𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝟐 & 𝐇𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭

𝘼𝙧𝙢 𝙒𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨

    SINCE THE DISASTROUS EPISODE of the pixies, Professor Lockhart had not brought live creatures to class. Instead, he read passages from his books to them, and sometimes reenacted some of the more dramatic bits.

    He usually picked any of the boys to help him with these reconstructions; so far, Beomgyu had been forced to play a simple Transylvanian villager whom Lockhart had cured of a Babbling Curse; Jay as a yeti with a head cold; and Sunoo a vampire who had been unable to eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him.

    Kai was hauled to the front of the class during their very next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting a werewolf—though he said it was quite enjoyable. If either hadn't had a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a good mood, either would have refused to do it.

    "Nice loud howl, Kai—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, Mark—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 of werewolf attacks."

    The bell rang and Lockhart got 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 began to leave. Kai returned to the back of the room, where the others were waiting.

    "Ready?" Beomgyu muttered.

    "Wait till everyone's gone," said Rio nervously. "All right. . ." She approached Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, the rest following right behind her.

    "Uhm. . .Professor Lockhart?" she stammered. "I wanted t-to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading." She held out the piece of paper, her hand shaking slightly. "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!" said Lockhart, taking the note from Rio and smiling widely at her. "Possibly my very favorite book. You enjoyed it?"

    "Oh, yes!" she said eagerly. "So clever, the way you trapped that last one with the tea-strainer—"

    "Well, I'm sure no one will mind me giving the best student of the year a little extra help," said Lockhart warmly, and he pulled out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he said, misreading the revolted look on the boys' faces as Arlo restrained every muscle to make her facepalm. "I usually save it for book-signings."

    He scrawled an enormous loopy signature on the note and handed it back to Rio.

    "Ah! Young lads!" said Lockhart, while Rio folded the note with fumbling fingers and slipped it into her bag. "Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Ravenclaw against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're most useful players, Sunghoon, Jaemin—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. . ."

    The two made an indistinct noise in their throats and then hurried off after their friends.

    "After kneeing Hugo in the gut, they won't allow me to play the first game this year! And if we lose, Slytherin won't play for the year!" Jaemin exclaimed as he spread his arms in the air.