Chapter 60: At Flourish and Blotts
Rather than helping Della purchase school supplies, it would be more appropriate to say that Snape was doing the purchasing himself.
Della followed Snape around Knockturn Alley for the entire morning, and the professor seemed to be still unsatisfied before leading Della into a restaurant in Diagon Alley.
"Bacon, buttered potatoes, and a glass of wine." After Snape and the waiter took the order, he handed the menu to Della.
"Corn soup, salad, an appetizer, and a medium-rare steak. Thank you, sir." Della smiled and returned the menu to the waiter.
"You have quite a big appetite." Looking at the thin and pale Della, Snape spoke in a deep voice.
"I have Maggie, Professor."
As Della spoke, Maggie twisted her gray body and slid onto the dining table. Snape looked at the man and the snake coldly, and without saying much, he took out the list for this semester from his pocket and handed it to Della.
"It can be seen that this year's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, will teach you well." Snape said with disdain.
"Gathering with Female Ghosts", "Traveling with Ghouls", "Vacation with Hags"......
Looking at the similarly structured titles on the list, Della frowned. She looked at Snape and said, "Excuse me, Professor, these look more like popular readings than textbooks."
"Perhaps Dumbledore feels that this method is more suitable for noisy little wizards like you."
The sarcasm on Snape's face became even stronger. Just then the waiter brought the meal. He took the plate and put it on the table while continuing to speak.
"Professor Lockhart will have a book signing at Flourish and Blotts this afternoon. You can also meet this wizard who is said to have the most charming smile while buying books."
"Can't we go to a used bookstore, professor?" Della paused while cutting steak for Maggie and looked up at Snape. "I like going to used bookstores, professor. I like the feeling of reading old books."
"Oh, really? I can't tell."
Snape looked up and down at Della's elegant attire. Because of her farewell to Leah this morning, she was not wearing a robe, but her everyday clothes.
"You can go to a used bookstore, but you can only buy one spells book. Why do you think Professor Lockhart is signing books at Flourish and Blotts? Most of the books there are new."
"It's okay, professor, you can occasionally find treasures in used bookstores." Della said softly after pushing the cut steak to Maggie.
That's true. At least this time, Della really found something good.
In the second-hand bookstore, at Snape's casual suggestion, in addition to the spell book, Della also bought an advanced potions guide, an advanced runes book, and several books on alchemy.
"It seems that you are quite obsessed with alchemy, Miss Riddle."
On the way to Flourish and Blotts, looking at Della holding a book in her hand, Snape said coldly, "Except for the application of runes, I think this subject is as irrelevant as divination."
"But it is just like potions, it requires the preparation of many ratios. Although success is often unpredictable, it is also very rigorous to some extent, professor."
"Hmph," Snape raised his eyelids, frowned and looked at the crowded Flourish and Blotts bookstore, exhaled impatiently, and complained in his low voice, "I can't believe I have to do this kind of thing with a second-year student. Dumbledore likes you so much, why don't you do it yourself?"
However, after opening the door and seeing Lucius and Arthur, who were in a dishevel and had bruises on their faces, Snape's gloom disappeared. He raised his head in surprise and covered the upturned corners of his mouth with a look of surprise.
"I didn't know pure-blood families had such a way of greeting each other. It really broadens my horizons." The deep voice and raised eyebrows fully reflected Snape's mockery.
"Humph."
Lucius snorted awkwardly, and with the help of Draco, he stood up straight. He gritted his teeth and straightened his clothes. After glaring at Arthur and Hagrid, he took Draco out without saying a word. Draco only had time to look at Della before he was pushed out of the bookstore by Lucius.
Although we met twice in one day, each time was so hurried.
Della felt a little regretful, but she quickly adjusted her mindset. She greeted Hagrid, then walked to Arthur with concern, "Are you okay, Mr. Weasley?"
"Heh, in a fight between wizards, even if you suffer a few curses, it's much more decent than a superficial wound."
Snape didn't give Arthur a chance to speak, and sneered to himself, "Well, Miss Riddle, go see your new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor first. We also have materials to deal with today."
"Okay, Professor Snape." Della smiled apologetically at Arthur and Molly, waved goodbye to Hagrid, Ginny, Harry, Hermione and the Weasley boys one by one, and then went into the crowd with Snape.
"That old bat." Fred said angrily in dissatisfaction.
"I'm really worried about Della's situation." George echoed Fred's words and looked back with some concern.
"Be careful with your words, George, Fraser, Mr. Snape has always been like this. You can't just deny everything based on his actions." Molly lectured them, then turned to look at Arthur, "And you too, too impulsive!"
"I think we need to clean up here first, Mrs. Weasley." Looking at the mess in the bookstore, Hagrid scratched his head. Everyone came to their senses and started to clean up in a hurry.
Snape said he would take Della to meet the new professor, but he only took her into the bookstore where Lockhart's books could be purchased. It was obvious that he just didn't want to communicate more with the Weasleys.
Della still stood on tiptoe and looked at Lockhart in the center of the crowd. How should I put it? The male wizard with wavy blond hair had a very good appearance, but the frivolous look on his face did not look like a battle-hardened wizard at all, which made Della feel weird.
Snape chose the book in no time. He turned his head to glance at the Weasley family who were still at the door, then looked at the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts under the camera of the reporter. His brows were furrowed, and his thin face looked even gloomier.
"Professor, we can go to the second floor and read some books first." Della suggested, pointing to the almost deserted staircase.
"Yeah," Snape nodded without any emotion. Before walking up with his robes shaking, he casually pulled out a book from the ones in his hand, "Walking with Trolls". He glanced at the name and the exaggerated cover on the cover, and wrinkled his nose.
"I thought Professor Lockhart's book would be good reading for you."