Eternal Despair (Harry Potter/OC)

𝟞: Gilderoy Lockhart

At least the Howler had done one good thing: Hermione seemed to think they had now been punished enough and was being perfectly friendly again.

"You wouldn't be smiling if you were in our shoes," Enzo muttered.

"I wouldn't be anywhere near that car," Hermione protested with a hint of exasperation in her voice.

As they neared the greenhouses, Harry, Enzo, Ron, and Hermione noticed their classmates gathered outside, clearly waiting for Professor Sprout. They had only just joined the group when Professor Sprout came striding across the lawn, Gilderoy Lockhart at her side.

"Oh, look, a talking, walking, nuisance," Enzo remarked dryly, pointing at Lockhart as they approached the greenhouse.

Lockhart's face lit up with a beaming smile. "Oh, hello there!" he called out, his eyes sweeping over the assembled students. "I've just been showing Professor Sprout the proper way to doctor a Whomping Willow! But don't get the wrong idea, I wouldn't claim to be better at Herbology than she is! It's just that I've encountered several exotic plants in my travels..."

"Greenhouse three today, chaps!" announced Professor Sprout, her expression sour, quite the contrast to her usual cheerful demeanor.

A murmur of excitement rippled through the students. Greenhouse three was known to house far more intriguing and dangerous plants than the usual greenhouse one.

Professor Sprout retrieved a large key from her belt and unlocked the greenhouse door.

Harry and Enzo were about to follow Ron and Hermione inside when Lockhart's hand shot out, halting them. "Boys! I've been wanting a word with you. You don't mind if they're a couple of minutes late, do you, Professor Sprout?"

Despite Professor Sprout's clear annoyance, expressed by her deepening scowl, Lockhart breezily replied to his own question, "That's the ticket," and closed the door in her face.

"I mind!" Enzo groaned, baffled by Lockhart, who took his comment as a joke.

"Boys," Lockhart began, his large white teeth gleaming in the sunlight as he shook his head. "Boys, boys, boys."

Harry stood silently, completely nonplussed by Lockhart's behavior.

"When I heard, I could have kicked myself. Well, of course, it was all my fault."

Harry and Enzo exchanged confused glances, having no idea what he was talking about.

"He needs clinical help," Enzo whispered to Harry, who nodded in agreement.

Just as Harry was about to ask what Lockhart meant, the man continued, "Don't know when I've been more shocked. Flying a car to Hogwarts! I knew right away why you'd done it. Stood out a mile. Boys, boys, boys."

Lockhart managed to display every one of his brilliant teeth even when he wasn't talking.

"Gave you a taste for publicity, didn't I?" said Lockhart. "Gave you the bug. You boys got onto the front page of the paper with me, and you couldn't wait to do it again."

"Oh, no, Professor, see-"

"Harry, Harry, Harry," interrupted Lockhart, reaching out to grasp Harry's shoulder.

"I understand. It's natural to want a bit more once you've had that first taste, and I blame myself for giving you that because it was bound to go to your head. But see here, young man, you can't start flying cars to try and get yourself noticed. Just calm down, all right? Plenty of time for all that when you're older. Yes, yes, I know what you're thinking! 'It's all right for him, he's an internationally famous wizard already!' But when I was twelve, I was just as much of a nobody as you are now. In fact, I'd say I was even more of a nobody! A few people have heard of you, haven't they? All that business with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named!" He glanced pointedly at the lightning scar on Harry's forehead.