𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 || Harry J. Potter [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 9 ✎

"I know!! Stupid idiot maniac moron crazy Lockhart!!"
_______________________

Third Person POV

Since the disastrous episode of the horrible 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 act out the parts, and 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. If he hadn't had a very good reason for keeping Lockhart in a good mood, he would have 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-"

Jilly was laughing so hard she fell on top of Dean, who was sitting beside her as Harry got slammed 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-"

Jilly was now laughing so loud Dean had to cover her mouth with his hand.

"-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. Harry returned to the back of the room, where Ron, Jilly and Hermione were waiting.

"Ready?" Harry muttered.

"Nice moaning Harry." Jilly wiggled her eyebrows with a grin.

"Oh shut up..."

"Wait till everyone's gone," said Hermione nervously, ignoring the other two. "All right..."

She approached Lockhart's desk, a piece of paper clutched tightly in her hand, Harry, Jilly and Ron 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."

"Ah, Gadding with Ghouls!" said Lockhart, taking the note from Hermione and smiling widely at her. "Possibly my very favourite book. You enjoyed it?"

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

Jilly rolled her eyes, "get on with it!" She whispered.

"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 and Jilly's face. "I usually save it for book-signings."

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