Draco, standing nearby, immediately grinned mischievously and came to her rescue, saying, "She's already turned against you and stopped being a fan."
Hermione glared at him quickly and explained in a low voice:
"I used to just think his experiences were well-written, but I didn't really admire him... And now I know what kind of person he is."
"Oh, you know who he is now? Hermione's been taught by Malfoy too?" George's ears were sharp.
Fred squeezed in, "Tell us quickly, what happened? We're all so curious!"
Hermione felt a little uncomfortable under their gazes and could only vaguely reply, "Anyway... he's not as amazing as you think. You'll see when he starts class."
Draco put his arm around her shoulder, a hint of smugness in his voice. "Don't make things difficult for her. After all, she used to be a Lockhart fan, and now she only believes me."
Hermione's cheeks flushed, and she lightly pinched his waist, gritting her teeth and whispering, " Draco Malfoy, don't get too cocky!"
Looking at the two of them, Ron suddenly slapped his forehead in realization. "Oh—I get it! So you two knew Lockhart's true situation all along."
Percy, unusually, chimed in, offering a serious inference based on the facts:
" Professor Lockhart has won the Wizarding Prize five times, so his teaching experience should be quite good. Hopefully, he can improve the quality of the Defence Against Dark Magic class."
Draco simply smiled and didn't refute.
Mr. Weasley wasn't as enthusiastic as his wife and youngest daughter; he simply looked at Draco with curiosity.
"Does Mr. Malfoy dislike Mr. Lockhart? I've read his books; the stories are indeed very well-written."
"Just a story," Draco said casually, deliberately refusing to elaborate.
He didn't want to spoil Mr. Weasley's mood, and even less did he want to expose a professor who hadn't even taken office yet in the bookstore, thus causing unnecessary trouble.
George and Fred exchanged a glance, their curiosity almost overflowing.
"Oh no, now I'm even more looking forward to the start of school."
"I'd like to see just how outrageous a professor can be to earn such disdain from Draco."
Ron rubbed his hands together, looking expectant. "I bet five Sickle Lockhart will make a fool of himself in the first class."
Draco finally looked up and casually uttered, "I bet you win."
On one side were Mrs. Weasley and Ginny, who were fanatically devoted to them; on the other side were the teenagers waiting to see them make a fool of themselves.
The atmosphere in the small Flourish and Blotts was lively and funny.
Hermione looked at Draco, whose eyes were gentle and kind, beside her, and then at her friends who were playing around.
Suddenly, I realized that second grade will be much more interesting than I imagined.
Just as the two turned to head to the counter to pay, Gilderoy Lockhart, who was surrounded by a group of witches not far away, suddenly spotted them with pinpoint accuracy.
His eyes, which were always focused on fame and popularity, lit up instantly, and he immediately pushed aside the layers of fans surrounding him.
After straightening his collar and dazzling robe, he walked briskly toward the two with a broad smile.
The surrounding crowd immediately fell silent, all turning to look. The Weasley family also noticed the commotion.
Mrs. Weasley's eyes lit up, and she excitedly tugged at Ginny. Ginny covered her mouth, almost screaming.
Arthur raised his eyebrows curiously, while Ron, George, and Fred immediately stopped their playful fighting, looking on with expressions of anticipation.
Lockhart stood directly in front of Draco and Hermione, his posture elegant yet deliberate, his voice just loud enough for those around to hear:
"Look at them! Aren't these two most talked-about little celebrities in the Wizarding World? Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger! You two have been regulars in the Daily Prophet all summer!"
As he spoke, he reached out and tried to pull the two of them closer to him without saying a word.
Hermione instinctively took a half step back, her brows furrowing slightly, clearly feeling uncomfortable and resistant. She didn't like being used as a tool for publicity.
"How about we take a picture together?" Lockhart smiled broadly, immediately offering the bait.
"Just take one photo, and I'll personally gift each of you a complete autographed set of books, free of charge."
A collective gasp of envy rose from the crowd, and the witches watching all wore envious glances.
Mrs. Weasley's eyes widened even more, frantically gesturing to Hermione as if she wanted to agree on her behalf immediately.
Ginny nodded vigorously, her face clearly saying "I agree!"
"You can get a set of books just by taking a photo? Is that even possible?" Arthur laughed, trying to smooth things over, thinking it was a great opportunity.
Percy nodded slightly, believing that it was only natural to cultivate a good relationship with the professor.
Ron muttered under his breath, his face crestfallen, "It's good to be famous. Seven books for free, two sets at that... I would have agreed long ago."
George immediately nudged his shoulder, grinning mischievously, and teased, "You could do that too—next class, stick your wand up your nose in front of everyone, and I guarantee you'll be even more famous Malfoy."
"I don't want to become famous by playing the clown." Ron rolled his eyes at them.
At this point, Hermione politely but firmly declined Lockhart's suggestion. " Professor Lockhart, no need, thank you, we'll just buy it ourselves."
Lockhart's smile faltered, clearly not expecting a rejection. He turned to Draco and raised the price:
" The Malfoy family's circumstances don't require me to send them a few books, but... adding my personal signature makes all the difference."
"The value of these books will immediately double; they'll become collectibles in the Wizarding World in the future."
He thought he could win over this Pure-blood young master with "value," "collectibility," and "fame," but he didn't see the growing disgust in Hermione's eyes.
Upon hearing this, the surrounding onlookers immediately erupted in exclamations of agreement, nodding in agreement and praising Lockhart for his generosity and discerning eye.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny watched enviously. She quickly nudged Hermione gently and whispered urgently:
"Kid, say yes! That's Lockhart's autograph! So many people would kill for it!"
Mr. Weasley smiled awkwardly, not saying much, and simply maintained a polite observation. Percy, of course, also felt that accepting an autograph was a matter of course in social etiquette.
Ron, George, and Fred all fell silent, staring at Hermione, waiting to see how she would respond.
Hermione spoke almost the instant Lockhart finished speaking, "We don't need autographs or collectibles, there's really no need for you to trouble yourself."
A single sentence, concise and to the point, without any unnecessary embellishment.
The entire room fell silent for half a second.
The witches watching were stunned, unable to believe that anyone would refuse Lockhart's autograph.
Mrs. Weasley stood frozen in place, her face filled with disbelief, as if she hadn't expected Hermione to be so disrespectful.
Ginny was also dumbfounded, looking at Hermione with confusion and bewilderment.
Ron's eyes widened, and he whispered to the twins, "She really doesn't give us any face at all..."
George and Fred exchanged a glance, suppressing their laughter, their admiration for Hermione growing even stronger.
For the first time, a crack appeared on Lockhart's perfect smile, and a fleeting look of embarrassment and displeasure flashed in his eyes.
Hermione, however, was now completely awake.
She looked at the man in front of her, a man whose heart was only set on fame and popularity, and whose even his closeness to his students was tinged with calculation and exploitation.
She had no doubt what Draco said. The man before her was not a hero at all, but just an opportunist calculating his own interests.
All her previous adoration and expectations shattered completely at this moment, leaving only clear disappointment and alienation.
She subtly moved closer to Draco, her eyes no longer showing any admiration for Lockhart.