Disclaimer: I won my plot and my chars but nothing more, nothing less. Everything that isn't mine is J.K. Rowling's. That brilliant woman!

A/N: I'm on a roll with butter! MORE STORY!

Chapter 21: Poptart

Seamus and I never had to present our finished potion in class yesterday. In fact, no one did. Snape said he made the mistake of assigning it, so we all have to take a test today to make up for the potion we were supposed to conjure. Snape, make a mistake? I think he just wanted to test us again, but that's my insane thought.

I already went down to breakfast and sat myself next to Hermione, Harry, and Ron when Dumbledore stood up and tapped his glass to get everyone's attention.

"Everyone settle down, settle down," Dumbledore sushed the Great Hall, "I have very important news for you all. As you know, Professor Freedman retired yesterday. Hence, we needed a new Professor to teach our Defense Against the Dark Arts Class." Snape looked at Albus indignantly.

Dumbledore pressed on, "I see that everyone of you has heard rumours that the Professor is someone we've already had at the school. Indeed, you are all correct. This man was commited to the asylum awhile ago, but has fully and completely recovered. He is a new man with higher expectations and better care of responsibility. It took the whole half-year to see for sure if he was ready to come back to our school, and he more than passed the test. Professor Freedman only stayed another half of a year so I and others could determine whether we should invite this man back or not. Now, I expect most of you will shun this man, but he is very kind-hearted and well-intentioned. So, please show him the upmost respect for him, as you would for any other Professor. Without any further adue, I give you, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart!"

Gasps and groans were heard around the Great Hall, but I stayed silent. Why would they groan about a man that Albus Dumbledore accepted into the school? Before I could ask someone, The Great Hall doors flew open to reveal our new Professor.

Golden, light-brown, short hair swept across a handsome, smiling face. Crystal blue eyes glittered with joy as they scanned the room. Lockhart slowly and proudly walked down the center isle in the hall. He glanced at the students as a few girls went lovey-dovey. I admit, he wasn't bad looking; Maybe even cute or adorable, but I didn't swoon... Like love, I was also against swooning.

Lockhart's red attire fit every curve of his built body perfectly, without giving too much away. He made his way to the Professors' table, situated in the back of the Great Hall, and stood in front of an empty chair next to Snape. Dumbledore smiled, and sat down.

"Hello all!" Gilderoy greeted euphorically, "I am so honored to be here again. I know most of you are frowning upon my re-enterance to Hogwarts, but you shouldn't. I am a changed man. After I had to go to the asylum on account of memory-loss, I started to regain it with spells and potions. I realized that there was more to life than being rich and famous. There is more to life than sitting around, signing autographs. I figured out that life is about finding who you are, and loving it without being too ego-tistic. Life is about enjoyment of education, friends, and family. Life is about having fun.. Life...is about love. I just hope you all find that special feeling inside somewhere, and keep it close. Other people can give you love, but the most important is self-love. If you don't love yourself first, you won't be able to love anybody else."

What is Gilderoy, a hippie? His words o' wis-doom made sense, but I couldn't follow them. I never loved myself or anyone else...I never planned to either.

"So," Gilderoy proceeded, "I hope to see you all in my class today. I'm looking forward to it. Thank you very much for letting me be here."

Dumbledore started to clap, which got everyone to. Afterwards, we ate breakfast and headed to classes. Transfiguration was first for me.

0o0o0o0o

Later in the day, Snape gave out the dreaded test. I answered all of the questions as best as I could and then put it to the side of my desk, upside-down when I was finished. Snape told us that he was going to collect the tests one-by-one again, like the other day. I couldn't wait to see his face when he realized I answered all of the questions in essay form. The requirements were at least a paragraph for each question, and there were twenty open-response questions. I needed a lot of paper, but it worked.

"Miss Maguire," Snape came to my desk and picked my test up, "let's see how you did on your test." He turned to the answer sheets and saw all of the paper I used to answer the open-response questions. His lips parted in shock at the amount of work I put into the test. He skimmed through all seven pages of my essay responses which got everyone to look at me as though I were sucking up.

