Pride & Vanity (Page 61)

~~~(POV: Alexander Aevum)~~~

~~~(Location: Walking To DADA Class, Scotland, Hogwarts)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: September 2nd, 8:58 AM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 13 Years)~~~

The chattering voices of students all around force me to wince a little, not from pain but annoyance. The conversations I'm hearing are absolutely drool. The entryway to the DADA class has Gryffindor and Slytherin students filling it.

A deep resentment for what we have to deal with this year as a teacher blooms within me. Last year, we had the incompetent and dangerous Quirrell, who was a puppet and food source for Voldemort, as our teacher.

I don't know if it's worse yet, but it's pretty close.

As I step through the door and look at the filled seats. Many of my friends are already sitting with one another. However, I see Daphne waving at me. Showing she has an available seat.

Better to sit with someone who's a friend than someone who isn't. Once I'm beside her, she beams a bright smile in my direction.

"Are you excited to learn from THE Gilderoy Lockhart, too? I've read all his books. I thought about buying you some copies but didn't know if you like them."

I've just lost a little respect for you, Daphne...

All joking aside, I can't help chuckling as she emphasizes the fool's name. The true nature of Lockhart will be revealed. I can tell just by looking at the man he's an idiotic monkey.

"I didn't know you were a fan of Lockhart."

The slightly disapproving tone in my voice is subtle and well-hidden. However, it's poking out just enough for her to raise an eyebrow in curiosity.

Before she can say anything to question my reaction, everyone's attention turns to the door to the DADA teacher's office. It opens, and a golden-clothed Lockhart steps out with a smile. Girls around the room swoon as he winks at everyone.

End my suffering now.

As the new DADA teacher begins a monologue, I tune out. I enter my mind, and the rest of the world fades away. During my time away from Hogwarts, the only magic I could practice was limited to abilities you don't need a spell for.

Namely Occlumency and Legilimency. I'm already very talented in both aspects. Not even accomplished people like Albus can see in my mind.

A function of high-level Occlumency is what I wanted this summer. Once you reach a certain point, your mind will be so organized and shielded that you can walk around inside your head.

Review everything you've ever remembered.

Including things you'd rather forget. There are doors to my memory I don't want to open again. The first time was bad enough.

Bookshelves and Lumos lights float around my palace of memories and knowledge. There are doors for memories I want to see again, and the books on the bookshelves contain the knowledge I've learned so far in life.

It doesn't take me long to reach for a book, but before I can take it off the shelf. My attention is pulled back to the world outside my head.

Our... Teacher... Pulls a silky cloth off a birdcage, revealing Cornish Pixies.

I look down at the blank paper in front of me. Question boxes I haven't filled in yet. I look to my side and see that Daphne has already filled in the answers. She's done, actually. I look around more and see that everyone else has already finished.

Minutiae Details About Your Professor, Gilderoy Lockhart.

My stomach turns in agony just looking at the title of the pop quiz.

"This can't be real..."

How can someone be so vain and still be breathing...

No one hears my low, almost inaudible whisper as panic spreads around the room.

Lockhart has released the Pixies and failed to stop them. Running back up the stairs to his office and closing the door. As students run out the door, I'm left in the chaos. I take in everything that's happening.

The Pixies are messing with everything in the room.

Except for me.

They're avoiding me... As if I'm a plague that shouldn't be touched. Before I can question why this is happening, a familiar voice comes from the otherside of the room.

"Immobulus!"

The shout from Hermione's lips and the light from the spell impact the Pixies. Forcing them to freeze in place, ignoring gravity as they do so.

My attention turns to my first friend at Hogwarts. He's above the now empty classroom, stuck on the chandelier.

This is going to be a dreadfully long year.

~~~(POV: Minerva McGonagall)~~~

~~~(Location: Transfiguration Office, Scotland, Hogwarts)~~~

~~~(Date, Time, Year: September 2nd, 12:15 PM, 1992)~~~

~~~(Age: 68 Years)~~~

Seems Lockhart isn't having the best first for a DADA. Students are spreading the tale of what happened this morning with the Cornish Pixies. My attention turns away from the papers on my desk as Alexander walks into my office.

It's the lunch hour right now, and he should be with his friends. Instead, he looks straight at me from halfway through the door. Stopping to see if I give a nod of permission.

"Oh, you're already halfway through the door, Mr. Aevum. Might as well come in."

The tone in my voice is mostly reprimanding but also a little sarcastic. He gives a half grin as he sits across from me. Waiting for me to lift my attention from the papers below.

"Well, out with it. You're here for a reason."

I can't help finding his behavior much improved from last year. Normally, he wouldn't be asking permission to do anything. Now he's waiting for the word it's okay to do something. Maybe he's changed enough not to cost his house any points this year.

"I was wondering if you could give me permission to skip all of Lockhart's classes this year."

Scratch the part about him changing enough not to cost any house points. I place my quill back in it's ink and look sternly at the boy. Trying to give him some nonverbal warning: this isn't a conversation you have with a teacher.

Especially a teacher of the class you're not trying to skip.

However, he remains unchanged in his demeanor. He's serious.

"And why, pray tell, would you want to skip one of the most important classes?"

He gives me a sideways look with a crooked half-smile. As if saying I already know, and it's stupid to ask him why.

"Lockhart isn't a wizard who should be teaching DADA. He's a con man and an idiot. I can teach DADA better than he can."

I have half a mind to deduct house points for that attitude toward one of his teachers. He sees my look of disapproval and sighs.

"You can't tell me he's competent enough to teach us anything of value. He gave us a quiz about himself. At this point, I'd take Quirrell over him."

I feel Alexander will be a bigger problem for me this year than I previously thought. There are many ways I could punish him for saying such things about one of my fellow teachers. But he's not exactly wrong.

In times like this, I know Alex will take the inch I'm giving him and run miles with it. But if he wants out of Lockhart's class this year, I don't think I can do anything to stop him. His disregard for the house points last year proved it.

"Now listen here, Mr. Aevum. I will not tolerate such blatant disrespect for a staff member in my presence..."

He looks at me with a serious face.

"Even if you're right."

As I finish my response, I can see from how he's presenting himself that he'll skip the class either way. Tests determine if you pass a course at Hogwarts, not attendance.

"I can't stop you from skipping Lockhart's class, but if you're caught, I and all staff members will take away house points."

He smiles as he stands up, his mood ultimately better. Looks like he's got the message.

"Thanks for your time, Professor McGonagall. I won't take any more of it."

He'll return to classes, thinking of ways to take the inch I've given him and make it miles long.

Alex is a clever boy who'll find a way not to get caught. I don't want him wasting time in Lockhart's class, either.

It's a waste of potential. If only other students had a little more Alex in them, they'd see skipping Lockhart's classes is smarter than staying.

The door closes behind him. Instead of returning to the papers on my desk, I stand up and look out the window. In the courtyard, Lockhart is entertaining the youth. Boys and girls. Capturing them in one of his stories.

"Where Albus got the idea to hire him is beyond me..."

Whatever Albus's plan is regarding his hiring of Gilderoy Lockhart isn't my business. If it were up to me, he wouldn't be here in the first place.

Someone with real qualifications would be teaching the DADA class.