A/N: Essentially, what you recognize belongs to the goddess that is J.K. Rowling, and what you don't belongs to lil' ol' me.

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Finally, the dunce was leaving. Genevieve and poor Hagrid had had to listen to the oaf drone on and on about his achievements without actually helping at all, in any way, whatsoever. Why couldn't she ever just have tea with Hagrid anymore?

"It's a simple matter if you know what you're doing!" Professor Lockhart practically screeched to Hagrid. Genevieve stuck a finger in her ear. "If you need help, you know where I am! I'll let you have a copy of my book. I'm surprised you haven't already got one." Genevieve, unable to contain yourself, snorted. Lockhart looked at her, surprised, as though he'd just noticed her presence.

Probably figuring she was another young hopeful wanting an autograph, he flashed her a too-bright smile. Genevieve had to try her hardest to refrain from laughing in his face.

"Hello, young lady! Would you like to say something to me?" He rivaled Percy in pompousness.

Genevieve forced a smile. "A lot of things, sir, none of them appropriate to say to one's teacher."

Professor Lockhart misunderstood entirely. "Oh? I'm sure I can always help a fan," he said dismissively. "Would you like an autograph? A free book?" He asked, with an air of self-importance.

She lost all self control. "With all due respect, sir, if I wasn't required to buy your books for the school year, I would never have read a single one. And you can bet that I won't read one again; frankly, trash is more valuable."

Before he could contain himself, Professor Lockhart gave an ugly little scowl, quickly regaining composure. "I'm sure you'll come around. Here," he pulled a few pictures out of his robes and signed them. "For your friends." He winked and turned back to Hagrid.

"I'll sign a book tonight and send it over. Well, goodbye!" He flounced back to the castle, as though floating on his ego, and didn't notice Genevieve ripping the headshots to pieces behind him and throwing them into a fire she'd conjured, then extinguishing it.

Once back inside, Genevieve leaned against the door. "I don't ever want to see that man again. If only I could skive off Defense this year."

An almost frantic knock shook the door. "No." Genevieve said at once. "I'm sorry, I can't deal with him today." She made to leave out the back way as Hagrid answered.

"It's all righ'!" Hagrid boomed happily. "It's jus' Harry, Hermione, and Ron!"

"Thank Merlin," she muttered. She turned around to see Ron looking rather sickly.

"Bin wonderin' when you'd come ter see me - come in, come in - we thought you mighta Bin Professor Lockhart back again - Genevieve was tryin' ter run fer it." She smiled and waved sheepishly.

Harry distractedly told them that Ron had tried to curse someone with his broken wand, and it had backfired. Ron spat slugs in a basin Hagrid provided as testimony.

"I don't think there's anything to do except wait for it to stop," Hermione stated, worry tinging her voice.

Genevieve nodded. "She's right. That's not an easy curse, and it was nearly suicidal to try it with a wand like yours."

Curious, Harry queried, "What did Lockhart want with you, Hagrid?"

Remembering what felt like hours Genevieve would never get back, she buried her face in her hands.

"Givin' me advice on gettin' kelpies our of a well," Hagrid snarled. "Like I don' know. An' bangin' on about some banshee he banished. If one word of it was true, I'll eat my kettle."

"Amen," agreed Genevieve. "I reckon he's just an old fraud."

Hermione came to Lockhart's defense. "I think you're being a bit unfair. Professor Dumbledore obviously thought he was the best man for the job-"

Genevieve laughed humorlessly as Hagrid explained. "He was the on'y man for the job. An' I mean the on'y one. Gettin' very difficult ter find anyone fer the Dark Arts job. People aren't too keen ter take it on, see. They're startin' ter think it's jinxed. No one's lasted long fer a while now. So tell me," Hagrid motioned to Ron. "Who was he tryin' ter curse?"

Harry tried to explain. "Malfoy called Hermione something - it must've been really bad, because everyone went wild."

Ron sat up, sweaty and considerably blanched. "It was bad. Malfoy called her 'Mudblood.' "

"What?!" Genevieve was outraged. "If I ever get my hands on that little - hmph!"

The others looked shocked by her outburst.

"My father is a so called 'Mudblood,' " she divulged.

"What does it mean?" Harry asked, confused.

"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," Ron responded in between belches. "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born - you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards - like Malfoy's family - who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood," he said, only one slug coming out this time.

"I mean, the rest of us know it doesn't make any difference at all. Look at Neville Longbottom - he's pure-blood and he can hardly stand a cauldron the right way up."

Hagrid complimented Hermione's skill, and she blushed, while Ron remarked, "Most wizards these days are half-blood anyway. If we hadn't married Muggles we'd've died out."

Hagrid declared that he didn't blame Ron for trying to curse Malfoy in retaliation, but warned him to be careful; Lucius Malfoy was looking for a reason to incriminate the Weasley family and discredit their honor.

Hagrid teased Harry about giving out signed photos, and Genevieve jokingly begged for one as well. "Just imagine, I'll be famous for knowing the Boy Who Lived!"

After a while, they left, and Genevieve and Hagrid were left alone once again.

"So how's Charlie doin'? Yeh still write, don' yeh?"

"Yeah. He's says he's doing great. I reckon he must be - getting to do what he loves everyday."

"I wish I coulda spent my days studyin' dragons," Hagrid said wistfully. "Sure miss Norbert sometimes."

"Me too." Genevieve remembered the feeling she'd had when watching and feeding Norbert, even seeing him hatch. It was a feeling of awe and longing to see things like that for the rest of her life.

"So how's Care of Magical Creatures goin'?"

Genevieve smiled. "It's amazing." It was Hagrid and Charlie who'd convinced her to take the class, after all. And for that, she'd be forever grateful.