Lockheart was not having a good time for the last few weeks. Ever since he had failed in making Auden the second victim of the mysterious attack he had created in the school, he was subjected to a series of unfortunate events that no one had any explanations to.
'Am I really getting into bad luck because of an enemy who did a curse on me' Lockheart thought,fearing that the excuse he made up in front of the professors are coming true.
He then tried to manipulate the teachers into helping him. By insinuating that some nobody was trying to curse him and that going by himself might scare the people who might be behind the guy casting the curse. That was his plan.
He wanted the professors to help him distract the small fly so he can deal with this nefarious organisation hiding in the shadows.
But he had no idea why, every teacher seemed to reject his idea completely. Although their rejection is varied it always summed up to the same thing.
"oh, the great Lockheart can figure it out on his own. You don't need to patronize us by trying to include us. We know you will be able to do it on your own" though there was a bit of sarcasm mixed in it, Lockheart ignored it due to being extremely self-centred. For a moment he forgot that he was a fake and believed that his skills had them become confident in him by too much.
At the same time at the teachers' lounge.
"You too" Pomona asked seeing the tired look in McGonagall's face.
"Yes, thank my self-control I gained from dealing with Albus all these years. All I wanted to do was shove his wand straight down his throat. But I managed to hold myself back. The castle will make sure to handle his punishment" Minerva grumbled which earned chuckles from professors all around the room. Though they deliberately ignored the part about Albus Dumbledore.
There is no doubt that every teacher present in the room respected Albus Dumbledore for his power and his achievements. But at the same time, due to their experience in knowing the way he plans every step, they knew he makes underhanded schemes every single time. And his answer to all of it is.
"Its for the greater good"
So the teachers might stay in Dumbledore's side, but they are never going to trust him with their lives as he might plan their deaths for the greater good.
"Well how is Auden doing Pomona, from last I remember, Herbology was one of the subjects he needed to study practically right" one of the teachers asked the prime subject of the entire teacher's body of Hogwarts.
"Hmm, he's doing very well, and I might have found out one of his hidden abilities." Pomona said which brought the attention of every single teacher in the Lounge.
"what kind?" Flitwick asked.
"I believe his heightened hearing extents to listening the spirits of plants." Pomona said and seeing the confusion, she explained. "He might not have realised it himself, but he was moving through the garden as if dealing with human beings. A normal or an expert herbologist goes into a garden, makes a decision to take one section at a time and deals with it until they cover the entire garden.
But Auden was doing it differently. One minute he is watering a plant in the eastern part, the next, he is adding magical manure for a different plant in the southern part of my greenhouse.
And he was not even doing it to a section or a group or plants at the same time. He was actually giving it one at a time. For a moment I thought he had some sort of ADHD, but afterwards I found out that the plants were thriving more than they were when I was looking at them myself.
The only way he can do it is if he can actually talk to the plants themselves." Pomona finished while Flitwick took out a parchment and began writing down.
"Alright for now we got.
Eidetic memory. Comprehending spells within an hour or two. Hearing that can help him know the effects of potion ingredients when they mixed even before they show visible signs. Hearing that can understand plants themselves." Flitwick listed everything they got.
"Add common sense as well, he rejected the headmaster's offer of being his mentor and teacher" Snape commented from the side while not even looking away from the student's parchments he was correcting. Though with each mistake he found, his mood kept getting relaxed. The teachers decided not to comment on that, but Flitwick did scribble common sense in the parchment.
"Looks like we are holding him back even while giving him this much work" a teacher commented from the side, but Flitwick disagreed.
"I agree the fact that he is talented, but I disagree any attempts to increase his current workload. After all, he is still a child, and he needs to have experiences that he will not receive when he gets older. We can find some opportunities for him. But for now, we are not to do anything to stress him more" Flitwick said to which the others agreed. The head of the house actually has authority over the children they are looking after, and they can reject the suggestions put forward by the other teachers unless Dumbledore intervenes.
The other teachers accepted Flitwick's reasoning and decided to drop the subject for now.
At the same time, in another place of the castle, the subject of teacher's discussion was planning on making steps to free Dobby from the Malfoy's hands.
As a free elf, Auden has many uses for him in the future if needed and this will also correct anything that he had missed when he decided to throw the cannon right away.
As Auden was deciding the severity of the damage he had to inflict on Malfoy to bring his father here, he saw something unbelievable in the map.
Lockheart was following Malfoy.
A/n- hope you like it.