Written for Assignment #12 on Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry forum: Psychology, Task 2 – Gerontophobia – fear of growing old, or a hatred or fear of the elderly. Word count: 310.
Gilderoy's little secret
Gilderoy stood before a full-length mirror and carefully examined himself. Lean, straight posture, adequately flattering robes. These were things he could take care of easily enough. And he did! It was difficult to find a person who would understand the importance of impeccable appearance better than Gilderoy. But posture was just the beginning…
He could spend hours looking at his face, just to make sure there was no sign of wrinkles – and even more time checking his hair, dreading that one day he would notice a grey one. Not many knew about it, but Gilderoy Lockhart was completely, utterly terrified of getting old. This fear, mind you, was not unfounded.
When Gilderoy was just a child, Lockhart family had a neighbour. She was old, incredibly ugly and always suspiciously eyed wandering children. Maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, if Gilderoy's elder sisters, Gabriella and Geraldine, had not found it funny to threaten him. Every time he did something they didn't like, they would tell stories about this old hag and "warned" that she would take him away. Soon, he started to have nightmares. Sometimes the dream-neighbour would just stand there and gape at him with her weird, dark eyes. Sometimes she would turn him into a toad or make him as old and ugly as she was and promise that he will accompany her forever.
The nightmares resulted in fear and disgust inseparably linked with the old age. These feelings stayed with him for years. Impossible to get rid of, they got more intense at times – so much that he thought he would become insane. Gradually, he worked out intricate rituals to give himself at least some sense of security. They included precise and frequent observations, but also whole lot of anti-ageing potions and beauty products. But it was his little secret and it had to stay this way.