Chapter 42
"Ten minutes early, Mr Lockhart. Well, you certainly have changed since your time at Hogwarts, haven't you? I am happy to see it." The diminutive man says as he enters, closing the door behind him. I quickly stand and move over to him, reaching my hand out and downwards for a handshake.
"Haha, I must say my perspective on things has changed since then. I was young and foolhardy, but thankfully time has helped me wizen up. Thank you for meeting me, Professor Flitwick. I know it was a bit out of the blue, and you really had no reason to respond to my letter." I greet, shaking his hand before walking back to my seat, Professor Flitwick journeying to the other chair across from me. Though said to have goblin blood in him from his ancestors, the professor looks remarkably human. He looks just like any other normal human being, with brown hair, a curly moustache, some thin glasses on his face, and dressed in a black suit with a white shirt, a grey waistcoat and a bowtie.
In fact, I would go as far as to say the only thing about him that actually resembles a goblin at all is his height. Also, how would anyone be aware of somebody having goblin blood in their family, there is no such thing or magic to check such a thing, and family and ancestry records are held and updated by each individual family and the ministry. It is my belief that Filius Flitwick was just born this way and that he does not have goblin blood in him at all and is just a little person. Most likely, the reason he is rumoured to be descended from a goblin is because of his height, and the rest of the magical world and Filius himself probably thinks so, as they have no other basis to go off of. Or maybe one of his ancestors just got horny one day and boinked a goblin. How am I to know?
"Of course, I would agree to come. You are a former raven, after all. Even after my students leave Hogwarts, they can always come back and inquire about anything. We are an institute, after all. And please, call me Filius." He says, smiling good-naturedly at me. I can't help but smile jovially back as well. I quickly forget about the other stuff and just focus on the here and now.
"Very well, Filius. Please call me Gilderoy. There is no need to be formal. After all, this is just a former student coming to seek guidance from his former teacher, which is not something I ever saw myself doing. But, I reached a point where I needed some help, and I understood that you were the person best positioned to assist me." So, with Filius Flitwick being as good and straightforward as he is, I decided there was no use for dilly-dallying and trying to manipulate the man. He is already willing to help me, I can tell. If there was one word to describe this man down to his very core, it would be a teacher.
"You need help? I find it very hard to believe that, given that you are now one of the most renowned wizards in our community. Even though I read all of your books, proud to have one of my ravens reach such heights, I could not connect the mischievous young child in my memories with the brilliant young man you have grown into. Please, tell me, how can I help? I will try to assist in any way I am able." My expectations are proven correct when he immediately asks how he can help. There is no scepticism or hesitation. He simply sees it as his duty to assist a once student. He wants to do it.
"Ah, yes. I also had no idea where life would take me after Hogwarts, but it seems to have worked out very well for me. However, as I see myself getting older, I no longer want to be involved in such a dangerous profession. I want to settle down, maybe start a family, which means a less dangerous profession, which is why I wanted to talk to you about duelling." I know, not the most convincing argument, but I have nothing else to use. So my excuse for leaving magical adventuring for duelling is that it is less dangerous, which it probably isn't.
"You want to become a duellist? Because it is safer than your current profession? I can assure you that competing in the duelling leagues can be just as dangerous and deadly even with all of the rules and precautions. Also, what do you need to know about duelling? I am sure your skills are already up to scratch, given all your successful adventuring." So Filius says, getting to the crux of the problem and identifying what I need from him. And he would indeed be correct if Lockhart wasn't a big fraud with no battle experience in him at all.
"If I am to be totally honest, I really want to stop with all the travelling and adventuring and find something closer to home. Duelling would allow me to stay mostly here, aside from any competitions abroad, so I can spare more time for other aspects of my life. Also, I need to know everything about duelling, including how to duel. As much as you can give me." I think that seems plausible enough for him to not question it further, as well as assist me.
"You don't know how to duel? I find that hard to believe, especially, especially for a wizard of your supposed calibre." Filius expresses his doubt, which is not misplaced. Honestly, Lockhart was lucky to not have to ever find himself in a position where he would have to prove his worth and skill that he had lied about. But, lucky for me, I had already come up with an answer to this question. And while it isn't the most solid excuse, I can always try to use my mind magic to help it stick, though I am wary of using it on someone like Filius, who is in such close proximity to Dumbledore.
