Mystery angle: since you demanded so nicely :)
Bennettfan84: I hated Lockhart in cannon. Of all the terrible DADA professors, he was the worst.
12 May 1993
The headmaster was furious as he worked through the memories of the girls in the woods. Amelia Bones was called by Percy as the headmaster worked with Lockhart to see what could be recovered. The defense professor was an uncontrollable, sobbing mess as he begged them to believe he would never hurt a little girl. It seemed that all of the professor's memories were wiped clean, he had basic motor functions, the ability to speak, and loved to sign his name on the statements for Madam Bones but everything else was gone. There would be no trial or trip to Azkaban for Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart though, with his fragile mental state, he would be remanded to a closed ward in St. Mungos for life. The headmaster was in quite a quandary, needing a new DADA professor until the end of term. Madam Bones could not spare any aurors at the moment, since her departments budget had been cut, again. The professor that had been arranged for next year would not even arrive in the country until the end of the summer.
Molly Weasley would not be appeased with only Madam Pomfrey looking over her little girl. She called in her friend Healer Strout to look over all three girls, who gave them a flushing draft before providing her own potions to help them heal and relax. Using subtle legilimency tricks, she could take away the pain of the encounter, make it seem like a distant memory. The girls seemed much happier after they woke up, not so burdened with what happened the day before.
After the shock of what happened to her wore off, Luna was filled with anger. Anger at Lockhart, anger at the school, but mostly, anger at herself for not being able to protect herself. She sat with Hermione and Eloise, her saviors, and told them how she inherited a gift from her mother. Celeste always had been known for being a great judge of character. She could read auras, auras were in constant flux but allowed her to see a persons intention and well as their magic. It was a very rare gift, not many believed it was possible.
"If you really want to protect yourself, we have self-defense classes in the muggle world." Eloise offered over lunch. Luna had taken to sitting at the Gryffindor table with Hermione all her friends.
"I don't think we have anything like that...we have dueling instructors but they are very expensive." Hermione chewed her lip thoughtfully.
"We could just go the muggle route." Luna said bluntly, her eyes shining with determination.
"I'll apparate you if you want. Mum might have a heart attack though." Percy said thoughtfully.
"I don't know, mum really tore into the headmaster for his choice in professor. I think she would be happy we can defend ourselves. She was pleased when Chalie taught-" Hermione was interrupted when the doors of the great hall opened and Lucius Malfoy stormed in, a long parchment in hand, a house elf following behind him. The house elf, made eye contact with Harry and refused to look away.
"Headmaster, I have here a signed notice from the school board. Since you, in your infinite wisdom, have elected to not hire a defense professor we have chosen 1 for you." Lucius Malfoy swaggered up to the head table and laid the long piece of parchment in front of the headmaster.
"Ah, I see." The headmaster adjusted his half moon spectacles and read through it carefully. "While, I thank you and the board for trying to help me hire a suitable professor who would only be here for a month. I have already hired someone, he will be ready for classes this afternoon."
"Really?" Lucius plastered a smile onto his face to hide his rage, he spent almost a week hounding the board members for signatures. Severus Snape looked like he swallowed a lemon, knowing that he would finally get the defense job he wanted only for it to be taken away.
"Yes, I'm afraid we have no need for an additional potion master on staff. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy for dedication to the students education." Albus Dumbledore smiled serenely and tucked the scroll away into his robes.
"Who, may I ask, did you procure for the temporary position?" Lucius hedged.
"Ahh, that would be Mr. Dumbledore or Professor Dumbledore, now." The head master smiled jovially, his clue eyes twinkling.
"Are you referring to yourself?" Lucius bristled, feeling as though the ancient headmaster was mocking him.
"Why no-" Albus was interrupted by the antechamber door opening.
"Sorry, I'm late. Bess, bless her heart, couldn't bear to see me go." A man walked in, a startling resemblance to the headmaster. His beard not quite as long, more salt and pepper than pure white, his robes much more muted, dull greys and browns.
"Ah, Aberforth! Just in time, if you'll excuse me, Mr. Malfoy." The headmaster cleared his throat and stood, raising a hand to silence the already quiet hall. "I have an announcement, I have found a temporary defense against the dark arts professor. A man with 3 masteries in defense, transfiguration, as well as ancient runes. Let me introduce, Aberforth Dumbledore." The applauds were scattered but picked up after only a minute. "Classes will resume after lunch." With that he sat back down waving his brother over to sit by him.
"Didn't need all that." Aberforth grumbled as he sat beside his brother.
"Was there anything else, Mr. Malfoy?" The headmaster enquired politely.
"No, congratulations on filling the vacancy. See to it you do not allow a post to remain empty for so long again." Lucius sneered and stalked from the hall. He cast one puzzled look over the Gryffindor table before the doors closed behind him. A loud yelp was heard through the doors, sounding like a dog being kicked.
"That was Dobby!" Harry said eagerly as soon the chatter in the hall began again.
"Poor thing. I wish there was something we could do for him." Hermione said sadly.
"What was that?" Eloise questioned.
"A house elf." Luna said sadly. "The bond is so deteriorated."
"What's a house elf?" Eloise persisted.
