Bab 96: Chapter 96: The Pigeon House Collapsed
Irina was very happy about her new ability.
She finally understood why, when she saw the group of Bowtruckles in the woods of the Scandinavian Mountains that day, they did not hide after seeing the witch as recorded in books, but instead looked at her curiously. After she fed these Bowtruckles, Envee took the initiative to follow her.
It turned out that she had a special talent that could attract magical creatures and plants! Irina thought so and happily stuffed the mandrake seedling in her hand into the new soil pot.
When the mandrake in Hermione's hand saw that Irina did not replant itself, but planted the one that originally belonged to Hermione, it wailed and struggled fiercely. Hermione was so startled that she quickly stuffed it into the soil pot.
Mandrake seedling: I was here first! After being put into the soil pot, it finally stopped struggling, much to Hermione's relief.
The poor mandrake had been so angry at not being replanted by Irina that it had broken down crying and thrashing about - so pitiful!
Hermione patted the soil in the pot, satisfied with completing her work.
After this Herbology class, Irina looked at the Venomous Tentacula behind Professor Sprout with curiosity.
After learning that she had a high affinity for plants, she was no longer as wary of dangerous magical plants such as the Tentacula as before.
However, just as Irina was about to step forward to investigate, she was pulled away by Hermione.
"Let's go back and shower, the next class is Transfiguration, Irina. You don't want to go to Professor McGonagall's lesson smelling like dragon dung!"
Hermione's words made Irina start - she was right.
You know, the break between morning classes was not long, quite enough for boys to freshen up, but rather tight for girls.
Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration lesson proved no challenge. Irina, gifted at the subject, completed McGonagall's requirements on the first try, earning Gryffindor another five points.
The first afternoon class was Defense Against the Dark Arts with Lockhart. Irina noticed that every DADA class time on Hermione's timetable was encircled with a little heart.
Poor thing, when she finds out her idol has feet of clay, she'll be devastated!
Irina looked at Hermione with pity, leaving her friend puzzled.
Soon, Lockhart's DADA class began. He swept into the classroom, Irina and Hermione seated front and center, while Harry and Ron took seats at the back.
In fact, Irina had wanted to sit with Harry and the others at the rear, but Hermione insisted that good friends should share experiences, dragging her to the front row.
At this point, under Hermione's starry-eyed gaze, Lockhart strode confidently into the room, flashing a dazzlingly white smile.
"I, 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 - but I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!"
After this pompous introduction, Lockhart's eyes scanned the classroom until they landed on Irina's conspicuously empty desk in the front row.
"You there, miss, what's your name? And where's your copy of Travels with Trolls? We'll be working from those today."
"Irina Lowell, sir. I'm sorry, professor, I seem to have forgotten to bring it," Irina said helplessly.
Before Lockhart's true colors were exposed, it would be unwise to directly challenge him, potentially making her a target for his little fan club. She hadn't bought any of his books, hoping to hide near the back, but Hermione had dragged her to the front.
Hermione also gave Irina a puzzled look. She didn't seem the type to forget books!
"Not to worry, Miss Lowell, I'm sure I have a spare copy in the back...I'm always happy to give pretty ladies a second chance," Lockhart said with a wink, flashing those brilliant white teeth again before returning to his place at the front of the class.
"Now then, I will be passing out a little quiz to gauge just how thoroughly you've all read my books..."
Irina looked down at the test paper she received - it consisted of three solid pages covered in fifty-four questions:
1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?
2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?
3. What, in your opinion, is Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?
...
54. When is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday, and what would his ideal gift be?
Staring at the densely packed Lockhart trivia, Irina fell silent. After half an hour, Lockhart collected the papers to grade on the spot. But as he picked up Irina's test, he paused with a smile.
"Ah yes, Miss Lowell. Though you've forgotten your textbook, I'm sure you've read my other works religiously. Let's see how well you scored..."
At these ominous words, Irina seemed to have a premonition of doom. Covering her face, she buried her head in her arms.
This is it! I'm doomed!
And then, as Irina tried to disappear like an ostrich, Lockhart's voice rang out in the classroom:
"Lilac! My favorite color is lilac, not this 'girly pink' you've written! That shade should only be favored by girls, wouldn't you say? Clearly you haven't read Year with the Yeti carefully enough!"
"What's this? You claim my secret ambition is to develop my own line of Hair-Raising Potions to re-grow You-Know-Who's non-existent locks?"
...
"And for the final question - my ideal birthday gift would be a pair of Merlin's fishnets? Had you truly absorbed my writings, you'd know from Chapter Twelve of Wanderings with Werewolves that my dream present is for all magical and non-magical peoples to live in harmony! I distinctly mentioned that!"
Lockhart read through Irina's absurd responses one by one. By the final question, he was nearly apoplectic with rage.
Out of the entire fifty-four questions, the only one Irina answered correctly was "How many times has Gilderoy Lockhart won Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award?" - that introductory fact he had stated himself.
For every other query, Irina provided some bizarre non-answer, such as claiming a "Mysterious Man double-socket" was a gift from a werewolf.
Please recommend, reward and give monthly tickets! Thank you for your support!
(End of this chapter)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone