Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Also, we don't own Kermit and the songs "The Rainbow Connection" and "Puff the Magic Dragon." Nor do we own the Shakespearean quotes we use.
We gave up posting the url for the lyrics. You can find them easily online. Reviews are welcome, flames aren't. If you don't like, don't read. –GF and The Frau
Chapter 21: Say Cheese!
Late afternoon, after Harry finally escaped his friends, he stopped at Florean Fortescue's for ice cream, and to ponder the day's events.
Pulling his guitar from his ever present case, he quietly practiced a piece he had been working on. The magic swirled around him, however this time, he was better protected by the crystal he wore. His thoughts were on the dark magic he had felt around the older Malfoy. It seemed malevolent, much like the dark magic that radiated off of Snape's arm.
"You must let the events unfold, my son."
Harry stopped playing. Standing in the shadows, stood his father. "You were watching?"
The Goblin King bowed slightly. "Indeed. I will always watch over you, my Garion."
0o0o0o0
Dear Mother,
Ron didn't get in too much trouble for missing the train. He did however get into a lot of trouble for stealing his dad's flying car and crashing it into the Whomping Willow. Boy, his mother can yell! The howler she sent lasted a very long time. I thought I would go deaf. I'm glad I was able to get a goblin to help me when the barrier closed up. Was Father very upset with me? I have the feeling I was suppose to have gone with Ron on his mad dash.
The year just started and already it's going to be an interesting one. That dip Lockhart pulled a good one today. Remember the time the twins and I let loose several pixies in Snuffles' ditty bag so that they would fly out when he opened it? Well, Lockhart topped that by letting loose several times that many pixies and then the coward left us to clean up his mess! Man! I wished I had Hoggle's spray canister! It would've made the job so much easier.
Mom, you wouldn't believe that Lockhart made us take a quiz on himself personally. I'm enclosing a copy of the test. Can you believe it? We were actually graded on this. And this is suppose to be Defense class? No where in the test did it cover anything remotely relating to it. Come on Mom! Cory taught me more this past summer than I'll learn from this twit at this rate.
And to top it off, I have a stalker. Colin Creevy keeps following me around with a camera. The paparazzi should take lessons from him. I can't even take a shower without worrying that he's going to take a shot. Lockhart wanted me to pose with him for a photo shoot. Mom. The man's a menace, a nutcase. Can I wish both of them away? Do you think Father would take them and drop them into an oubliette together for me? Here's hoping.
Gotta run mom. Your top hooligan –G
0o0o0o0
Harry rolled his eyes as he plopped down at the desk. School hadn't even started and he's already in detention with Lockhart no less. He really wished his mom would have allowed him to Wish the sucker away. Damn his luck.
"Now Harry," Lockhart simpered. "Fame has it's drawbacks. You'll be helping me sign these photos."
Harry rolled his eyes. " 'Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.' I feel 'something is rotten in the state of Denmark.' That the Headmaster should've allowed one such as you to teach in these hallowed halls is incredible. 'Is it not monstrous that this player here, but in a fiction, in a dream of passion, could force his soul so to his own conceit?' "
Lockhart gave Harry a look of pure confusion. "Just what are you going on about Harry? I'm just giving you a lesson on fame and the price we that are famous must pay. We can't have The Boy-Who Lived get a swell head from all the media attention, now can we?"
Again, Harry rolled his eyes. "You sir are the one going on about fame. 'I'm just an honest Puck.' Fame is fleeting and a dream. Tis true. 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.' " Standing, Harry smirked, "If this be my hour of punishment, then good sir, just being in your presence is punishment enough."
Lockhart blinked. He opened his mouth, then closed it.
Harry stood in front of the man, with his arms crossed, waiting. "Well sir?" He knew everything he had just said had gone over the man's head. Oh, he just loved confusing this arrogant popinjay of a man, calling him a wizard would've given him too much credit. He could tell he had the man thoroughly confounded. 'I swear, Lockhart has nothing between his ears but air.' he thought hiding a snicker.
