Jane Fizzle and the Chamber of Secrets

Chapter 10

    Since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Professor Lockhart has not brought live creatures to class. Instead, he reads passages from his books to them, and sometimes reenacts some of the more dramatic bits. He usually picks Jane to help him with these reconstructions; so far, Jane has been forced to play a simple Transylvanian villager whom Lockhart has cured of a Babbling Curse, a yeti with a head cold, and a vampire who has been unable to eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart has dealt with him.

    Jane is hauled to the front of the class during their very next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting as a werewolf. If she didn't have a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a good mood, she would have refused to do it.

    "Nice loud howl, Jane — exactly — and then, if you'll believe it, I pounced — like this — slammed him to the floor — thus with one hand, I managed to hold him down — with my other, I put my wand to his throat — I then screwed up my remaining strength and performed the immensely complex Homorphus Charm - he let out a piteous moan — go on, Jane — higher than that — good — the fur vanished — the fangs shrank — and he turned back into a man. Simple, yet effective — and another village will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them from the monthly terror ofwerewolf attacks."

    The bell rings and Lockhart gets to his feet.

    "Homework — compose a poem about my defeat of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf! Signed copies of Magical Me to the author of the best one!" The class begins to leave. Jane returns to the back of the room, whereScarlett and Gavin are waiting. Scarlett filled Gavin in with the plan, Gavin a little unsure, but agreed. 

    "Ready?" Jane mutters, fixing her hair a little.

    "Wait till everyone's gone," Gavin says, looking around. "All right..." He approaches Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, Jane and Scarlett right behind him.

    "Er — Professor Lockhart?" Gavin asks in the kindest voice he can muster. "I wanted to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading." He forcefully holds out the piece of paper, his arm as still as a deer in the headlights. "But the thing is, it's in the Restricted Section of the library, so I need a teacher to sign for it — I'm sure it would help me understand what you say in Gadding with Ghouls about slow-acting venoms."

    "Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!" Lockhart says, taking the note from Gavin and smiling widely at him. "Possibly my very favorite book. You enjoyed it?"

    "Oh, yes," Gavin lies. "So clever, the way you trapped that last one with the teastrainer, my father could never —"

    "Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving the best student of the year a little extra help," Lockhart says warmly, and he pulls out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he asks, misreading the revolted look on Scarlett's face. "I usually save it for book- signings." He scrawls an enormous loopy signature on the note and hands it back to Gavin, who glares at it, but tries his best to look like he's overjoyed.

    Jane and Scarlett try to keep their smiles as well. Jane really wants to pull Lockhart by his hair and throw him off the Astronomy Tower, but knows she'll get in trouble, so stays where she is, hands folded tightly in front of her.

    "So, Jane," Lockhart says, while Gavin folds the note and shoves it in his bag. "Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're a useful player. I was a Seeker, too. I was asked to try for the National Squad, but preferred to dedicate my life to the eradication of the Dark Forces. Still, if ever you feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players..."