For a moment and forgetting himself, Harry hoped it was the potions master. He was disappointed however, and not reassured, to see that it was in fact Gilderoy Lockhart.
Stopping in front of them, the DADA professor looked around the corridor awkwardly.
"Boys?"
"Good evening, Professor," Malfoy smirked, lowering his wand and feigning courtesy.
"What's er… going on here?" Lockhart asked.
"Oh, nothing sir. Just a bit of friendly banter between houses," he said, tucking his wand away and giving Harry a slap on the arm. "Isn't that right Potter?"
Harry stumbled a couple of steps as Crabbe and Goyle released him, but said nothing.
"Right you are. Well, off to your houses now and no dawdling. Hanging around these corridors at the moment would be… ill advised," the teacher said, glancing around nervously again.
Nodding, Harry picked up his wand and made off in the direction of the Gryffindor tower, before Malfoy and his friends came looking for round two.
His time alone – or attempts at some – hadn't helped to answer any of his questions. In fact, it had only created more. One, in particular, stood out more than most, however: why had Lockhart turned a blind eye to Malfoy's treatment of him in the corridor?
Harry sighed to himself as he reached the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, shaking his head.
Maybe the DADA professor wasn't as brave as he liked to make out.