Professor Lockhart's story, or more precisely its climax, the battle against the Order of the Pheonix, was fascinating. Very much so, and I can't lie about it. I don't know if it is because he is a good writer or not, but his retelling of the events was vivid and imrsive. I hate to admit it, but he could sell himself on paper. In-person? Not so much, but most people know him from his books anyway.
Reading the 'recollection' was a bit hard. On the one hand, it was so descriptive I felt like being there. On the other hand... I didn't know if I should believe everything. Knowing the Professor, my doubts were high from the start, but I had to approach it with a clear and open mind. Through this work, I got a glimpse of how the bulk of the Order laid waste to a very important convoy of wizards. They were traveling from the school back to London when they were ambushed.
As the teacher, Professor Lockhart was accompanying them out of courtesy to the borders when the attack happened, and he fought with the Black brothers while flying on brooms. Ignoring the flashy descriptions of his skills, the maneuvers, and the fact that spells were flying left and right, missing him by an inch, I did feel my heart quickening reading it. The presence he gave to their leader, Dumbledore, was tangible through the papers. It was he who ended one of the Death Eater's life before sounding the retreat and escaping with the rest. It took only one read to morize the text, and after I was finished, I closed my eyes, rereading it multiple tis in my mind. Sothing wasn't making sense.
"Why did they retreat?" I asked in the end.
"Hmm?" He looked at , up from signing his promotional letters.
"Why did the Order retreat after one kill? It wasn't even soone... special."
"It was a Death Eater! That is pretty special!" Lockhart corrected , "Soone from HIS inner circle, one that was with HIM all those years ago when HE ca to power!"
"But... so what? He now has multiple circles under him."
"Raising talent takes a lot of years and effort, young Conrad!" He warned with a smile and an air of superiority. "A death of such a noble warrior is a big blow!"
"It just doesn't make sense..." I argued, tapping my finger on the table, "They were on the offensive and on the winning side... after that kill, they should have gained a real advantage! They could have pushed on and eliminated everybody! It was a check-mate situation! Yet they... left."
"Don't forget, they are also human, they can be tired out, and a Death Eater is a better fighter than any of the mbers of the Order! Just look at your Father, for example! Or ! Even with that kill, they couldn't hope to achieve more! They had to run, or it was their ti to lose soone!"
"Professor, are you a Death Eater too?" I asked innocently, knowing the answer and laughing at the twitch of his face.
"Ahahaha, no... no I am not. Even though my talents are unparalleled, I am best utilized... more freely!"
"Thought so," I whispered, but he didn't hear it.
...
....
...
I was sitting in a chair, facing the fire in our common room. It was already close to midnight, but I felt no exhaustion, no sleepiness assaulting , and my mind was working at maximum capacity. The story that the Professor was writing was fake. I an, the reasons behind the whole event were. If I was the Order, I would ambush not a group of people but individuals, one by one. Get rid of them one at a ti and with superior numbers.
"They are not stupid..." I murmured, blinking my eyes slowly.
There is no way the supposedly most dangerous and insidious wizard of all ti, Dumbledore, would make such a mistake. So, if I could rule out them being attacked because they wanted to eliminate them, there had to be a different reason. I know Lockhart paints it like his presence was what foiled their plan, but Father told that last year, sothing big happened... sothing that enraged HIM and caused the Malfoys' perilous position; it had to be connected.
"They were transporting sothing..."
I was sure of that conjecture. It had to be the real reason for the ambush! They had sothing in their possession that had to be transported from point A to point B, but they never made it. My bet was that the Order managed to snatch it away or destroy it on the spot. As to which of the two happened, I had no idea, but I was sure that I was right. I may even ask Father in the winter, hoping it is sothing I can be told about...
"Ah, are you still up?" I heard a familiar voice and was surprised to see Quincy coming in.
"Eh... what ti is it?" I asked, a bit out of it before realizing how late it was.
"Close to midnight!" She shrugged, walking in, looking tired and collapsing into my lap without question. "This was... too much!"
"What happened?" I asked with a smile, rubbing her head while she leaned against .
"First off, I had a debate with Draco."
