One more Chapter and we are done with year two.

WARNNING: This chapter contains scene not suited for young readers and deals with a mature subject matter. You have been warned.


Locking up Lockhart

The next few days passed without trouble.

The Gryffindors, along with a few of Ginny's friends from the other houses, visited her often in the hospital wing. Every day marked a clear improvement in her condition and Madame Pomfrey informed them all that she would be awake soon, if a little weak.

Harry, Hermione and Ron would often sneak into the Hospital wing at night to spend time with Ginny. Harry's cloak and map being in-valuable tools.

One night, while Harry, Ron and Hermione were secretly visiting with Ginny. Hermione was sitting in a chair, reading her transfiguration notes, preparing for the end of year exams, while Harry was having a quick nap and Ron was reading a book on Quiditch.

"Where am I?" asked Ginny in a quiet, cracked voice.

"Ginny!" cried out Ron. "You're awake!"

This awoke Harry who fell out of his chair but also woke up Madame Pomfrey who came bustling into their area, dressed in a no-nonsense nightgown.

"And what are you all doing here at this time of the night?" asked Madame Pomfrey in an irate voice.

The trio looked at each other guiltily.

"No matter. Move to the side while I check on Miss Weasley here. You can stay for a few minutes after that but then it's back to your dorm with the lot of you." interrupted Madame Pomfrey as she herded the students away from Ginny's bed.

A few minutes later, Madame Pomfrey emerged from the partitioned off bed.

"She's tired, distraught and still weak. You have five minutes before I kick you out. And if you argue I'll throw in a detention for being out of bounds."

The group made it's way back towards Ginny's bed.

"Hey guys. Thanks for waiting up for me like this." Ginny croaked out, her voice rusty from disuse.

"We're just glad that you're awake Ginny." replied Hermione.

There was a bit of silence as the Trio found their seats again.

"So how you feeling Gin?" asked Ron in a quiet voice.

"Tired. Really tired and weak."

"You'll get you strength back. You already look much better now than you did before." replied Ron.

Hermione hit him hard on the arm and he looked at her confused. The two of them started arguing quietly.

"Hey Gin. You need anything? Water? Something to eat?" Harry asked quietly.

"A bit of juice would be nice." she said.

"You insensitive prat!" whispered Hermione furiously.

Harry nodded and called out to his house elf. "Dobby?"

Dobby appeared with a soft pop next to Harry.

"Master called Dobby?" the elf exclaimed excitedly.

"What did I do wrong this time?" asked Ron confused, as he rubbed the spot where Hermione had hit him.

"Quietly Dobby, it's the middle of the night and we're in the hospital wing. I hope I didn't wake you."

"No master," replied the elf in a quiet whisper. "house elves are not needing much sleep. Dobby was quietly preparing master's new home."

"Dobby, could you call me Harry, please? I don't like being called master." Harry explained in an embarrassed tone.

"You don't have a sensitive bone in your body do you?" Hermione replied.

"Of course Harry Potter sir." replied the elf.

"Harry? Since when do you own a house elf?" asked Ginny in a confused voice.

"I don't own him, I hired him. He's a free elf and I freed him from the Malfoy's who were mistreating him. I'd explain more but Madame Pomfrey only gave us five minutes." Harry explained. "Dobby, could you get some juice for my friend Ginny here? She's been unconscious for a long time and is a little thirsty."

"I will if you keep hitting me like that." Ron mumbled quietly.

The strange little elf popped away only to return a few moments later with a large glass of juice.

"Thanks Dobby. I think that's all for tonight."

The elf bowed low and popped away.

"Was he wearing clothes?" Ginny asked sounding a little confused.

Harry wasn't able to answer as Madame Pomfrey returned.

"Alright you three, out! You can come back later, after lunch and not before."

Harry, Ron and Hermione wished Harry a good night and walked out the Hospital Wing. Harry took out the cloak and the map and using these tools, they made their way back towards Gryffindor Tower.

As the trio passed by Ravenclaw tower, they were surprised to see Gilderoy Lockhart talking to a fifth year girl. The girl was leaning against a wall, with a shy smile on her face, biting her lower lip and Lockhart was leaning over her, whispering in her ear. They were talking in whispered tones so the trio crept closer to listen in.

"I don't know professor," said the nameless girl in a faked concerned voice. "we could get in trouble."

"Where's you sense of adventure? And I thought you loved me." Lockhart said as he cupped the girl's cheek.

