"He saved me. I've been mean and tried to hurt him, but he still saved me from that..That.." Draco, despite the calming draughts, burst into tears.
Poppy Pomfrey said a simple sleep spell mothers often used for young children.
"Will my son be alright?" Mr. Malfoy asked stiffly.
"Yes he may have nightmares for a while but most the damage was superficial. A good night's sleep will do wonders."
Professor Snape escorted the auror to the Slytherin common room. He sent a third year to knock on Potter and Zabini's door to request Potter come out. The professor cast privacy spells on the alcove next to the main fireplace. When Potter came out, he said, "We can be private here."
"Alright Mr. Potter." the auror started.
"Lord Potter, actually," Harry corrected, " And you are?"
"Kingsley Shakcklebolt, senior auror, Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Yes, Mr. Shacklebolt, what do you wish to know?"
"How did you know that Lockhart was attacking Mr. Malfoy, and that you needed to intervene?"
"I have in my possession a magical map showing the location of people within the castle that I inherited from my father. I have used it over the last several months to keep an eye on Lockhart.
"May I see this map?"
"No, you may not, as it is not germane to the events of this evening.
Kingsley wanted to argue but he knew with an inherited item and Lord Potter's status, he wouldn't get ministry backing to force the issue. "Why were you keeping an eye on Lockhart?"
"Last summer while I was shopping, he accosted me in Flourish and Blotts, I… discouraged him from attempting anything with me. But unfortunately I could not make the same guarantees for the other students. I did my best to warn others, sadly many don't listen when warned. Until now Lockhart played his little games with those old enough to know better, and by that I mean the seventh years. But for the past month or so I'd noticed he was paying closer attention to Draco, Megan Jones and Millicent there might have been others in his other classes by I know from the map Draco was the first he cornered one on one. Feeding his ego and what not; Draco is pretty, young therefore vulnerable, and courtesy of his indiscretion last year helpless, an ideal target for a pedophile.
"Tonight I was in the library when I noticed Lockhart appeared a little closer than he should have on the map. So I ran up to the classroom, I did an unlocking spell and kicked in the door, figuring that would distract Lockhart. Once I was through I did an disarming hex. Lockhart had a second wand. He fired an obliviate at me. I dodged, but since I'm only a second year not an adult, I switched it to a physical fight, mostly because I'm trained. I got close so I could control where his wand pointed then I kicked the cur's arse. Once he was down, I tied him up, and saw to getting proper teachers there and covering Draco before he developed deathly shock. Any other questions?"
"No, if I may borrow your wand a moment to verify what you've said, I can finish this up tonight."
"Certainly." Harry passed the auror his wand. Five minutes later Harry was handed back his wand.
"Thank you, Lord Potter." Kinsley said and rose to his feet to leave.
"Anytime, Auror Shacklebolt. Good night."
...
Albus was relieved that the Christmas holidays started before he was required to have a DADA teacher. He couldn't believe that this had happened. It was doubly bad that the victim was the son of a board member. If he didn't already have enough problems with the Chamber being opened, but to have to deal with a pedophile teacher as well when the board was already scrutinizing him so closely. Albus remembered all too clearly that it had been the death of Myrtle Millcote that had paved the way for Armando Dippet's retirement and his own promotion. He needed to solve the mystery of the chamber, how Tom was managing to open it when he wasn't here, before the board could ask for his resignation.
He really didn't want to do this given recent events, but what choice did he have. He needed to fill the post before the end of the weekend. The board would have kittens he was sure, but Remus really was an excellent teacher. Plus Remus might serve as a method to draw Harry closer to him.
Remus was surprised to get an owl from Albus inviting him to come and teach, for the remainder of the school year. Albus also sent him the last two months of the Daily Prophet. Remus was flabbergasted to read that Sirius was innocent and that Peter was alive but had set Sirius up. Remus quickly gathered his belongings together, thanked the elf that tended Black's Folly and apparated first to the English Coast then to Hogsmeade.
He entered the gates of Hogwarts with a sense of joy. James' son Harry was a student here now. Perhaps Remus would get to see him. He made his way to the Headmaster's office. He used the password in his letter to bypass the gargoyle and knock on the headmaster's office door.
"Enter. Ah, Remus, such a delight to see you, my boy!" Albus' blue eyes twinkled.
"I came right away, Headmaster. Is this a serious offer?"
"Yes, I made a terrible mistake when I hired this year's teacher, I'm afraid. In my defense there was not even a whisper of his… sickening leanings when I hired him. The DMLE told me that with veritaserum they found out that he has done these kind of things many times but always obliviated the victims so no one ever knew. His exploits were similarly engineered. Lockhart has pled guilty to the charges brought against him and was sentenced to a year in Azkaban before being kissed instead of ten years followed by the kiss. Lucius Malfoy was pushing for life in Azkaban in maximum security. However to protect those involved this will not be spoken of, the students are unaware with two exceptions and we want to keep it that way. It should be fairly simple since most of them left this morning.
"Severus has agreed to brew your potion for you and the school will be buying whatever replacement texts you choose. That should have been our warning right there, I suppose, him wanting every student to buy all of his books. Here is a copy of the contract we would have you sign. I'll give you a few minutes to look it over."
Remus read through the contract, the salary wasn't as high as he would wish, but that was offset by the inclusion of the wolfsbane potion. The precautions for the full moon included a door of silver bars on his office locked by the headmaster or his deputy during the full moon. It outlined how many Hogsmeade weekends he would chaperone, and how many classes of how many students he would teach. After he read it, he signed it.
"Marvelous, my boy. Now there is something else I would appreciate your help with."
"What's that, Headmaster?"
"Harry Potter."
"Why? Is there something wrong with James and Lily's son?"
"Well, I don't have the foggiest why, but the lad doesn't trust me. He won't even look me in the eye. His sorting was a bit of a shock, I'm afraid."
"Where was he sorted?"
"Slytherin. Now, while I would be the first to admit that some very fine people come through Slytherin- Severus, being one such example- Harry being sorted there made many people nervous. That he steers so far around me, just adds to the concern."
"Maybe that is just the caution that so typifies many in Slytherin?"
"Perhaps. Anyway, I would appreciate it if you could make an effort to get to know the boy; build some trust with him."
"Slytherins aren't known for trusting others."
"Yes, well, Harry isn't exactly your typical Slytherin. He actually has friends in all the houses, and his best friend his age is Neville Longbottom who happens to be in Gryffindor."
"How does that work? Don't the other Gryffindors…"
"Neville Longbottom took on the most anti-Slytherin faction in Gryffindor and knocked them down until they couldn't get up, using fighting techniques taught him by Harry."
"Oh, my."
"That, my boy, is an understatement. Minerva was fit to be tied."
"Albus, I wanted to ask about the news in the Prophet was it true? Was Sirius innocent?"
"Yes, I'm afraid it was. I shall always regret I did not insist on a trial for poor Sirius."
"So where is he now?"
"He is currently residing in a clinic in the Welsh countryside a little ways outside Cardiff. Although he was released from Azkaban he technically is under Wizengamot jurisdiction for nine more months. He was released without fines on the condition that he get some physical and mental help following his long incarceration. His healer is the foremost expert anywhere on Dementor exposure. He has monthly permission to visit Harry, but their first meeting went poorly."
....
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