Awkward

Chapter - 12 Gilderoy Lockhart's Feelings

A special thank to -
Rachna Kumar (my most adorable mother who is the main source of my creativity. If she wouldn't have heard the idea and had not given me the suggestions, I wouldn't have been able to write this awkward story)
Sovit Roy_Satoshi xy (my dearest and loveliest friend, who understands me perfectly. I don't know how many people I can count on but you are the first one on the list)
Debra Johnson_debjunk (a great support system and one of my greatest critique)

Please accept my gratitude. Thanks for helping me accomplish my goal of writing this story with utter perfection. I felt uncertain while writing this particular chapter and you were the one who helped me write it and make it immensely readable for my lovely readers.

WARNING!- This chapter contains sexual abuse and adult language.

Christmas crawled in quietly without anyone's notice. The students who would be leaving for the holidays registered their names to the Head of their Houses. Seraphina, George and the lovebirds were leaving Hogwarts that evening in the Hogwarts Express after the feast.

Seraphina bought Christmas presents for all her friends and the teachers. So did George and the Lovebirds. After attending the hearty feast, Seraphina, who was visibly content with her present shopping, personally gifted the presents to everyone. She presented George with a bright yellow scarf and a lot of candies from Honeydukes Sweets shop. She gave the lovebirds each a gold plated pendant, explaining to them how it could be connected together and that it would take the shape of a heart. A tight hug awaited her next. Elenore also got a DVD of Sense and Sensibility, a Muggle movie starring the actor Alan. Ever since Elenore had seen his photograph in Seraphina's chamber, she has been crushing hard on that Muggle. Lucifer, on the other hand, got a Broom maintenance kit for his Xena seven fifty brooms from Seraphina.

George gifted Seraphina a box of paints from Vader's Painting Shop with a hand-made Christmas card. A book on Charms from Lucifer and a scarlet cardigan from Elenore awaited her beneath the small Christmas tree kept in the Prefects' dorm. Lucas also sent a gift for her from Durmstrang. It was a brown vambrace with an engraving depicting her sitting on a dragon. It was a very enchanting gift, she thought. Before the departure for Newport, Seraphina personally went to each of her professors to give them their presents. While each of her teachers thanked her for the presents, one teacher did something very unexpected and quite surprising. Professor Lockhart, who had been a whole different person to her ever since the Yule Ball, handed her a box wrapped with blue velvety paper. A baffled Seraphina gave her professor a surprised look.

" What is this Professor? " asked Seraphina, her brows knit in confusion.

" A Christmas present, " stated Lockhart as if stating the obvious.

Seraphina stood in front of her professor, her mouth gaping in awe.

" That's very sweet of you, professor, but I can't accept it, " cried the young Ravenclaw.

" Come on Seraphina, don't be so reticent. For Merlin's sake, it's Christmas. Now please open it for me. I want to see the look on your face when you see what's inside," said Professor Lockhart, waving his hand in dismay.

Hesitantly, Seraphina tore the velvety blue wrapping paper. The paper covered a black box. Opening it, she almost jumped up in her place with excitement. The black box contained a vintage analogue pocket watch to which a golden chain was attached. It was just like her mother's which had shattered after the curse stuck her. She had been looking for a replacement like crazy, but every time her quest had been futile. The shopkeepers shoved her off by saying that the pocket watch she was asking for was a limited edition and only fourth-five such watches were made over twenty-five years ago.