survivor | HARRY POTTER

-Chapter 8-

Ever since the disastrous episode of the pixies, Lockhart hadn't brought any live creatures into class and instead settled for reading passages from his books out to them, sometimes reenacting some of the more dramatic bits. He usually picked Harry to help him with those reconstructions; so far, Harry had been forced to play a simple Transylvanian villager who Lockhart had cured of a Babbling Curse, a yeti with a head-cold, and a vampire who had been unable to eat anything except for lettuce since Lockhart had dealt with him. It was incredibly amusing for Alyssa, who cheered Harry on sarcastically, smirking and wiggling her fingers innocently in his direction when he turned to glare at her.

Harry was hauled to the front of the class during their very next Defence Against The Dark Arts lesson, this time acting as a werewolf. If they hadn't had a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a good mood, it was clear that the Gryffindor would have refused to do it. "Nice loud howl, Harry - exactly - and then, if you'll believe it, I pounced, just like this, slammed him go floor - thus - with one hand, I managed to hold him down, and 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 villager who will remember me forever as the hero who delivered them from the monthly terror of werewolf attacks."

The bell rang loudly and Lockhart got to his feet. Most of the class were looking extremely bored, a select few, including Alyssa, were snickering at Harry's red face and embarrassed attitude, and the remainder were a group of annoying girls at the very front of the class who were all giggling at Lockhart and twirling hair around their fingers. "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, and Harry returns to the back of the class to grab his bag.

"Shut up, Ali." Harry rolled his eyes, smiling slightly at Alyssa as the Ravenclaw burst into a fit of laughter and began rolling around in her seat. "That was priceless! Your face was incredible." She wheezed out, blatantly ignoring Harry's slightly annoyed and embarrassed glare. "Ready?" Ron asked as they began to make their way to the front of the classroom where Lockhart was organising papers on his very cluttered desk. "Wait 'till everyone's gone." Hermione said anxiously. "All right..."

She gradually approached Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand. The others followed closely at her heels. "Er - Professor Lockhart? 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 trouble is, Professor, it's in the restricted section of the library, so I need a teacher to sign it for me -"
"We're sure it would help us understand what you say in Gadding with Ghouls about slow-acting venoms." Jess piped up, sending Hermione an exasperated look. The only reason Jess knew that at all would be because Hermione had spent most of the previous night blabbering on about how 'brave' and 'courageous' and 'smart' her celebrity crush/teacher was.

"Ah, Gadding with Ghouls! Possibly my very favourite book! You enjoyed it?" Lockhart beamed at them as he accepted the note from Hermione. "Yes, it was genius..." Alyssa lied through gritted teeth, her right eye twitching slightly as she sent Lockhart an obviously fake smile. "Well, I'm sure no one would mind me giving the best students of the year a little extra help." Lockhart grinned warmly as he pulled out an enormous peacock quill. "Yes, nice, isn't it?" He smiled, obviously misreading the look of disgust on the others faces. "I usually save it for book signings."

He scrawled an enormous loopy signature on the note and handed it back to Hermione, not even glancing at the book that they wanted. "So, Harry, Jess." Lockhart began as Hermione folded the note with fumbling fingers and slipped it into the inside of her robe. "Tomorrow's the first Quidditch match of the season, I believe? Gryffindor against Slytherin, is it not? I hear you're useful players. I was a Seeker, too, Harry, but of course, I know a great deal about the position of Chaser, Miss Blue. I was asked to try out 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. I'm always happy to pass on my expertise to less able players."