"What?!" I questioned, almost swallowing my tongue, not expecting anything close to it, and just when she was about to explain, the door opened, and the guy himself walked in, sneeringly looking at us, before he disappeared from view. "Judging by his looks..." I hugged her closer, looking out from the big armchair, "He lost?"
"Of course!" She grinned, showing a V-sign. "I'm not an easy prey! Anyway, he got invited to Slughorn's little dinner party. I don't think it wasn't an honest invitation because the Professor mostly ignored him. My guess is he was attending only because of the pressure from his Father!"
"Typical... can't get in by himself, gets bought in! If not by money, then by his new tattoo!"
"Sothing like that!" She giggled, agreeing with , "Anyway! He was saying stupid thing after stupid thing, and I got fed up with it! He was trying to impress the Professor, but instead, he was making a fool out of himself! The only problem, nobody dared to say it to his face!"
"You did."
"I did more than that!" She explained, her eyes glowing with excitent while snuggling up to , recounting the whole affair. It was the best night of my life so far. Holding her close, listening to her voice, feeling her sweet scent and warmth... Sitting there in the dark, in front of the glowing fireplace. I felt like lting. "I told him face-to-face that what he is saying is utter nonsense, academically wrong, and I can prove it!"
"And you did it?"
"That is why it took this long to co back! I proved it, then challenged him to a standoff in potion making! Hah! You should have seen his face; it was not even a proper battle! I demolished him! No, I DESTROYED him!" She laughed, totally in high spirits, acting like a drunken man.
"I bet he would deny it~!"
"Pft, so what? I know what happened; he can't fool ! Nor you! And look!"
"What's this?" I asked, watching her take out a tiny vial with a golden liquid inside.
"Felix Felicis! Liquid luck!"
"No idea."
"Don't you listen in classes?" She groaned, looking at with an annoyed gaze, "The drinker of this gets super lucky in whatever he or she tries to do! This drink is banned in many competitions... hell, I think it is banned everywhere except potion making!"
"If it's banned, it must be good! You got my attention!" I exclaid, taking it from her, inspecting the vial, and marveling at its golden color.
"It is good! But can't consu it in great volu because it is highly toxic and can result in reckless behavior! Many died because of it! Imagine you start doing sothing because you just can't make mistakes! Then it wears off, and you end up dead... Bumr."
"Yeah... it does sound dangerous... and also addictive! Is it safe?" I asked, now a bit more warily.
"Self-control, Conrad! Then it should be fine! Keep it!"
"What?" I blinked my eyes, surprised, before pushing it back to her hands. "No! You earned it; it's yours!"
"Yes, but you will need it more!"
"Why...?" I asked, feeling confused, and saw her sigh.
"I wanted to tell you this tomorrow, but since we are still up... there is going to be a tournant in the school starting in December! It will last right until the winter break!"
"Aaaaand?"
"It will be a Dueling Tournant hosted by Lucius Malfoy, and you will be made to enter it!"
"Wait a minute?! What do you an, I will be 'made' to enter?"
"Draco, let it slip that he will laugh when you two et, and he will demolish you before everyone."
"Why is he so sure that I would sign up for so stupid competition?" I scoffed, uninterested in the idea.
"That is why I said you will be made to sign up! I don't know what they are playing at, but I am sure they will develop sothing that makes you enter it! It is better to be ready, Conrad; they are planning sothing!"
"So... you think I will be forced to participate?" I murmured, thinking, furrowing my brows.
"I am more than sure of it..." She nodded with a bit of worry in her eyes.
"Haaah... so be it. Thanks for the heads up!" I smiled at her, rubbing her head.
"Um! It is the least I can do!" She bead brightly, placing the vial in my palm, "Wait with it until you need it! I know you will easily kick Draco's butt... but if you are made to enter, why not win it? That would shut up not just him but his Father too!"
"Mmmmh..." I raised the little bottle, looking at it in the fireplace's light. "You have a point there... But isn't this... cheating? Or disallowed?" I grinned, and she simply stuck her tongue out.
"The rules are for those who can't break it without getting caught!"
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