[The next day, the second year students are in the Herbology greenhouses as Professor Sprout enters.]

"That's the best class ever," Neville said, his face lit up with genuine enthusiasm.

"Thank you, Mr. Longbottom," Professor Sprout replied, her face beaming with pride and warmth as she acknowledged Neville's compliment.

Professor Sprout: Good morning, everyone.
Students: Good morning, Professor Sprout.
Professor Sprout: Welcome to Greenhouse Three, second years. Now, gather around, everyone. Today, we're going to repot Mandrakes. Who here can tell me the properties of the Mandrake root? [Hermione raises her hand] Yes, Miss Granger.

Mia and Ron chuckled knowingly, sharing a moment of shared amusement before Mia addressed Hermione. "Of course you know, Hermione," she teased.

Hermione: Mandrake, or Mandragora, is used to return those who have been petrified to their original state. It's also quite dangerous. The Mandrake's cry is fatal to anyone who hears it.

"What's the point of this plant?" Draco scoffed.

Professor Sprout: Excellent, ten points to Gryffindor! Now, as our Mandrakes are still only seedlings, their cries won't kill you yet, but they could knock you out for several hours, which is why I've given each of you a pair of earmuffs for auditory protection, so if you could please put them on right away. [the students start putting them on] Quickly, flaps tight down. [they all have their earmuffs on] Now, watch me closely. You grasp your Mandrake firmly, you pull it sharply up out of the pot. Got it? And now you dunk it down into the other pot and pour a little sprinkling of soil to keep him warm. [Neville falls to the floor] Longbottom's been neglecting his earmuffs.

Chuckles were once again heard around the room as Neville blushed, a small smile playing on his face. The lighthearted moment brought some levity to the tense atmosphere, offering a brief respite from the surrounding apprehension and providing a shared experience of camaraderie among the group.

Seamus: No, ma'am, he's just fainted.
Professor Sprout: Yes, well... just leave him there. Right, on we go. Plenty of pots to go around. Grasp your Mandrake and pull it up.
[The students all do so. Draco plays with his Mandrake, causing it to bite his finger.]

The atmosphere in the room was filled with laughter and chuckles as everyone, excluding Draco, his friends, Pansy, Blaise, his parents, and Godfather, found amusement in the depiction of Draco on screen.

[Later that day, Nearly Headless Nick is floating down a Hogwarts corridor.]
Student: There's Nearly Headless Nick.
Nearly Headless Nick: Hello, Percy, Miss Clearwater. [doffs his head like a hat]
Percy: Hello, Sir Nicholas. [Nearly Headless Nick turns into the Great Hall. At the Gryffindor table, Ron is trying to tape his broken wand back together.]
Ron: Say it, I'm doomed.

"You should've told us, Ronald," Arthur said, with a hint of disappointment in his tone as he looked at his son. His furrowed brow and concerned expression conveyed his desire for open communication within the family.

"I was sorta going to, until I got a Howler from Mum," Ron explained, looking slightly sheepish as he recounted the turn of events.

"Oh, Ron," Molly sighed, a mix of concern and disappointment evident in her voice and expression. She didn't want her children to be afraid of her, but she recognized the importance of conveying the message that their actions had consequences. Her loving but firm gaze communicated this sentiment as she addressed her son.

Mia: You're doomed! [Just then, an eager young boy called Colin Creevey shows up.]
Colin Creevey: Hi, Mia! [snaps a photograph of Mia] I'm Colin Creevey! I'm in Gryffindor too!
Mia: Hi, Colin, nice to meet you.

The sudden flash of light blinds everyone in the hall, causing a collective moment of disorientation. Colin, caught off guard, blushes a deep shade of red, feeling acutely self-conscious and wishing to be invisible at that embarrassing moment.

"That was one powerful flash," Remus remarks, blinking rapidly as he tries to regain his sight, his expression a mix of surprise and discomfort.

"Oh yeah," Sirius says, his eyes wide open in a futile attempt to adjust to the blinding light, his tone laced with a touch of exasperation as he hopes for the flash to soon dissipate. The shared experience of temporary visual impairment elicits a collective sense of shared discomfort and annoyance among everyone present.

Dean: Ron, is that your owl? [Errol flies into the Great Hall and crashes in front of Ron. The Slytherins all laugh.]
Ron: Bloody bird's a menace.

