章 43: Chapter 43: Pixies and the Luminous Eagles
The absurdity of the test left Augustus no choice but to admit defeat. Even though he had read Gilderoy Lockhart's books, his focus on constructing a comprehensive magical framework left him little patience for memorizing such trivial details. Predictably, he handed in a blank sheet of parchment.
"Tsk, tsk—hardly anyone remembered my favorite color is lavender. I mentioned it in A Year with the Tibetan Snowman. Some of you might want to reread Chapter 12. It also explicitly states that my ideal birthday gift is for magical and non-magical folks to live in harmony," Lockhart announced proudly. "But, of course, I wouldn't refuse a large bottle of Ogden's Old Firewhisky!" he added with a mischievous wink.
Unexpectedly, Lockhart's ideal birthday wish—to see wizards and Muggles coexist peacefully—aligned with Dumbledore's philosophy. Was this the reason Dumbledore had chosen him? Augustus speculated cynically, wondering if this appointment was part of a broader effort to promote harmony between the two communities.
"Now then, back to business," Lockhart declared, pulling a large cage covered with a cloth from behind the podium and setting it on the desk.
"Be prepared! My mission is to teach you how to defend yourselves against the most wicked creatures known to the wizarding world! What you're about to face will be terrifying. But remember, as long as I'm here, you won't come to harm. I only ask you to stay calm."
Draco Malfoy craned his neck over a stack of books to get a better look at the cage. Lillian's smile faded, and Antonio shrank back slightly.
"Please, no screaming," Lockhart said dramatically. "It will only agitate them!"
The class held their breath as Lockhart lifted the cloth.
"Behold!" he announced theatrically. "Freshly caught Cornish pixies!"
Antonio couldn't suppress a snicker, which was certainly not the scream Lockhart might have expected.
"What's funny?" Lockhart asked, smiling at Antonio.
"Well, they're not exactly... dangerous, are they?" Antonio managed between laughs.
"Don't be so sure!" Lockhart scolded, wagging a finger. "They're as mischievous as any imp!"
The pixies were electric blue, about eight inches tall, with sharp little faces. Their shrill, screeching voices sounded like a dozen parakeets squabbling. The moment the cloth was removed, they began chattering, bouncing around the cage, and pulling grotesque faces at the nearest students.
"Right!" Lockhart shouted. "Let's see how you handle them!" He flung open the cage door.
Chaos erupted instantly. The pixies shot out like rockets, two of them seizing Pansy Parkinson by the ears and hoisting her into the air. Several others shattered a window, scattering glass everywhere, while the rest wreaked havoc in the classroom, tossing ink bottles, tearing up books and papers, ripping down posters, and upending wastebaskets. Within minutes, half the class had taken refuge under their desks. Neville Longbottom was swinging helplessly from a chandelier.
"Come on! Round them up! They're only pixies!" Lockhart called, rolling up his sleeves. He brandished his wand and bellowed, "Pesky pixie pesternomi!"
The spell failed spectacularly. A pixie grabbed his wand and hurled it out the broken window. Gasping, Lockhart dived under a desk, narrowly avoiding Neville as the chandelier gave way and crashed to the floor.
"Do not panic," came Augustus's calm voice from the back of the classroom. His words had an almost magical effect, instantly steadying the Slytherin students. Even Lockhart, with his hair disheveled and face scratched, peeked out from beneath the desk to see what Augustus would do.
Augustus raised his silver wand, pointing it skyward. From its tip, radiant eagles of pure light emerged, their luminescent forms glowing brilliantly. The eagles soared with majestic speed, their sharp talons expertly capturing the frenzied pixies. Within moments, every last pixie was rounded up and secured back in the cage. Peace was finally restored to the classroom.
Lockhart exhaled loudly, brushing off his robes. Though his hair now resembled a bird's nest and his face bore fresh scratches, he still managed to maintain an air of pompous dignity.
"Ah, excellent work, Augustus," he declared. "Giving others a chance to shine is the hallmark of a true gentleman. I could have ended this debacle instantly, of course, but I allowed Augustus to take the lead for your benefit. It's a lesson in teamwork and opportunity!" He cleared his throat awkwardly when he noticed the students' skeptical expressions. "Well then, class dismissed. For your homework, write an essay on the habits and attack patterns of these terrifying pixies. Next time you encounter them, you won't be caught off guard."
With a sweeping glance around the room, Lockhart departed, head held high.
"Can you believe the wizarding world actually has people like him?" Lillian said as they walked through the corridor. Her face was etched with frustration, her lips curled into a sneer of contempt.
"Oh, please," Malfoy drawled lazily, stifling a yawn. "I should write to my father. If someone like him can teach at Hogwarts, I daresay I'm qualified to be headmaster."
"He's utterly incompetent," Augustus agreed, his tone measured but firm. "Were it not for the fact that he has at least some magical ability, I'd suspect he was a Squib. Those pixies would be no challenge for even an average adult wizard. Based on today's performance, the tales in his books are clearly fabrications."
Both Malfoy and Lillian nodded in agreement.
Yet Augustus's thoughts lingered on darker matters. That cursed diary Lucius Malfoy had slipped to Ginny Weasley still weighed heavily on his mind—a sinister relic steeped in malevolent energy. In these turbulent times, Dumbledore's decision to appoint someone as absurd as Lockhart to such a critical teaching position seemed deeply troubling. Did it serve some greater purpose?
Outside, the setting sun painted the sky in hues of red and gold. The mingling colors lent a solemn air to the horizon, as if nature itself reflected the uneasy tension of the days ahead.
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