"See? Your hair is already back!"
The happy laugh made my spine shiver, and I was questioning my sanity to co and spend the afternoon with Professor Lockhart, but I forced a smile, facing him.
"Yes, Professor, I was lucky you were there."
"Ahaha, don't worry about it, my young friend! Now, it is good that you are here," he clapped as we stood in the abandoned classroom, acting as if it was perfectly normal he was stuffed away here, like so kind of nuisance. "I was tasked to go and gather so dangerous creatures from the forest, you know, for... ingredients!"
"Professor... I am only a first-year student..."
"You will be with , so you don't have to worry! I will protect you, of course! Aha!"
Yeah... bet. Damn it, I think this was a really, really bad idea! I should not have co at all... But I couldn't back down now.
"And... What are we supposed to collect?" I asked with a sigh, giving up on escaping.
"Spiders."
"No!" I turned around at once, heading towards the door. Spiders? No. No. AND NO! No chance, nope, I am going to go and kiss a basilisk first and use my tongue, too, while doing so!
"Listen!" the classroom's door closed before , and I turned around to see him holding his wand, and if not for the pathetic look in his eyes, I would have thought I was about to be attacked any ti now. "It will be fine! You just need to follow and learn! Easy!"
"Learn... what exactly?" I asked, placing my arms behind my back, slipping my wand into my hand, ready to act if I must.
"Dealing with dangerous beasts and capturing them, of course!" He laughed, putting on a confident, pompous look, but his eyes... were anything but brave.
"I am sorry, Professor... you see, I am a kid. We did not even learn offensive spells yet! I can't be of any help, and I won't lie... I am telling you this only because I trust you..." I lowered my voice, looking around, but only because I was afraid I might retch if I continued my act, "I am afraid to go into the Dark Forest!"
"I understand, my boy!" He sighed, slapping my shoulders, "But you would be coming with ! There is nothing you should be afraid of! I am Lockhart; I captured more beasts and terrorists than anybody else!"
"About that..." Yes, this was the topic change I hoped for! "I bet Professor knows so spells that are not part of the curriculum. Or not yet for ... maybe if you could... arm , I would be much more confident in going out!"
"Well... that is perfectly normal." He said, hesitating a little, but then again, after a brief thought, he put on his fake, all-too-friendly smile. "Tell you what! Later on, we can have so extra lessons, trying out spells, and I can teach you so neat little tricks!" He winked multiple tis, and I started to feel sick... again. "Help with this task, my young friend, and I will turn you into my protege!"
"O-okay..." I shrugged as I already realized there was no escape... if that is the case, then let this get over with!
...
....
...
Outside of the castle, he told to wait, and a little later, I saw him bringing over two broomsticks which was a pleasant surprise. Especially because first-year students couldn't have their own brooms.
"Are we going far?" I asked, taking one and mounting it imdiately, rising to the air.
"It is... safer to approach from above!" He explained, following , and soon we were off, flying leisurely. I was still fidgeting a little, getting used to the simple shooting stars that the school had. It was too slow for my taste but oh well... I missed being in the air. "Conrad!"
"Hm?"
"Did you hear what I said?"
"Sorry, the wind made it hard to listen!" And the fact that I did not pay any attention at all.
"We are going to head deeper into the forest and scout it out from this height! It is said that so nasty spiders are living there, left behind by Rubeus Hagrid! So kind of evil farewell gift or sothing!"
"Really?" That is odd. I know he is a dangerous half-giant terrorist, but... You would think the school would have cleaned up the place already. Well, at least it seems Professor Lockhart did learn so tricks, as it is safer to approach from above as spiders can't fly.
"Yeah, but the school uses them for their venom. That is why we go there now; we need their venom first and foremost!"
"How are we supposed to do that, Professor?"
"Oh well, we will use the Frigus Ignis spell! Cold fla! Spiders hate fire, and they notice cold flas less easily!"
"Err... Professor?" I flew up next to him, twitching my mouth. I was surprised that he looked so professional right now. Was it an act? Maybe. Or he believes so of his own stories. On the other hand... It was my first ti hearing about the blue fire. "I never heard about that spell."
"You did not?" He chuckled, "Don't worry, boy, I'll teach you!" He stopped in mid-air, making follow suit and float before him. "It is a straightforward spell! The incantation is frigus ignis!"