Harry looked over to Ron and Hermione. Ron had a disgusted, incredulous look while Hermione mouth was open with her hand covering it in horror.

When Lockhart leaned down to kiss the fifteen or sixteen year old girl, Harry pulled his friends away and a few steps away banged a suit of armour, breaking the passionate kiss.

"That was so wrong in so many ways." Hermione said with a shudder.

"We have to do something. I mean it can't be right what he's doing." Harry whispered as they made their way to Gryffindor Tower.

"Why should we? I mean she didn't seem to mind or anything, it's none of our business really." said Ron.

"It's against the law and against teacher student rules." explained Hermione. "In England he'd get 14 years in prison for that. I don't know what the laws are like in Scotland."

"I guess we're going to the library?" asked Harry.

Hermione simply nodded.

The trio made their way towards the library and Hermione located some law books while Harry kept an eye on the Marauder's Map.

"Here we are. 'It is illegal for men and boys over the age of 8 (the age of criminal responsibility) to have intercourse with a young woman aged 13, 14 or 15. However, this is qualified by the defence that the man or boy believes himself to be validly married to the young woman (even if this is not the case). If he is 23 or under at the time of the offence and has not previously been charged with an offence of this kind he may also claim as a defence that he believed the young woman to be 16 or over. The maximum penalty is two years imprisonment.' Hum, it's more lenient here than in England."

"So what do we do?" asked Ron, looking a little unsure.

"We run to stop Lockhart from doing whatever he's trying to do. He's running after Theresa Briddon right now." Harry said, pointing at the map.

Not even taking the time to put the book back or hide under the invisibility cloak, the Trio burst out the doors of the library and started to run in the direction of the lecherous defence professor.

"Filch is up ahead!" cried Harry.

"I'll stop … and tell him what's … going on. Can't run anymore." exclaimed Hermione.

A few seconds later, Ron and Harry whipped by Argus Filch and Mrs. Norris while Hermione stopped to explain what was happening.

Harry had started to lessen his pace, unable to continue running but Ron, being in better shape, simply took the map from his best friend and doubled his pace, wand drawn. Catching his breath, Harry started moving again to find a scared and naked Theresa, huddled against the wall in tears. Ron was duelling Lockhart and holding his own, barely.

"Lockhart!" Harry cried out, wand drawn.

The man turned to look at the new arrival; this gave Ron the opening he needed. "STUPIFY!" And the defence teacher crumpled to the floor under Ron's stunner.

"Bout time you showed up mate. Don't know how much longer I could have kept him busy." Said Ron, leaning against the wall panting.

Harry took off his robes and passed them to Theresa so she could cover herself. A few moments later, a very winded Hermione arrived followed by Argus Filtch.

"What's the meaning of this?" asked the irate custodian.

Harry, the least winded of the three explained what had happened, or at least what they knew had happened while Hermione went to console the Ravenclaw girl.

"Right! I'll get the Headmaster, he'll sort this all out." And with that the man hobbled off towards the headmaster's office.

"Good job mate!" Harry said to Ron. "You managed to fight off Lockhart on your own."

Ron simply shrugged.

"It wasn't too hard. It's just Lockhart after all." Ron explained. But his slight blush countered his nonchalant attitude. "It's not like I was fighting someone who knew what they were doing or anything."

"Dobby!" Harry cried out.

With a soft pop, the eccentric house elf appeared.

"Harry Potter sir has called for Dobby?"

"Dobby, can you get Madame Pomfrey and then Professor Flitwick and tell them we need them here now for an emergency?"

The little elf simply nodded and popped off.

"Dead useful he is." said Ron. "Do you know a spell to tie him up? That's the first time I try a stunner, not sure how long it will last."

'Incarcerous.' informed Silias.

After a few tries, Harry was able to tie up their Defence Teacher. Ron took off his robes and threw them over the bound man to cover him up a bit.

"My goodness!" came Pomfrey's voice as she turned the corner. "What has happened here?"

"Can we wait for everyone else please? But I think Theresa needs your help." Harry said, pointing out the sobbing girl in the corner.

Professor Dumbledore and Professor Flitwick arrived moments later followed by Filch and Dobby.

Harry now knew why Voldemort feared Dumbledore. The man moved forward quickly, gone was the twinkling in his eyes. Gone was the kindly grandfather. Instead, the man exuded power and anger.