"To be frank with you, Filius, I have never had to fight against another wizard. Ever. In all of my adventures, I fought against magical creatures that are nowhere near as versatile or dangerous as wizards, and my successful career so far relied heavily on knowledge, preparation and luck when needed. Which is why I thought to come to you. I ask you to become my teacher once more and teach me the art of duelling." Finishing my explanation, I watch with bated breath as he takes it all in. I could try my mind's magic to get a glimpse of how he is taking it, but I don't want to risk anything. There is a chance he could sense my probes after all, and I don't want to use it unnecessarily.
"Haah..." Filius lets out a sigh, and I can feel my hopes start to burn up and die. I prepare myself to test the defences of his mind and see if it is at all malleable for me to nudge to my advantage when he speaks.
"I am sorry, Gilderoy. But I am a full-time teacher at Hogwarts and live at the castle itself." So then, hearing the beginning of his rejection, I prepare once more to invade his mind to force the outcome I want.
"Which means that I can not devote all of my time to aiding you." Thankfully he speaks up quickly afterwards and stalls my hand, which I am grateful for because I would have just made a massive mistake when he was going to give me what I wanted.
"I will direct you to the necessary reading for you to peruse in your own time to learn about duelling and any records that could be insightful. And as for the practical engagement, well, that would be more difficult. However, I will be able to be more hands-on and aid you on weekends, as well as the odd day during the week, in which I will see where you are at and give you advice. Though you will have to do a lot of work on your own and practice by yourself as well." Hearing his words, a smile begins to light up my face. While not the best outcome, as that would be him teaching me most days and devoting most of his time to it, forgetting about those Hogwarts kids, that would be unreasonable to expect.
"Truly? Thank you, Filius. I am grateful for the help that you are willing to lend me, and I will not let you down. Rest assured, I will dominate all duelling competitions once you have finished with me." I finish, bragging as would be expected of me since I tangentially absorbed some of Lockhart's personality. This is a good outcome for me, this man has his own duties and responsibilities, so I am grateful for him using his spare time to aid me.
"I should think so. After all, I take my profession as a teacher very seriously, not to mention duelling. However, all of this mainly relies on you putting in the time and effort. If you are not applying yourself or working hard, then I will not waste any more time teaching you when I could be assisting my current students. I still remember how hard you were to motivate as a student, Gilderoy." Motivate? The only time Gilderoy would do anything would be when he knew he would be the best at it, which was never without any effort, which is why he squandered all of his potential. There was never any motivation, but thankfully I am in charge now, and I am plenty motivated due to my future knowledge.
"You don't have to worry, Filius. I can assure you, I am very much a different man from the boy you once knew. With my head properly unattached to my neck, I know just how important things are now." I reassure him since I don't want him to see me as the old foolish Gilderoy Lockhart. Which, now that I think about it, worries me a lot. Perhaps he did not refuse me just because I was his student, and he expected me to not put proper effort into it, and he just gave himself an out without ruining his own image by rejecting me. Either way, he is locked in, and I am not letting go till I have fully drained him...That came out wrong.
"Your head is properly unattached to your neck?" He questions my words, probably not having heard it before. To be honest, I was going to say having my head screwed on properly, but I have no idea whether that phrase is even used in the magical world and so I replaced it with something similar.
"Ha, yes. It is just a phrase, a reference to Nearly Headless Nick. The analogy is that my head is properly disconnected and so I can attend the headless hunt. A requirement being fulfilled to get to that which is your goal." I actually think that is quite good for being mad up on the spot, and it even makes sense as well. I think.
"Ha, I guess I will never be able to understand the younger generations. Though that is quite a clever phrase, I will try to use it myself." Filius replies, laughing.
I laugh as well, but for another reason. With this, I will begin to gain the skills to defend myself and attack as well. So soon, nothing will stand in my way, and everything will be within my palm... well, not soon, but definitely sometime in the future. Some day.
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