"It really is," Hermione said sympathetically, feeling sorry for the owl and its predicament. She glanced at the owl with a mix of concern and compassion.

"How is that owl not dead yet?" someone asked Ron, who shrugged in response, a perplexed look on his face as he pondered the owl's resilience.

"No idea," Ron replied, his expression reflecting a mix of curiosity and bemusement.

"You know owls are like cats, they have seven souls," Mia interjected, her eyes twinkling mischievously as she weaved an untruth about owl mythology. Younger students, caught up in the charm of her storytelling, seemed to believe her words, their faces reflecting a mix of wonder and curiosity.

"You just made that up," Ron countered, his skepticism evident in his tone as he raised an eyebrow in amusement.

"You don't have to announce it," Mia replied with a playful smirk, enjoying the lighthearted banter with her friend and reveling in the mischievous twinkle in her eye.

[He takes a red envelope from Errol. As the owl flies away, Ron looks at the envelope.] Oh, no!
Seamus: Look, everyone, Weasley's got himself a Howler.
Neville: Go on, Ron. I ignored one from my Gran once. It was horrible. [Ron tentatively opens the envelope.]

"I thought that you had opened it in your dorm room," Molly said, her tone conveying a mix of surprise and concern as she struggled to process the situation, unsure of what to feel at the moment.

"Looking back, that's probably what I should've done," Ron admitted, a hint of regret evident in his voice as he reflected on the course of action he should have taken.

Howler: [in Mrs. Weasley's voice] RONALD WEASLEY!

Some jumped.

[rearranges itself into a floating mouth] HOW DARE YOU STEAL THAT CAR! I AM ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED! YOUR FATHER'S NOW FACING AN INQUIRY AT WORK, AND IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT! IF YOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE, WE'LL BRING YOU STRAIGHT HOME!

Many looked at Molly wearily, their expressions tinged with apprehension, a hint of fear creeping into their eyes as they regarded the formidable matriarch. They knew not to cross her, no matter what, and her formidable reputation loomed large in their minds, casting a shadow of caution over their interactions. The weight of her disapproval was palpable in the room, and the uneasy glances exchanged among the group revealed their shared awareness of Molly's no-nonsense demeanor. Each of them understood the unspoken rule: do not provoke Molly Weasley.

[turns to Ginny, also sitting at the table] Oh, and Ginny dear, congratulations on making Gryffindor. Your father and I are so proud. [sticks out its tongue at Ron and then tears itself up]

The student who had never received a howler froze in shock, their eyes widening in disbelief as they struggled to process the shocking magic that had unfolded before them. Stunned into silence, they grappled with the unreal nature of the situation, attempting to recover from the unexpected display of magical prowess that had taken them completely by surprise.

[The students are seated in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, decorated with portraits of its owner: Gilderoy Lockhart; the door to the office opens and Lockhart walks out.]

Some girls giggled when Lockhart showed up on the screen, a few even blushing at the sight of the charming yet self-absorbed wizard, their infatuation evident in their starry-eyed expressions.

Mia and Hermione shared a pointed look and rolled their eyes in unison, their exasperation mirrored in their synchronized gestures.

"Wait till they find out what a bastard he is," Mia remarked to Hermione, her tone carrying a hint of disdain and amusement.

"I can't wait to see their reaction," Hermione replied, a mischievous smirk gracing her lips as they anticipated the inevitable revelation of Lockhart's true nature.

Lockhart: Let me introduce you to your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher: me, 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. [smiles] But I don't talk about that. I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at him.

"Can this guy be any more arrogant?" Sirius asked, his frustration evident as he directed the question to no one in particular.

"I don't know about arrogant, but wimp, yes," Mia replied, her voice tinged with a hint of exasperation as memories of her second year resurfaced.

Remus and Sirius exchanged concerned glances, sensing Mia's underlying distress. What had Lockhart done further to upset her? Their expressions reflected a mix of worry and curiosity as they awaited Mia's explanation.

[He laughs at his own joke, but no one else does. The girls minus Mi in the class all seem starstruck by Lockhart while the boys just seem to be confused. Lockhart suddenly pulls out his wand.] Now, be warned! It is my job to arm you against the foulest creatures known to wizardkind.

The parents were indeed on edge about what Lockhart was teaching his students, their children. Despite his fame, they couldn't shake off the uneasiness they felt around him. It wasn't just about his renowned status, but also the unsettling treatment he had displayed towards Mia, which had left them with a lingering sense of distrust and concern.

