TSS: Chapter 12: Plots, Ploys, and Pain

> *"After all, suspecting what he suspected about the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, Gilderoy Lockhart was not foolish enough to believe that he had any longer than a year to work with. He had one year to see his goals succeed. It was time to make the best of it"*
>
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— Gilderoy Lockhart pondering at the time frame available to him to set Charlus Potter onto a path that he deems appropriate

## Summary:

The Golden Trio deal with the aftermath of Ron Weasley hexing himself after the altercation with the Slytherin Quidditch team. Rita Skeeter receives a letter. Charlus fails to be taught that fame isn't everything during his detention with Gilderoy Lockhart. Draco and Ares talk about Draco's problems. Somebody almost prank to death the Slytherin Quidditch team.

## Plot:

**September 19th, 1992:** The Golden Trio exit Hagrid's hut and make their way towards Hogwarts with Ron ranting about the House of Snakes. On the way Hermione ends up contradicting him by pointing out that not all Slytherins are like Draco Malfoy and that there are also some Gryffindors that go bad. Charlus gives Sirius Black as an example and points out that at the end of the Purity War he bragged in court for being the Dark Lady's right hand. Upon arriving at the castle they are greeted by Professor McGonagall that informs Charlus and Ron that their detentions for their controversial arrival at Hogwarts are to happen that night.

That night, at her apartment at the intersection of Diagon and Knockturn Alley, Rita Skeeter reads a letter received from Daniel Shafiq, a former ministerial candidate, who is just returning to Magical Britain after years abroad. He is asking for a meeting at Summer Isles on the following Sunday evening to discuss potential business.

That evening, in Lockhart's office, Charlus is answering the professor's fan mail as detention. After hours of doing so he is stopped by Lockhart around midnight. He is then asked what he had learned from this experience and when he is unable to answer Lockhart tries to make him understand that fame isn't everything. After Charlus departure Gilderoy Lockhart's thoughts wonder once more on Charlus, and how he is so much less then what he would have hoped for.

**September 21st, 1992:** Draco Malfoy joins Ares in the Library. There he starts helping Benedict Cuffe with his Potions assignment. In the meanwhile a conversation starts between Pansy and Ares where the former probes for information about Draco's current state — as he has been acting strangely since the dragon incident a couple of months back. Ares suspects that Pansy's loyalty has been lost. She ends up scribbling a note and sliding it into Draco's bag when she is certain that nobody is watching.

**September 22nd, 1992:** Charlotte — after pestering her family for some time — has finally got a hold on the book on ettiquette, and is heading to borrow it to Ginny Weasley. She finds her but before a conversation can ensure she is pushed out of the way by the girl, as a result, a spell that was meant to hit Charlotte ends up hitting Ginny right in the face. Charlotte notes that the attackers were Derrick Mulciber and Brandon Harper whom were now retreating. She contemplates giving chase to them, but decides against it and begins to cure the boils caused by the spell. Afterwards she borrows the etiquette book to Weasley who promises to take good care of it.

That evening, Ares and Draco meet up in an abandoned classroom, and Ares starts questioning him about what has him so down lately. Eventually Draco relents and confesses that he is fed up with Slytherin Potter. He ends up telling about his quarrels with him from last year claiming that he has no idea why he has done to begin with to become Potter's target. She advises him to not be bothered by Potter and to observe him better as that might elucidate the origins of his behaviour. Among other things she hypothesizes that calling Granger a mudblood might not have been the true reason for Potter's hostility during the first Quidditch practice.

**September 23rd, 1992:** After the third Quidditch practice Harry is heading towards the showers. He is thinking of how much he had enjoyed his time practicing for the game. He enters the showers and immediately is the subject of a prank, as the shower water contained a potion which makes the Quidditch players grow scales, rather painfully.

**September 25th, 1992:** Harry wakes up in the Hospital Wing. Cassius and Calypso are there and help him into a sitting position. Harry casts the privacy spell Muffliato and Calypso inquires how he had learnt it. Harry in turns asks where she had hear about it and Calypso confesses that she is not at liberty to say. They discuss what had happened in the Slytherin Changing Room and Harry finds out that he and the rest of the team were the subject of a prank that went off. They suspect the Twin Terrors — George and Fred — but they have no evidence for it. Harry promises himself that he is going to look into the twins.

Meanwhile, at Malfoy Manor, Lucius receives a letter from Daniel Shafiq informing him that he will meet with Rita Skeeter at Summer Isles that weekend, also stating that he hopes that that the agreement will work out well for the both of them.