Chapter Two
A Fight and A Bet ====================
For the last week all that people had been talking about was the return of Lockhart. Professor Flitwick's mother was more seriously ill then at first thought and it appeared Lockhart was there for the rest of the term. Various rumours had floated around the school ranging from the ridiculous to the near truth about what had happened to him after the Chamber of Secrets incident in Hermione's second year. Ron and Harry had been outraged when they had found Lockhart back at the school and worse still as their charms teacher.
"That stupid git wanted to take all the credit for finding the Chamber of Secrets!" Ron had said angrily to Harry and Hermione after the charms lesson. "And to leave Ginny down there to die! I can't believe he would dare show his face back here".
Harry had agreed wholeheartedly with Ron, but Hermione had remained silent.
"Hey that's right!" said Harry with a grin. "Hermione used to have a crush on the lovely Mr Lockhart. If I remember she even sent him a valentine." Harry stopped when Hermione shot him a warning look. Luckily Ron hadn't been listening and was still talking non stop about Lockhart's stupidity.
"He seems slightly different though, wouldn't you say?" asked Hermione with a slight frown.
Ron and Harry had to admit that Lockhart did indeed seem like a different person. He was no longer prancing around with flowing golden hair, lavender robes and proclaiming how he had won Witch Weekly's most charming smile award five times running. In fact he had seemed positively Snapesque in his classes. Surprisingly enough he also seemed to posses a vast knowledge of charms. Well his memory charms were certainly always good, Harry thought angrily remembering the way in which Lockhart had wiped a great many peoples memories in order to take credit for their work.
====================
After a week of rumors Dumbledore had called a meeting with the seventh formers and had explained that although it was a private matter he had decided to tell their form what had happened to Lockhart. As it was their year that had been most closely involved in the events of the Chamber of Secrets he felt they were owed an explanation. It turned out that after Lockhart had lost his memory he had been taken to St Mungo's where he had remained for three years slowly regaining his memory. An intrepid young intern at the hospital had decided to try a radical new treatment and had returned Lockhart's memory fully. Surprisingly upon regaining his memory Lockhart was in remorse over what he had done. Studying extensively he had decided to become an expert in charms, something he had always had a talent for, and to attempt to try to teach once again. Unfortunately most of the wizarding world had heard about the falsification of all his books and no school was willing to hire him. Dumbledore believed in second chances he said, and he wanted everyone to give Lockhart their best in class. Although he was speaking to everyone he was particularly looking at Harry and Ron as he said this.
"I trust that you are mature enough to keep this information to yourselves." Dumbledore said concluding his talk.
Thus naturally within the next two days the whole of Hogwarts knew the story of Lockhart's return.
====================
The Gryffindor common room was still buzzing with stories of Lockhart two nights after his surprise appearance. Hermione sat at a table, a vast number of books in front of her and kept shooting annoyed glances at some particularly rowdy fourth year students. Sighing she turned a page in her arithmancy book and tried to concentrate when a familiar voice sounded behind her.
"Well I think he's still gorgeous!" Lavender exclaimed shrilly to Parvati, followed by much giggling.
"Even if he is super strict ".It's such a turn on!"
"What do you think Hermione?" asked Parvati as the two girls came around the table, and Lavender perched herself on the side.
Hermione turned another page and industriously started scribbling away at her parchment, trying to ignore Lavender who was now examining her violet coloured nails in the light from a nearby lamp.
"Oh as if Hermione would think anything like that" said Lavender with an annoying little laugh.
Hermione put down her quill.
"What's that supposed to mean Lavender?" she asked, feeling her stomach start to knot with anxiety.
Lavender looked over at Parvati and said in a supercilious way
"Oh nothing Hermione, I mean we all know you're above things like boys". Parvati looked uncomfortable and inched away from the table.
"Just because I don't sleep with a different guy every week doesn't mean anything Lavender, some people actually have morals".
"Ohhh touchy touchy." said Lavender with another look at Parvati. "You know what Herm, I think you're jealous. Parvati I don't think Hermione's even kissed a boy before let alone gone out with one".
Parvati looked even more uncomfortable when she saw a brief look of misery cross Hermione's face. "What about Krum?" she asked in an attempt to smooth things over. Lavender however was obviously enjoying herself and wasn't about to stop. This was the one area in which she felt superior to Hermione. Sharing a room with the top student whom all the teachers worshipped got a bit hard to handle sometimes.
"Krum!" said Lavender dismissively "I bet he never even rang her after the Tournament was over. He just wanted someone to go to the dance with and as he was always in the library with Hermione she was the easiest to ask."
