[A/N. I was thinking about some of the reviews were it was mentioned that
it was a bit of a surprise that Lockhart was acting so brave, well really
it's not. What you've got to keep in mind is that this is his telling of
the story-he wants everyone to think he is brave- like in his books. So
when you read this you are reading Lockhart's version, which of course
differs pretty much from the proper one! By the way this story is almost
over.]
Chapter eleven: My bravery as I enter the chamber of secrets.
'Think Gilderoy, think.' I told myself leaning back in the chair. I really had no idea where the entrance to the chamber was other than on the second floor and despite my pretended bravery in front of the other teachers I wasn't sure I was up to confronting the monster which dwelt within. I thought back to what I had learnt about petrified people in the past and I knew the only creature who could do this kind of thing was indeed very, very powerful. I stood up and looked about the room. I supposed that I could go and see if I could stop the creature in the chamber since there was no way that there was anyone else in this school who either had the brains, the knowledge, or even the courage to do it. I decided however that the moment I had solved this terrible problem I was leaving the school, and therefore I began to pack before I got ready to face my destiny. (For those of you who have read my other books then you would know only too well how much I have been through)
"You handsome thing you." One of my portraits told me as I packed it away in a box.
There was a knock on the door and I hesitated. I didn't want the teachers to see the mess that my office was in or else they would be sure I was fleeing before I got rid of the monster. I opened the door slowly, peering out, and was somewhat surprised, yet relieved, to see only Harry and Ron.
I opened the door a bit more. "Oh Mr. Potter.Mr. Weasley. I'm rather busy at the moment. If you'd be quick."
"Professor we've got some information for you. We think it will help you." Harry explained eagerly.
I frowned slightly. Did Harry now think that he, a second year wizard, knew more than me, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin third class, honory member of the Dark Force defence league and five times winner of witch weeklies smile of the year award. I hesitated before letting them inside.
Harry and Ron both took in the state of my office slowly. "Are you going somewhere?" Harry asked, a strange tone in his voice.
"Well.." I hesitated not sure how to tell them that once I'd defeated the monster I was leaving. And it also occurred to me that should Harry think I was going after the monster it was entirely possible that he would follow me and try to take the glory for himself. "Urgent call.. Unavoidable.got to go." I muttered as I continued with my packing.
"What about my sister?" Ron asked, sounding like he was going to cry.
"Well as to that most unfortunate. No one regrets more than I." I replied, finishing with the last of my packing.
"You're the defence against the dark arts teacher! You can't go now! Not with all the dark stuff going on around here!" Harry snapped, his eyes fiery with anger.
I muttered about how the job description had nothing in it about this and Harry and Ron exchanged a look. Before I could do or say a thing they both had their wands out and pointed at me. "Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, and I fell backwards, losing control of my wand. "Shouldn't have let Professor Snape teach us that one."
I didn't move for a moment. It couldn't possibly be that these two boys were the ones who had opened the chamber and were going to kill me could it? No, it was Hagrid, that much was obvious, but what were they doing in my office? I asked that, from where I was on the floor.
"You're in luck." Harry replied. And he explained that not only did they think that they knew where the chamber was located, but that we were going there.
"Harry, Harry, Harry," I said, shaking my head. "I knew you were hungry for fame, but isn't this all a bit too much?"
"You've got no idea have you?" Harry asked shaking his head. He pointed his wand at me. "Come on, move it."
Meekly I followed them, mentally deciding how best to rectify this situation-I was a trained wizard after all and there was no way I was going to let a couple of boys outsmart me. To my complete amazement we went into a girls bathroom. A moment later a ghost floated down, and she seemed more than happy to see Harry. Especially when he asked her how she died. With relish she recounted the tale about how she'd been in the toilets crying over someone teasing her about her glasses when she'd heard what she thought was a boys voice speaking in some strange voice and she opened the door to tell him to go away when she died. She explained where she had seen the eyes and the two boys hurried over to the tap whilst I stood back taking stock of the situation.
