Mystique → Hermione Granger [2] ✔

I 09 I First Session

~*~

Since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Lockhart had not brought live creatures to class. And, it was a good thing, too, because if he was that useless when handling pixies, how Lockhart would fare with other magical creatures. Instead, Lockhart's lessons were now spent with him reading passages from his books to them. Sometimes, Lockhart would re-enact the dramatic scenes and usually picked Harry to help him act out certain parts. The rest of the class listened either with disbelief, amusement, or – in Hermione and most of the girls' case – wide-eyed attentiveness and excitement. It was truly sickening.

Alexander, refusing to be idle, took it upon himself to try and learn most of the second-year spells as they weren't learning anything practical. He sent Apollo to collect the Defence books he'd ordered from Flourish and Blotts and spent all of Lockhart's lessons reading. By this point, Alexander was confident enough that he could teach the class better. Even a tiny first year like Colin Creevey could most likely do a better job than Lockhart. Hermione, however, found his actions to be extremely rude (in her words) and made a point to frown at him disapprovingly every ten minutes or so, but Alexander ignored her. Luckily for him, with his seat fairly close to the back, Lockhart couldn't see him. Not that the blond idiot even would have cared as he was too focused on himself.

Alexander knew some things in the world: various types of Magic, the rules of chess, the ability to speak French. But he could not, for the life of him, understand what Hermione saw that was so special or fascinating about Lockhart. It's not like he was jealous or anything. No, far from it. He certainly didn't want to be a blond fool that spent so much time perfecting his blond curls. Yet, what was so alluring about Gilderoy Lockhart that had bewitched most people at Hogwarts so much? For one, it would not be his teaching style, that was for sure. Was it his hair? His clothes? Most likely it was all the heroic deeds he had seemingly achieved in his books. Hmm, perhaps . . .

But then, Alexander would become aggravated, running a hand through his hair, wondering why he was spending any of his time even thinking about Lockhart.

Harry was hauled to the front of the class during their Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson on Tuesday morning, this time acting as a werewolf.

'Nice loud howl, Harry – exactly like that.'

Alexander peeked over his book and spotted a visible flush of red spread across Harry's face when he had to wail particularly loud just then, his head thrown back. There was a very specific reason why Harry was zealous in his determination to please Lockhart today. Ron was clutched over in his seat, his shoulders shaking erratically. Seamus and Dean barked a laugh that was overrun by Lockhart's loud exclamations over how magnificent he was himself when he took down the werewolf. A tiny smirk appeared on Alexander's face and he quickly shoved his face back into his book.

Lockhart's voice continued, like television switched on in the background, as Alexander read a paragraph on the Softening Charm. '— I then screwed up my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm. He let out a piteous moan – go on, Harry – higher than that – good.'