A/N: Thanks to the people who reviewed. If you have any suggestions or
things you don't like in the story please let me know. Btw this story will
definitely be completed.... So keep reading (
Chapter Four
A Meeting and A Midnight Escapade ====================
Hermione listened outside Lockhart's door for a response to her knocks when she felt a curious sensation that someone was watching her. Looking up the corridor she saw a girl standing at the end.
"Is that Parvati?" Hermione wondered trying to get a better glimpse, but the corridor was dimly lit, and at that moment realizing she had been seen, the girl turned and walked quickly through a doorway. "What would Parvati be doing here" Hermione wondered and then her thoughts stopped as
"Come in" said Lockhart's voice through the door.
Hermione turned the wrought iron door handle and pushed open the door. Lockhart was sitting at his desk writing. For the first time since second year Hermione really looked at him. Lockhart was seated behind his desk, sipping something from a silver goblet. His hair was shorter now, but still thick and blond, with a longer fringe that fell over his right eye. His face was almost pretty, but his strong jaw and cheekbones prevented him from looking too feminine. He was wearing a quite becoming pair of glasses she noticed. Lockhart looked up at her and his eyes were a vivid blue. Hermione realised how extremely attractive she still found him and her heart started to beat a faster. For the first time in three years she felt an attraction that she had no control over.
"Yes? Can I help you?" Lockhart asked in a rather pleasant tone of voice, different to his usual icy manner in class.
"Um...I'm here about being late for class." Hermione said. "Stay confident" she whispered in her mind.
"Miss Granger?" Lockhart asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Um Professor I would very much like to apologize for my lateness to your classes." Hermione said walking over to his desk.
"I guarantee that it will never happen again." She added looking at him sincerely. Although trying to stay confident Hermione's chest felt tight like something was squeezing it tight. Breathing was difficult.
Lockhart didn't seem to know what to say. He still looked at though he were trying to figure something out.
Hermione tried to breathe more slowly and when Lockhart remained silent she plunged ahead trying to cover her nervousness by talking.
"I also would like to take this opportunity to let you know that charms has always been a personal favourite subject of mine and I intend to work extremely hard this year in your classes" she said earnestly.
"Um..er...yes, yes of course" said Lockhart stupidly. He shuffled some of the papers on his desk and then seemed to regain some of his composure.
"Well ensure that you are punctual from now on then Miss Granger" he said in his more usual frosty tone of voice, not looking at Hermione.
"Thank you for being so understanding Professor Lockhart" Hermione said looking straight at him. He looked up, his blue eyes meeting her brown ones and she felt her chest squeeze even tighter. There was a moment of silence. Lockhart held her gaze for what seemed like hours. There was something, some emotion in his eyes that she couldn't read. Confused by the rush of feeling inside her Hermione looked away and quietly whispered
"Thank you professor" and then rapidly turned and made her way quickly over to the door.
====================
Gilderoy Lockhart sat at his desk staring at the door Hermione had just walked out of. He knew that feeling, knew it well, although he had not felt it for a long time.
"Gilderoy you have to stop this. Now." Said a voice in his head.
When Hermione had walked in he had honestly not recognised it was her, but when his eye's as met hers he had felt like an explosion going off inside him. It had been strange he reflected, he had never felt such a powerful attraction to anyone so quickly before. It was almost as if it had been......arranged? Lockhart ran is hands through his hair and sighed.
"Damn" he said softly, pressing one hand against his forehead.
Lockhart's rehabilitation had not been easy, but thanks to the support of Dumbledore, he had gotten through. He felt sick with shame thinking back to his behavior when he was last at Hogwarts. After leaving the rehabilitation centre Lockhart had made up his mind to make amends for all the harm he had caused in the past. Having discovered that he was not only good at memory charms but had a talent for the subject as a whole he had decided that he would devote his life to helping students. Teaching would be his life. There would be no relationships, no friends, just his work. That was to be his atonement. For the past two years he has searched fruitlessly for a teaching position. This job offer had been a godsend and he would be ever grateful to Dumbledore.
Of course there had been temptations. Many women had wanted to pursue a relationship, even just to be friends with him. But he had accepted none of them, had not even allowed himself to feel any attractions. Until now. Lockhart steeled himself inside. The feelings he had felt upon seeing Hermione had been so pleasant, like remembering something good. He didn't want to let them go. But he couldn't, couldn't, let himself feel that way about anyone anymore. He didn't deserve it. Unbidden the image of Hermione's face swam into his mind. She was beautiful he realised. Beautiful in the way someone is when they have no awareness of it.
