Beta: None
Original release date: 02/22/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the canon Harry Potter universe or any other universe.
Author Note: To those who read chapter 22 before my update, I'd like to set the stage for this chapter a bit. Pettigrew was already caught in chapter 13 and wasn't supposed to be caught last chapter as he was still in Azkaban. Therefore, that part of the chapter was removed and didn't really occur. The start of this chapter is the following day.
Chapter 23 – Photograph
"Sirius, are you ready to roll?" calls out Amelia from the kitchen.
Popping his head into the kitchen, Sirius replies, "I was packed yesterday. Now, let us be off for our honeymoon."
Draining the last little bit of coffee out of her mug, Amelia nods her head and exits the room, ready for a relaxing two weeks of vacation.
/*at Hogwarts*/
Slipping out of bed, Harry stealthily prepares for his early morning exercise routine. Sudden movement catches Harry's eye and turns to look at the source. Neville slips from around the foot of his bed, dressed similarly to Harry. Making some hand motions to communicate silently, Harry and Neville quickly make their way out of the second year dormitory and into the common room.
"Are we going to venture out of the castle for our morning routine or what will we do?" whispers Neville.
Smiling, Harry replies in an equally of quiet tone, "As much fun as it was to slip out of the castle undetected each morning, Remus gave me a recommendation and Sirius agrees that it would be safer for us to remain in the castle and not venture out before the rest of the castle is awake. They spoke of a room that comes and goes as we need, on the seventh floor."
"Are we going to keep this to ourselves, or are we going to allow others to join us."
Exhaling somewhat loudly, Harry whispers, "Who were you thinking of?"
"Hermione made some inquiries and what about Susan? Might she be interested?"
"I'm good with Hermione, but with more people it becomes more difficult to hide our trail, unless we get professor approval to move out of the common rooms before curfew is lifted."
"Well, let's get to our morning routine, then we can decide on the details later, ok Harry?"
Roughly an hour later Harry and Neville quietly slip back into the common room. Fifteen minutes later Harry and Neville descend down the stairwell to the common room.
"Hermione, awake as early as normal" calls out a smiling Neville, striding over and giving her a bear hug.
"Ready for breakfast?" asks Harry.
A feminine voice from behind Harry answers, "Yes, although I'm nervous about classes."
Turning around, Harry, Neville, and Hermione see Ginny standing just a few feet away from the foot of the stairs, book-bag strap slung across her shoulder to her hip.
"Let's go then" replies Harry starting towards the portrait hole.
"What about Ron and the twins?" inquiries Ginny.
Turning his head over his shoulder, Harry replies, "Don't worry about Ron. I figure the twins are already awake."
Nodding her head, Ginny joins the trio before exiting the common room. Entering the Great Hall, the quartet see a handful of people sitting at their respective house tables before sitting down. Adding food to their plates, the quartet suddenly find themselves in the presence of Professor McGonagall.
"Early as normal" comments Professor McGonagall smiling as she hands out their schedules.
"Professor, do you have a moment?" asks Harry.
Pausing and turning around, Professor McGonagall answers, "Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"The four of us were wondering if we could get permission to leave the common room before curfew, so we can do some exercising?"
With a look of confusion on her face, Professor McGonagall answers, "Outside of the castle? No, that wouldn't be safe."
"Professor, we meant inside the castle."
"What do you mean, like in the hallways?"
"Professor, there is a room on the seventh floor that changes itself to whatever we need. However, we'd like to keep this as secret as possible" replies Harry quietly.
"Mr. Potter, here is what I propose; I arrive at Gryffindor Tower and escort you, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Granger, and Miss Weasley to whatever room you speak of, and if I approve of the space you are using, then we shall continue the routine. However, there is a catch, and it is I would like to join you in such exercises."
Smiling, Harry replies, "Certainly professor. We'd like to leave from the common room around 5:45 am or so, so we can get a solid hour in before returning and preparing for classes. Is that acceptable with you?"
Slightly taken aback, Professor McGonagall thinks to herself, 'it has been some time since Albus had any physical exercise routines in the castle', before smiling and answering, "Such an early hour, but it does make sense. I shall meet you four tomorrow morning at 5:45am sharp. Good day to you four."
Looking over their schedules, Hermione remarks to no one in particular, "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs followed by Transfiguration, lunch, then Defense Against the Dark Arts."
"Potions for me" comments Ginny, looking at her schedule glumly.
"My recommendation is to read the first chapter or so before getting into Potions class" suggests Harry eating a forkful of eggs.
