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News came that Colin Creevey had been petrified and the Chamber of Secrets had indeed been opened. It looked as though Hogwarts might be closed and the children sent home. Dahlia met with her uncle after the news to get a reassuring speech and to be reassigned to Potions.
"Would they really close the school?" the girl asked looking over Fawkes who would have his burning day any day now, lightly stroking what was left of his feathers.
"I am unsure; the Ministry has not informed me either way." He looked at his niece, "What made you reconsider your post my dear?"
The purple haired girl cocked her head to the side and let out this annoyed sigh, not just with her uncle asking the most obvious question but with herself as well, "I don't see myself succeeding with him. We just had a row the other day, in front of students. I'm not saying that it wasn't going to happen but it shouldn't have happened in the hallways and it shouldn't have been so personal on my part. Oh, Uncle he won't even look at me anymore, even his paintings are snubbing me," she walked away from the Phoenix and slumped onto the rose colored couch Albus kept in his office.
"Dahlia my dear, you had valid points and still continue to have them, but I assigned you to the DADA because I know you would thrive there. If you would like to move away from that post to potions as a temporary balm I will permit it, however remember what I told you at the beginning of term."
"A lesson in patience," she spoke along with him.
The girl sat up picking up an old worn throw pillow and playing with the frayed edges, "I feel I really hurt him," she continued the nervous habit looking at her feet not meeting the old man's wise eyes.
Albus moved to the sofa putting a comforting arm around his niece, "You may have, however he will grow from it, knowing that not all can be won over with superficial means."
The girl looked at the wise wizard throwing her arms around his neck, "Thank you Uncle."
The door opened and Gilderoy strutted in like a warm breeze, "Headmaster," his over confident tone dropped the minute he saw his TA, "asked to be reassigned Pansy?" his tone changed revealing a somewhat dark quality.
"No Professor Lockhart, I was being talked into staying on as yours, that is if you will accept my apology for speaking out of turn and so inappropriately," there was a humble and demure nature to her voice not meeting the blonde teacher's eyes.
Shocked worked over his handsome features, she wanted to stay, his heart filled with glee and pride made his chest swell, he dashed over to her taking her delicate hands in his, "You are more than forgiven my dear girl, is there a chance you could ever forgive me Clover?" the deep blue eyes of his looking into hers and desperately searching for forgiveness.
A smile crossed her lips, "Of course Professor," she said softly.
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Headmaster I have gathered my classes for the dueling exhibition, if you would assist me dear girl," he pulled her up with him.
"Of course Professor," she smiled again.
The walk down to the Great Hall was quiet, a comfortable silence. Gilderoy was unsure if it would be permissible to place an arm around her shoulders. They had apologized and accepted, however he still felt tense. Dahlia looked at him, this man could definitely put an outfit together, and if nothing else he had that going for him. That perfect blonde wave in his hair, his expertly tailored pants with the opulent gold stripe down the side that complimented his hair and the lavish cape he was wearing draped over his left shoulder. The billowy cream shirt that was under the quilted monogramed grey vest almost looked silver in comparison to the gold embossed letters in a heart over his heart. Just exquisite; down to the leather glove that covered his dueling hand; Dahlia was in awe of him in those quiet moments.
It was in those moments he wasn't ruining it by talking or bragging or boasting about anything. It was the unsure nature in those moments that made him vulnerable, human, and relatable. Her smile had grown during the length of the time to walk to the great hall where all four houses had gathered around a gilded stage in the center of the hall with the phases of the moon on a jewel like blue material that covered the length of the long stage. Gilderoy gave a small kiss to Dahlia's hand before strutting on top of the stage.
"Gather round! Gather round! Can everyone see me? Can you all hear me?" Nods and murmurs came from the students, "Excellent. In light of the dark events of recent weeks, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little Dueling Club, to train you all up in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I myself have done on countless occasions," Dahlia rolled her eyes slightly as he paused preening once again, "for full details, see my published works."
