It seems that Professor Lockhart has been enjoying an extended stay in the Hospital Wing with a grotesquely injured arm and even, it seems, some hair loss. The rumor mill is churning out theories. (//Feel free to make your own!) The good news is he can sign autographs with either hand! He is able to have visitors (probably while wearing a dandy hat) and share the ever-more-exciting-and-grim tale of his latest brush with death with his fans.

One rumour which started somewhere with a group of Hufflepuffs details a valiant dual against a full grown dragon. Depending on the teller, the breed of dragon changes from a Chinese Fireball to a Peruvian Vipertooth. Almost all the tales start off with a student who claimed they could ride a ride going out, FINDING a dragon, and then attempting to use advanced conjuration to create a saddle for it. Of course, Lockhart finds out and strides to the day to save this student (more often than not a barechested male who just happens to be the crush of the student telling the story). Followed by his trusted subordinate, Professor Severus Snape (or in some tellings, Professor Alistor Moody), Lockhart arrives there just in time to see the dragon take mortal offense at the human who dared reach beyond their limitations.

At this point and time, the story takes on three branches: (I) the student is flipped into the air, and Lockhart sacrfices his own body to prevent the student from falling into a thicket of vampiric shrubs, (II) the dragon goes berserk and Lockhart (who is of course the manliest of men) sticks his hand INSIDE the dragon's mouth and casts a barrage of stunning spells to knock the dragon out, or (III) the dragon whips its tail to attempt to cut down the student, and Lockhart's natural charisma and talent are enough to save the student from harm at the cost of his arm.

At no point and time do Professor Snape (or Professor Moody) feature as more than blocks of wood holding up the scenery. It is all Lockhart, Hero of Heroes, who saves the day.

_________________
One character thus far:
Ares Richard Keeferson, Hufflepuff Hardcase
Redefining "user-unfriendly" since 1976.

// *Far, far, away, in another part of the galaxy, a great old wizard grips his chest and sits down hard, feeling the waves of cosmic disturbance emanating from Snape's angst upon hearing the rumors.*

Lockhart held a book signing in his private room in the Hospital Wing, and he totally played up the dragon tale.

Lockhart has now left the Wing and will be returning to his post.