Thunder exploded inside the bookshop, startling everyone. Quite a few people instinctively looked out the windows to see whether the weather had turned and rain was on its way.
The sound seemed to do more than burst against their ears. Some of the more grim-faced, cold-eyed wizards even turned pale and swayed on their feet, as though the thunder had shaken them to their very core.
Alarmed and bewildered, they searched for the source. The sound seemed to possess a strange magic that made them shudder despite themselves.
His parents upstairs almost burst into applause. Others had noticed the unprecedented "magic" Zhang Xiao had just performed and began whispering nervously. More and more eyes turned toward him.
The Weasley family had all been focused on their father and missed Zhang Xiao's movements, but Hermione had seen them.
The young witch hurriedly tugged his sleeve and asked excitedly:
"Zhang, what magic was that? I can't think of any spell that matches it. Was it Bombarda?
"Could you teach me?"
Zhang Xiao shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Hermione. It's a secret art passed down in my family. I can't teach it to anyone without permission."
The young witch puffed out her cheeks in disappointment, folded her arms, and turned her face away.
Pop! The Daily Prophet reporter couldn't resist taking a close-up of Zhang Xiao. The thick purple smoke and flash snapped the stunned crowd out of their daze.
Only then did they remember that a brawl had just broken out in the bookshop.
Zhang Chengdao leaned against the second-floor railing and pointed downstairs. The manager of Flourish and Blotts finally reacted, rushing down to direct the staff to pull the two men apart.
Lucius clutched his face, still holding Ginny's battered Transfiguration textbook.
He shoved the book into her hands,