Flourish and Blotts was packed to the rafters.
For most wizards, this was a great day to snap up new term textbooks and catch a glimpse of Gilderoy Lockhart.
> [Crowd Density: Extremely High (Movement Speed -50%, Pickpocket Success Rate +20%)]
> [Environmental Noise: Extremely High (Perception Check -10, Continuous Sanity Drain)]
"Stay close, Ring-bearer." Rove lowered his voice, shielding Harry with one hand while keeping the other pressed firmly on his wand at his waist. "Pickpockets, spies, and Dark Wizards are everywhere here. Remember, don't accept sweets from strangers, and don't read any moving books."
Harry squeezed through the crowd with difficulty, trying to keep up with the Weasleys ahead.
"Rove, it's just a bookstore," Harry said helplessly, his glasses knocked askew. "And everyone just wants to see Lockhart. Hermione said she wanted to see him too."
"That is exactly the most dangerous place." Rove looked coldly toward the center of the bookstore.
A huge, bordering on tacky, banner hung there: Gilderoy Lockhart signing his autobiography, 'Magical Me'.
Behind that table sat a wizard in robes of forget-me-not blue. He had wavy blonde hair and a set of pearly white teeth that shone so bright even the mascot for Darlie toothpaste would be ashamed.
When he smiled and waved at the crowd, the System flashed a red warning.
> [Elite Unit Encounter!]
> [True Name: Gilderoy Lockhart]
> [Race: Human (?) / Succubus Hybrid (Suspected)]
> [Title: Gríma Wormtongue Variant / The Deceiver / Memory Thief]
> [Danger Level: Yellow (Mental Pollution)]
> [Skills: Mass Charm (Lv. Max), Obliviate (Grandmaster), Vicious Tongue (Passive), Dazzling Entrance (Blindness Effect)]
"Look at that smile." Rove squinted as if blinded by a strong light. "Fake, oily, and filled with high-level magical suggestion. He's using his teeth to reflect light, casting mass hypnosis on all women present. This is typical Dark Magic—Charm Person."
Mrs. Weasley was gazing obsessively at Lockhart, frantically patting her hair while blushing like a schoolgirl. "Oh, he is charming, isn't he? Those books he wrote, about wrestling the Yeti in Tibet..."
"His words are poison, my Lady," Rove muttered behind her. "He is poisoning the mind of the King... I mean, he's poisoning the public's aesthetic and IQ. If those stories are true, I'll eat that copy of Voyages with Vampires."
Suddenly, Lockhart's eyes swept over Harry.
"It can't be?" Lockhart shouted, bouncing out of his seat. "Harry Potter!"
Lockhart rushed over, seized Harry's arm, and dragged him forcefully under the flashing cameras.
"Wonderful! What a perfect headline! The Savior meets the Great Author!"
Rove stepped forward, intending to pull Harry back.
"Unhand the Ring-bearer, you treacherous minister!" Rove roared. "Your filthy hands are not worthy to touch the Chosen One!"
But before he could charge, he was blocked by a wall of screaming middle-aged witches.
"Don't push! I want an autograph too!"
"Lockhart looked at me! He looked at me!"
"Move, I want to touch his robes!"
"Release the Halfling!" Rove shouted from the periphery of the crowd, trying to force his way in with brute strength. "This is kidnapping! Public kidnapping!"
But crazy fans didn't care about any of that; anyone hindering them from seeing their idol was shoved aside. Rove watched helplessly as Harry was clamped tightly in Lockhart's embrace, flashing a stiff, awkward fake smile at the cameras.
"Big smile, Harry! We can make the front page!" Lockhart whispered in Harry's ear, then his voice was magically amplified to fill the entire shop. "Ladies and gentlemen, I have a most extraordinary announcement to make..."
"Damn it! It's Mind Control!" Rove gritted his teeth, watching Harry's helpless eyes. "He's trying to corrupt the Ring-bearer's will! He's draining Harry's luck!"
Just as Rove prepared to draw his frying pan and unleash a "Whirlwind Slash" on the witches to break through, a commotion on the other side caught his attention.