"Stop it" he thought, and with the control he had developed over the years, pushed Hermione from his thoughts and stood up to go to dinner.
====================
Hermione stood outside Lockhart's door. Her heart was still beating fast although the tightness in her chest was loosening. Really looking, and seeing, Lockhart properly had been amazing.
"You know why you felt the way you did in second year" she thought. The feeling she had now was different though. It was no longer a childish school girl crush. Standing there she imagined kissing Lockhart's lips and involuntarily shivered at the pleasure of the thought. Never having kissed a boy before Hermione's thoughts were free to do as they pleased, and she imagined something perfect when their lips met.
"Oh wow" she thought ruefully to herself. "What have you got yourself into?" But suddenly she felt wonderful.
Footsteps sounded from inside Lockhart's room. Quickly she turned and fled down the corridor before Lockhart could see her.
====================
Hermione entered the Hall just before dinner was about to start. She sat down in her usual place next to Harry.
"How did it go?" he mouthed at her.
"Tell you later" she whispered smiling.
Everyone at the table seemed to be whispering she realised. And looking at her. Hermione suddenly remembered her "make over" that afternoon. Lavender was staring across the table at her with an unpleasant expression.
"Nice hair" she said rudely.
"Thanks Lavender" said Hermione evenly.
It was amazing this new found confidence she thought.
"Hey Hermione!" yelled Dean from down the other end of the table "Wanna come to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday? We could like go have a beer together or something y'know?"
"No Hermione come with me" shouted Seamus pushing Dean's shoulder.
Lavender scowled across the table at them.
"I think Hermione likes older, more refined men, boys" said Ron.
Harry burst out laughing but quickly stopped as everyone suddenly quieted down when the teachers entered the hall. Lockhart was last to enter. As he walked down the isle he found himself searching the sea of faces for Hermione's. Trying to push his emotions away, into that dark corner of his mind, he looked down to his left to avert his gaze. And straight into Hermione's eyes. Hermione almost gasped when their eyes met, but regaining her composure she gave him the tiniest smile instead. Lockhart quickly looked away trying to control the beating of his heart.
====================
As soon as dinner was over Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the Gryffindor common room. Walking down the corridors Harry and Ron noticed the approving glances of many guys as they passed by and looked at Hermione. They stopped outside the portrait of the fat lady and gave the password (brindle berry).
"So tell us everything" said Ron when they were out of earshot of anyone else.
"It went OK I guess" said Hermione hesitantly.
"Do you think he likes you?" Ron asked leaning forward in his seat.
"Oh Ron, I don't know. How would I know that?"
"What did he say to you? How did he act? Was he like he is in class?" Harry asked.
"No at first he seemed a bit surprised to see me actually" Hermione said. "He spoke differently, not like he was pretending to be Snape. But then he seemed to become his old self."
Harry looked meaningfully at Ron.
"He noticed her" he said with conviction.
"So Hermione what do you think of our professor now?" Harry asked.
"I don't think anything. I'm doing this for you Harry and to be honest I'll be glad when it's all over" Hermione replied, knowing inside the complete falsity of her words. Seeing Lockhart this afternoon had changed everything.
"Hermione you're fantastic for going along with this." Harry said "But you'll have to act like you like him a bit to get him to go out with you, you know."
"I know, that's fine I can play a role. So what happens now?"
Ron and Harry looked at each other smiling.
"Well remember how each teacher is going to get a student liaison?" Ron said.
"Ron as if I would ever be picked as Lockhart's after my performance in charms since he got here. Besides I'll probably be chosen as McGonagall's "said Hermione sounding rather a lot like her old self.
"Look leave that to us" said Harry with a wink at Ron.
The corridors were silent and empty at 12:30am as Ron and Harry crept along quietly in the direction of McGonagall's room.
"This feels like we're back in second year" Harry whispered to Ron as they shuffled along trying to keep all of themselves under the cloak which was a more difficult task than in the past as both boys had become quite tall.
The invisibility cloak had certainly proved useful over the years Harry thought pulling it more tightly around them. Stopping outside McGonagall's room Harry took out his wand, tapped the keyhole and whispered "Adaperio". Hermione had taught him that particular charm last year and it had proved very useful for getting into rooms you weren't supposed to. Sometimes having a know-it-all as a best friend wasn't such as bad thing he thought with a smile.
The door swung open and the boys walked in quickly and shut behind them.