Giving himself a shake, Lockhart sighed, trying to regain some control of the detention. "Harry. Harry. I only have your best interest at heart."
"No sir. You don't," Harry, now bored with dealing with the asinine professor, glared. His eyes glowed slightly as he called up a bit of his magic. "If you'll excuse me, sir, I really would like to leave. I am sure we are done for the night?"
"Yes. Yes. Quite so. We both need out beauty sleep."
Harry shook his head as he picked up his case and left. The man was an idiot and a half! Inwardly, he smiled. He hadn't signed one photo. Damn, he was good.
0o0o0o0
Dear Uncle Snuffles,
Something isn't right. I'm hearing something in the walls. Before I can get a fix on it, it's gone. And no Snuffles, it isn't goblins or elves. It has me worried. It isn't one of your own pranks, is it? Did you ever hear anything whispering in the walls when you went to school here?
I received an invitation from Nearly Headless Nick for his Death Day Party. Any idea what kind of a gift I should take? I mean, the guy's dead. He did do me a favor and distracted Filch when I tracked mud through the castle. A little help here?
Your favorite nephew and junior prankster. –G
0o0o0o0
Dear Ms. S. Williams,
I assure you that Mr. Lockhart is a very qualified instructor or I would not have hired him. I am not sure what Harry has told you but I did do a thorough background check. The man has excellent references and is a published author on the subject of Defense. I do want to take the time to assure you that Harry's complaints are groundless.
As I am writing this, I also wish to take the time to inform you that Harry seems to be landing himself into difficult situations. He has received several detentions with various professors.
I would like a chance to discuss Harry's behavior with you in person. He seems most reluctant to talk about his home life and his family. This concerns me greatly as he is a wizarding child of Great Britain and the child of a prestigious family.
As headmaster, I have an obligation to insure his well being. I must say that Harry is a well read child, but his behavior has been vexing. I fear I must insist that you meet with me and my staff.
I await your answer.
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
0o0o0o0
Harry sat in his alcove. The night held a feeling of dread. It was getting close to Hallowe'en. Uncle Snuffles had been no help with gift ideas for Sir Nick. Mother had written to the Headmaster about his concerns about that fool Lockhart but he hadn't heard the outcome of that yet.
He couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen. It hung in the air like a fog. Looking down at his crystal, he sighed. It was full, again. More and more, he was finding himself sneaking out of the dorm to empty it. One of these nights, he was going to get caught. Murphy's Law and all that.
Tonight, he was playing a banjo. He was in a 'Kermit the Frog' sort of mood. The song, "The Rainbow Connection," just seemed to fit.
Have you been half asleep? And have you heard voices?
I've heard them calling my name.
0o0o0
Prof. Severus Snape roamed the hallways. He was following the trail of music that seemed to be echoing through the corridors and wasn't about to be deterred.
The music had a melancholy quality to it tonight. A boy's voice sang of a magical dragon named 'Puff' and the adventures they had. 'Indeed, what dragon would tolerate a name like 'Puff' of all things?' he sneered as he came closer. However, the music caught him.
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar.
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain,
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane.
Without his life-long friend, Puff could not be brave,
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. oh!
A lone tear slipped down his cheek. Suddenly, he was reminded of his own lost childhood.
Turning around, the fearsome bane of all Gryffindors strolled back into the shadows, blending in with the dark hallways as the last refrain slowly died in the distance. Maybe he'll catch Potter next time.
0o0o0o0
The quotes are from "Midsummer Night's Dream," "Hamlet," and "Henry IV"
As for the reviews, thank you all. Yes, we agree it is getting harder and harder to find good quality stories and worse to find them completed. When either Frau or I do review on a story, we continue to urge the writer to complete it as well as helpful advise. Sometimes, the writer is very young and English isn't their first language. As we said, we are trying to rush through the books, so please bear with us.
Until next time. --GF and The Frau