A Young Wizard's Journey - The Chamber of Secrets

The Call to Action

Ever since his little slip up with the pixies, Lockhart had avoided showing them anything that would draw attention to his incompetence. Though Y/N wasn't sure if Lockhart had managed to get his wand back following it being thrown out the window, so that may also be the reason.

He and Hermione had been regularly reporting back to Professor McGonagall with their lessons but so far not a lot of anything had happened, which was both a blessing and a curse. Lockhart had chosen mostly to simply recount his own tales instead of giving the class any real defence advice. He kept reading passages from his own stories and dragging Harry up to the front of the class to re-enact some of the more 'dramatic' moments.

Y/N had begun realising that Lockhart paid little attention to what else was going on in the class whilst doing this, so had been practicing some of the spells from 'Complete Jinxes, Charms and Hexes to bedazzle your friends'. At first, Hermione had been annoyed at this, nudging Y/N to make him pay attention, but after a few lessons of Lockhart doing the same thing she'd relented. And over the last couple, had even joined him in practicing them. It was good that she was, it was very difficult magic to perform and he was grateful for her help.

Their current lesson was much the same. Harry had been called up to the front to act as a werewolf for Lockhart's retelling. The rest of the quartet knew full well he was only agreeing to keep Lockhart happy. Y/N and Hermione were at the back of the class practicing disillusionment charms. The magic was intricate, beyond anything they'd studied so far, but Y/N knew it would be useful. Being able to turn himself invisible would be crucial if the others went skulking around under Harry's cloak.

The most he'd managed so far however was making everything below his waist faintly translucent, as if he was a ghost from the belt down.

'You'll get it,' said Hermione reassuringly as Y/N threw his wand down onto his desk in frustration. 'This is fifth-year magic. It's impressive you've even gotten this far.'

'Not good enough,' grumbled Y/N as the bell rang. Harry slid back through the class towards them.

'What's happened to you?' asked Harry, looking at Y/N's spectral legs.

'Hermione got sick of me not listening to Lockhart, so she killed my legs,' said Y/N. 'They just have unfinished business.' Hermione smacked him.

Harry shook his head. 'Ready?' he muttered.

Hermione nodded. Once the last student had left, she advanced to Lockhart's desk.

'Professor Lockhart,' she said, 'I wanted to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading,' she held out the slip of paper in her hand, 'but the thing is, it's in the Restricted Section, so I need a teacher to sign for it. I'm sure it would help me understand your passage in 'Gadding with Ghouls' about slow-acting venoms.'

'Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!' he said, taking the slip of paper and not even reading it. 'Possibly my favourite book. You enjoyed it?'

'Oh yes,' Hermione lied. 'That last one with the tea strainer. Seems too good to be true-'

'Well I'm sure no one will mind me giving the best witch in the year a little extra help,' and he pulled out a massive, gaudy peacock quill. Ron looked revolted. 'Nice, isn't it?' said Lockhart, clearly misunderstanding the look, 'I usually save it for book signings.'

He signed the note, still without reading, and then handed it back to Hermione.

'So Harry,' said Lockhart as Hermione folded the note away inside her bag, grinning. 'Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin. I hear you're a useful player. I was a Seeker too.' Y/N snorted, and Lockhart waggled a finger at him.