.Fifth.floor,..said.Harry,.remembering.the.sign.over.the.welcomewitch.s.desk..
They.walked.along.the.corridor,.through.a.set.of.double.doors.and.found.a.rickety.staircase.lined.with.more.portraits.of.brutal‐looking.Healers..As.they.climbed.it,.the.various.Healers.called.out.to.them,.diagnosing.odd.complaints.
and.suggesting.horrible.remedies..Ron.was.seriously.affronted.when.a.medieval.wizard.called.out.that.he.clearly.had.a.bad.case.of.spattergroit..
.And.what.s.that.supposed.to.be?..he.asked.angrily,.as.the.Healer.pursued.him.through.six.more.portraits,.shoving.the.occupants.out.of.the.way..
.Tis.a.most.grievous.affliction.of.the.skin,.young.master,.that.will.leave.you.pockmarked.and.more.gruesome.even.than.you.are.now.‐..
.Watch.who.you.re.calling.gruesome!..said.Ron,.his.ears.turning.red..
.‐.the.only.remedy.is.to.take.the.liver.of.a.toad,.bind.it.tight.about.your.throat,
.stand.naked.at.the.full.moon.in.a.barrel.of.eels..eyes.‐..
.I.have.not.got.spattergroit!..
.But.the.unsightly.blemishes.upon.your.visage,.young.master.‐..
They.re.freckles!..said.Ron.furiously...Now.get.back.in.your.own.picture.and.leave.me.alone!..
He.rounded.on.the.others,.who.were.all.keeping.determinedly.straight.faces..
.What.floor.s.this?..
.I.think.it.s.the.fifth,..said.Hermione..
.Nah,.it.s.the.fourth,..said.Harry,..one.more.—..
But.as.he.stepped.on.to.the.landing.he.came.to.an.abrupt.halt,.staring.at.the.small.window.set.into.the.double.doors.that.marked.the.start.of.a.corridor.signposted.SPELL.DAMAGE..A.man.was.peering.out.at.them.all.with.his.nose.pressed.against.the.glass..He.had.wavy.blond.hair,.bright.blue.eyes.and.a.broad.vacant.smile.that.revealed.dazzlingly.white.teeth..
.Blimey!..said.Ron,.also.staring.at.the.man..
.Oh,.my.goodness,..said.Hermione.suddenly,.sounding.breathless...Professor.Lockhart!..
Their.ex‐Defence.Against.the.Dark.Arts.teacher.pushed.open.the.doors.and.moved.towards.them,.wearing.a.long.lilac.dressing.gown..
.Well,.hello.there!..he.said...I.expect.you.d.like.my.autograph,.would.you?..
.Hasn.t.changed.much,.has.he?..Harry.muttered.to.Ginny,.who.grinned..
.Er.—.how.are.you,.Professor?..said.Ron,.sounding.slightly.guilty..It.had.been.Ron.s.malfunctioning.wand.that.had.damaged.Professor.Lockhart.s.memory.so.badly.that.he.had.landed.in.St.Mungo.s.in.the.first.place,.though.as.Lockhart.had.been.attempting.to.permanently.wipe.Harry.and.Ron.s.memories.at.the.time,
.Harrys.sympathy.was.limited..
.I.m.very.well.indeed,.thank.you!..said.Lockhart.exuberantly,.pulling.a.rather.battered.peacock‐feather.quill.from.his.pocket...Now,.how.many.autographs.would.you.like?.I.can.do.joined‐up.writing.now,.you.know!..
.Er.‐.we.don.t.want.any.at.the.moment,.thanks,..said.Ron,.raising.his.eyebrows.at.Harry,.who.asked,..Professor,.should.you.be.wandering.around.the.corridors?
.Shouldn.t.you.be.in.a.ward?..
The.smile.faded.slowly.from.Lockhart.s.face..For.a.few.moments.he.gazed.intently.at.Harry,.then.he.said,..Haven.t.we.met?..
.Er….yeah,.we.have,..said.Harry...You.used.to.teach.us.at.Hogwarts,.remember?..