Chapter Six

Professor Lockheart's Secret

Morning sun streamed in through the high castle windows waking the boys from their slumber. An envelope had been placed on each of their trunks. Harry leaned forward and grabbed his opening it to find a list of his classes. He had Defense Against The Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. Looking over Ron's list he saw he had the same. Harry, Ron, Dean, Seamus and Neville got dressed and grabbed their things, it would be time for their first class soon. They met up with Hermione at breakfast and found to their delight she too had all the same classes. What luck that was. Hermione had one extra class, Advance potions. Better her then them one round of Snape was enough they did not need a second round in a day. They all ate breakfast quickly and hurried off to their first class of the year and one of Harry's favorites, Defense Against The Dark Arts.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stop dead in their tracks when they hit the doorway to the classroom. Professor Lockheart was sitting crossed leg on her dark oak desk. All around her on the walls were pictures of known deatheaters, people they never saw before, paintings of duels and many talismans for defending yourself against evil. The lighting in the classroom was low but walls seemed to glow giving an eerie look to the place. Two-dozen desks formed a circle with hers being at the head. As for the Professor herself she wore a long flowing black robe similar to the ones the students wore but made of much better material maybe velvet. The top couple buttons were open reveling a soft red shirt looking to be the same material.

"Welcome have a seat the others will be here shortly." She said with a smile

Harry and Ron managed to keep their tongues in their mouths and their jaws in place as Hermione led the way to three desks to the right of the professors. True to her word everyone else showed up quickly and basically had the same reactions the three of them had to the classroom and the professor in it. When everyone had recovered and took their seats Professor Lockheart uncrossed her legs scooted off her desk and leaned comfortably against it.

"Welcome students, as you can see this is my 6th and 7th year class. I chose to teach you this way so not to scare the younger student, they will get a similar class but not quite as detailed."

Eyes shined and smug looks appeared as this statement, knowing that they were in for a treat being the older class.

Pointing up at one of the pictures she asked, "Who can tell me who this is?"

At once Hermione's hand went up as usual. Ron rolled his eyes and Harry smiled

"Pointing at Hermione she says, "What's your name and house?"

"Hermione Granger" lowering her hand "I'm in Gryffindor"

"Welcome Miss Granger, Now back to my question, who is in this picture?"

"That is Peter Pettigrew" she replied

"Very good, 10 points to Gryffindor" she said "Now what about this one?"

Once again Hermione's hand went up but this time other hands did too. Pointing at Draco he stood and drawled "Draco Malfoy of Slytherin, He" pointing at the picture "is Barty Crouch Jr."

"Very good Mr. Malfoy" giving him a smile, he got a little pink in the face.

Professor Lockheart pointed again this time no one raised his or her hand.

"That is Michael Spawn. I did not expect any of you to know him… Doesn't he look like a nice man? Could have been an uncle or father or friend. But never a deatheater." The class fell into a false sense of security. "Guess what he was a deatheater, that painting was made a week before his capture when he was sent to Azkaban. He died in there four weeks later. As did the rest of these men and woman in the paintings you never seen before." She started pointing again "That's Gregory Hector, next to him is George Black." Turning a bit she points again "That's Penny Pew and Fran Delacolor, Ahh and lets not forget one of the Dark Lords favorites that's Missy Roth. By this time your proudly all wondering what I'm getting at." Many heads nodded in agreement. I came from abroad as Headmaster Dumbledore told you all. But what he did not tell you is I'm one of the few survivors of the mass ciaos that broke out where I come from, the destruction that occurred at the hands of people just like them" raising her eyes to the pictures. "Why am I telling you this, because every person here or anywhere could be a deatheater, it is not something your born with it's a way of life you choose when power becomes more important then self worth. You need to know how to protect yourself. Charms like the ones on the walls will not help you, they are the products of witches and wizards trying to fill their vaults. The only thing that will save you is your wits, your wand and your friends, but beware not everyone maybe a true friend and some of your worst enemies may just have you fooled."

The bell rang scaring half the students to death being so wrapped up in her words. They all started to stand and gather their things.

"In our next class we will start a little hands on learning. Don't forget to sign up for the dueling club. I hope to see you all there." Professor Lockheart turned away and retreated into her private chamber behind the classroom. Everyone finished getting their stuff and quickly left for their next class.