"Lumos" Ron muttered holding his wand out. Quickly they started to look through the papers on McGonagall's desk. Luckily she was extremely organised and they quickly found the list of students.
"Lockhart's been assigned Prudence Ashcroft" Ron whispered. "And Hermione was right, she's with McGonagall".
"Who's Prudence Ashcroft?" asked Harry.
"That Ravenclaw girl, you know the annoying one with short blond hair" Ron said.
"Trust Ron to know every girl in the school" Harry thought.
"Well we'll soon fix that" Harry said taking out a magical eraser he had bought in Hogsmeade.
Quickly he erased the two names, and then Ron who was good at copying handwriting rewrote the names so that Hermione was with Lockhart.
"Won't McGonagall realise?" Ron asked.
"No she's announcing it first thing tomorrow, she won't check before she reads out the names and by then it will be too late. It will look funny if they try to change people around then."
====================
As the seventh years filed into the room the next morning Hermione looked over at Harry questioningly. He put his thumb and forefinger together in a circle and smiled at her.
"And for Charms, Hermione Granger will be the liaison for Professor Lockhart" Professor McGonagall read out. She then looked closely at the paper with a puzzled frown.
Harry and Ron nudged each other and gave Hermione satisfied glances. Lavender also looked over at Hermione, but her expression was rather evil.
"For those students concerned your respective teachers will be contacting you in the next few days to arrange a meeting. That will be all." McGonagall said.
====================
Professor McGonagall walked into the staff room at morning tea. As usual Lockhart was sitting alone sipping a drink. The other staff members still didn't feel too kindly disposed to the ex defence against the dark arts teacher after what had happened five years ago. It didn't seem to bother him though, Professor McGonagall thought. He seemed totally preoccupied with his work.
"Gilderoy, could I have a moment?" she asked stepping up beside him.
"Certainly Minerva, what can I help you with?" He asked politely.
"There seems to have been a slight mix up with the students assigned as teacher liaisons. You were originally assigned Prudence Ashcroft from Ravenclaw, but..."
"Who will I be working with now?" Lockhart asked.
"Hermione Granger from Gryffindor."
Lockhart felt his stomach do a somersault. He composed his face into a frown.
"Is that a problem?" asked McGonagall.
"No no" said Lockhart hurriedly. "That will be fine".
====================
Chapter Four
A Meeting and A Midnight Escapade ====================
Hermione listened outside Lockhart's door for a response to her knocks when she felt a curious sensation that someone was watching her. Looking up the corridor she saw a girl standing at the end.
"Is that Parvati?" Hermione wondered trying to get a better glimpse, but the corridor was dimly lit, and at that moment realizing she had been seen, the girl turned and walked quickly through a doorway. "What would Parvati be doing here" Hermione wondered and then her thoughts stopped as
"Come in" said Lockhart's voice through the door.
Hermione turned the wrought iron door handle and pushed open the door. Lockhart was sitting at his desk writing. For the first time since second year Hermione really looked at him. Lockhart was seated behind his desk, sipping something from a silver goblet. His hair was shorter now, but still thick and blond, with a longer fringe that fell over his right eye. His face was almost pretty, but his strong jaw and cheekbones prevented him from looking too feminine. He was wearing a quite becoming pair of glasses she noticed. Lockhart looked up at her and his eyes were a vivid blue. Hermione realised how extremely attractive she still found him and her heart started to beat a faster. For the first time in three years she felt an attraction that she had no control over.
"Yes? Can I help you?" Lockhart asked in a rather pleasant tone of voice, different to his usual icy manner in class.
"Um...I'm here about being late for class." Hermione said. "Stay confident" she whispered in her mind.
"Miss Granger?" Lockhart asked hesitantly.
"Yes, Um Professor I would very much like to apologize for my lateness to your classes." Hermione said walking over to his desk.
"I guarantee that it will never happen again." She added looking at him sincerely. Although trying to stay confident Hermione's chest felt tight like something was squeezing it tight. Breathing was difficult.
Lockhart didn't seem to know what to say. He still looked at though he were trying to figure something out.
Hermione tried to breathe more slowly and when Lockhart remained silent she plunged ahead trying to cover her nervousness by talking.
"I also would like to take this opportunity to let you know that charms has always been a personal favourite subject of mine and I intend to work extremely hard this year in your classes" she said earnestly.
"Um..er...yes, yes of course" said Lockhart stupidly. He shuffled some of the papers on his desk and then seemed to regain some of his composure.