Hermione felt both sick and angry. "Why are you letting her get to you?" she thought to herself "You know what Lavender's like, she's always been a bit jealous of your marks at school, she's just saying that stuff because of it. The problem was that Lavender's words couldn't be dismissed so easily. "It's because they're true" Hermione thought, feeling that familiar well of misery deep in her stomach.
"Are you crazy?" said a voice "Hermione could get any boy she wanted".
"Harry!" said Hermione turning round and seeing Ron and Harry walking over "It's fine just stay out of it".
Lately Harry seemed to always be concerned about her Hermione realized. She looked at the tall boy with the vivid green eyes, rumpled black hair and an angry expression on his face and felt a wave of gratitude. "After everything Harry's been through it should be me helping him" Hermione thought. Harry was really strong she reflected, and an amazing friend.
"Oh really?" asked Lavender with raised eyebrows. "Would you care to bet on that?"
"Ok sure" said Harry angrily, walking forward a few steps to stand in front of where Lavender was perched.
"Ahh Harry..." said Ron worriedly, tapping his shoulder. Harry ignored him, and remained staring straight at Lavender.
"Ok Harry" said Lavender "Let's make a serious bet if you're so sure Hermione could get any guy".
"Let's all just go to bed" said Hermione in what she hoped was a placatory voice and started pulling all her notes towards her.
"What's the bet?" Harry asked not moving.
Lavender looked at Parvati and started giggling in that annoying way again.
"I bet that Hermione can't get Lockhart to go on a date with her".
Hermione's hand froze in midair over her charms book.
"Hang on" said Harry "He's a teacher that's not really fair".
"You said anyone" reminded Lavender, crossing her hands neatly in her lap and looking up at Harry with a wide eyed expression.
"Fine then." said Harry.
"And if she can't then you have to ask Professor Amos out".
Professor Amos was the current defense against the dark arts teacher and was considered to be very attractive by the majority of the boys at Hogwarts. Ever since she had played a part in helping Harry defeat Voldemort the year before a rumour had been going around that he had a crush on her. A rumour Harry certainly wanted to discourage.
"Agreed then?" asked Lavender with a simpering smile.
"And what if she can?" said Harry "You have to ask Snape out".
"Yes sure Harry, whatever" answered Lavender in tone that said "I know I will win this bet". "I can't wait to see Professor Amos's face when you ask her out" Lavender got out between her laughter.
Throughout this Hermione, Ron and Parvati had been silent. Hermione kept opening her mouth to say something but no words seemed to want to come out. Parvati had an expression that was difficult to read and Ron was looking wonderingly at Harry.
"We'd better have witnesses then" said Lavender. "Dean, Seamus get over here!
Lavender went through the bet with Harry and made Dean and Seamus witness their handshake.
Then, still laughing she headed out of the room with Parvati in tow.
====================
Ron, Harry and Hermione sat around the fire in the comfortable red armchairs after everyone else had gone to bed.
"Harry you are crazy" said Hermione for the fiftieth time. "What on earth were you thinking?"
"I'm really sorry Hermione, I just couldn't stand that little pain saying that stuff to you. I've been really worried about you this year, you're always so stressed and tired".
"And this is going to make her feel better?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Um...yeah I don't know" said Harry distractedly running his hands through his hair so it stood up on end. "Sorry I just lost my head".
Although Hermione was annoyed at Harry for making the stupid bet she was really touched that he had stood up for her. And been worried about her. "He's so wonderful" she found herself thinking again. "A fantastic friend. I wonder why Harry doesn't have a girlfriend she thought suddenly as she looked at him properly for the first time in ages, noticing his strong body, well muscled from hours on the Quidditch field, and his brilliant green eyes, and his thick black hair that fell in such a cute way over his face, and...." "Oh stop it Hermione!" she thought amazed at the track her thoughts had taken her on.
"Harry how are you going to ask professor Amos out?" said Hermione worriedly. "You just can't, not after all the things that went on last year". She added, shuddering as she thought back to the terrible events of the previous year.
"Well I won't have to because you and Lockhart will be having a lovely date together." replied Harry.
"Harry! I don't even like Lockhart. I can't ask him on a date".
"I thought you used to like him?" asked Ron.
"That was just a childish crush!"
"All you have to do is ask him out".
"And he has to actually agree to go out with me" said Hermione. "As if that's ever going to happen. I mean look at me, why would someone as gorgeous as Lockhart want to go out with me?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"We'll help Hermione" said Harry. "Won't we Ron".
"Yeah sure" said Ron "Of course".
"So you'll do it then?" asked Harry.
For some inexplicable reason Hermione found herself agreeing that she would.
