Since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Professor Lockhart hasn't 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 Harry to help him with these reconstructions; so far, Harry 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.
Harry is hauled to the front of the class during their very next Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting a werewolf. If he didn't have a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a good mood, he would've refused to do it.
"Nice loud howl, Harry - 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, Harry - 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 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. Harry returns to the back of the room, where Ron and Hermione are waiting.
"Ready?" Harry mutters.
"Wait till everyone's gone," says Hermione nervously. "All right..."
She approaches Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, Harry and Ron right behind her.
"Er - Professor Lockhart?" Hermione stammers. "I wanted to - to get this book out of the library. Just for background reading." She holds 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!" says Lockhart , taking the note from Hermione and smiling widely at her. "Possibly my favourite book. You enjoyed it?"
"Oh, yes," says Hermione 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," says Lockhart warmly. He pulls out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he says, misreading the revolted look on Ron's face. "I usually save it for book signings."
He scrawls an enormous loopy signature on the note and hands it back to Hermione.
"So, Harry," says Lockhart, while Hermione folds the note with fumbling fingers and slips it into her 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 you ever feel the need for a little private training, don't hesitate to ask. Always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players...."
Harry makes an indistinct noise in his throat and then hurries off after Ron and Hermione.
"I don't believe it," he says as they examine the signature on the note. "He didn't even look at the book we wanted."
YOU ARE READING
The Mysterious Heir
Fanfiction2 Years before Harry Potter is born, Voldemort conceives a son to take his place if he died before he reached immortality. After he is born, Voldemort enchants him to be more powerful than himself. This is the story of Polaris Cygnus Lestrange, The...
