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Don't Speak
Part 4
"Good Morning, Gilderoy!"
Gilderoy Lockhart watched, amazed, as his Healer friends brought out a huge stack of books.
"We have something special for you today!" Gunhilda Guthig exclaimed, dropping the books to the ground.
He smiled toothily. He loved books, especially if they had a lot of pictures in them, and were easy to read. His best Healer friend, Hermione, pulled the top one off, and handed it to him. It was sparkly, a bit heavy, and purple (his favourite colour!), and on the front there was a picture of……him!
She looked at him earnestly. "Gilderoy? Do…..do you remember this book?"
"M….Magical Me?" He sounded out the title like a four year old. "B-b-by Gil…..Gilderoy Lockhart!" Grinning, he motioned to the cover. "That's me!"
"It is you, Gilderoy," Healer Guthig said cautiously. Hermione slunk back to the side, and began to jot down observations in a purple folder. Lcokhart flipped through the book for a bit, using his finger as a guide when he read. Keeping a close eye on him, Guthig walked over towards Hermione.
"Do you think it will work?" the younger witch asked. Her idol shrugged her shoulders, and replied;
"It has worked previously, but there's no telling how his mind will respond. It was a serious spell that put him here."
The two women looked over at the blond wizard lying on his stomach, reading the giant tome. Every couple seconds, he would turn the page, and mumble happily to himself.
Hermione turned back to Gunhilda. "I hate to say this, but he's almost….. I don't know…more enjoyable this way."
"I completely understand."
"Isn't that, I don't know…..twisted?"
"No." Healer Guthig stole a glance at her patient, and continued. "It's actually quite common, especially if you've had previous experience with the person. Take, for example, your friend, the Quidditch player."
"He's not my-"
She waved her hand, motioning to Hermione to stop. "Whatever. The only thing that matters is that you knew him before the accident. From what you've told me, he seems quite pleasant with his mouth all wired shut."
"Yeah. But this is totally different!"
"No, it isn't." The older woman smiled. "You've just let your biases take over. Young Master Malfoy's condition is basically the same as Gilderoy's. Both are unable to reach their full potential as wizards. You must not let yourself be selfish."
Hermione sighed, and walked over to Gilderoy. "Would you like to take a walk?" she offered. The gleeful man jumped up at the opportunity, and grabbed her outstretched arm.
As they headed out the door, she glanced at Gunhilda. The elder witch nodded her head in approval, then busied herself in picking up the giant books off the floor.
No biases. Okay. I can do that.
OIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO
Hermione loved walking with Gilderoy. His childlike curiosity made even the most mundane thing interesting and alive.
They took a sharp right, and walked into Alice and Frank Longbottom's room. Neville had been making quite a lot of trips to see his parents lately, and Hermione always made a point of talking to him, if even for a minute.
The freckle faced boy stood up, and greeted Hermione at the door. "I was wondering when you would show up, Herm," he said, "And with a visitor, no less." He shook Gilderoy's hand eagerly. "Hi, Mr. Lockhart!"
There was silence for a minute. Neville's parents snored quietly from their beds.
"C-c-c-cornish……P-p-p-p-pixies!"
Both Hermione and Neville stared at Gilderoy, who wore a blank, dazed expression on his face. "W-what did you say?" she asked cautiously.
Lockhart began smiling maniacally. "Cornish…..pixies! Cornish Pixies!" He laughed heartily, and poked Neville square on the nose. "Neville Longbottom! Scared of Cornish Pixies!"
"Oh my God," Hermione deadpanned. "Gilderoy…..what are you talking about?"
"Neville Longbottom! In my class! Scared of the Cornish Pixies!"
She turned to her friend. "Neville, did you-?"
He shook his head violently. "Not me."
"No one else had been around to see him," she mumbled.
"Hermione!" Gilderoy squashed her in a great hug.
"Mumffft!"
"You were my favourite, Hermione! You always knew everything! And your friends, Harry and Ron, they were also very nice."
Neville looked seriously freaked out now, his eyes were as round as Quaffles.
Hermione stuttered, "We'd better get back. I'm sure Gunhilda, ah, Healer Guthig, will want to take a look at him."
He waved goodbye, still shocked. She wrestled the excited man back to his room, spooked out of her wits. It was as if a ghost was inhabiting his body, but in a good way.
Who says miracles don't happen?
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO
"You should have been there today. Gunhilda couldn't believe it."
Hermione stared wistfully out the window in Malfoy's room. He seemed bored enough to actually listen to her today, so she gave her best to try to be entertaining.
"All the Healers expect him to make a full recovery," she continued. "None would have ever guessed it. His brain was just so damaged from that spell, they're surprised he's recovering the information so quickly. I think he's improved from his original state already."
"Guuuh."
She looked over at him surprised. "Did they tighten your wires? I thought you were doing so well."
Glare. Eye roll. In layman's terms, he was saying, No shit, Sherlock.
"That's too bad." She smiled as she saw a bird fluttering outside the window. "Does it ever amaze you how magic works?"
Eye roll. "Unghhhhh."
"Well, it constantly amazes me. These windows aren't actually outside, and that bird isn't actually there. Yet, if I stuck my hand out the window, I would feel the breeze and the sunshine on my skin. It's so strangely wonderful."
She noticed that was looking uninterested. "I suppose I can't expect you to understand. It takes a Muggle perspective to see magic in such a mystical light."
"Sfffummmuh muuuullluuuuhhhhsss."
He didn't.
"What did you just say?"
Eye roll.
"Have I ever mentioned how much I hate it when you do that?" She glared back at him. "What makes you think that I won't tighten your wires for that offensive and rude comment?"
His eyes widened, and turned puppy-ish.
Stupid Malfoy. I ought to tighten his wires a smidge, just to make him pay.
She pulled out her wand, and he cringed pathetically. "Redu-"
Healer Guthing's voice swam into her head, and her wise words echoed. You've just let your biases take over.
Would she, seriously, do the same thing to Gilderoy? How many times had he clumsily spilled things on her, or called her names in fits of frustration? Did Malfoy really deserve an increase in pain, just because he was Malfoy?
Think about it, Hermione. Don't sink to his level.
"I….I'm sorry," she murmured, pocketing her wand. His face instantly relaxed, and he gave an audible sigh. "I don't know what I was thinking. I couldn't do that."
Her eyes flicked over the hand mirror on his bedside table. The calm, cool voice in her head began to scream at her….
NO! Don't do it! You'll get in so much trouble!
Her hand edged over, and took it. "Hey, Malfoy. You said you wanted to see yourself?"
His face brightened, and slowly, ever so slowly, she turned the mirror to face him.
IOIOIOIOIOIOIOOOIOI
Bad, bad Hermione! So mean!
How will Draco react at seeing himself? Stay tuned to find out!
PS: I'm no longer doing kudos to reviewers, because I'm uploading chapters so quickly, before I even get reviews. It's just easier for me, and I'm sorry, but this way you get chapters faster!