At the start of the year, Eric was determined to develop into a model student. However, Professor Lockhart's inexplicable failure with the pixies had given him a new puzzle. Eric was determined to learn more about the ever popular Gilderoy Lockhart, and to determine how someone who knew so much about dealing with the darkest of forces could apparently be so inept.

He started by simply questioning other Ravenclaws. The results he gained were predictable. The boys all found him to be apparently inept, while the girls simply were sure that he was having a string of bad luck. All the girls, that is, except Naomi, who gave the most telling response of all. "I've read his books. He's far too happy for someone who's encountered as much darkness as he claims."

Luna was also unconvinced. "If he has accomplished so much, why hasn't he turned his attention to the flaming veramiths infesting Sussex?"

Setting these compelling arguments aside, Eric still decided that he had enough reason to discover what he could about Gilderoy Lockhart. Unfortunately, his resources were fairly limited, and being a student, he couldn't expend as much time as he would've liked to in investigation. This left him with no other choice than a little rule-breaking. Whatever Gilderoy's secrets were, if they were damaging he'd keep them with him rather than leaving them somewhere that a stranger could find them. Most likely, a journal in his office could shed some light on the subject, maybe indicate the research he's doing on his next novel.

However, when he chose to make his move, he found that Gilderoy was working overtime signing his fan mail, with Harry Potter seized as a galley slave. He supposed that this was probably light punishment for what he did, but after a few minutes Eric couldn't help but feel sorry for Harry as Gilderoy droned on and on about his various accomplishments and the complexities of being famous. Deciding that this couldn't go on forever, Eric took up as comfortable a settling in an air duct that he could and sought to wait it out. The minutes, however, stretched into hours, and Eric started doze off.

Facing downward, he knew he wouldn't snore, or at least not very loudly, so he let himself catch some rest while he could. He decided to try what Naomi was talking about, just thinking and seeing what would happen. Before long, he was starting to have ideas about better carving patterns, new materials to try on wands, and one or two transformations that were actually useful.

He was so wrapped up in these new ideas that he was startled to find himself in a dark hall with no doors; just a long corridor going onward into inky blackness. He started to walk down the corridor when he began to make out a shape – nothing distinct, but dark and moving. That would be frightening enough, but, it was also speaking to him. "Come … come to me … let me rip you … let me tear you … let me kill you …"

Eric was roused from the dream by a something, and immediately tried to reclaim his bearings. Looking back into the room, he saw that Harry and Gilderoy were still signing, though Harry was distracted by something. "No. That voice!"

Gilderoy looked puzzled. "Sorry? What voice?" Eric clamped his hand over his mouth. Was he talking in his sleep? Apparently Harry heard him, but Gilderoy missed it. Not surprising, since Gilderoy seemed to miss every detail of the world around him that didn't spew from his own mouth.

Harry was still puzzled. "That – that voice that said – didn't you hear it?"

Lockhart dismissed Harry's protests as dozing off, noting that it was nearly midnight. Cursing his luck, Eric stealthily made his way away from Lockhart's office and back to the Ravenclaw dormitory. He didn't learn quite what he wanted to, but he did learn that Professor Lockhart was an incredible bore who could drone on for hours, and be excited about it. This didn't bode well for him as a teacher, or as someone of true accomplishment.

Eric continued his thoughts as he settled into bed. So, if he wasn't a truly accomplished wizard, what was he? How could Eric find out without taking excessive risks, and what happened this evening? The voice in his dream – what if it wasn't part of the dream? Harry had seemed to hear it too.

What if it was real?