(Gilderoy Lockhart)
"Professor Lockhart."
The manticore's human face split into a delighted smile.
"How good of you to join us."
I sighed. Of course she remembered me.
"Are you finally accepting my proposal?"
I turned toward the creature. "Hello to you too, Marilyn."
The manticore's smile widened.
Fleur, who was still lying on the ground behind me, stared between the two of us in utter confusion.
"You know her?" she asked.
"Unfortunately. She's served as an example for a couple of my classes."
Marilyn's tail swished happily behind her.
"You're being modest. We've had several wonderful conversations as well."
"Most of which involved you attempting to eat me."
"Details."
I shook my head.
"Marilyn, I'm afraid I'll have to refuse your proposal once again."
The manticore's expression fell.
I held up one hand before she could interrupt.
"You see, I'm far too young and handsome to allow myself to be eaten by a manticore."
Marilyn sighed dramatically. "Such vanity."
"Furthermore, I have three wives and two children who depend on me."
I paused.
"Not to mention an entire school full of students and a massive number of fans who would be absolutely devastated by my untimely demise."
Marilyn tilted her head. "Would they really?"
"Of course."
"I'm pretty sure an equal number of people would celebrate instead."
"Probably."
The manticore laughed. It was a surprisingly pleasant sound, almost musical.
Then her eyes narrowed playfully. "Such a shame."
She leaned forward slightly. "But I'm sure you won't fault me for trying to take a bite or two, would you?"
I smiled. "You can try."
Fleur's eyes widened.
"Professor…"
Too late.
Marilyn lunged.
The manticore exploded forward with terrifying speed. One moment she was standing several metres away, and the next, her enormous body was hurtling directly toward me.
Fleur screamed. "Professor, look out!"
But I didn't look particularly worried.
Instead, I simply lowered my staff.
Tap.
The moment its tip touched the ground, the earth exploded with dozens of thick metal chains.
They shot upward like striking serpents, wrapping themselves around the airborne manticore before she could reach me.
One chain caught her left foreleg.
Another wrapped around her right.
Three more coiled around her torso.
Several others wrapped around her enormous tail.
The manticore was abruptly pulled out of the air.
"WHAT?!"
She crashed onto the ground with a tremendous thud, causing dust and leaves to explode outward.
I calmly turned away from her.
"Miss Delacour."
Fleur was still staring at me, completely flabbergasted.
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you alright?"
She opened her mouth, but nothing would come out, so I waited patiently.
Eventually, she managed to speak. "...Oui."
"Excellent." I smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."
Behind me, something suddenly cracked.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw that Marilyn was trying to move.
Her powerful muscles strained against the chains until the metal began to groan.
Then another crack echoed through the maze and Fleur's eyes widened.
"Professor!"
I looked at her. "Yes?"
"She's breaking the chains!"
"Oh, I know."
I turned around and watched as Marilyn finally snapped one of the larger chains.
The broken links fell to the ground with a metallic clang.
She grinned. "These are quite good."
Another chain snapped.
"Very impressive."
A third broke apart.
"But unfortunately..."
Her massive shoulders pushed forward.
"...not quite enough."
Fleur scrambled backward. "Professor!"
I smiled. "Don't worry."
Marilyn broke another chain, then another.
I tapped my staff against the ground and the earth trembled.
Marilyn's eyes widened. "Oh, come on."
The ground beneath her erupted once again.
But this time with far more chains.
They wrapped around her legs, her torso, her arms, and her neck. Even her tail was captured beneath layer after layer of enchanted metal.
The manticore roared as the chains tightened.
She struggled harder, but more chains kept appearing.
Within seconds, the terrifying beast that had been chasing Fleur around the maze was completely immobilised.
She was wrapped so thoroughly that only her head remained visible.
I stared at her.
She stared back at me.
Fleur stared at both of us.
The audience stared at the crystal sphere.
Silence fell.
Marilyn's enormous body was now completely encased in chains, looking rather like an enormous, angry burrito.
I tilted my head. "...I think that should hold."
Marilyn's eyes narrowed. "You..."
I raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
She struggled uselessly against her restraints. "Unhand me, you peasant!"
I gasped.
Even Fleur's eyes widened at the insult.
"Excuse me?"
The creature glared at me. "You heard me."
"That's incredibly rude." I placed one hand against my chest.
"Allow me to clarify something, Marilyn."
I straightened my back. "I am no peasant."
The manticore snorted. "You wear ridiculous robes."
"Ridiculous? They're fashionable!"
"Your hair is absurd. Your face is irritating. You're insufferable."
I stared in shock.
Fleur covered her mouth, and I wasn't entirely sure whether she was trying not to laugh or simply having difficulty processing what was happening.
I pointed my staff at myself. "I won't rise to the bait, I am a respected professor."
Marilyn rolled her eyes. "You're a peacock."
"A very successful peacock, if I do say so myself."
"A peacock's a peacock, and you're still going to be eaten by me."
"That is factually incorrect." I gestured toward the enormous collection of chains surrounding her.
"As you can clearly see, I have made other arrangements."
Hearing Marilyn's growl, I smiled.
"Now, as I was saying..." I paused dramatically.
"...I am not a peasant."
I lifted my chin. "I am a lord."
The manticore blinked.
Fleur blinked.
Somewhere in the stands, I imagined Sirius probably doing the same.
Marilyn finally spoke. "...A lord?"
"Indeed."
"What sort of lord?"
I smiled proudly. "The sort with several honorary titles and an Order of Merlin."
Marilyn looked genuinely unimpressed. "Does it come with food?"
I lowered my arms. "...No."
"Then I don't care."
I sighed. "Animals."
Marilyn's eyes narrowed. "Did you just call me an animal?"
I immediately looked at Fleur. "Miss Delacour, I believe this creature is attempting to insult me."
Fleur finally burst into laughter.
It was the first time I'd heard her laugh since I'd entered the maze.
The sound was surprisingly pleasant.
Marilyn's expression became offended. "Oh, this is ridiculous!"
She began struggling again, making the chains rattle violently.
I tapped my staff against the ground and even more chains appeared.
Marilyn stopped, looked down, and then up at me once more.
"...Did you just add more chains?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because you were struggling."
"I was trying to escape!"
"Exactly."
She stared at me.
I stared back.
"...You know," Marilyn said slowly, "I think I understand why I like you so much."
I frowned. "That's unfortunate, because I am a married man."
"I think we would make a wonderful couple, I could eat your wives and imitate their voices so you don't miss them."
"Absolutely not."
"You could live with me. I'd let you have the left side of the cave."
"Absolutely not." I crossed my arms in refusal.
Fleur was still laughing, so I glanced back at her.
"Miss Delacour, I'm beginning to suspect you're enjoying this."
Fleur immediately straightened. "Non! You must be imagining things."
I raised an eyebrow and she tried to look serious.
"You have my deepest gratitude, Professor. Without your help I would have been dead."
"That's much better."
I turned back toward Marilyn. "You wait here for Hagrid to pick you up."
She rolled her eyes, "not like I could do anything else with these chains."
Then I looked at Fleur and extended my hand. "Come along, Miss Delacour."
Fleur stared at my hand for a while. "Where are we going?"
"Out of this maze, you're disqualified, remember?"
"Oh." She looked down for a moment, but then grabbed my hand and suddenly perked up.
As I led her out, I couldn't help but look at Fleur suspiciously. She looked far too content for someone who had just been disqualified.
…