While Hermione silently prayed that Snape wouldn't go too far and end up in Azkaban, Gilderoy Lockhart suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He had noticed Snape's icy gaze.
But who was he?
He was Gilderoy Lockhart, someone who never lost his composure, no matter the situation.
With a smile on his face, he slowly turned around, only to see Snape, clad in his signature black robes, standing in the shadows by the notice board, leaning against the wall and staring at him.
"Oh, Professor Snape, you're here! I was just worried I couldn't find you. Come over quickly!" Lockhart waved enthusiastically at the old bat, as if completely oblivious to the expression on Snape's face. "The students are all here, and our little demonstration is about to begin!"
Seeing that it was Snape, Lockhart even felt a sense of relief.
In his mind, Snape was just an ordinary Potions professor. Someone who taught a non-combative subject and occasionally substituted for him when he was "ill." Sure, he looked a bit... sinister, but he wouldn't be too difficult to handle.
Otherwise, why would Lockhart have chosen him as his demonstration opponent?
Lockhart silently gave himself a thumbs-up, feeling increasingly confident in his decision.
Choosing an opponent was an art. First, the opponent's status had to match his own as the wizarding world's top celebrity. Professors below the rank of the four Heads of House were out of the question.
Second, the opponent couldn't be too strong. For instance, Filius Flitwick, the Head of Ravenclaw House and the Charms Master who had taught during Lockhart's time at Hogwarts, was immediately ruled out.
As a graduate of Ravenclaw, Lockhart was well aware of Flitwick's formidable skills. He wasn't foolish enough to pit himself against a rock with his proverbial egg.
Of course, Dumbledore, the Headmaster, was also an automatic no-go.
That left three options.
Minerva McGonagall, Head of Gryffindor House and Transfiguration Master.
Severus Snape, Head of Slytherin House and Potions Master.
Pomona Sprout, Head of Hufflepuff House and Herbology Master.
Lockhart extended invitations to all three.
Unsurprisingly, the two women, who already detested him, flatly refused his request.
Fortunately, after a moment of hesitation, Professor Snape agreed, leading to today's demonstration duel.
Snape, however, was thoroughly unimpressed. This event had been jointly organized by Dumbledore, himself, and Filius Flitwick, so he would have participated regardless.
And now, this self-absorbed Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had delivered himself right to Snape's doorstep.
What was this? This was killing three birds with one stone—a perfect opportunity.
Though Lockhart's subsequent displays of arrogance, like his current behavior, made Snape wish he could simply poison the man and let him spend the rest of the term in the hospital wing.
Of course, Snape wouldn't stoop to such actions himself. But fortunately, someone else was taking care of it.
That someone was Glenn.
During one of Lockhart's bouts of severe diarrhea that landed him in the hospital wing, Dumbledore had asked Snape to assist Madam Pomfrey in examining the unfortunate professor. As a master of Potions, Snape immediately deduced that Lockhart had been sabotaged.
After questioning Lockhart about what he had eaten and drunk before falling ill, Snape went to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office to retrieve leftover liquid from Lockhart's cup for analysis.
There, he encountered Glenn, who was under a Disillusionment Charm, trying to destroy the evidence.
Naturally, Glenn had snuck away from the library, where he had been researching with Hermione, under some pretext. However, his Disillusionment Charm wasn't enough to fool Snape. Upon seeing Snape, Glenn didn't bother hiding his intentions. He revealed himself and explained everything as they entered the office together.
Snape, clearly uninterested in tattling or punishing Glenn, leisurely watched him destroy the evidence. They even had a brief academic discussion about the ingredients, effects, and ratios of Glenn's newly developed potion before parting ways.
From Snape's observations, since Lockhart had taken up the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts, he hadn't managed to teach more than two consecutive classes.
It was obvious that Glenn had been targeting him.
As for Glenn's motives? Snape couldn't care less. It had nothing to do with him.
With no harm to his own interests, the added bonus of temporarily assuming the role of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and double the time to torment Harry Potter, Snape had been in an exceptionally good mood lately.
So, he let Glenn continue his harassment of Lockhart without interference.
As for Lockhart's current display of arrogance, Snape merely smiled faintly.
No need to bother with him—Glenn would take care of it.
As for the method of harassment this time? From Snape's perspective, it was already quite clear...
Hermione watched in astonishment as Lockhart, in a friendly gesture, tried to drape an arm over Snape's shoulder, only for Snape to sidestep it with an expressionless face, showing neither anger nor amusement.
"What's going on? Professor Snape didn't react?" Hermione was puzzled. When she saw Lockhart's gesture, she had instinctively stepped away, as if getting too close to the pair would result in a bloodbath. Yet, to her surprise, Snape merely dodged the unwanted contact without so much as a scowl.
Hermione had no doubt that if Lockhart's hand had actually landed on Snape's shoulder, the latter wouldn't hesitate to retaliate with an Unforgivable Curse.
Cough, cough. Of course, that was an exaggeration. Still, Snape's reaction today was indeed unexpected.
"Looks like Professor Snape is in a pretty good mood lately," a mocking voice sounded beside Hermione. "He didn't even curse Lockhart on the spot."
Without turning her head, Hermione knew exactly who it was.
"Where's Glenn? Aren't you two practically glued together?" Draco Malfoy, flanked by his two cronies, approached Hermione, glancing around curiously. He seemed genuinely surprised that Glenn wasn't by her side.
Ignoring the teasing tone in Draco's voice, Hermione replied mysteriously, "You'll find out where he is soon enough."
"Just wait and enjoy the show."
Hearing this, Draco exaggeratedly opened his mouth.
"What's going on? Hermione, don't tell me you're actually looking forward to the duel between Lockhart and Professor Snape?" His voice was filled with disbelief. "I thought you weren't one of those brainless Lockhart fangirls, but it turns out..."
Hermione's face darkened. Rolling her eyes, she interrupted Draco with a sharp retort, "I warn you, don't slander me. I'm not talking about this already-predictable farce."
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (90+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!