Revised: December 28, 2021 (if you can even call this a true revision since I've barely changed anything)

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Life at the Burrow was much different than life at Privet Drive, but Harry embraced it. Here, he was not expected to finish more chores than physically possible ("Are you sure, Harry? George can manage it."), not expected to cook the meals — though he did enjoy it when it was for people that he didn't hate — not expected to eat just everyone's leftovers — in fact, Mrs. Weasley went about her way to make sure Harry had an extra large portion.

"You're so skinny!" she would fret.

"Are you sure that's all you want?" she would ask when Harry had only eaten two servings.

Every time this happened, Harry would catch a glimpse of guilt in the twins' eyes before they looked away.

Without homework and Philosopher's Stones to distract him, Harry found he quite liked everyone there. Fred and George, who spent much of their time exploding things in their bedroom, were an absolute delight. Ron's chess skills proved to be superior to everyone, and despite his old Shooting Star not being a high-quality broomstick, Harry thought he'd make a good Quidditch player.

Even Ginny was all right. Now that she had gotten over her initial awe over him being under the same roof as her, she rarely spoke and instead just kept her head low. Sometimes, Harry would try to strike up a conversation, which usually ended up one-sided as she would nod or shake her head or knock something over.

As the twins had stated, Percy spent most of his time in his room for some reason. The twins remarked how they couldn't figure out why; it was almost as if Percy didn't exist!

Arthur Weasley, who Harry met after de-gnoming the garden, was also excited to see him, and sat down on Harry's other side to ask questions about the Muggle world.

"What is the function of a rubber duck?" he asked at one time.

Harry began questioning his very existence right then and there.

But it was a much better change to the Dursleys.

A week later, they received letters with their school supplies.

SECOND YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 2 by Miranda Goshawk

Break with a Banshee by Gilderoy Lockhart

Gadding with Ghouls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Holidays with Hags by Gilderoy Lockhart

Travels with Trolls by Gilderoy Lockhart

Voyages with Vampires by Gilderoy Lockhart

Wanderings with Werewolves by Gilderoy Lockhart

Year with the Yeti by Gilderoy Lockhart

"You, too?" Fred said, peering over Harry's shoulder. "The new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher must be a fan — a witch."

"That lot won't come cheap," George remarked. "Lockhart's books are really expensive..."

"Well, we'll manage," said Mrs. Weasley, but she looked worried. "I expect we'll be able to pick up a lot of Ginny's things secondhand."

"Oh, are you starting at Hogwarts this year?" Harry asked her.

Ginny nodded, face going as red as her hair, and put her elbow in the butter dish. Luckily for her, Percy's arrival brought everyone's attention away from this.

"That was not fun," he coughed out, dusting off the soot. He had thought traveling by Floo powder would be cool, but after feeling as though he had been spinning forever and concentrating on keeping his elbows tucked in, he could safely say it was not.

"It'll get easier," Mr. Weasley assured him, drawing him back as the rest of the group joined them.

They met up with Hermione and her parents, the latter of which were immediately bombarded with questions much like Harry was.

Harry quickly found that shopping was much more fun when you were with people you liked. What was not fun was the fact that Flourish and Blotts was packed with people. One look at the banner and Harry wanted to groan.

GILDEROY LOCKHART

will be signing copies of his autobiography

MAGICAL ME

today 12.30—4.30

"We can actually meet him!" Hermione squealed. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley wasn't the only person infatuated with Lockhart. "I mean, he's written almost the whole booklist!"

Harry looked at Ron, seeing his own doubt flickering in his eyes.

Most of the crowd seemed to be consisted of women around Mrs. Weasley's age. Harry almost felt sorry for the harrassed-looking wizard at the door.

Gilderoy Lockhart appeared, wearing forget-me-not blue robes that matched his eyes.

A photographer pushed by Ron. "Out of the way, there," he snarled. "This is for the Daily Prophet —"

"Big deal," Ron grumbled.

Lockhart looked up, hearing the voice, and saw Harry. "It can't be Harry Potter?" he shouted.

The crowd parted, whispering excitedly. Harry flinched as Lockhart seized his arm and pulled him to the front. "Let go," he said as his mind flashed back to whenever Uncle Vernon would grab him.

"Nice big smile, Harry," Lockhart said, ignoring Harry's plea. "Together, you and I are worth the front page."

Harry did the first thing that same to mind: He stomped down on Lockhart's foot and slipped away as the grip on his arm loosened, rejoining the Weasleys. Lockhart, trying to save face, said, "Looks like Harry is not used to the fame. But not to worry, as the Defense Against the Darks Arts Professor this year, I can help him!"

It sickened Harry how gullible everyone was.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley pushed through. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, fine," said Harry, wishing they'd stop gaping at him like a school of red fish.

"Famous Harry Potter," came the drawling voice of Draco Malfoy. "Can't even go into a bookstore without making the front page." Despite his words, there was a hint of concern that made Harry feel slightly better.

"Leave him alone, he didn't want all that!" Ginny spoke up.

"I see you've got yourself a girlfriend as well," Draco remarked.

"Oh, it's you." Ron gave Draco a disdainful look. "Bet you're surprised to see Harry here, eh?"

Draco opened his mouth as if to make a snappish remark, but he caught Harry's eye and stopped. "He does need his supplies, doesn't he? Just because he's famous..."

"Ron!" Mr. Weasley said. "Come along. It's too crowded in here."

"Well, well, well — Arthur Weasley." A tall, regal blonde man had appeared, a sneer on his face.

"Lucius." Mr. Weasley's voice was cold.

"Busy time at the Ministry, I hear. All those raids... I hope they're paying you overtime?"

Harry watched as Mr. Malfoy continued to antagonize Mr. Weasley, leading to the latter starting a fight. He stayed back; fighting in front of a child who had had his fair share of being on the receiving end was not a good idea.

Hagrid broke them up, and Mr. Malfoy, who had been hit by an Encyclopedia of Toadstools, thrust Ginny's transfiguration book back into her cauldron and left with Draco.

"Yeh should've ignored him, Arthur," Hagrid said. "Rotten ter the code, the whole family, everyone knows that — no Malfoy's worth listenin' ter — bad blood, that's what it is — come on now — let's get outta here."

Harry had begun to bristle at the gamekeeper's words but held his tongue. Instead, he silently followed the Weasleys back to the Burrow, once again showing his distaste in Floo traveling.