"Harry, Ron, don't you think I better take charge now?" I asked them. "After all you two are only kids-"
"Shut up." Ron hissed at me and I stood back against the wall wishing for my wand. There was no way that these two were going to take the credit for this- no way in hell, but I just had to find the way to stop them. "Harry say something in parseltongue."
"Open up." Harry said, but there was nothing.
"English." Ron said.
And then Harry, who appeared to be concentrating harder than anything said something which sounded like a hissing noise and the tap glowed white and began to spin. A moment later the sink began to move and then there was a giant hole exposed.
"I better get down there." I said moving forward, but Harry stopped me again pointing his wand at me.
"No." He said firmly. "I go first, then you and then Ron."
"Now really, don't you think that's a little bit stupid?" I asked. "After all- who is the better wizard here?"
"I'm going first." Harry replied.
"Well just because we've defeated Voldemort we think we can take on the world do we?" I asked sarcastically.
Harry shot me a dirty look, but he didn't hesitate. A moment later I heard him calling from down the hole. "Ron- send Lockhart now."
"You know-" I began, but Ron was pointing his wand at me. I decided that there had to be some way to get that wand and then I would be the one to rid the school of the monster. I was already thinking about the front cover of my book- I'd be battling a big scary monster, a look of cool, calm determination on my face. I took a deep breath and then jumped down the hole. Harry was already walking around and I noticed a lot of rat bones before Ron came down.
"Yuck." He muttered.
"Ron you stay here with Lockhart- I'm going to find Ginny and get her back." Harry said.
Ron didn't reply- instead he was staring up ahead at something. "It's a snake skin. And a bloody big one by the look of it."
"The basilisk." Harry muttered. "It must mean we're getting close."
"Basilisk?" I asked.
"Honestly, don't you know anything?" Ron snorted. "And you call yourself a defence against the dark arts teacher? The Basilisk is one of the deadliest creatures in our world. A giant snake whose eyes alone can kill you."
"Oh right, I seem to recall-" I began, but Harry interrupted me.
"There's no time for small talk. I'm going." And he started to walk away.
I made up my mind that now was my only opportunity: If I didn't do something now then the glory would go to the famous Harry Potter again, instead of the great wizard Gilderoy Lockhart. I stumbled and Ron and Harry both stopped.
"For god's sake. Bloody hopeless." And he started to help me to my feet, but as he did I grabbed at his wand and pointed it at the two of them before either of them could respond. Harry's wand was still in his robes from when he'd jumped down the hole.
"Ah," I said with a slight smile. "How the tables have changed now! I suppose you thought you'd get more books and more chapters in books written about you didn't you Harry? I told you from the very beginning I was more famous than you. I tried to warn you that competing with me was useless did I not? I tried on countless occasions to put you in your place, but you didn't want to hear it. You wanted to be the famous one. Sorry to burst your bubble boys, but this is my time to shine again- for full details read my published works."
"Listen," Harry began angrily. "You don't know what you're dealing with. You don't speak-"
"And I suppose a kid who hasn't even passed his second year yet knows does he?" I asked scornfully. "Sorry boys, but this is not going to happen." I pointed the wand at the two of them further and cried "Bindius." Ropes flew from the wand and secured both the boys tightly.
"Please Professor Lockhart," Ron begged. "Please don't do this- we can handle this, we can."
I laughed. "You've got to be kidding. You've read my books- or at least you should have considering they were assigned reading, so you know perfectly well what I am capable of. I shall return triumphantly soon boys."
And with that I was off, down towards the chamber and the monster which dwelt within. I am not going to lie to you and tell you I was not scared, more than likely you have read some of my works and you would know that no matter what I have been up against in the past this was going to be my greatest challenge. I knew what it was now- a basilisk, but how to defeat it I did not know. As I walked away I thought about the two boys tied up behind me. It seemed only typical to me that they would want to take all the glory again and it annoyed me now. At first I had thought it nothing more than a lark, but now it was different. Well this time Harry Potter was not going to be the famous one, this time it was going to be me. I was off for my brush with a basilisk.
