Gilderoy Lockhart
The next day we went to Herbology in the morning. It was sure to be an interesting class period because we were working in greenhouse three today. Professor Sprout came up and led us into the greenhouse. There were plants at each table and a pile of earmuffs.
"Today we are going to be repotting Mandrakes. Can anyone tell me what Mandrakes are?" We had Herbology with the Gryffindors this year and Hermione raised her hand.
"Yes Miss. Granger?" Professor Sprout said.
"Mandrakes or Mandragora is powerful restorative. It is quite dangerous however because its cry is fatal to anyone who hears it." Hermione said.
"Quite right ten points to Gryffindor." I had no idea what Hermione meant by cry of the Mandrake plants couldn't cry. Right? "Now as they are still seedlings their cries won't kill you yet. They will however knock you out for several hours. Now everyone grab a pair of earmuffs. Every made a dash to grab a pair that weren't pink and fluffy. I managed to snag a purple pair. Draco got green and Aria white. Professor Sprout ended up with the pink fluffy ones.
She had a small potted plant in front of her. She grabbed the stem and I gasped as she yanked up a bawling ugly muddy baby. Its head was where the stems came out.
She placed the mandrake into the pot and started putting dirt around it. I sniggered and so did Draco when Ron's mandrake bit his finger causing him to scowl and curse. Tom would find that amusing I was sure I couldn't wait to tell him.
When Herbology was over it was time for lunch.
"Ari did you see Ron?" I sniggered again.
"What do you mean?" she smirked.
"The Weasel got bit by his mandrake." We all burst into laughter.
"You should have seen his face!" I chuckled.
"Are you exited for Lockharts lesson?" Aria asked.
"Of course! Finally we will learn something this year!" I said.
When we went to Defense Against the Dark Arts I was excited. I pulled all my books out and set them on my desk. Draco sat next to me. Gilderoy Lockhart had on periwinkle blue robes.
He flashed his dazzled smile. "Hello and welcome to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Let me introduce you to your Professor." He said sweeping down and taking a book of my desk. "Me, Gilderoy Lockhart, famous author, top of the best seller list for twenty-six straight weeks, Order of Merlin third class, honorary member of the dark arts defense league, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's most charming smile award, but I don't talk about that I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her." He said smiling at and winking at his portrait self.
Draco scowled in disgust. "Your head gets any bigger it will blow up." Draco muttered.
"Like your any better." I hissed. He huffed and glared at me.
Lockhart hadn't heard me and continued. "I am sure you have all read my books. I am going to give you a little quiz today to see how well you have read them."
He returned my book and passed out a quiz. "You will have thirty minutes begin." He said.
I looked down at the first question. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color. The second was what is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition. It continued like that all the way to fifty-four when is Gilderoy Lockhart's Birthday. I frowned this can't be right. This was all about him not what he has done. Maybe Draco was right he was a bit conceded, but then again he kind of deserved to be after all he has done. I answered all the questions done shortly after the first Ravenclaw. He collected the quizzes and frowned.
"Tut tut hardly anyone knew that my favorite color is Lilac I clearly say so in Banishing the Banshee. No one knew that my ideal birthday gift would be Harmony between all magical people and creatures, but Jamie Potter knew that my secret ambition is to publish my own line of hair care products." He beamed at me. "In fact full marks to Miss. Potter and ten points to Slytherin." He said beaming at my quiz.
Draco looked disgusted with me and my face was a Weasly red. Aria was sniggering. The class waited silently while he returned to his desk. He lifted a covered cage onto his desk and looked quite pleased with himself. People were leaning closer to look at the cage. We all waited anxiously to remove the cover. "It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures in the magical world. I must ask you not to scream it might provoke them!" He said dramatically ripping the cover of the cage. The cage contained tiny blue winged creatures. They had high pitched voices and were rocketing around the cage.
Aria laughed and so did Draco. "Cornish Pixies!" He sniggered.
