 
Chapter 2-6 Gilderoy Lockhart
- During breakfast in the Great Hall, Ron receives a Howler by owl post from his mother, delivered
by Errol. Opening the red envelope, his mother's
voice shouts like thunder through the hall, giving Ron a blastout for
stealing the car to get to Hoqwarts. When it's finished it bursts into
flames and curls into ashes.
- Their first class that day is Herbology with Professor Sprout in the greenhouse outside the castle. While they
wait for Professor Sprout, they see her coming, accompanied by Lockhart.
Before entering, Lockhart talks to Harry about the car-incident and
how 'Harry has become publicity-hungry', explaining that 'Harry is also
a bit known of course, all that stuff about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named'
but that's not as good as winning Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award
five times in a row and 'Harry has a start but he has to take it slower;
that he will have more time for that when he is older'.
- In herbology, they will be repotting Mandrakes. Asking anybody if they know their
properties, Hermione knows the answer; they are a powerful restorative.
Mandrake forms an essential part of most antidotes,
but are also dangerous since their cry is fatal to anyone who hears
it. They start repotting them, taking the pots and compost, carefully
avoiding the Venemous Tentacula
because it's teething. Harry, Ron and Hermione are joined by Justin
Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff. Justin tells them that he was
down for Eton, but after showing his mother Lockart's books, she began
to see it might be usefull to have a wizard in the family.
- The next class is Transfiguration. Harry's skills have gotten a bit
rusty during the summer. Ron has worse problems. He had patched his
wand with some Spellotape but it seemes to be damaged beyond
repair.
- Sitting outside, Harry is approached by Colin Creevey, a first year from Gryffindor,
who has a camera with him and wants to take a picture of Harry to prove
that he met him. He'd like a picture together with Harry and he wants
Harry to sign it. Malfoy, overhearing the conversation, starts making
fun of them and they almost start a fight, stopped by Professor Lockhart
who poses for a photo of himself with Harry. Harry, totally embarressed,
wishes he knew a good Vanishing Spell.
- They enter Lockharts first Defense Against the Dark
Arts class. He introduces himself by his title "Gilderoy Lockhart,
Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary
Member of the Dark Force Defense League,
and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award"
adding "but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon
Banshee by smiling at her". They get a test with personal
questions about Lockhart which includes questions like what is his "favorite
color, secret ambition and ideal gift". All these answers are in his
books, except that besides the other idea gifts mentioned, his ideal
gift would be harmony and peace between magic an non-magic people. The
he adds that he wouldn't say no to a bottle of Ogden's
Old Firewhisky. Lockhart introduces the class to a cage of Cornish Pixies. After letting them out
of the cage, they start wrecking the classroom. Lockhart's spell ¤
Peskipiksi Pesternomi has no effect and Harry, Ron and Hermione
have to put them back into the cage. Hermione uses a Freezing Charm to immobilize some of
them.
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