Litigating like Lawyers
"I found it Harry!" Hermione's excited voice called out two days later.
It had taken some time, but they'd agreed to see what being more than friends meant and so far it meant a lot of time in the Library. Not that Harry was complaining, as both had realized they really liked being together, but it also meant he was helping her on her crusade. And it was all his fault, though the pecks on the cheek were nice.
After their conversation about Lockhart, Hermione had done a long hard reflection on the actions and, as she now called them, the clueless abominations of fiction of Professor, no, Mr. Lockhart. They'd started by creating a timeline, and found four different times he claimed to be in two places at once. Then her mind suitably critical and no longer in awe of the man, addressed the errors in how, why, and what he had done in each of his works. The list was staggering.
Presented with what was apparently a massive con artist as a teacher, especially once Harry admitted Lockhart's plan outside the chamber was to stun then obliviate them, she turned to others for help. With the pointed help of Professors Flitwick and McGonagall, who because of their oaths to the school couldn't actively help them find the information they needed, they had retired to the library to research.
"What did you find?" Harry asked, looking up from the tome before him, wondering if his eye would start bleeding soon.
"I found our answer," Hermione said, bringing the ancient parchment over to Harry, "It's part of the Hogwarts Charter. We can request an Educational Review of Lockhart."
"What's an Educational Review?"
"Basically, if we can get enough people to agree, the students that is, we can ask a trio of outside individuals to review his effectiveness."
"So basically like a trial?" Harry pondered, "That seems like a lot of work."
"Oh yes, I'm sure it will be, but we can do it."
"We?" Harry asked dubiously, "What can I do?"
"You'll help me." Hermione said matter of factly. "First, we need to figure out just what he's lied about. Obviously his books are rubbish, but maybe they hold enough truths to find the real stories."
"Sound tedious," Harry groaned, then brightened. "I know, I'll look into is introduction spiel. If that is part of what got him hired, if we show that is false it would show he should never have gotten the job in the first place."
"Good idea Harry." Hermione agreed. "And though the students have to start the process, it doesn't say that the other teachers can't assist us. Maybe Professor McGonagall or Professor Flitwick could help us."
"Considering the comments they had about him when we talked to them about how to get rid of him, I'd say they definitely want to help." Harry quipped. "If nothing else, maybe they can help with communicating with people outside the castle."
"True," Hermione agreed, "So we need to plan this. First, who can we request for the tribunal, we need three."
"Someone from the Ministry?" Harry suggested cautiously, "Maybe like their secretary of education or whatever?"
"Good Harry," Hermione agreed, jotting that down, "Maybe someone from the board of Governors as well, now that Malfoy's not on it."
"He shouldn't still have allies there, he did threaten them all after all." Harry agreed, "Does Hogwarts have an administration? Someone that just does paperwork and manages things but isn't a teacher? Maybe from the accounting part or something. Then everyone is related to Hogwarts, but not directly involved with Lockhart."
"That's brilliant Harry," Hermione agreed, writing all this down. "Oh, and one of them should have a child that goes to Hogwarts, if possible, that'll really help."
"So that's the Tribunal, what about the rest?"
"Well, hopefully Professor McGonagall will help us with some of this, but I think the big ones should be about his Credentials, his teaching, and…" She looked nervously at him, "His attack on you and Ron."
"Why do we need to…." Harry trailed off and sighed, "His attacking students to cover for himself is a big deal, isn't it?"
"Yes Harry, I'm sorry but it will make our case that much stronger." Hermione leaned over to give him a half hug. "But maybe Professor McGonagall of Professor Flitwick has an idea how we can show it without you having to tell them yourself."
"I hope so," Harry sighed, leaning into the hug. He was getting much more comfortable with physical expressions like hugs, and even the occasional kiss on the cheek, at least from Hermione.
"I know it is hard, but it really does show what kind of person he is." Hermione squeezed him again, "It's hard to believe he'd… anyway, what else do we need to do?"
"Actually get the others to sign the thing?" Harry asked.
"Already taken care of." Hermione said evasively, "We should have it by this afternoon, or at least something we can use instead."
"How? Who did you…" Harry trailed off, remembering the only other visitors she'd had while in the hospital wing. "Not Ron, he's a good bloke but not one you'd trust… the twins?"
"They're agreeing to not prank anyone who signs it till the end of school." Hermione informed him, "They even agreed to the first week of next year for those returning."
"And how did you get them to agree?" Harry asked, "Exams are over and this is prime prank time for them. I still shudder from what happened last year."
"I pointed out that next year is their OWL year, and they could either help, or Lockhart will be back and teaching them to act out the spells they have to use on the tests or they get someone who might actually teach something they can use."
"And they bought it?" Harry asked dubiously,
"Oh yes, definitely" Hermione said with a bit much surety.
"What else did you promise them?" Harry asked, realizing she was hiding something.
"Oh nothing much…" Hermione apparently found the ceiling of the library very fascinating, "I may have promised to help them with a project or two. A couple potions they need help with."
Realizing this as probably the most he was going to get out of her, Harry sighed. "Just remember i look terrible with purple hair."
"You're not mad?" She asked curiously
"Not really, it needs to be done." Harry admitted, "Plus I know whatever you're involved in will be safe, unlike some of their experiments. I remember the explosions last summer."
"Thanks Harry," Hermione smiled at him, "Now the last thing is who presents, I think it's going to have to be us."
"Presents what?" Harry asked, getting nervous again.
"Presents the case against Lockhart." Hermione clarified, "We'll be at the center of the research, even if we'll have help soon. And I'm sure one of the teachers will help, but most of it will be us."
"So speaking in front of everyone, great." Harry was pretty sure he'd have to find a mop to get all the sarcasm that was dripping from that statement. "You know I hate talking about this stuff."
"I know Harry, and i hate to say it but you're the boy-who-lived in this society that loves to hyphenate." He cracked a small grin, "But I think we both need to work on talking more grown up. I'd call it professional but that sounds too tedious. We need to talk at a higher level so it feels more natural to them. Less like we're whining schoolchildren."
"So sound adult and they'll treat us as more reliable than if we sound like children?"
"Precisely." Hermione smiled at him, "So let's start practicing."
