Harry Potter: I Am Big D

Chapter 114.

Again, using the Floo Network, Dudley and the others traveled through the fireplace of the Longbottom family to Diagon Alley.

Although it was possible to buy supplies elsewhere, Diagon Alley was always the most plentiful place for school items for Hogwarts.

Since it was just purchasing school supplies, it was simple, so Mrs. Augusta didn't come along.

Most of the second-year necessities were the same as last year, so there was no need to buy duplicates.

However, new textbooks were needed as they had finished the first year's ones.

Flourish and Blotts always had the most complete selection of books outside of special editions, almost everything except prohibited items.

However, Flourish and Blotts was particularly crowded today.

A huge crowd had gathered outside, and a massive banner had been hung upstairs:

"Gilderoy Lockhart signing his autobiography 'Magical Me' today from 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM."

"Lockhart?"

Neville murmured the name and then turned to Dudley, speaking in a dry tone, "D-bro, I have a bad feeling."

To which Dudley couldn't help but nod, confirming his guess: "I think your feeling is correct; it seems our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher is him."

Sure enough, as Dudley's words fell, a tremendously excited male voice rang out in Flourish and Blotts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am extremely delighted and proud to announce that this September, I will be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!"

Neville: Damn!

Hermione: 'Good thing I made plan B long ago.'

Thinking this, Hermione discreetly glanced at the other two books on her list, "Dark Forces: A Guide to Defiance," and "Practical Defense Against Dark Magic."

"Look, it's Potter, Harry Potter!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and then the three saw a flamboyantly dressed man, hugging poor Harry for a photo.

Under the flashes of cameras, Harry was keeping a stiff face and looked extremely unhappy.

Harry felt like he had been incredibly unlucky since leaving Dudley's side; he had been perfectly fine staying at the Weasleys' place. Though that house wasn't large or luxurious, it was quite comfortable, and Mrs. Weasley's cooking was pretty good, second only to Dudley's.

Then suddenly, an unknown ghastly thing appeared, babbling nonsense about punishing him and depriving him of attending school, and when he disagreed, that thing vanished. After that, a series of bizarre accidents occurred at the Burrow, and each time he was present.

After enduring until the designated time to buy books, he encountered this signing event and was forcibly dragged over for photos.

He didn't like to be famous. Though he was indeed a celebrity in the wizarding world.

"Hey, what are you doing here? Give that back to me."

A frantic shout caught Harry's attention. Then he saw Dudley, who was holding a large black camera, while a short man next to him was trying to take it back from him.

Unfortunately, even if he jumped up, he couldn't reach Dudley's shoulders.

"This is for the Daily Prophet, you know? The Daily Prophet!"

After several failed attempts, the short man glared angrily at Dudley.

"So what?" Dudley said, showing no sign of compromise even when the other party mentioned the Daily Prophet; instead, he became even more unyielding, "I think the Daily Prophet should ask for permission before taking photos. Harry doesn't like you taking pictures of him."

The Daily Prophet, which had previously rejected the publication of Dudley's novel, was a third-rate tabloid with no discernment.

"You're not Mr. Potter, how do you know?"

He shouted angrily, trying to push Dudley away but ended up stumbling and falling.

"D-bro." Harry shouted excitedly, then suddenly remembered Lockhart, who was next to him.

This was their new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Mrs. Weasley had said he was impressive, so it was best not to offend him.

To Harry's surprise, Lockhart didn't get angry but became even happier. "Hey, look who I found!"

Lockhart's eyes lit up upon seeing Dudley: "The author of Chronicles of the Dragon Lance, Mr. Jerry."

Releasing his arm around Harry, he introduced with exaggerated yet natural gestures and moved closer to Dudley.

"By a narrow margin, he won against my new work, 'Magical me,' to take the title of this year's most popular novel." Lockhart's boastful words drew Hermione's dissatisfaction.

She was a loyal supporter of Dudley's novel.

That was hardly by a narrow margin; it was clearly a complete crushing victory, okay?

Dudley wasn't surprised Lockhart knew him.

After all, this guy had been the best-selling author in the wizarding world for many years. Dudley wouldn't believe he had no connections.

Moreover, at the end-of-year feast in the first year, Dudley had received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, in front of all the Hogwarts students and faculty.

Although that thing wasn't worth much, only a handful had received it in recent years; last year, he was the only one.

"What kind of day is it today, to have two celebrities pop up in this tiny, shabby bookstore?" Lockhart walked up to Dudley, originally wanting to pat him on the shoulder as a senior writer to encourage the junior, only to find Dudley was half a head taller than him.

'My store is so small, I'm truly sorry.' Although the owner of the Little Bookstore felt disgruntled in his heart, he still wore a smiling face on the surface.

"Come on, let's take a photo together." Lockhart actively invited.

"Mr. Lockhart, I think it's unnecessary." He rejected him decisively.

Dudley naturally knew he was promoting his new book.

If he could get Dudley and Harry to pose for a photo, the next day's headline would surely read, 'Good news! Mr. Jerry and Harry Potter both appear for Lockhart's new book,' or something like 'Shocking; the mysterious Mr. Jerry's connection with Lockhart is…'

He didn't like being used.

Moreover, his main focus was on Hogwarts now.

A commotion arose from the crowd.

"There are people fighting over there!"

Inside the Little Bookstore, two adult wizards were wrestling with each other, while a pair of twins nearby were shouting something like cheering.

"Hit him, dad."

"Hit his nose, hit his nose!"

It was a conflict between the Weasley family and the Malfoy family.

"Aren't you going to say something? Draco."

Ron walked over to Malfoy and nudged his chin towards the two parents who were tussling.

After going through the wizard chess round, Ron and Malfoy's relationship had changed quite a bit.

Although they would still quibble and argue a lot of the time.

Malfoy was silent for a moment before shaking his head slightly: "they are just like a kid who lost an argument."

'What a shame!'

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