With a wave of his empty hand, Lockhart was lifted off the ground and pinned to the wall. With a twist, the bindings holding him disappeared.

"Enervate."

Lockhart's eyes opened blearily and suddenly filled with fear.

"Gilderoy Lockhart. I had entrusted you with the safety of our most precious resource, our children and you have gone and assaulted one of them. You have broken my trust, school regulations, age of consent laws and most importantly this young girls trust in her elders."

"She did consent!" Lockhart cried out in fear.

"She is still fifteen and as such cannot give consent. Then there is the fact that she was fleeing from you. If she consented to this why was she afraid of you?"

A small, trembling voice interrupted them.

"I did consent professor but after, after we …. He turned nasty he said he had to obliviate me to preserve his reputation. He said he'd done it often enough that I wouldn't know. He then shot a spell at me but I ran. Then Ron over there came running over and started fighting with him. I'm not sure what happened afterwards."

Dumbledore turned to Lockhart, hands clenched.

"No one harms my children Lockhart. Azkhaban is too good for you." Said the Headmaster in a cold whisper.

After much explaining, Aurors were called in. After giving their statements, the Gryffindors were escorted to their tower and told not to speak of the night's events until they were told otherwise.

A sweeping investigation was done throughout Hogwarts where all girls were brought in for interrogation and a medical evaluation.

A few days after the incident, at breakfast, Hermione, and many others in the great hall, gasped at the headlines.

Gilderoy Lockhart: Sexual Predator and Fraud.
By Edward Masson

Gilderoy Lockhart, six time winner of Witch Weekly's most Charming Smile Award, Honorary Member of the Dark Forces Defence League and recipient of the Order of Merlin Third Class was on trial yesterday after a massive investigation.

One Ronald Weasley, youngest son of Arthur Weasley of the Missuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, apprehended Lockhart as the man, naked, was chasing after a naked fifteen-year-old girl, who will remain nameless due to the child protection act, at Hogwarts.

The man had had sexual intercourse with the under aged witch in question. The intercourse was not forced but due to the age of the girl in question was still illegal as she had not reached the age of consent. This, in and of itself, would be a terrible act. Lockhart, as professor of Defence at Hogwarts, was in a position of power and trust over the young girl and used this, along with his fame, to convince the girl of his affections. The real problem comes of the other accusations that were proven true in court, under veritas serum.

To maintain his reputation and to avoid legal repercussion for his dalliances, Lockhart attempted to perform a memory charm on his victim. The girl managed to evade the man's attacks until a second year boy, Ronald Weasley, and his house and year mates, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter, rescued her. It was also discovered that Lockhart had used this tactic on another five girls at Hogwarts during his tenure has Defence Teacher.

Mr. Weasley duelled Lockhart for over three minutes, fighting our fallen hero to a stand still on his own until The-Boy-Who-Lived arrived to assist him. This of course brought to question the man's claims of combating vampires, werewolves and mummies. A second year student should not be able to stand to a fully trained wizard, especially not one with a resume as diverse as Lockhart's. Under veritas serum, it was discovered the Lockhart had not done any of the exploits in his books but had written the accounts of other wizards and memory charmed them afterwards.

Lockhart has been sentenced to twelve years in Azkhaban for the illegal sexual contact (as prescribed by Scottish law, where Hogwarts is located), another twelve for the memory charms on the girls and another twenty for the memory charms on the wizards and witches from whom he stole his exploits. Mr. Lockhart has lost all his endorsements, his Order of Merlin and has been removed from the Dark Force Defence League.

Mr. Weasley will be awarded an undisclosed amount of money for his capture of this dark wizard and sexual predator along with a small plaque. A plaque will also be offered to Miss Hermione Granger and Mr. Harry Potter for their parts in these events.

Letters also accompanied the post removing the information moratorium. It clearly stated that they could not disclose the name of the girls since they were protected by the child protection act but they were free to talk of the event itself otherwise.

Harry looked at Ron who was beaming. Ron had always wanted to be famous and now he was on his own merit. People asking Ron, Hermione and Harry questions about the incident, crowded Gryffindor table. Harry and Hermione directed them all to Ron, saying he had done most of the work. Ron kept the details of the invisibility cloak and the map to himself but recounted his duel with a naked Lockhart with delight.
Thanks for all the kind reviews everyone. I try to answer them all but it's getting a little crazy. :)