He looked at his assistant and gave a more demure smile before throwing his cape off in a flourish swirling it around then tossing it to the group of Gryffindor girls that groped for it and finally being won by Angelina Johnson, there was more than a few love struck sighs as Lockhart pranced a bit more to his fanfare. Dahlia giggled, "You certainly know how to put on a show," she whispered to herself.
"Let me introduce my assistant, Professor Snape." With his introduction, Snape almost floated up the stairs, arms crossed and face stern. "He has sportingly agreed to help me with a short demonstration. Now I don't want any of you youngsters to worry. You'll still have your Potions Master when I'm through with him, never fear!"
Dahlia moved closer to the stage, catching Snape's eyes, he nodded to her and she returned it with a small smile. Hoping that Severus wouldn't hurt Lockhart too much, but wouldn't blame him either as she wasn't the only one that Gilderoy was a constant source of discomfort for. The young assistant also hoped this would be beneficial to the students to see, which is why she brought it to Dumbledore in the first place.
Both of the professors turned after bowing to one another showing their wands and walking a few paces away. They turned once again in a fighting stance, "one-two-three…" Lockhart counted the beats.
"Expelliarmus!" Snape shouted and disarmed the DADA professor throwing him back several feet.
Dahlia ran over to see if he needed help but he waved her off. Gilderoy looked stunned for a moment before getting up unsteadily, "An excellent idea to show them that, Professor Snape, but if you don't mind me saying so, it was pretty obvious what you were about to do. If I had wanted to stop you it would have been only too easy…"
Snape cut him off again, "Perhaps it would be prudent to first teach the students to block unfriendly spells, Professor."
"An excellent suggestion, Professor Snape," Lockhart stated happily, "Let's have a volunteer pair. Potter, Weasley, how about you?"
"Weasley's wand causes devastation with the simplest spells. We'll be sending Potter to the hospital wing in a matchbox. Might I suggest someone from my own house, Malfoy perhaps?" Severus spun on his heel and called up Draco as Harry jumped up on the stage.
The two rivals bowed to each other and exchanged words that were unintelligible to most before walking a few paces away then turning with wands at the ready.
"Wands at the ready! On the count to three, cast your charms to disarm your opponent; only to disarm. We don't want any accidents here. One, two…"
Malfoy let loose a spell that caused Harry to fly back to where Gilderoy was standing. There were a few scattered laughs from Draco's friends as Harry pushed himself up and fired back at the blonde boy knocking him back to Snape's feet; neither of them listening to Lockhart's direction of disarming only.
Malfoy was pulled back up by Snape and let loose another spell, "Serpensortia," which called forth a long black snake coming straight for Harry.
Snape cracks a smile as he moves in front of Draco, "Don't move Potter, I'll get rid of it for you."
Then the two most frightening words flew from Lockhart's mouth, "Allow me," he stated with all the confidence he shouldn't have had. He moved in front of Harry and Dahlia stood horrified as what would happen, she knew that Snape would actually take care of the problem, but that didn't stop her from worrying.
Gilderoy gave a flick of his wand, "Alarte Ascendare!"
"Son of a Hippogriff," Dahlia pushed out in an alarmed whisper as she watched the snake thrown in the air by the spell, the students in the middle of the room scream as the serpent landed with a thud in front of a group of Hufflepuffs.
The black viper rose up and hissed loud obviously more agitated since Lockhart's spell. Then something happened that no one expected. Harry Potter only 12 spoke to the snake in Parseltounge. It was as if the air had been sucked out of the room with the first hiss out of the boy's mouth. It caught the snake's attention but it turned to Justin Finch-Fletchley again. Harry once again hissed out orders to the snake and it seemed to listen to him this time. Shivers were sent down every spine in the room.
"Vipera evanesca," Severus uttered his voice shaking as the snake evaporated.
Ron grabbed Harry off the stage dragging him away with Hermione in tow. Gilderoy, Snape, and Dumbledore's niece exchanged bewildered looks having no idea that one Harry was a Parselmouth and two was he actually the Heir of Slytherin without knowing it. Dahlia cast her light eyes to Snape's and he nodded in return, jumping down from the stairs to meet her.