Harry Potter: Eclipse.

Harry was thankful that nobody laughed. Even Hannah and Susan seemed put-off by the man after his jab at Harry's fame. They both knew how much Harry hated to be reminded about his status in their world.

Just as the silence was becoming uncomfortable, the fool shook himself and pulled out a stack of papers with a flourish. Harry recognised them immediately: they were the same lilac scented tests he had given the first time around.

"Now to start, I think it's best we have a little quiz, just to check if you've all read the books I assigned."

Harry rolled his eyes. "Surely such self endorsement shouldn't be allowed," he grumbled, making Neville giggle slightly as he was the only one who heard.

Seeing the test was a replica from the one in his memories, Harry sighed. Picking it up, he looked at it in disgust as he read the questions and placed a copy in his bag. He wondered how Lucius, being on the Board of Directors, would feel about the quality of their education.

Seeing what Harry had done, Neville and the girls all shot him confused looks, to which he just shrugged. It wasn't until the end of class when they sent their answers forward that Lockhart called him out.

"Mr. Potter, it seems you haven't handed your test in. Couldn't answer the questions?" the man asked. His smile was blindingly bright, making Harry wonder what charms he used as it couldn't be natural.

"Honestly sir, I didn't want to waste the ink," Harry said with faux innocence, shocking the class into laughter, particularly the Slytherins. Harry had never acted out last year; he had been polite and studious, so his words held even more of a punch to his peers.

Lockhart

stilled at the laughter

and shook himself, actually puffing up his chest before he spoke, "Now see here. I understand you feel threatened by me; I mean, my fame clearly outshines your own—"

Harry cut him off, "Actually professor, that has nothing to do with this. I simply refuse to take part and waste ink on a quiz that holds no educational value at all."

Lockhart stood with his mouth open and gaped for a few minutes, reminding Harry of a fish, while he struggled to find words. "Detention with me tonight and ten points from Ravenclaw, Mr. Potter!" he shouted.

Harry shrugged. "So be it." The class watched in fascination as Harry continued to daydream and refuse to answer any question Lockhart asked him, resulting in a further ten points being lost by the end of class.

The Ravenclaws looked horrified but the Slytherins were almost losing their pureblood masks with the amount of delight they found themselves in. By the time they were dismissed, Draco was actually shaking with his suppressed laughter. Even the Gryffindors, who had followed Ron's example and had not really taken to Harry, were laughing. The only two people who didn't look pleased were Ron and Lockhart himself.

"What was that, Potter!? What? You think you're too good for even the famous Gilderoy Lockhart?" came Ron's voice as they entered the hallway.

Harry sighed and turned. "No, I refuse to partake in such a joke of a lesson. The man is clearly a fraud and a fool," Harry said.

"You just think you're so great—"

"No, I really don't," Harry said cutting him off with a glare. "Now, if you will excuse me Ronald, I want to get to lunch. Dealing with idiots makes me hungry."

Harry turned to leave, but, when he felt an oncoming hex, he span around and flicked his wand. The hex rebounded off of his shield and hit Ron, who immediately started breaking out in boils.

"Attack me when my back is turned again and I will do much worse than rebound your pathetic little hex," Harry threatened, not realising how terrifying he looked.

His friends, who had drawn their wands, and even the Slytherins all sent Ron dark looks. The picture they presented was making him shiver in fear and the pain from the boils intensified.

Straightening out, Harry shook himself and flicked his wrist so his wand went back into his holster. "Come on guys, I don't want to be late to lunch," he said, walking ahead of them. When they neared the hall, Luna appeared and draped herself against Harry.

"The dingle sprites told me you were angry, my Lord."

"I'm not angry Little Moon, I just don't seem to be able to suffer fools for as long as I could in the past," Harry said.

"I see. You know, I'm sure Aithusia would love an entrée to go with her appetizer."

Harry chuckled darkly, glad his friends were unable to understand what Luna was saying fully. "I'm sure she would, but I hear strong spices like ginger are bad for snakes." Luna just hummed as she let go of Harry and danced towards the Ravenclaw table; obviously, they would be sitting there today.

"You know, she's quite odd," Draco said looking at Luna.

"I suppose. She just sees things differently from the rest of the world," Harry said, hinting loosely.

"Are you sure she's not just one core short of a wand?" Pansy asked. She had taken a very Hermione-like approach to the blonde, meaning she thought her deluded and refused to be swayed.

"I'm quite certain," Harry said, taking a seat next to Luna and helping himself to lunch.

"So Harry, what was all that about in Defence?" Neville asked, reminding the group that he was a member of the house of brave lions.

"I saw no reason to partake in such a ridiculous lesson. It's a sham and I honestly fear for the 5th and 7th years if they have that fool preparing them for their exams," Harry said.

Draco and the Slytherins nodded and even Hannah and Susan looked like they agreed. "What are you going to do refuse to go to his lessons?" Neville asked.

"I might just," Harry said. "At least Quirrell knew his stuff; the stuttering was annoying, granted, but he did actually teach important and useful spells. I doubt Lockhart even knows how to perform a simple Expelliarmus, let alone enough to teach for an entire year."

The group looked shocked. "But you can't just not turn up, Harry. The teachers wouldn't let you just skip an entire lesson," Hannah said, looking worried.

"I think I'll write to Sirius and go speak to Flitwick. I honestly do not wish to suffer through a year with that fool," Harry said rather bluntly.

"You know what? Harry's right," Draco said. "I'm sure my father would love to know what a simpleton the old coot has hired."

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