Chapter eleven: My bravery as I enter the chamber of secrets.
'Think Gilderoy, think.' I told myself leaning back in the chair. I really had no idea where the entrance to the chamber was other than on the second floor and despite my pretended bravery in front of the other teachers I wasn't sure I was up to confronting the monster which dwelt within. I thought back to what I had learnt about petrified people in the past and I knew the only creature who could do this kind of thing was indeed very, very powerful. I stood up and looked about the room. I supposed that I could go and see if I could stop the creature in the chamber since there was no way that there was anyone else in this school who either had the brains, the knowledge, or even the courage to do it. I decided however that the moment I had solved this terrible problem I was leaving the school, and therefore I began to pack before I got ready to face my destiny. (For those of you who have read my other books then you would know only too well how much I have been through)
"You handsome thing you." One of my portraits told me as I packed it away in a box.
There was a knock on the door and I hesitated. I didn't want the teachers to see the mess that my office was in or else they would be sure I was fleeing before I got rid of the monster. I opened the door slowly, peering out, and was somewhat surprised, yet relieved, to see only Harry and Ron.
I opened the door a bit more. "Oh Mr. Potter.Mr. Weasley. I'm rather busy at the moment. If you'd be quick."
"Professor we've got some information for you. We think it will help you." Harry explained eagerly.
I frowned slightly. Did Harry now think that he, a second year wizard, knew more than me, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin third class, honory member of the Dark Force defence league and five times winner of witch weeklies smile of the year award. I hesitated before letting them inside.
Harry and Ron both took in the state of my office slowly. "Are you going somewhere?" Harry asked, a strange tone in his voice.
"Well.." I hesitated not sure how to tell them that once I'd defeated the monster I was leaving. And it also occurred to me that should Harry think I was going after the monster it was entirely possible that he would follow me and try to take the glory for himself. "Urgent call.. Unavoidable.got to go." I muttered as I continued with my packing.
"What about my sister?" Ron asked, sounding like he was going to cry.
"Well as to that most unfortunate. No one regrets more than I." I replied, finishing with the last of my packing.
"You're the defence against the dark arts teacher! You can't go now! Not with all the dark stuff going on around here!" Harry snapped, his eyes fiery with anger.
I muttered about how the job description had nothing in it about this and Harry and Ron exchanged a look. Before I could do or say a thing they both had their wands out and pointed at me. "Expelliarmus!" Harry yelled, and I fell backwards, losing control of my wand. "Shouldn't have let Professor Snape teach us that one."
I didn't move for a moment. It couldn't possibly be that these two boys were the ones who had opened the chamber and were going to kill me could it? No, it was Hagrid, that much was obvious, but what were they doing in my office? I asked that, from where I was on the floor.
"You're in luck." Harry replied. And he explained that not only did they think that they knew where the chamber was located, but that we were going there.
"Harry, Harry, Harry," I said, shaking my head. "I knew you were hungry for fame, but isn't this all a bit too much?"
"You've got no idea have you?" Harry asked shaking his head. He pointed his wand at me. "Come on, move it."
Meekly I followed them, mentally deciding how best to rectify this situation-I was a trained wizard after all and there was no way I was going to let a couple of boys outsmart me. To my complete amazement we went into a girls bathroom. A moment later a ghost floated down, and she seemed more than happy to see Harry. Especially when he asked her how she died. With relish she recounted the tale about how she'd been in the toilets crying over someone teasing her about her glasses when she'd heard what she thought was a boys voice speaking in some strange voice and she opened the door to tell him to go away when she died. She explained where she had seen the eyes and the two boys hurried over to the tap whilst I stood back taking stock of the situation.
