I wrote the dialogue to this some time ago. There will be a second (and last) chapter as soon as I manage to add some text. That will probably be sometime tomorrow.
This is supposed to be somewhat amusing, but then I do have a slightly strange sense of humour. Please tell me if it works.
If you find any mistakes don't just keep them. Tell me instead what I did wrong. As a non-native speaker/writer/whatever who has no-one to proofread her texts I'm always happy to learn.
Harry Potter was written neither by me nor by a monkey on a typewriter but by J. K. Rowling. Not on a typewriter, I presume. But hey, you never know.
Gossip spread at Hogwarts with a speed only slightly lower than that of light. It was, therefore, no surprise that only hours after Lockhart had asked Snape to assist him with the duelling club that four professors met in the staff room to discuss the matter.
This time, it was Sprout who set them of with her question, "Why didn't he ask Filius? Everyone knows that he was a duelling champion."
Hooch snorted aloud.
"Pomona, please. That poodle can't even best pixies! He's too much of a coward to choose someone who's any good."
Vector looked at her askance.
"But Severus …", she started to protest.
McGonagall was still somewhat in teaching mood when she replied, "Well, he doesn't want to look ungentlemanly, so he doesn't choose a witch. Hagrid, Argus and Cuthbert are out as well. That leaves Albus, Filius and Severus. And after all, Severus is just a Potions Master and scorns 'foolish wand waving'."
"And was a Death Eater", Vector interjected dryly.
"There's that", McGonagall had to admit.
Hooch's expression distinctly resembled that of the Cheshire Cat as she exclaimed, "I, for one, can't wait to see it!"
"I don't think Severus will agree." Sprout seemed still somewhat unsure.
McGonagall waved her doubts away.
"Oh, I'm sure that Albus will convince him somehow."
"Five galleons say that Lockhart will land himself in the hospital wing", Vector interjected. The arithmancy teacher often suggested bets, but only when the odds were in her favour. The others had caught on to that only weeks after she had joined the staff. Somehow, she now had difficulties to find a betting partner. She never stopped trying, though.
Pomfrey, however, had other concerns.
"So you have all the fun and I'll have to endure him", she complained.
The other witches looked at her somewhat guiltily. Suddenly McGonagall brightened.
"But Poppy, even you have to admit that it will be worth the whining to see him thoroughly beaten."
"Well …"
There really was not much to say against that.
"Perhaps Severus will kill him for us?" Hooch suggested brightly.
"I don't think he will", said Sprout. There was a touch of regret in her voice. "After all, he has yet to harm a student."
"But Lockhart is no student", McGonagall reminded her.
They exchanged malevolent smirks.
"You're right; he's even less intelligent than them", Vector remarked.
It was Hooch who asked the question that had them arguing for hours afterwards.
"So, what curses do you think Severus will use?"