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“And you are?”
Pippin Berrybun couldn’t answer it for a second. They never thought they’d be here, in the presence of Gilderoy Lockhart, let alone engaged in conversation with him. Well… hardly engaged, it had only just begun. Begun by Lockhart himself, of course. Berrybun could hardly get themself to utter a thing, they were so overwhelmed with pure elation it made them freeze.
“Pippin!” They finally spoke, blush on their cheeks growing.
“Ah, Pippin!” Lockhart responded boisterously. “And what can I do for you?”
“Um…” Right. If they wanted his autograph, they had to ask for it. “Can I- can- can I have- have your autograph??” They stumbled on that a few times, and were surprised they were even able to get all the words out on their first try.
Gilderoy Lockhart beamed at this request. “Of course you can!” He exclaimed, reaching for an unsigned photo of himself.
As he readied his quill, he glanced again at Berrybun, who was excitedly flapping their hands near their face, like a chicken trying to get off the ground.
Lockhart had never seen anything like it before. And that was saying something, because he’s met a lot of his fans.
It even distracted him from signing his own autograph.
As his quill hovered over the picture, his eyes were glued to their display, and he had to ask, “What’s that you’re doing with your hands?”
“Wha- oh!” Berrybun shook their head as his words snapped them out of their hyperactive daze. They were quick to cease. Their smile melted and their expression turned to one of guilt. “Sorry.” Even their gaze turned away.
Which was something Lockhart couldn’t take.
“Now now, it’s alright!” He cooed. “Look at me.”
Berrybun blinked, following Lockhart’s request.
“There you are.” He shone them a five time award winning smile. “I don’t mind your display, really! I was just wondering… what was it? Why were you flapping about?”
“Oh! I was ah… I’m just excited, that’s all.” Berrybun smiled bashfully.
“Excited?” Lockhart repeated in surprise. “You do that when you’re excited?”
“Yes!!” Berrybun confirmed.
Lockhart thought about it, putting it into context. “You were doing that… because of me?”
Berrybun giggled. “Yes.”
“Merlin’s beard!” Gilderoy Lockhart laughed in delight. “That’s adorable!”
Berrybun couldn’t help a squeal of delight that escaped them when he said that, and before they knew it they were flapping their hands once again.
Lockhart watched for a few more seconds, chuckling at the sight, before he looked back down at what he was doing. He signed his name with eloquence as Berrybun watched with wide, star-struck eyes.
“All done, my d-” As Lockhart looked to Berrybun once more, he was caught off guard once again. Berrybun was crying.
“Pippin? Pippin, are you alright?” He wondered, moving to hold the fan’s shoulders.
“Yes, yes, I-” Berrybun wiped their tears away. “I’m alright. I’m just so…” A smile curled their mouth up. “...excited!!!”
Lockhart was gobsmacked. Never in his life had someone reacted so strongly to just… him. In a positive manner! Sure, he had many many tales of fangirl exploits, from the usual to the bizarre, but this was pure, unadulterated elation, in reaction to him and nothing else.
It touched him, despite its oddness.
“My dear, Pippin…” He smiled, slightly rubbing their shoulders in an attempt to soothe them. “How sweet of you. Weeping tears of joy, at the sight of Gilderoy Lockhart…” He could hardly believe his own words. This was an amazing feeling. He was absolutely riding this high.
And Berrybun was, too.
“Since you’re so sweet…” He got his wand out.
“...and you’re one of the biggest fans of mine I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting…” He turned his head, using a nonverbal levitation spell on a small stack of books that was on the ground.
“...I’m giving you my entire collected works. Free of charge.” He set the And as an extra gift, he threw in a wink.
“Holy…” Berrybun’s hand went to their forehead. “Oh my god…” They couldn’t believe it. They took a generous helping of seconds, just standing there like that, gawking at the situation before them. They felt like the only person in the world.
It amused Lockhart to no end.
To break the silence, Lockhart continued. “And… if you stay here a little longer…” (which was Lockhart’s first attempt at keeping them around a little more, to inflate his ego for more precious minutes) “I’ll even sign them all for you.”
Berrybun had to grip Lockhart’s arms, for their legs were starting to wobble from all the excitement. Lockhart chuckled as he realized what was happening. “You’re alright, dear.”
Berrybun giggled, and giggled, and giggled some more as they steadied themself. A third surprise for Gilderoy. He’s heard people laugh before, but this was a fit of giggles spewing like a babbling brook. This delightful fan had so many surprises held within. And as Lockhart smiled at them, he realized this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship. A friendship where he got everything he truly wanted – pure adoration.