In the corner of the bookstore.
Arthur Weasley and Lucius Malfoy were fighting.
Fists meeting flesh, books flying everywhere.
"Good hit, Arthur!" Hagrid's voice rang out as he easily separated the two entangled men. Arthur had a cut lip, and Lucius had been hit in the eye by A Guide to Household Pests.
By the time Rove finally managed to drag Harry—whose face was covered in lipstick marks and wore an expression of utter despair—out of Lockhart's clutches amidst the chaos, the fight over there was already over.
Lucius Malfoy straightened his disheveled robes, holding a battered Transfiguration textbook in his hand.
He shoved the battered book back into Ginny's cauldron.
"Here, girl—take your book. It's the best your father can give you," Lucius said venomously, then swept away with an arrogant Draco in tow.
Rove stared vigilantly at Lucius's retreating back, especially at that last, seemingly casual movement.
> [Warning: Elite Unit Retreating!]
> [True Name: Lucius Malfoy]
> [Identity: Envoy of Mordor / High-Ranking Death Eater]
> [Status: Plot Succeeded]
"What did he do?" Rove frowned. His intuition told him something was wrong.
He walked quickly to Ginny.
The little sister was clutching her pile of books, her face pale, tears in her eyes, clearly terrified by the scene just now.
"Are you alright, Ginny?" Rove checked her for any Dark Magic. "Did that serpent bite you? Or cast a curse on you?"
Ginny looked up, about to speak, but caught sight of Harry behind Rove.
Harry was wiping soot from his glasses, looking at her with concern. "You okay, Ginny?"
Ginny turned beet red instantly. She couldn't say a word, just shook her head frantically, then buried her face in her books.
"She's traumatized," Rove sighed, shaking his head. "That level of Dark Pressure (referring to Lucius) is indeed too heavy for an underage Hobbit."
> [System Alert: Target is in 'Extreme Shyness (Confusion)' state.]
> [Judgment: Due to close-range radiation from 'Savior Aura', Charm effect inflicted.]
> [Note: This isn't Dark Magic; this is Puberty.]
"Right, all done," Arthur Weasley walked over, panting. His robe was torn, but he looked exhilarated. "We should go too. The air in here is terrible."
"Let's go, Harry."
"We should leave this place of trouble. That Wormtongue's laughter is giving me a headache; my Sanity is plummeting."
Harry, holding the complete set of works Lockhart had forced upon him, followed helplessly, stumbling under the weight.
"Give me those books," Ginny suddenly whispered, blushing as she took the stack from Harry's arms and put them in her cauldron. "I mean... I have to buy them anyway."
"Oh, thanks, Ginny," Harry said, relieved.
Stepping out of the bookstore and breathing the relatively fresh air of Diagon Alley, all three let out a sigh of relief.
"Seriously, Rove, why do you hate Lockhart so much?" Harry asked while straightening his clothes. "Even though he's a bit... overly enthusiastic, Mum and Hermione think he's great. He's written so many books and done so many good things."
"Because I know what real heroes look like, Harry." Rove stopped and turned around, back against the sunlight.
"Real heroes don't write their deeds into books to sell for money, nor do they trade smiles for applause. They don't pose under flashing lights; they silently wipe blood from their swords in muddy trenches."
Rove touched the frying pan at his waist, his tone becoming solemn.
"Real heroes are often nameless, silent, and bear heavy burdens. They fight to protect the world, yet are often misunderstood by it."
Harry paused. Looking at Rove's young face, which seemed etched with stories, he suddenly felt the words made sense, and he was even somewhat moved.
"You mean..." Harry looked thoughtful.
"Exactly." Rove nodded with a tragic expression. "Like me."
Harry: "?"
"Just now, trying to rush in to save you, my new leather boots were flattened by that two-hundred-pound fat witch." Rove pointed at his deformed boots with a heartbroken look. "This is standard Gondor Ranger gear! Who will write this sacrifice into a book? Who will give me Galleons?"
Harry: "..."