Surprised, Ginny nods her head after a few seconds and responds, "Thanks", before digging into her bag and retrieving her copy of the Potions book.
A groggy Ron thumps into a seat before packing his plate to an almost overflowing state with food before shoveling food into his mouth.
Minutes later, Harry, Neville, and Hermione make their way towards the greenhouses with Ron stuffing his face with an armful of toast at the ready. Coming upon the greenhouses, Professor Sprout smiles and instructs the four to continue on to greenhouse number three. Within a brief few minutes, Susan, Hannah, and a few other Huffflepuffs arrive at the entrance of the greenhouse.
"Morning Susan" greets Harry.
"Morning Harry" Susan replies.
"Never been at this greenhouse" remarks Hannah.
Still munching on his toast, Ron nods his head once in agreement. After a few more minutes of conversing and other students arriving, Professor Sprout arrives.
"We will be handling more dangerous plants in this greenhouse when compared to the other greenhouses, so please be more cautious" announces Professor Sprout before unlocking the door.
"Four students to a table please" instructs Professor Sprout.
Quickly and efficiently all of the students break into groups and gather at tables.
"We shall be handling mandrakes today for their future growth. Does anyone know the properties of mandrakes?"
With speed that makes light look slow, Hermione and Neville's hands raise into the air. Blinking in surprise, Professor Sprout opens her mouth to speak when Neville beats her to it, "I believe Hermione should be allowed to speak first."
Inclining her head, Professor Sprout asks, "Miss Granger, what is your answer?"
"Mandrakes have a restorative power and are commonly used to return people who have been transfigured incorrectly or cursed to their previous state."
"Nicely put Miss Granger, ten points to Gryffindor. Mandrakes are quite commonly used in most of the antidotes we use today. As a rose has its thorns, mandrakes have their own defense mechanism, so who can tell me the danger of mandrakes?"
Just slightly faster than Hermione, Neville raises his hand.
"Mr. Longbottom, what is your answer?"
"The cry of mature mandrakes are fatal to whomever hears it, although I suspect these mandrakes are a far cry from being mature" answers Neville without missing a beat.
"Quite right Mr. Longbottom, these are not mature mandrakes but young mandrakes. Fifteen points to Gryffindor for a quite correct answer and visual analysis" announces Professor Sprout.
"With that in mind, the worst these young mandrakes will do if you hear them cry is be knocked out for multiple hours. On this table in front of me are earmuffs that will protect you from the cry. When I say so, get yourself a pair and put them on. When I give you the thumbs up, you may then remove your earmuffs."
When everyone has a pair of earmuffs and have placed them over their ears, Professor Sprout puts her pair on and quickly demonstrates, silently of course, how to repot the mandrakes. Giving the thumbs up signal, Professor Sprout waits until everyone has removed their earmuffs before instructing, "We shall finish the lesson with everyone repotting however many mandrakes they can safely. I shall find a way to sufficiently attract your attention when it is the end of the lesson."
Roughly forty five minutes later the Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors part ways, although both groups have the same objective of cleaning themselves up for their next class. Entering the Transfiguration classroom, Professor McGonagall flicks her wand at the door, closing it.
After passing out beetles to everyone, Professor McGonagall sets them to the task of transfiguring the beetle into a coat button. With approximately fifteen minutes left before the end of the class, Ron finally manages to cast a spell on his beetle, unfortunately the spell, incorrectly cast, causing his beetle to go flying out of the opened window and out to the grounds. Professor McGonagall takes one point for Ron sending of the beetle out of the classroom.
Muttering something under his breath, Ron, Harry, Neville, and Hermione make their way to the Great Hall for their midday meal. Piling food onto his plate, Ron digs into his good with gusto, ignoring the conversation occurring around him.
"I wonder what Defense Against the Dark Arts is going to be like with Lockhart teaching it" Harry muses out loud.
"Lockhart's books seem…interesting, but I'm not certain about practical skills. He didn't mention any incantations of the spells he used, but perhaps he didn't want just anyone to mutter the incantations and cause unintentional damage" comments Neville.
"He seems very brave" remarks Hermione, cheeks flushing a bit.
"When compared to Harry and I taking on the mountain troll, I can believe that. But, you saw us in action and know the spells we used, whereas Lockhart just states what he has done. But I'll wait and see what he is like in class before deciding on whether or not he is a faker" remarks Neville calmly.
"I'd like to get to the classroom and continue reading Lockhart's books" states Hermione, standing up and leaving the table. Following, the group encounter only ghosts until two hallways before reaching the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom when a figure steps out from an adjoining hallway with a flash of light right afterwards.
