MCGonagall and the stone/ Second Task points

[Geoff Bannister]

No: HPFGUIDX 152030

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "hickengruendler" <hickengruendler at ...> 
wrote:

Hickengruendler:
> Of course Lockhart messed up big time, but I never understood, why 
> Harry and Ron went to him with this information anyway, instead of 
> choosing one of the other teachers. 

Geoff:
Because they were expecting him to do something about the problem:

'"Just the man," he (Snape) said. "The very man. A girl has been snatched by the monster, 
Lockhart. Taken into the Chamber of Secrets itself. Your moment has come at last."

Lockhart blanched.

"That's right, Gilderoy," chipped in Professor Sprout. "Weren't you satying just last night 
that you've known all along where the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is?"

"I - well, I -" spluttered Lockhart.

"Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew what was inside it?" piped up Professor 
Flitwick.

"D-did I? I don't recall..."

"I certainly remember you saying you were sorry you hadn't had a crack at the monster 
before Hagrid was arrested," said Snape. "Didn't you say that the whole affair had been 
bungled and that you should have been given a free rein from the first?"

Lockhart stared around ar his stony-faced colleagues. 

"I... I really never... You may have misunderstood..."

"We'll leave it to you, then, Gilderoy,' said Professor McGonagall. "Tonight will be an 
excellent time to do it. We'll make sure everyone's out of your way. You''ll be able tot ackle 
the monster all by yourself. A free rein at last."

Lockhart gazed desperately around him but nobody came to the rescue. He didn't look 
remotely handsome any more. HIs lip was trembling and in the absence of his usually 
toothy grin he looked weak-chinned and weedy.

"V-very well," he said. "I'll - I'll be in my office, getting - getting ready."

(COS "The Chamber of Secrets" p.217-18 UK edition)

'"D'you know what ?" said Ron, "I think we should go and see Lockhart. Tell him what we 
know. He's going to try to get into the Chamber. we can tell him where we think it is and 
tell him it's a Basilisk in there."

Because Harry couldn't think of anything else to do, and because he wanted to be doing 
something, he agreed.'

(ibid. p.219)

I think in the circumstances, this was the most obvious and logical conclusion that Ron 
and Harry could come to. Little did they know what "getting ready" was to prove to be!