"Freshly caught Cornish Pixies." He said. "You may find it funny now Mr. Malfoy and Miss. Black, but they can be devilishly tricky little bludgers." He said wagging his finger annoyingly.
Draco scoffed. "Okay let's see what you make of them." Lockhart said opening the cage. The Pixies flew everywhere. They took pictures off the wall some of them grabbed textbooks and were ripping them to pieces. Students all darted under their desk. Lockhart raised his wand and cried. "Pesky pixie pesternomy!" Nothing happened. One of the pixies tossed a book breaking the window. Two others grabbed Lockhart's wand and tossed it out the broken window. The pixies started tossing students bag out of the window. Almost all the students fled the room. Only Draco Aria and I remained.
"Right, well class is dismissed I will ask you three to nip them back in their cage." He said before running out the door shutting it.
"I can't believe it! He had no clue what he was doing!" I gaped in astonishment.
"What do you expect?" Draco drawled using a freezing charm that Aria and I copied.
"You think he could manage pixies when he has done all that stuff." Aria huffed.
"I know! I just can't believe it!" I said. I was beginning to wonder if Lockhart was the wizard he claimed to be. I would have to see how next lesson went.
Classes went by quickly after that. After classes I wrote to tom for a bit then I fell asleep. I was woke up and it was dark out. I saw flashes of images that didn't make sense rooster feathers were all over my robes. How did that happen? I thought really hard and more glimpses of crossing the grounds and….. strangling roosters!? Why would I strangle roosters? How did I get into my bed? I was writing to Tom that's the last thing I remembered. I cleaned myself up and looked at my desk the diary wasn't there. Did I put it up? I wondered. I opened my trunk and inside the diary was where it always was. I decided to ask Tom if he knew what I had done.
Hello Tom. I wrote hastily.
Hello Jamie. He replied.
Tom, I just woke up covered in rooster feathers. I think I remember strangling roosters, but how is that possible? Did I write anything strange earlier?
Relax probably those friends of yours playing a joke. Maybe they put the feathers on you. As for you remember strangling roosters maybe it was a dream.
I relaxed a bit at his words. Your right thanks. I must have just had a crazy dream that's all.
No problem. Are you able to go back to sleep? He asked.
Yea I think so I wrote yawning. Night Tom.
Night Jamie
I put the diary away and feeling tired I curled back up into bed. Athena curled up on me and I drifted back off to sleep. The next morning I woke up and went to breakfast Draco was sitting on my left snd Aria on my right it was a normal breakfast until I saw Draco glaring menacingly. I followed his gaze and saw a tiny boy with blonde hair and a camera headed our way. He seemed oblivious to Draco's glare and came right up to me. I looked at him quizzically and waited for him to say something.
"Hi, I'm Collin Creevy! I was hoping I could get a photo with you. I have heard all about you! How you deafeated you know who and all that." He rushed on taking a deep shuddering breath.
I smiled at the excitable first year. "Well, if you really want sure." I said.
Aria rolled her eyes and Draco hissed. If looks could kill poor Collin would have been dead. "Filthy mudblood." Draco muttered and then yelped when I kicked him hard.
"Really? Will you sign it?" He asked grinning either not hearing or not understanding Draco's comment.
"Of course, but I don't normally do that. So don't go telling all your friends." I said.
"Thanks! When do you want to take the picture?" He asked.
"How about after classes by the lake?" I said.
"Sure!" He said
A certain strawberry blonde teacher was watching the scene. My father was watching distainfully. Aria sniggered upon seeing my dads face. "Poor Collin Creevy is going t ohave a very bad potions class.
Draco smirked. "Don't Gryffindors always?" He drawled.
I rolled my eyes. "Oh shut it you two." I said rolling my eyes. Lockhart was still staring at me and as I headed to class I learned why.
Just as I was about to enter charms class someone grabbed my arm. Draco and Aria kept walking. I was quick to draw my wand and point under the chin of the person who grabbed me. "Oh, sorry Professor." I muttered to the stunned Lockhart. His mouth was hanging open in shock and his hand still held my arm. Today his robes were a Ravenclaw blue.
