Sorry for no update in a long time, but inspiration has hit again, so I am hoping to finish year 2 in the next couple days! Enjoy, read and review!
August 1992 (Two days before Harry's second year begins)
Everyone thought that Dumbledore was off his rocker in every way shape and form. On paper, Gilderoy Lockhart seemed like the perfect choice: many accomplishments in defensive magic, a public figure which students could look up to, and someone whose experiences and abilities should be great to help shape other young wizards and witches.
There was just one problem with that: he was the biggest fraud. All you had to do was have one singular conversation with the guy to know that he was all bark and no bite. When Lockhart moved his stuff into the defence teacher's quarters, he had six boxes dedicated to beauty products and only one for his classes, and that one was also the smallest box.
McGonagall could not see why Dumbledore chose to hire him, so she went up and decided to speak to him about this. She stood in front of his desk while he fiddled with some candies in a bowl. "Would you like a sweet, Minerva?" Dumbledore offered. She shook her head, arms still crossed.
"I want to talk to you about Gilderoy," she started, only to then get interrupted by Dumbledore's hand.
"I know what your concerns are, but alas, he was the only one who applied for the job this whole summer. It was either that or cancel the class completely. That wouldn't work very well for our O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. students, now would it?"
McGonagall snorted, "Oh yeah, cause he would be any better. While we helped him move in all he could do was boast about how he was able to keep his hair in place while fighting a werewolf. When asked for more pressing details on the actual encounter all he could say was 'Why not buy the book? You can read all about it!' I was almost ready to take his stuff back to the trailer."
Dumbledore sat in his chair and looked at McGonagall with a smile on his face. "Oh I don't know. People can surprise you. Anyway, I got a few things to take care of, mind if we continue this conversation a bit later?" McGonagall sighed and left the room while Dumbledore continued fiddling with the sweets.
Once she stepped outside of his office, she was met with Severus Snape who looked as though he was ready to complain the headmaster's ears off. She put a hand on his shoulder, "I wouldn't bother, Severus. I just tried." Snape rolled his eyes and walked now in the direction he came from, McGonagall not far behind. After a few corridors they were met with Lockhart of all people, he galloped towards them with his "Witch-Weekly's Most Charming Smile" smile and put his hand on Snape's shoulder.
Snape looked like he was ready to bite that hand off. "How are you today my fellow colleagues? One more day of relaxation then the real fun begins! If I do say so myself, I feel like all the students mind and abilities will increase with someone like me here - and you guys too, of course! Well, best be off and finish planning my lessons."
They stared at him as he disappeared around the corner to his office. "If I don't kill him by the end of the year, it'll be a miracle," Snape snarled through gritted teeth.
"We don't murder at Hogwarts, Severus. Or injure. If you really want to do him some harm, maybe consider a punching bag dressed as him."
"This year is going to be annoying," Snape complained.
"You are always annoyed, Severus."
While walking they ended up outside of Snape's office where he retreated into with a quiet "bye," leaving McGonagall on her own in the corridors. It felt weird the first week they had to be here before the students arrived. It almost seemed... wrong, for it to be so empty.
Last year had been an interesting one, what with Quirrel and the Philosopher's Stone and Harry Potter. Hopefully this year was going to be a quiet one with no problems. If anything, maybe Lockhart in a bit of an accident at most.