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Dahlia awoke to the sounds of scattered giggles and murmurs. Her eyes slowly opened to see most of the girls in her house standing around her motionless body. As she sat up the sun pouring in from the high window caught her face the wrong angle and it nearly blinded the teaching assistant. Shaking her head as the mutterings and giggling got louder, "You've had your fun, don't you all have places to be?"
The crowd of girls scattered as she finally got up to her room, separate from the students to ready herself for what was certainly going to be an interesting time at the Quidditch match this morning. Dahlia took care straightening her appearance, putting on her blue and silver house pride with a slouchy and silvery crocheted hat that Molly had given her last year for Christmas. Putting her round rim glasses her appearance came into focus in the mirror as she blew out a breath, "You said yes, go through with it."
Dahlia walked back down to the common room where she found Lockhart was waiting. He stood as she descended the stairs. He was wearing a beautiful set of aspen green robes with matching plaid cape. It made the girl smile; he did have style, even if it was lacking substance. His blonde hair was perfectly coiffed in waves as usual but his unsure smile made them more perfect that autumn morning. He stood tall, his gloved hands on his hips, he looked like a mannequin in a store window.
He bowed, "Miss Dumbledore," he said taking her hand and kissing it softly.
"Gilderoy," she said as the heat of a flush hit her face. There were still some scattered giggles behind her, "Ladies, class." The group of five fifth years passed by Dahlia and the professor turning red as he smiled at them rushing out of the common room she smiled after them before turning back to Lockhart, "My apologies."
"Not at all my dear, happens all the time," he flashed that charming smile that was his trademark at her, "Shall we?"
He offered an arm and she took it without a thought, "Thank you."
The walk to the pitch was quiet just enjoying the scenery with him. In these quiet moments with Lockhart that Dahlia thought that he was the most charming. He was himself, not putting on airs or trying to impress her or pledging to keep her safe. He was just Gilderoy, a very handsome, which she hated to admit, and lovely companion. It was a bright morning but the air had turned with the tide of the season making it cold. Dahlia pulled her shawl tighter around her and the professor took that cue to put a warm arm around her shoulders pulling her into him as they walked to the stands where he helped her climb up the stairs, never letting go of her hand as he led her to a middle bench where they would be meeting Albus and a few other teachers. He placed a tartan blanket on the bench before helping her sit down. "You look stunning and together we're the perfect pair."
"Yes, one would think you two have been an item for some time," Lucius Malfoy stated from behind Gilderoy. His voice was dripping with venom and disgust at the young Ravenclaw, even more so that she seemed to be under the thrall of this inane professor everyone else was.
"Mr. Malfoy we meet again," Lockhart turned to the silver blonde wizard, his voice cavalier and full of his usual poise. "Miss Dumbledore and I are only sharing a love of Quidditch, as you know I was quite the keeper," he winked at Dahlia who gave a huge grin to Lucius. "I thought it would be a good idea to keep a close eye on the headmaster's niece with all the mystery that went on last night."
He sneered at the professor and the lilac haired girl, "Ah, well let's hope that she stays safe in your expert hands," his voice was pointed as he took a seat next to Fudge. His grey eyes kept the lilac haired girl in view; he would make her compliant or pay one day.
"Uncle," she said rising as Lockhart had opened his mouth to speak. Dahlia embraced Albus and he smiled at her and her company. She gave a sheepish smile which he returned with a gentle clasp to her arms.
"Gilderoy," he addressed the new professor, "keep her safe, I can trust you with her safety?"
"Of course Headmaster," he returned positively.
Severus took a seat next to Dahlia and while Gilderoy was distracted by Albus and Minerva he whispered, "How are you handling your new position?"
"About as anyone attached to Lockhart," she smiled at him and to her surprise he returned it. Dahlia's eyes lit up, "It's nice to see that your mouth still turns upwards Severus."
He gripped her hand lightly, "You should ask to assist me I'm sure there is more you could teach in potions with me."
The purple haired girl leaned in to the potion's master, "I would relish in assisting you Severus."
He turned to Dahlia, the edges of his mouth quivering upward as he met her eyes he looked as if he wanted to say something but was cut off by Lee Jordan's introduction of the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams. Lockhart dashed back to his seat cuddling up to the headmaster's niece, getting a rather malevolent glare from Snape. Although he was not the only one that was watching the body language of the DADA professor, both Albus and Lucius were keen on his advances to the young Ravenclaw as well.
While Albus and Snape only wanted to keep Dahlia safe and out of any harm Gilderoy might put her in, whether known or not, Malfoy wanted her gone, if he could maneuver this to his advantage and have her position eliminated then his plans to help the Dark Lord take over once more would be uninterrupted, Dahlia was aptly clever just as her uncle was. Always leaps and bounds ahead of what was coming, but if she was distracted by this inept author and Dumbledore was in turn distracted by his niece's actions it could be the beginning to their undoing.