As he was speaking, repeating it to , making the hand movents, I noticed his wand starting to flicker. I had only a mont to grab onto my broom and swirl out of the way before the blue flas blasting forth from the tip of his wand washed the skies, leaving the end of my broom smoking.
"Fu-!" I swallowed, not wanting to scream curses at him, but I could feel my heart beating in my throat. He almost killed ! If not for my reflexes, I would be toast! Was... was he trying to kill ? Is he an... assassin? A genius killer? But... seeing the sudden panic in his eyes, I was no longer sure about it.
"Sorry, my little friend, I always forgot how strong I am, ahaha! But there is no better teacher than live experience!"
"Bet..." I cleared my throat, rising back up, gulping back all the wild thoughts I wanted to throw at him.
"Try it!" He nodded at , and I drew my wand with so hesitation.
Watching his hand move, I've got the idea, but he was, in retrospect, uncontrolled. He just flushed out a ton of magic power in a giant cone, and that was it. That was not my style... the incantation couldn't be the problem, so it ca down to the hand movent. His was too flashy, too... pompous. I had to do it more swiftly, fluently, and with much more control.
"Frigus Ignis!" I shouted, and with the movent of my arm, a blue ball of fla flew out from the tip of my wand, flying far and exploding like a firework.
"Not bad, not bad! It lacks power like mine, but for a first try from a kid, you have talent, my little friend! See? My eyes are sharp; I told you we are going to get along just fine! I have a lot to teach you, just keep them secret from the others! Everyone wants a private lesson with , and I can't help it! Ti is finite, even for !" He giggled like so of my classmates when an older boy walked past us... and it was just as annoying.
"I will practice, Professor," I answered, trying to look humble, "Say, Professor Lockhart... you ought to know a lot of spells, don't you? With all of your exploits published yearly... It must be exhausting to do that in the sumr while school is off!"
"Err, yes, yes, but I am a professional! I can manage!" He nodded as we continued our trip.
"I don't want to be rude here, Professor, but can you tell what spell you are best at?"
"The young mind is so ever curious! Well, I excel at many spells; no wonder I was selected to initiate the first-year students here! You see, I am known for my varied and extensive knowledge of curses and counter-curses! I am the perfect choice to give you a lot of the experience you will need from your second year and onward!"
"Y-yes... yes, but..." I tried to urge him a little because if I needed to listen to more of his boastings, I think I would set his broom on fire and leave him be.
"Even then!" He continued without flinching, "My specialty lies in charms!"
"I see..." Yeah, sure.
"If I may brag a little," He shook his body with a satisfied grin, "I am best when it cos to mory Charms!"
"..." Now I was truly listening. After what I overheard, I did not doubt his words. For the first ti, I did believe him entirely.
"You know, it is not a hard charm... but it is perilous!"
"How so, Professor?"
"Modifying soone's mories is very dangerous, Young Conrad! The slightest mistake or loss of concentration can lead to dangerous consequences! It can not just damage the mind, but it could easily lead to irreversible, fatal mistakes!"
"It does sound... risky."
"It is, but it is a must-have! Especially when you pursue terrorists where there are a lot of muggles! They love hiding amongst them, like rats!"
He explained, and I was starting to learn to discern from his voice when he was lying and when he was telling the truth. Every ti he spoke about his feats, his tone beca more flamboyant, flowery, as if telling a tale to a kid at a bedside. When he was telling the truth, like when ntioning the mory charms... his tone was more natural, void of unnecessary flare. He was speaking from the heart and not from his mind.
"Then, Professor, you must be exceptional at it, yes?"
"Naturally!"
"Could you... teach how it is done?"
"Oh well," he laughed, "I think you are still too young for that kind of spell, my friend!"
"I know, but-"
"Oh, we are here!" He interrupted as we ca to a halt above the thick and vast Dark Forest. "They saw them here last ti; let's fly slightly lower and search for clues!"
"Yes..." I followed suit, but my mind was already racing. I wanted that spell... I just had to get closer to the Professor before he taught . Although... sowhere in the back of my head, I was now wary of Lockhart. Being caught off guard by a mory charm would be just as dangerous as being targeted by the imperious curse...
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