====================
So what did you think? Love it, hate it, please r/v
A Fight and A Bet ====================
For the last week all that people had been talking about was the return of Lockhart. Professor Flitwick's mother was more seriously ill then at first thought and it appeared Lockhart was there for the rest of the term. Various rumours had floated around the school ranging from the ridiculous to the near truth about what had happened to him after the Chamber of Secrets incident in Hermione's second year. Ron and Harry had been outraged when they had found Lockhart back at the school and worse still as their charms teacher.
"That stupid git wanted to take all the credit for finding the Chamber of Secrets!" Ron had said angrily to Harry and Hermione after the charms lesson. "And to leave Ginny down there to die! I can't believe he would dare show his face back here".
Harry had agreed wholeheartedly with Ron, but Hermione had remained silent.
"Hey that's right!" said Harry with a grin. "Hermione used to have a crush on the lovely Mr Lockhart. If I remember she even sent him a valentine." Harry stopped when Hermione shot him a warning look. Luckily Ron hadn't been listening and was still talking non stop about Lockhart's stupidity.
"He seems slightly different though, wouldn't you say?" asked Hermione with a slight frown.
Ron and Harry had to admit that Lockhart did indeed seem like a different person. He was no longer prancing around with flowing golden hair, lavender robes and proclaiming how he had won Witch Weekly's most charming smile award five times running. In fact he had seemed positively Snapesque in his classes. Surprisingly enough he also seemed to posses a vast knowledge of charms. Well his memory charms were certainly always good, Harry thought angrily remembering the way in which Lockhart had wiped a great many peoples memories in order to take credit for their work.
====================
After a week of rumors Dumbledore had called a meeting with the seventh formers and had explained that although it was a private matter he had decided to tell their form what had happened to Lockhart. As it was their year that had been most closely involved in the events of the Chamber of Secrets he felt they were owed an explanation. It turned out that after Lockhart had lost his memory he had been taken to St Mungo's where he had remained for three years slowly regaining his memory. An intrepid young intern at the hospital had decided to try a radical new treatment and had returned Lockhart's memory fully. Surprisingly upon regaining his memory Lockhart was in remorse over what he had done. Studying extensively he had decided to become an expert in charms, something he had always had a talent for, and to attempt to try to teach once again. Unfortunately most of the wizarding world had heard about the falsification of all his books and no school was willing to hire him. Dumbledore believed in second chances he said, and he wanted everyone to give Lockhart their best in class. Although he was speaking to everyone he was particularly looking at Harry and Ron as he said this.
"I trust that you are mature enough to keep this information to yourselves." Dumbledore said concluding his talk.
Thus naturally within the next two days the whole of Hogwarts knew the story of Lockhart's return.
====================
The Gryffindor common room was still buzzing with stories of Lockhart two nights after his surprise appearance. Hermione sat at a table, a vast number of books in front of her and kept shooting annoyed glances at some particularly rowdy fourth year students. Sighing she turned a page in her arithmancy book and tried to concentrate when a familiar voice sounded behind her.
"Well I think he's still gorgeous!" Lavender exclaimed shrilly to Parvati, followed by much giggling.
"Even if he is super strict ".It's such a turn on!"
"What do you think Hermione?" asked Parvati as the two girls came around the table, and Lavender perched herself on the side.
Hermione turned another page and industriously started scribbling away at her parchment, trying to ignore Lavender who was now examining her violet coloured nails in the light from a nearby lamp.
"Oh as if Hermione would think anything like that" said Lavender with an annoying little laugh.
Hermione put down her quill.
"What's that supposed to mean Lavender?" she asked, feeling her stomach start to knot with anxiety.
Lavender looked over at Parvati and said in a supercilious way
"Oh nothing Hermione, I mean we all know you're above things like boys". Parvati looked uncomfortable and inched away from the table.
"Just because I don't sleep with a different guy every week doesn't mean anything Lavender, some people actually have morals".
"Ohhh touchy touchy." said Lavender with another look at Parvati. "You know what Herm, I think you're jealous. Parvati I don't think Hermione's even kissed a boy before let alone gone out with one".
Parvati looked even more uncomfortable when she saw a brief look of misery cross Hermione's face. "What about Krum?" she asked in an attempt to smooth things over. Lavender however was obviously enjoying herself and wasn't about to stop. This was the one area in which she felt superior to Hermione. Sharing a room with the top student whom all the teachers worshipped got a bit hard to handle sometimes.
"Krum!" said Lavender dismissively "I bet he never even rang her after the Tournament was over. He just wanted someone to go to the dance with and as he was always in the library with Hermione she was the easiest to ask."