"Well ensure that you are punctual from now on then Miss Granger" he said in his more usual frosty tone of voice, not looking at Hermione.
"Thank you for being so understanding Professor Lockhart" Hermione said looking straight at him. He looked up, his blue eyes meeting her brown ones and she felt her chest squeeze even tighter. There was a moment of silence. Lockhart held her gaze for what seemed like hours. There was something, some emotion in his eyes that she couldn't read. Confused by the rush of feeling inside her Hermione looked away and quietly whispered
"Thank you professor" and then rapidly turned and made her way quickly over to the door.
====================
Gilderoy Lockhart sat at his desk staring at the door Hermione had just walked out of. He knew that feeling, knew it well, although he had not felt it for a long time.
"Gilderoy you have to stop this. Now." Said a voice in his head.
When Hermione had walked in he had honestly not recognised it was her, but when his eye's as met hers he had felt like an explosion going off inside him. It had been strange he reflected, he had never felt such a powerful attraction to anyone so quickly before. It was almost as if it had been......arranged? Lockhart ran is hands through his hair and sighed.
"Damn" he said softly, pressing one hand against his forehead.
Lockhart's rehabilitation had not been easy, but thanks to the support of Dumbledore, he had gotten through. He felt sick with shame thinking back to his behavior when he was last at Hogwarts. After leaving the rehabilitation centre Lockhart had made up his mind to make amends for all the harm he had caused in the past. Having discovered that he was not only good at memory charms but had a talent for the subject as a whole he had decided that he would devote his life to helping students. Teaching would be his life. There would be no relationships, no friends, just his work. That was to be his atonement. For the past two years he has searched fruitlessly for a teaching position. This job offer had been a godsend and he would be ever grateful to Dumbledore.
Of course there had been temptations. Many women had wanted to pursue a relationship, even just to be friends with him. But he had accepted none of them, had not even allowed himself to feel any attractions. Until now. Lockhart steeled himself inside. The feelings he had felt upon seeing Hermione had been so pleasant, like remembering something good. He didn't want to let them go. But he couldn't, couldn't, let himself feel that way about anyone anymore. He didn't deserve it. Unbidden the image of Hermione's face swam into his mind. She was beautiful he realised. Beautiful in the way someone is when they have no awareness of it.
"Stop it" he thought, and with the control he had developed over the years, pushed Hermione from his thoughts and stood up to go to dinner.
====================
Hermione stood outside Lockhart's door. Her heart was still beating fast although the tightness in her chest was loosening. Really looking, and seeing, Lockhart properly had been amazing.
"You know why you felt the way you did in second year" she thought. The feeling she had now was different though. It was no longer a childish school girl crush. Standing there she imagined kissing Lockhart's lips and involuntarily shivered at the pleasure of the thought. Never having kissed a boy before Hermione's thoughts were free to do as they pleased, and she imagined something perfect when their lips met.
"Oh wow" she thought ruefully to herself. "What have you got yourself into?" But suddenly she felt wonderful.
Footsteps sounded from inside Lockhart's room. Quickly she turned and fled down the corridor before Lockhart could see her.
====================
Hermione entered the Hall just before dinner was about to start. She sat down in her usual place next to Harry.
"How did it go?" he mouthed at her.
"Tell you later" she whispered smiling.
Everyone at the table seemed to be whispering she realised. And looking at her. Hermione suddenly remembered her "make over" that afternoon. Lavender was staring across the table at her with an unpleasant expression.
"Nice hair" she said rudely.
"Thanks Lavender" said Hermione evenly.
It was amazing this new found confidence she thought.
"Hey Hermione!" yelled Dean from down the other end of the table "Wanna come to Hogsmeade with me on Saturday? We could like go have a beer together or something y'know?"
"No Hermione come with me" shouted Seamus pushing Dean's shoulder.
Lavender scowled across the table at them.
"I think Hermione likes older, more refined men, boys" said Ron.
Harry burst out laughing but quickly stopped as everyone suddenly quieted down when the teachers entered the hall. Lockhart was last to enter. As he walked down the isle he found himself searching the sea of faces for Hermione's. Trying to push his emotions away, into that dark corner of his mind, he looked down to his left to avert his gaze. And straight into Hermione's eyes. Hermione almost gasped when their eyes met, but regaining her composure she gave him the tiniest smile instead. Lockhart quickly looked away trying to control the beating of his heart.
====================
As soon as dinner was over Harry, Ron and Hermione made their way to the Gryffindor common room. Walking down the corridors Harry and Ron noticed the approving glances of many guys as they passed by and looked at Hermione. They stopped outside the portrait of the fat lady and gave the password (brindle berry).
