That. Was.

[alt_padma]

TOTALLY WIZ-NIFT!

Only now Fawcett won't stop going on about how Marvolo sent that snake after Stebbins. (Honestly, he deserved it. I'd have done it too if Stebbins had said that about me!)

Do you think Professor Lockhart's alright? I mean, Professor Carrow really knocked him back with that spell. He still seemed a little disorientated even after they sent everyone out. I tried to help him back to his office but he told us all he was going to walk it off for a while.


Mum and Dad, what happened was that Professor Brutka and Professor Lockhart were going to start us, but then Professor Carrow said he would do it and he pushed his way up on the platform. Professor Lockhart was so gracious, really, and so was Professor Brutka, I guess. He just shrugged and bowed a little and then he sort of stayed around to watch.

Well, Professor Carrow and Professor Lockhart showed us duelling stance, only I guess Professor Carrow wanted to show us that in a real duel, you don't wait for the, um, niceties because if you wait you might just get killed. So he cast a disarming spell and it was really powerful. It was actually dead cool even if it was Professor Carrow and Professor Lockhart went tumbling. But he was okay. I mean, he got up really quickly. He was still a little dazed, though.

And then they had us all pair off, but after a few minutes it was utter chaos. It was kind of funny, actually. I mean, all that practising we've been doing with our manuals and it didn't really make a difference to anyone, much. Well, maybe Malfoy was doing really well. I couldn't see, because Belinda and I paired off and I know, I'm supposed to be working with Parvati but she was all the way across the duelling platform, so I really couldn't you see, and anyway Belinda and I traded off pretty well, but she bumped into Weasley and he's got that broken wand, and it went off. And it sort of made everything go really white for a minute. I'm not sure what spell that was, I'll have to look it up.

But then when I could see again, half the kids had their hair singed off or they were covered in boils and some were sopping wet, but Professor Carrow called everyone to order and Professor Lockhart said perhaps they'd better have one team demonstrate. So Professor Lockhart called up Marvolo and Malfoy. And that's when Stebbins said that it was no surprise they got picked, and then he said something really rude that I won't repeat, but it made all the boys nearby snigger and Professor Carrow sort of looked at them and they stopped really quickly, but then he said, 'On second thought, Lockhart, let's see what they do against a real opponent,' and he called up Moran, you know, the Head Boy, and he whispered something in his ear. Then he told Malfoy and Marvolo to prepare and WHOOSH! Moran made a great snake come out of his wand just like that!

Well, everyone tried to take a step back, except we couldn't because the people behind us didn't see it so they didn't realise we needed to move back, and we all sort of got jostled, and Stebbins stumbled forward because he's really clumsy on top of everything else, and he fell against the platform. And the snake went straight for him!!

Professor Carrow told everyone not to move, that he'd get rid of the snake, and then the most amazing thing happened! Marvolo started talking to the snake!! In snake talk, I mean!! Parcel Parseltongue. Like the Lord Protector and everything!

And the snake went. after. Stebbins!!! It was completely terrifying! Belinda and I moved away as fast as we could, but it was really hard with no room to go anywhere.

Professor Brutka made the snake disappear then, but goodness, it was exciting!

Fawcett's even more worried now, of course, but that's just mad. I mean, unless she goes and says something daft to Marvolo, what is there to worry about?

Comments

[alt_hannah]

I got to hold his cloak! Professor Lockhart's, I mean!

[alt_neville]

Do girls really care about that sort of thing?

[alt_hannah]

Of course! It was Professor Lockhart's cloak!

[alt_neville]

I'd think you'd care a little bit more that one of your housemates was facing down that giant snake.

[alt_hannah]

I couldn't see much from down at the end where I was standing. So I don't know what Bobby said to get Malvolo so angry at him. Anyway, I'm sure Professor Lockhart would have taken care of it, if Professor Brutka hadn't stepped in first.

[alt_padma]

I dunno, most of us were worried about just staying out of its way, once Marvolo started sending it after him.

[alt_padma]

Speaking of housemates, Longbottom, can't you and your mates do something about that wand of Weasley's? It's a proper menace.

[alt_ron]

It was really nift. Even the snake. I really want to find out what that spell was Moran used. Serpent-something. I didn't hear it very well.

Serpentsalia? Serpentgorgio? Serpentaurio?

Something.

Maybe Harry knows. I'm dying to try it out.

[alt_neville]

Are you nutters? I don't want to find a snake like that in my bed one night!

[alt_ron]

I wouldn't set it on you, mate. That'd just be mad. But it would have been nift to have known it when we were camping last summer.

Would have been just what we needed when the girls got all girly and annoying.

[alt_neville]

It's one thing when girls are annoying. It's another when they start screeching. And you know they would if one of us set a snake loose.

[alt_seamus]

I think it was serpenstoria but I think I want to know how you make the snake disappear again before I try it out.

[alt_neville]

Ask Professor Brutka, then.

I'm rather looking forward to taking his class next year.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_neville]

Anything'd be better than Transfiguration.

[alt_sally_anne]

You're all wrong but I'm not telling you the incantation as I don't want it to be MY fault if there's no Gryffindor house in the morning because you all got eaten by scores of enormous snakes you summoned up without having thought out what to do with them after.

[alt_ron]

Yeah, I think that might have been it.

Serpenstoria.

Yeah, maybe.

[alt_padma]

Wrong.

[alt_dean]

I think the disarming of Professor Lockhart was interesting. You would think the way he goes on about his achievements, that he would have seen that coming and could have handled it accordingly. I guess that goes to show that he is what some of us already think. All talk and flash, and most importantly no skill.

[alt_padma]

He wasn't expecting Professor Carrow to jump ahead like that, Thomas! Obviously, if he'd gone into it thinking they were recreating field conditions, instead of classical duelling, he'd have had no trouble at all.

[alt_dean]

The man acts like he has eyes in the back of his head, and can see any attack coming from a mile away. He just should have known. Like I said, no skill!

[alt_padma]

Ordinarily I wouldn't say this, because it's Professor Lockhart, but I hope for your sake he's not reading this, Thomas. I mean if you're serious about wanting to do well in every subject. I wouldn't disregard all his experience if I were you.

[alt_dean]

I guess you are right. I should mind my manners. But one day I will be able to say I told you so. Until then I have no problem passing tests with questions like:

When is my birthday?

What is my favourite colour?

How many times have I won Witch Weekly's most Charming smile award?

How did I eat my eggs on the last morning in ___________ book?

etc.

Oh give me a break.

But I do see where you are coming from. I just rather hear that from someone who doesn't find him dashing and who doesn't swoon every time he walks in the door.

[alt_ron]

You forgot 'What is my greatest ambition?' and 'What is my greatest accomplishment so far?'

[alt_dean]

True. Thanks for bringing that up. I can't believe I forgot those.

[alt_padma]

And of course, it wouldn't occur to you to see how asking us those questions makes us think about all he's done and why it's important, let alone aspire to be anything like him. Honestly, don't you get that Professor Lockhart's efforts have led to greater understanding among wizarding people and especially with all sorts of creatures like trolls and banshees and all? And that he's making the world a better place for us? It's an honour that he decided to stay and teach us.