[taps a covered-up cage, causing it to shake] You may find yourselves facing your worst fears in this room. Know only that no harm can befall you whilst I am here. I must ask you not to scream, it might... PROVOKE THEM! [pulls the cover off the cage, revealing small blue creatures with wings]

Those who hadn't been present for that particular lesson sat up in alarm as well, their curiosity piqued by the unease and tension permeating the air.

Seamus: Cornish Pixies?

Many chuckled along with Mia and the boys on the screen, their laughter mixing with the light-hearted atmosphere in the room.

Lockhart: Freshly caught Cornish Pixies. [Seamus laughes] Laugh if you will, Mr. Finnigan, but pixies can be devilishly tricky little blighters. Let's see what you make of them, now!

"What?" The adults asked in slight alarm, their concern evident as they sought clarification.

"Is that allowed?" they inquired, their voices reflecting a mix of surprise and uncertainty.

[He lets the pixies out of their cage, and they immediately start swarming around the classroom, wreaking havoc.]

"WHAT?"

"HE CAN'T DO THAT."

"HUH!"

Yells came from around the room. He hadn't taught them how to protect themselves from pixies, yet he had just released them into a classroom full of young students?

"What the bloody hell was going on?" The adults' voices rose in a chorus of concern and disbelief as the gravity of Lockhart's reckless actions sank in.

Come on now, round them up, round them up! They're only pixies!

"If it's that easy, why doesn't he just do it himself?" Snape scoffed at the screen, his voice laced with disdain.

"Because he's a coward," Mia scoffed, her gaze fixed on Lockhart on the screen, her tone filled with contempt as she voiced her thoughts.

[Two pixies grab Neville by his ears, hoist him up into the air, and then hang him on the chandelier.]
Neville: Please, get me down!

"Oh my," McGonagall exclaimed, her worry evident as she thought of her student's safety.

"And he just stands there and does nothing?" Madam Pomfrey said vigorously, her voice filled with a mix of shock and indignation, mirroring the sentiments of those around her. The collective concern for the students' well-being reverberated through the room, underscoring the widespread disbelief at Lockhart's apparent lack of action.

[Most of the students are now fleeing the classroom. One pixie is pulling on Hermione's hair.]
Hermione: Get off me!
Mia: Stop, hold still! [smacks the pixie with a book]
Lockhart: [raising his wand] Peskipiksi Pesternomi!

"What a weak spell. That's meant to help you how?" McGonagall said with an arched brow, her tone reflecting skepticism and disapproval as she voiced her incredulity. The collective unease in the room intensified, emphasizing the prevailing sense of frustration and concern over the irresponsible actions of Lockhart.

[No spell happens, and a pixie grabs Lockhart's wand from him. The pixie then uses the wand to break the chain holding up a dragon skeleton, causing it to crash to the floor. One pixie rides the skeleton as it falls.]
Pixie: Yee-ha!

Some couldn't help but laugh at the pixies' antics, their amusement offering a brief reprieve amidst the tension in the room..

[Lockhart runs back towards his office. He tries and fails to prevent the pixies from carrying off one of his pictures of himself. He then turns to Mia, Ron, and Hermione, who are the only students left at this point.]
Lockhart: I'll ask you three to just nip the rest of them back into their cage. [ducks into his office]

"Coward!" Everyone yelled at the screen. At least people could agree on something.

"How can you allow professors like him to teach our children, Professor Dumbledore?" Molly said, frustration evident in her tone and furrowed brow.

Dumbledore looked grave as he gazed at her. "I assure you, this matter has been addressed, Molly," he said soothingly, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and determination. His reassuring tone conveyed a sense of urgency and resolve, aiming to assuage Molly's distress and reaffirm his commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the students.

Ron: What do we do now?
Hermione: [raising her wand] Immobulus! [the pixies all freeze in midair]

"So a student knows a spell that's actually helpful in this case, but a grown man couldn't think of a useful spell to help his students?" McGonagall said, her tone agitated and her frustration palpable. Her pointed question underscored the glaring incompetence of Lockhart's actions, drawing attention to the stark disparity between the students' resourcefulness and the lack thereof in their supposedly capable instructor.

Neville: [still hanging from the chandelier] Why is it always me?

Some chuckled at Neville's predicament, finding amusement in his misfortune, while others felt sympathy for him. Neville blushed, feeling embarrassed by his bad luck.