"So tell us everything" said Ron when they were out of earshot of anyone else.
"It went OK I guess" said Hermione hesitantly.
"Do you think he likes you?" Ron asked leaning forward in his seat.
"Oh Ron, I don't know. How would I know that?"
"What did he say to you? How did he act? Was he like he is in class?" Harry asked.
"No at first he seemed a bit surprised to see me actually" Hermione said. "He spoke differently, not like he was pretending to be Snape. But then he seemed to become his old self."
Harry looked meaningfully at Ron.
"He noticed her" he said with conviction.
"So Hermione what do you think of our professor now?" Harry asked.
"I don't think anything. I'm doing this for you Harry and to be honest I'll be glad when it's all over" Hermione replied, knowing inside the complete falsity of her words. Seeing Lockhart this afternoon had changed everything.
"Hermione you're fantastic for going along with this." Harry said "But you'll have to act like you like him a bit to get him to go out with you, you know."
"I know, that's fine I can play a role. So what happens now?"
Ron and Harry looked at each other smiling.
"Well remember how each teacher is going to get a student liaison?" Ron said.
"Ron as if I would ever be picked as Lockhart's after my performance in charms since he got here. Besides I'll probably be chosen as McGonagall's "said Hermione sounding rather a lot like her old self.
"Look leave that to us" said Harry with a wink at Ron.
The corridors were silent and empty at 12:30am as Ron and Harry crept along quietly in the direction of McGonagall's room.
"This feels like we're back in second year" Harry whispered to Ron as they shuffled along trying to keep all of themselves under the cloak which was a more difficult task than in the past as both boys had become quite tall.
The invisibility cloak had certainly proved useful over the years Harry thought pulling it more tightly around them. Stopping outside McGonagall's room Harry took out his wand, tapped the keyhole and whispered "Adaperio". Hermione had taught him that particular charm last year and it had proved very useful for getting into rooms you weren't supposed to. Sometimes having a know-it-all as a best friend wasn't such as bad thing he thought with a smile.
The door swung open and the boys walked in quickly and shut behind them.
"Lumos" Ron muttered holding his wand out. Quickly they started to look through the papers on McGonagall's desk. Luckily she was extremely organised and they quickly found the list of students.
"Lockhart's been assigned Prudence Ashcroft" Ron whispered. "And Hermione was right, she's with McGonagall".
"Who's Prudence Ashcroft?" asked Harry.
"That Ravenclaw girl, you know the annoying one with short blond hair" Ron said.
"Trust Ron to know every girl in the school" Harry thought.
"Well we'll soon fix that" Harry said taking out a magical eraser he had bought in Hogsmeade.
Quickly he erased the two names, and then Ron who was good at copying handwriting rewrote the names so that Hermione was with Lockhart.
"Won't McGonagall realise?" Ron asked.
"No she's announcing it first thing tomorrow, she won't check before she reads out the names and by then it will be too late. It will look funny if they try to change people around then."
====================
As the seventh years filed into the room the next morning Hermione looked over at Harry questioningly. He put his thumb and forefinger together in a circle and smiled at her.
"And for Charms, Hermione Granger will be the liaison for Professor Lockhart" Professor McGonagall read out. She then looked closely at the paper with a puzzled frown.
Harry and Ron nudged each other and gave Hermione satisfied glances. Lavender also looked over at Hermione, but her expression was rather evil.
"For those students concerned your respective teachers will be contacting you in the next few days to arrange a meeting. That will be all." McGonagall said.
====================
Professor McGonagall walked into the staff room at morning tea. As usual Lockhart was sitting alone sipping a drink. The other staff members still didn't feel too kindly disposed to the ex defence against the dark arts teacher after what had happened five years ago. It didn't seem to bother him though, Professor McGonagall thought. He seemed totally preoccupied with his work.
"Gilderoy, could I have a moment?" she asked stepping up beside him.
"Certainly Minerva, what can I help you with?" He asked politely.
"There seems to have been a slight mix up with the students assigned as teacher liaisons. You were originally assigned Prudence Ashcroft from Ravenclaw, but..."
"Who will I be working with now?" Lockhart asked.
"Hermione Granger from Gryffindor."
Lockhart felt his stomach do a somersault. He composed his face into a frown.
"Is that a problem?" asked McGonagall.
"No no" said Lockhart hurriedly. "That will be fine".
====================