. Weasley, Ronald was just saying what he really thinks," Harry said dismissively. Harry watched as the redheaded woman flinched, probably at his cool tone.

Turning then, Harry ignored the whispers as he joined Sirius, placing a hand on his arm which Remus dropped once Harry was close.

Lucius spared the crowd a glance, daring them to speak up, before he joined them. "Quite an unpleasant little boy," he said, once the volume of the shop had once again risen. "Indeed," Harry agreed.

"I thank you for coming to my defence," he said, angling his head.

"It's no bother, truly," Harry said.

The rest of the kids still looked shocked by Ron's behaviour. Draco turned to Neville. "I heard you like pranks. I will fund it if you get that low-class waste of magic every day for the first week of school," he said.

Neville looked shocked and the girls laughed. "O-okay," Neville agreed. "You can help me if you like - with the planning and stuff." Draco nodded. "I can do the planning. Nonetheless, a Malfoy knows not to do their own dirty work."

Harry snorted at that. "Just as long at the victim knows who the message is from, correct?" he said.

Draco snorted slightly. "Of course," he agreed smirking.

Neville sighed. "Harry, your inner Slytherin is showing again," he joked.

The adults who had been listening laughed. Although, instead of amused, Harry noticed Lucius looked proud, probably about Draco and Harry's comments. As they paid for their books, Harry wasn't surprised when the room silenced and a hand suddenly clamped down on his shoulder. He had felt the approaching magical signature and although he didn't recognize it, he did have a strong suspicion who it was.

"My word, it's Harry Potter," came the overly cheerful voice of Gilderoy Lockhart. The hand on Harry's shoulder squeezing slightly. "I thought I noticed you earlier in the centre of all that commotion. Playing up for the crowds, are we?"

Sending his companions an annoyed look, Harry pulled away from his grip. "Please refrain from touching me," he said softly, taking a step back. "I don't like it when strangers manhandle me." Gilderoy looked around and frowned when he saw the crowd was with Harry more so than himself. "Nonsense, Harry. Together we'll make the frontpage," he said, putting an arm around his shoulders and smiling to a camera.

Harry pulled way as the photographs were being taken. "I said let me go." However, the words were lost as dozens of photographers flashes their cameras.

"When little Harry over here entered this shop to get his copy of my latest book, Marauding with Monsters, little did he realise he would not only get this copy signed, but a copy of all my published works, signed and free of charge," Gilderoy said, preening in front of the camera like he had last time. Harry scoffed. "Thank you, but I have already bought my books. Perhaps you should give them to somebody who really wants or needs them," he said, the reporters hanging of his words and some even cooing slightly thinking about how generous he was.

After leaving the shop, the group wandered up and down Diagon Alley and bought the rest of their school supplies, stopping midday to have lunch and ice creams as a treat.

While sitting in Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour, Harry's friends, now including Draco, asked about the upcoming trial, the adults discussing the same at their own table. "I think Sirius will be fine," Harry assured them, "he's basically my dad because of the blood adoption and he's shown this week how reliable he is as a guardian. His health has recovered dramatically and nobody in their right minds would ever send me back to the Dursleys."

"My father said he'd help secure some of the Darker family votes who may have gone against you in spite," Draco said.

"And my aunt has been to everybody you mentioned and asked for their evidence. She believes you have a strong case," Susan confided.

"I'm not too worried," Harry said. "My biggest concern is what Dumbledore will do next."

His friends nodded in sympathy. They understood the headmaster had a slight obsession with Harry, but Draco looked confused. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Well, he's slightly obsessed with me. He was supposed to be my magical guardian but, before our sorting, I had never seen him. He abandoned me with the muggles and, well, last year he was just really weird. He kept dragging me up to his office and he would always be staring at me," Harry said.

Draco pursed his lips. "My father always did say that Dumbledore was the worst thing to happen to Hogwarts." "I think I would have to agree," Harry said, making Draco smirk lightly.

Eventually Harry's friends had to return home, but Harry promised to write and visit when he could.

~

At their table the adults all sat down and sipped at their teas; not even Sirius had indulged in ice cream.

"You have everything prepared for the trial in two days?" Lucius asked.

Sirius took a sip and thought about the trial. "I believe so - I've been writing to Dodge and he believes I have a strong case. I trust his judgement and with the evidence against them, I have no doubts that, even if I don't gain custody, Harry will never return to his muggle relatives."

"Is it true that young Harrison was the one who hired the famous Mr. Dodge?" Lucius asked. The few times he had needed law wizards he had used Mr. Dodge Sr., though he heard that the junior was just as, if not more so, successful.

"Yes, actually. When I first met him he said he had been hired to represent me in the light of new evidence. He kept the fact it was Harry hidden until the day of my trial; most likely to protect his identity. He serves Harry more than myself, really."

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