True, I was trying to change from being on Snape's bad side to Snape's good side..If he had a good side. However, I wasn't sucking up. Ok, I admit, maybe it was sucking up just a little bit. Yet, seeing Snape satisfied with my work and I was quite, erm, pleasing. I no longer had to fight with him if I only kept my temper down and worked my arse off in his class.

Snape raised his eyebrows and looked at me in awe, "Miss Maguire, this...is your best work yet. I am very impressed. But looks can be decieving; I have to actually correct it and read it thouroughly before I compliment you. Please stay after class.. I would like to have a few words with you."

Meekly, I answered, "Yes, Professor." I cleared my throat as he walked away from my desk.

Staying after class, I suddenly felt weak and vulnerable. I had no idea why. I was nervous to see my test results, so I stood by Snape's desk and twiddled my thumbs.

"That's an awful habit," Snape blurted bluntly.

I stopped twiddling my thumbs and gulped, "Why did you want to see me after class, Professor Snape?"

Gazing at my paranoid self, Snape half-smiled. It surprised me how great a half-smile showed on a man that never fully smiled.

Snape spoke softly, "You passed with an A. Sensational work, Miss Maguire. I am truly happy with the way you have been acting these past couple of days. No fighting, no attitude problem, exceptional work, and obviously a very determined girl. You are showing remarkable improvment in my class. I don't usually compliment anyone, for my classes usually consist of dunderheads, but you deserve it. If you keep your work up, you might be able to qualify for the Extra-Year Program we are starting this year."

"What's that?" I asked innocently.

Starting to explain, Snape folded his hands on his desk and stared into my curious eyes, "The E.Y.P, Extra-Year Program, is a program for graduated students that allows them to have an internship in Hogwarts. Obviously you wouldn't be able to apply until next year, but if you keep your grades up for the next year-and-a-half, you might be able to work here for another school year. What you do if you are accepted is work with a Professor of your choice as an apprentice for an entire school year. This will not only improve your working skills, but raise your chances of getting into a better college. -Yes, wizards and witches have colleges.- See, not only will you work with a classroom, but on free time the school provides a tutoring session for any subject of your choice. It's a great way to start the rest of your life."

"Wow," I excalimed as Snape's next class piled in, "I'm looking forward to that now. Umm...one question though.. Would I work with all classes, or a certain age?"

"A certain age. Say you went into Transfiguration; You would work with Mcgonagall's first through third years only." Snape looked at the students sitting down. It was his eighth year class, "I am quite sorry, but seeing as my class is here, I will have to send you off. What do you have next?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts.." I swung my backpack around my shoulders and prepared to leave.

Sneering, Snape said, "Very well, tell Lockhart to come talk to me if he has a problem with you being late. After all, we wouldn't want you to get in trouble on his first day here. Wouldn't be a very good first impression. Alright?"

I nodded, smiled, and turned around to leave his classroom. In a few minutes I reached Defense Class and entered with a clear mind.

"...and that is why I wanted to come back to Hogwarts, to do what I love best...Teaching." Gilderoy and his fantastically blue eyes noticed me, "Aha! We have a late student. May I have your name, please?"

Spotting an empty seat near Seamus, I answered quickly so I could sit quickly, "Maranda Maguire."

"Well, can I ask you where you are coming from?" Lockhart asked, smiling at me.

Using the nicest form of sarcasm I could find, I replied, "I am coming from my favorite class, Potions! Professor Snape sends his regards and states that if you've any problem with my being late, then you should go visit him in his humble classroom."

Giggling erupted from the room as Gilderoy stopped smiling. "Umm..." He clearly didn't get along with Snape, "I have no problems whatsoever. Please sit down.."

Sitting happily next to Seamus, I thought to myself, If I knew we'd have a happy Poptart for a teacher, I would have brought my toaster..