"Hiya Harry! calls out the figure.
Shielding his eyes with one hand and brandishing his wand with another. Harry replies, "Who are you?"
"Sorry Harry, just a camera's flash. I'm Colin Creevey, I'm a—" begins Colin.
"Oh, Colin, I saw your sorting into Gryffindor last night. It's nice to meet you, but do you mind me asking why you took a photo of me?" jumps in Harry.
"Uh, to show that I've met you?" answers Colin nervously.
Chuckling briefly, Harry suggests, "Then why not get in the photo with me?"
"W-would it be possible to get it signed as well?"
"Potter, you're giving out signed photos now? Where does the line begin?" drawls Malfoy, smirking.
"Oh, Draco, I can offer you a signed photo of me wiping the floor with you if you want" responds Harry smiling.
"Boys, boys, no fighting in the hallways. Now, Mr. Creevey, I can also pose with Mr. Potter if you'd like a photo and signed by both of us" suggests Lockhart.
Nodding his head zealous, Colin hands Hermione his camera before getting between Harry and Lockhart and getting temporarily blinded by the flash.
"I'd like to develop the photo in a certain potion so it will move, so, um, may I come back to you for the signing later?" asks Colin timidly.
"Certainly Mr. Creevey" remarks Lockhart as the bell rings.
"See you later, Harry" calls out Colin as he runs down the hallway, camera bouncing against his chest.
"Mr. Potter, it is time for class" calls out Lockhart, striding towards the classroom.
Rolling his eyes, Harry leads the group to Lockhart's class. Entering the classroom, a noticeable split between males and females cause the only seats available to be in the middle of the room.
"To begin our first class together, I thought that a quiz across all of the books would be best, to assess your ability to read and recall information. No impact on your grade, and you have half an hour to complete as much as you can" announces Lockhart, gliding through the room handing out individual scrolls of parchment to each student.
Looking down at the list of questions ranging from Lockhart's favorite color to his secret ambition, Harry sighs and begins answering questions. Thirty minutes later Professor Lockhart announces cheerily, "Times up!", before collecting the scrolls.
Quickly skimming a couple, Lockhart tuts loudly before announcing, "Most of you have forgotten my favorite color is lilac. It is in Year with the Yeti, those who have read it."
Skimming his way down a randomly selected scroll, Lockhart pauses before looking up and asking, "And where is Miss Hermione Granger, who got a perfect score?"
Beaming, Hermione raises her hand into the air and Lockhart announces, "Superb, simply superb, ten points to Gryffindor. And now onto business. Freshly caught Cornish pixies for our viewing today", whipping the cover off of a nearby cage.
Opening the cage door, the pixies zoom out, causing mass chaos around the room. Straightening up, Lockhart announces loudly while randomly waving his wand, "Peskipiksi Pesternomi!"(*)
With seemingly no impact, the pixies swoop in and grab Lockhart's wand, before stashing it on the top of a cabinet. Ducking under his desk, Lockhart cowers uselessly as almost all of the other students, hide under heavy objects. Dodging a low flying pixie, Harry sends off a stunner and manages to hit one.
Harry!" shouts Hermione stationed under a nearby desk.
"What?"
"Why are you sending stunners?" Hermione shouts.
"Do you have a better idea/spell to use?"
"Yes, a freezing movement charm."
A confused look crosses Harry's face for a few moments before he replies, "Not certain what you mean, but what is it?"
"Immobulus."
Minutes later, the bell rings and everyone, minus the four still trying to immobilize the pixies. Exiting the room, Lockhart shouts, "I'll leave the rest of the pixies to you four."
Just a few minutes later the quartet exit the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, pixies safely back in their cage, room no longer in disarray.
Hours later, in the common room, Colin comes up to Harry and asks, "Will you sign my photo?"
Looking over the recently developed and now moving photo, Harry smiles and replies, "How about if you get Professor Lockhart to sign first, and then I'll sign my name in the space that is left."
Half an hour later, Colin sits in his dormitory, giggling with glee that Harry Potter AND Gilderoy Lockhart had signed his MOVING photograph of he standing with the aforementioned. His parents would be so proud of him.
Author note: Thanks to all who have kept with me this long, who have reviewed, and the like. The reviews brighten my day and encourage me to continue writing. Now, to an issue that is starting to appear. If you all haven't noticed, chapters from the beginning of the series to these later chapters are getting longer. With longer chapters come longer wait times/time between the releases of chapters.
(*) indicates a quote from the book. Page 101 on the Amazon web page of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.