Hermione felt both sick and angry. "Why are you letting her get to you?" she thought to herself "You know what Lavender's like, she's always been a bit jealous of your marks at school, she's just saying that stuff because of it. The problem was that Lavender's words couldn't be dismissed so easily. "It's because they're true" Hermione thought, feeling that familiar well of misery deep in her stomach.
"Are you crazy?" said a voice "Hermione could get any boy she wanted".
"Harry!" said Hermione turning round and seeing Ron and Harry walking over "It's fine just stay out of it".
Lately Harry seemed to always be concerned about her Hermione realized. She looked at the tall boy with the vivid green eyes, rumpled black hair and an angry expression on his face and felt a wave of gratitude. "After everything Harry's been through it should be me helping him" Hermione thought. Harry was really strong she reflected, and an amazing friend.
"Oh really?" asked Lavender with raised eyebrows. "Would you care to bet on that?"
"Ok sure" said Harry angrily, walking forward a few steps to stand in front of where Lavender was perched.
"Ahh Harry..." said Ron worriedly, tapping his shoulder. Harry ignored him, and remained staring straight at Lavender.
"Ok Harry" said Lavender "Let's make a serious bet if you're so sure Hermione could get any guy".
"Let's all just go to bed" said Hermione in what she hoped was a placatory voice and started pulling all her notes towards her.
"What's the bet?" Harry asked not moving.
Lavender looked at Parvati and started giggling in that annoying way again.
"I bet that Hermione can't get Lockhart to go on a date with her".
Hermione's hand froze in midair over her charms book.
"Hang on" said Harry "He's a teacher that's not really fair".
"You said anyone" reminded Lavender, crossing her hands neatly in her lap and looking up at Harry with a wide eyed expression.
"Fine then." said Harry.
"And if she can't then you have to ask Professor Amos out".
Professor Amos was the current defense against the dark arts teacher and was considered to be very attractive by the majority of the boys at Hogwarts. Ever since she had played a part in helping Harry defeat Voldemort the year before a rumour had been going around that he had a crush on her. A rumour Harry certainly wanted to discourage.
"Agreed then?" asked Lavender with a simpering smile.
"And what if she can?" said Harry "You have to ask Snape out".
"Yes sure Harry, whatever" answered Lavender in tone that said "I know I will win this bet". "I can't wait to see Professor Amos's face when you ask her out" Lavender got out between her laughter.
Throughout this Hermione, Ron and Parvati had been silent. Hermione kept opening her mouth to say something but no words seemed to want to come out. Parvati had an expression that was difficult to read and Ron was looking wonderingly at Harry.
"We'd better have witnesses then" said Lavender. "Dean, Seamus get over here!
Lavender went through the bet with Harry and made Dean and Seamus witness their handshake.
Then, still laughing she headed out of the room with Parvati in tow.
====================
Ron, Harry and Hermione sat around the fire in the comfortable red armchairs after everyone else had gone to bed.
"Harry you are crazy" said Hermione for the fiftieth time. "What on earth were you thinking?"
"I'm really sorry Hermione, I just couldn't stand that little pain saying that stuff to you. I've been really worried about you this year, you're always so stressed and tired".
"And this is going to make her feel better?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"Um...yeah I don't know" said Harry distractedly running his hands through his hair so it stood up on end. "Sorry I just lost my head".
Although Hermione was annoyed at Harry for making the stupid bet she was really touched that he had stood up for her. And been worried about her. "He's so wonderful" she found herself thinking again. "A fantastic friend. I wonder why Harry doesn't have a girlfriend she thought suddenly as she looked at him properly for the first time in ages, noticing his strong body, well muscled from hours on the Quidditch field, and his brilliant green eyes, and his thick black hair that fell in such a cute way over his face, and...." "Oh stop it Hermione!" she thought amazed at the track her thoughts had taken her on.
"Harry how are you going to ask professor Amos out?" said Hermione worriedly. "You just can't, not after all the things that went on last year". She added, shuddering as she thought back to the terrible events of the previous year.
"Well I won't have to because you and Lockhart will be having a lovely date together." replied Harry.
"Harry! I don't even like Lockhart. I can't ask him on a date".
"I thought you used to like him?" asked Ron.
"That was just a childish crush!"
"All you have to do is ask him out".
"And he has to actually agree to go out with me" said Hermione. "As if that's ever going to happen. I mean look at me, why would someone as gorgeous as Lockhart want to go out with me?"
Harry and Ron looked at each other.
"We'll help Hermione" said Harry. "Won't we Ron".
"Yeah sure" said Ron "Of course".
"So you'll do it then?" asked Harry.
For some inexplicable reason Hermione found herself agreeing that she would.
====================
So what did you think? Love it, hate it, please r/v