"Harry, Ron, don't you think I better take charge now?" I asked them. "After all you two are only kids-"
"Shut up." Ron hissed at me and I stood back against the wall wishing for my wand. There was no way that these two were going to take the credit for this- no way in hell, but I just had to find the way to stop them. "Harry say something in parseltongue."
"Open up." Harry said, but there was nothing.
"English." Ron said.
And then Harry, who appeared to be concentrating harder than anything said something which sounded like a hissing noise and the tap glowed white and began to spin. A moment later the sink began to move and then there was a giant hole exposed.
"I better get down there." I said moving forward, but Harry stopped me again pointing his wand at me.
"No." He said firmly. "I go first, then you and then Ron."
"Now really, don't you think that's a little bit stupid?" I asked. "After all- who is the better wizard here?"
"I'm going first." Harry replied.
"Well just because we've defeated Voldemort we think we can take on the world do we?" I asked sarcastically.
Harry shot me a dirty look, but he didn't hesitate. A moment later I heard him calling from down the hole. "Ron- send Lockhart now."
"You know-" I began, but Ron was pointing his wand at me. I decided that there had to be some way to get that wand and then I would be the one to rid the school of the monster. I was already thinking about the front cover of my book- I'd be battling a big scary monster, a look of cool, calm determination on my face. I took a deep breath and then jumped down the hole. Harry was already walking around and I noticed a lot of rat bones before Ron came down.
"Yuck." He muttered.
"Ron you stay here with Lockhart- I'm going to find Ginny and get her back." Harry said.
Ron didn't reply- instead he was staring up ahead at something. "It's a snake skin. And a bloody big one by the look of it."
"The basilisk." Harry muttered. "It must mean we're getting close."
"Basilisk?" I asked.
"Honestly, don't you know anything?" Ron snorted. "And you call yourself a defence against the dark arts teacher? The Basilisk is one of the deadliest creatures in our world. A giant snake whose eyes alone can kill you."
"Oh right, I seem to recall-" I began, but Harry interrupted me.
"There's no time for small talk. I'm going." And he started to walk away.
I made up my mind that now was my only opportunity: If I didn't do something now then the glory would go to the famous Harry Potter again, instead of the great wizard Gilderoy Lockhart. I stumbled and Ron and Harry both stopped.
"For god's sake. Bloody hopeless." And he started to help me to my feet, but as he did I grabbed at his wand and pointed it at the two of them before either of them could respond. Harry's wand was still in his robes from when he'd jumped down the hole.
"Ah," I said with a slight smile. "How the tables have changed now! I suppose you thought you'd get more books and more chapters in books written about you didn't you Harry? I told you from the very beginning I was more famous than you. I tried to warn you that competing with me was useless did I not? I tried on countless occasions to put you in your place, but you didn't want to hear it. You wanted to be the famous one. Sorry to burst your bubble boys, but this is my time to shine again- for full details read my published works."
"Listen," Harry began angrily. "You don't know what you're dealing with. You don't speak-"
"And I suppose a kid who hasn't even passed his second year yet knows does he?" I asked scornfully. "Sorry boys, but this is not going to happen." I pointed the wand at the two of them further and cried "Bindius." Ropes flew from the wand and secured both the boys tightly.
"Please Professor Lockhart," Ron begged. "Please don't do this- we can handle this, we can."
I laughed. "You've got to be kidding. You've read my books- or at least you should have considering they were assigned reading, so you know perfectly well what I am capable of. I shall return triumphantly soon boys."
And with that I was off, down towards the chamber and the monster which dwelt within. I am not going to lie to you and tell you I was not scared, more than likely you have read some of my works and you would know that no matter what I have been up against in the past this was going to be my greatest challenge. I knew what it was now- a basilisk, but how to defeat it I did not know. As I walked away I thought about the two boys tied up behind me. It seemed only typical to me that they would want to take all the glory again and it annoyed me now. At first I had thought it nothing more than a lark, but now it was different. Well this time Harry Potter was not going to be the famous one, this time it was going to be me. I was off for my brush with a basilisk.