The Rogue Bludger
Sincethedisastrousepisodeofthepixies,ProfessorLockharthadnotbroughtlivecreaturestoclass.Instead,hereadpassagesfromhisbookstothem,andsometimesreenactedsomeofthemoredramaticbits. HeusuallypickedHarrytohelphimwiththesereconstructions;sofar,HarryhadbeenforcedtoplayasimpleTransylvanianvillagerwhomLockharthadcuredofaBabblingCurse,ayetiwithaheadcold,andavampirewhohadbeenunabletoeatanythingexceptlettucesinceLockharthaddealtwithhim.
HarrywashauledtothefrontoftheclassduringtheirverynextDefenseAgainsttheDarkArtslesson,thistimeactingawerewolf.Ifhehadn’thadaverygoodreasonforkeepingLockhartinagoodmood,hewouldhaverefusedtodoit.
"Niceloudhowl,Harry-exactly-andthen,ifyou’llbelieveit,Ipounced-likethis-slammedhimtothefloor-thuswithonehand,Imanagedtoholdhimdown-withmyother,Iputmywandtohisthroat -IthenscrewedupmyremainingstrengthandperformedtheimmenselycomplexHomorphusCharm-heletoutapiteousmoan-goon,Harry-higherthanthat-good -thefurvanished-thefangsshrank-andheturnedbackintoaman.Simple,yeteffective-andanothervillagewillremembermeforeverastheherowhodeliveredthemfromthemonthlyterrorofwerewolfattacks."
ThebellrangandLockhartgottohisfeet.
"Homework-composeapoemaboutmydefeatoftheWaggaWaggaWerewolf!SignedcopiesofMagicalMetotheauthorofthebestone!"
Theclassbegantoleave.
Harryreturnedtothebackoftheroom,whereRonandHermionewerewaiting.