"I just wanted to have a word with you Miss Potter." He said. I nodded then he walked up to the classroom door dropping my arm. "Finius you don't mind me stealing Miss Potter for a moment do you?" He asked not waiting for an answer. "Theres a good lad." He said shutting the door.
He led me a little down the hallway. "I saw what happened at breakfast today." He said. "I think it a tad unwise so early in your career. I mean when I was your age I was a nobody too."
I was waiting patiently for him to make sense. Nothing happened at breakfast. What is a bit unwise and what career?
"I mean some people have heard of you, but you can't be getting a big head. I mean handing out signed photographs. It comes off as a tad big headed."
"Oh, no sir you see…."
"Jamie, Jamie, Jamie I understand. I gave you the bug. You got on the front page with me now your anxious to do it again." He said smiling. "Just calm down alright."
I sputtered indignantly. "I was being nice to Collin! I don't have a big head. I can't help it of I am famous. I don't want to be! Who wants to be famous because their parents were murdered!" I said moving to storm past him.
He shook his head still smiling and showing every one of his teeth. "See you got to stop with the I'm famous. It's just egotistical." He chuckled and I glared at him.
Realizing he was obviously daft I said. "Fine, can I go now?" through gritted teeth.
"Of course and if you ever need advice on becoming famous feel free to stop by my office." He said walking away with a spring in his step.
I went into class my temper up and took my seat seething. I slammed my book bag on my desk. Draco and Aria both looked at me. I was grinding my teeth together. After class I told Aria and Draco about Gildroy's "advice." Draco looked livid Aria was on the floor laughing so hard she was crying.
"It's not funny Ari!" I scolded.
"It is very funny! What! An! Idiot!" She said between laughs.
"How dare he! I should hex him! Insulting you like that!" I smiled at his indignation on my behalf. "For merlin's sake Aria Marleen Black! Stop rolling on the floor get up and act like a proper Black heiress!" He snapped.
"Piss off you prat." Aria growled.
"Leave your cousin alone Dray." I sighed
He sputtered then shuddered. "D-o not call me that!
I laughed. "Why not?" I asked smirking.
"It makes me sound cute." He shuddered.
"So your not cute?" I asked.
"No I am absolutely not cute. Malfoy's aren't cute!" he said.
"So your saying your ugly?" I said. Aria burst into another laughing fit.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" He hissed his face turning red.
I shrugged. "Sure it is Ddrraayy." I said dragging put the nickname.
"Yea Dray you have to be more careful with your words." Aria said.
"I said Don't call me that." He hissed through gritted teeth.
"What's a nickname you like then." I asked.
"Dragon." He said instantly.
"Dragon?" I asked.
"Yea it is the meaning of my name." He said. "What about you?" he asked.
"I don't know." I shrugged.
"Flower?" He murmured blushing.
"Flower?" I asked. "Why flower? Are you saying I am weak and delicate?" I said my temper rising.
"No you always smell like lavender and its technically a herb but I think it's pretty enough to be a flower and so are you." He rambled quickly making me blush.
"Oh, guess that's alright then." I murmured.
Aria sniggered. "So when is the wedding?" She asked grinning.
"Oi!" Draco and I shouted.
She sniggered again. I huffed and Draco glared at her.
"And who will you end up with Ari? Ron?" I sniggered.
"Absolutely not!" She gasped in horror.
Draco and I laughed. Next was history of magic. Lunch and then transfiguration. Then it was time to meet Collin. Draco practically growled. Aria giggled and they said they would meet me later.
I headed out to the lake and waited. I was sitting on the grass legs stretched in front of me when I heard an excited squeak. "Jamie you're here!" Collin said excitedly.
"Of course I always keep my promises." I smiled.
Ginny was with Collin. "Hi Jamie!" She said smiling nervously.
