The Last Gaunt:Harry Potter and the Chamber Of Secrets [Book 2]

Chapter IX: The Grapes on the Stairs

Third Person POV

                           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 Harry to help him with these reconstructions; so far, Harry had been forced to play a simple Transylvanian villager whom Lockhart had cured of a Babbling Curse, a yeti with a head cold, and a vampire who had been unable to eat anything except lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him. Harry was hauled to the front of the class during their very next Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson, this time acting a werewolf.
                                                              "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."  Kieran rolled his eyes as he tapped his feet silently on the floor. The girls in the class were sighing happily as they listened to Lockharts every word. Kieran used this class to do Homework, mainly for Transfiguration and Potions. 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. Kieran began to place his parchment and quills in his bag as he noticed Harry returned to the back of the room, where Ron, Hermione and Zach were waiting.'What are they up to?' Kieran thought. He stopped to listen.
                                                                    "Ready?" Harry muttered.
                                                                     "Wait till everyone's gone," said Hermione nervously. "All right..." She approached Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, Harry, Ron and Zach right behind her.
                                                                    "Er - Professor Lockhart?" Hermione stammered. "I wanted to - 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." Kieran raised his eyebrow when he heard the mention of the restricted zone.
                                                                   "Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!" said Lockhart, taking the note from Hermione and smiling widely at her. "Possibly my very favorite book. You enjoyed it?"
                                                                  "Oh, yes," said 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," said Lockhart warmly, and he pulled out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" he said, misreading the revolted look on Ron's face. "I usually save it for book-signings." He scrawled an enormous loopy signature on the note and handed it back to Hermione. "So, Harry," said Lockhart, while Hermione folded the note with fumbling fingers and slipped 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 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..." Harry made an indistinct noise in his throat and then hurried off after Ron and Hermione, but they stopped once they felt Zach wasn't close.
                                                                       "Professor Lockhart, you should teach Harry some Seeker pointers in the next Quidditch Practice. The Whole Gryffindor Team will be there and you could be know as the man who gave pointers to the youngest Quidditch player in a century." Zach said emotionless staring at Lockhart and he quickly began to make an excuse of why he couldn't go. "Pity." Zach said leaving with the other three, but they stopped halfway down the steps when they saw Kieran looking back at them, yet they walked past him. 'I wonder what do they want' Kieran thought as he followed the quartet, making sure he wasn't seen by anyone. Due to them talking in hushed voices Kieran couldn't hear them speak bu he still was  determined to followed them. He followed the quartet to the Library as they went towards Madam Prince.
                                                                          "Moste Potente Potions?" she repeated suspiciously, trying to take the note from Hermione; but Hermione wouldn't let go.
                                                                           "I was wondering if I could keep it," she said breathlessly.
                                                                            "Oh, come on," said Ron, wrenching it from her grasp and thrusting it at Madam Pince. "We'll get you another autograph. Lockhart will sign anything if it stands still long enough."