"A slave." Harry said frowning.
"What?!" Eloise's screech silenced half the table, she didn't even pause or blush at the stares. "Slavery is legal?"
"It's not slavery. House elves are meant to be family." Hermione said heatedly.
"Are they paid? Given vacation?" Eloise demanded.
"Does your mother get paid? Your father get sick days?" Hermione fired back.
"I can't believe your okay with this!" Eloise looked angry and betrayed.
"What would have me do, release the house elves?" Hermione asked incredulously. Luna kept opening her mouth to interject but could not get a word in.
"Yes!" Eloise said harshly, her face turning red.
"That would kill them." Luna interjected bluntly as Hermione looked close to tears.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"House elves live off the magic of their master or mistress. You don't really think Dobby could have just been left to hang about snatching your mail and plotting ways to send you home, do you?" Hermione sighed deeply. "The bond goes both ways but since Malfoy wants to beat his elf and withhold magic, the bond starts to deteriorate."
"What does that mean?" Eloise demanded. Hermione looked at her muggle raised friends, both looked very confused.
"It means, Dobby is sick and he will die if it continues." Luna said callously.
"Is there anyway to help him?" Harry asked.
"Well, there's a couple ways...the Malfoys could free Dobby then Dobby may have time to find someone else to bond with. You can buy Dobby or you can make a wager for him." Hermione tapped a finger to her lips in thought.
"Guys, we gotta go to defense." Neville interrupted them.
"Do you think we might have a competent teacher for once?" Eloise whispered as they sat in their normal seats. Hermione between Ron and Eloise, Harry with Neville and Dean behind them.
"Welcome to defense against the dark arts. No matter what my brother might think, I am only here for a month and only here to watch you review. Consider this a free period where you look at your defense book." The ancient wizard said grumpily as he sat in his seat. Hands rose all over the room and he sighed sadly, calling on Padma.
"Sir, which book should we review?" Padma asked timidly. Dumbledore looked around the room and seemed to realize that every students had a mountain of books on their desks. Standing up he walked to Hermione's table and flipped through her books with a frown.
"What have you learn this year?" He asked after several minutes of flipping through the girls books. Everyone was silent, afraid to answer. Then Ron raised his hand. "Yes?"
"Well, I learned I sound just like the Wagga Wagga Werewolf." Ron said smugly and cleared his throat to demonstrate.
"Not that that isn't fascinating. What spells have you learned? Dark creature identification markers?" Alberforth pinched the bridge of his nose at the blank looks on the students faces. He turned on his heel and went to his office, whispers broke out as they speculated what he was doing. When he returned with a photo album, students craned over their desks for a closer look. "Now, to spot the differences in frauds and real heroes." With that he ripped a moving portrait from Hermione's book, making both girls bristle. It was one thing not to agree with the topic in the book, quite another to deface it.
"What are you doing?" Padma shrieked as she instantly shoved her books in her bag, fearing hers would be next.
"Teaching." Aberforth snapped. He raised his wand and enlarged the terrified portrait of Lockhart, then taking three pictures from his book he enlarged them as well until there were four 6ft photos side by side. Many student gaped at the familiar faces.
"Gilderoy Lockhart." Aberforth pointed to the preening blonde with obvious disgust. "He wrote the books, no witnesses, never seen the man with a hair out of place. Remember him back in school, he was teased heavily for his weak magic, very good at glamours.
"Alastor Moody" he jabbed the scowling portrait. The man had a wooden leg and a magical eye that whizzed around the room, seeming to look at everyone at once. A chunk of his nose was missing and his face was covered in scars, even in his portrait, he looked on edge as if ready for attack. "Decorated retired auror. Came from a long line of aurors, stayed at the ministry until after Voldemort's-" the class shuddered and old man scowled "-fall in October 1981. He is someone who has faced dark wizards, dark creatures, and a drunk Minnie in her prime.
"Gideon and Fabian Prewett." He pointed to the 3rd portrait of 2 identical red haired men. They looked like the perfect blende of Bill and Charlie with Hermione's rose colored hair. They had their arms around each other, smiling easily. The twins were also heavily scarred. Gideon with what looked like claw marks on the left side of his face and Fabian with a dark pink jagged scar down the side of his face. Both had matching Phoenix tattoos on their forearms. "Dark creature hunters. These were the boys you called if there was a vicious hag stalking your children. They were taken down, March 1977, I believe. Ambushed by at least a dozen death eaters but took 7 down with them.
"Augusta longbottom" he pointed at the last portrait of a regal woman scowling at him. She wore green robes and had a stuffed vulture on her hat. She looked at the students critically, making them all feel shame in their apparent short comings. "Do not let anyone tell you that a pureblood house wife's only function is to throw tea parties and look pretty. While fulfilling her duties as a good pureblood wife, she was also a ringer for the dueling circuit. She fought with us in Hogsmeade when death eaters came to slaughter innocent students. Saved my life that day.
"Tonight, I will be having a bit of a bonfire. All years are invited, please bring your...defense books with you for admittance. I will provide you with something more stimulating to read." Aberforth sat heavily behind the desk. "Questions?"