"Hello Ginny, so how about Ginny you take a picture of me and Collin then he can take a picture of the two of us then I can take a picture of you two." I said.
"Sounds great!" Collin said excitedly.
"Ok." Ginny said. Collin raced up to me threw his arm around my waist. Ginny took the picture.
"You two make a cute couple." She giggled.
I rolled my eyes. "Ok your turn Ginny." I said and she came up and handed the camera to Collin.
She put her arm around my neck and Collin snapped the picture. Suddenly Ginny sighed and I looked over to see Ron heading our way.
"So it's true!" Ron sneered. Grabbing people's attention.
Suddenly everyone was listening. "Your giving out signed photographs." He laughed.
"Am not! Do you see any photographs around with my signature?" I said.
Just then Gilderoy Lockhart showed up. "Great, just what I need." I hissed.
Ron sniggered. "Leave her alone! Or I will write to mum." Ginny threatened.
Ron paled. "Ginny! You know we don't do that!" He said. Then his temper flared. "This is your fault Potter! Slytherin is already corrupting her! She only went in that bloody house because of you!"
"That is quite enough Mister Weasly. What is going on here?" Lockhart asked.
"We were just taking some pictures together when Ron decided to throw a fit." Ginny said and Collin nodded.
"He hates me Professor." I said pretending to tear up.
"I am sure he doesn't." Lockhart said airily.
Then I burst into tears. "Yes… he does!" I said between fake sobs. Ginny was smirking slightly. Ron was glaring and Collin looked angry.
"Calm down Miss Potter." Lockhart said.
I pretended to take deep calming breaths. I sniffled. Then shot a smirk at Ron.
"Head back to your dormitory Weasly I will be having a discussion with your head of house." Ron stomped off glaring and muttering.
"Thank you Professor." I said.
He nodded. "Always happy to help." he walked off whistling obviously proud of himself.
"Ok now for you two! My biggest fans." I chucked. Ginny blushed and they stood together. I took the picture.
"I expect copies of these Collin." I said as I handed him the camera.
I then went off in search of Hermione I went to the library knowing her she would already be there. Sure enough she was sitting at her usual table.
"Hey Mione! How are you?" I asked.
"Good how are you?" She asked concerned.
"I am fine." I shrugged.
"Had any more trouble with Ron?" She asked.
I told her what happened and she shook her head. We chatted for a while and she was excited that I was learning French and told me she was fluent in French and could help me. "That's great!" I said. "Draco is helping me too. I am having private lessons with him. His family wants me to go to France with them this summer. Not for the whole summer but for a few weeks.
"I also want to go to Romania and visit Norberta. I haven't seen her in ages I am sure she has grown huge." I enthused.
"Sounds great." She said.
We talked about classes and Christmas plans. I had none. Although I was sure that at some point I would be dragged to the manor.
This school year was looking bright I couldn't wait. Maybe just maybe this school year would be normal. A little voice reminded me that with Dobby's warning most likely not.
After a while I went back to the dungeons. Aria and the twins were waiting for me. "Hello Phoenix!" Fred said.
"Its time for our first marauder get together of the year!" George finished.
We left the dungeons and found an empty class room. "Ok so what is going to be our first prank? Last year was amazing we have to keep it up." Aria enthused.
"Well last year we focused on changing appearances like hair and skin color how about this year we focus on illusions this year." I said.
"Illusions?" Fred asked.
"Whatever do you mean sister of ours?" George finished.
"Like finding a spell that will make everything a different color or make people think that there are creatures everywhere that aren't there." I explained.
"Like nargles?" Aria sniggered.
"Yea this first year in Ravenclaw Luna I think her name is said something about nargles." Aria sniggered again.
"So what should people see?" Fred asked.
"Hmmm…. How about….." George grinned widely. "How about we make everyone see Professor Snape!"
We all burst into laughter. "People are going to freak out!" I laughed.
"Your dad is going to murder us." Aria said rolling on the floor laughing.
