“Confidence” ~ Gilderoy Lockhart x Reader
This reader insert fic is for @floofy-wooloo, because I couldn’t resist writing about my bby Gilderoy
Please do not send requests at this time. My request box has been closed for a few years. I had to make an exception for this one, because again, Gilderoy!!!
(How have I never gotten a Gilderoy request before now? Who are you people?)
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word count: 2K+ (2,058)
Fluff
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Gilderoy looked up to see Minerva McGonagall starting her lesson. He watched McGonagall write notes on the board. Today they would be practicing the transfiguration spells they’d learned over the last few weeks. He wasn’t too eager, but he was excited to be paired up with someone. And he wasn’t the only one.
There was a light, cheerful mood in the air. Everyone seemed to have gotten over their ‘winter blues’ now that spring was finally here, and Gilderoy was so looking forward to laying out on the warm; sunlit grounds of Hogwarts. He’d been waiting for it for months: laying under the tree by the lake, reading his favorite book… or just trying to impress all of the girls in the Ravenclaw Common Room.
Gilderoy snapped back into reality.
“Please pay attention to the lesson.” McGonagall continued. “You’ll have time to daydream after class.”
Soon, the class was split up into pairs, McGonagall’s choice. Gilderoy was paired with y/n.
“Hi, y/n.” He smiled at her. He always took pride in remembering her name, especially with how many people he talked to in a day’s time.
“Good morning.” She replied. “So, which transfiguration did you choose.”
Gilderoy went blank. “Umm…” His excitement ceased.
Y/n waited for a response.
With a nervous chuckle, he continued. “I may have missed that part.”
Y/n giggled. “That’s okay. I’ll catch you up.” She flipped open her notes and scanned over the transfigurations they had gone over since the semester started. “What you need to do is pick one of these. I have mine already picked out. Once you’ve picked one, we’ll demonstrate to each other on how to recite and properly carry out the spells we’ve chosen. Then, we’ll demonstrate to the class once we’re grouped back together.”
“Okay, I see.” He looked through her notes, trying to find the perfect choice. “Wow, you’re very detailed.”
He glanced down at her notes once more, and back up at her. “Would you mind to go first? I just can’t find the right one…”
“Of course.” Y/n set her wand to the side and looked over her notes. “I chose the Vanishing Spell,” she said to Gilderoy. “It’s not at easy as it seems, and it took quite a bit of practice, if I do say so myself.” She turned to grab a book from her bag. “I hate this book, so I’ll use it to demonstrate.”
Gilderoy watched her closely. He was intrigued by the way she prepared herself. Other than her, and Professor McGonagall of course, he had never met any one so detail oriented in transfiguration. Or just that detail oriented in general.
Y/n grabbed her wand and positioned the book on the desk. Gilderoy waited in excitement.
And just like that, the book vanished.
“Y/n, that was…” He paused.
Y/n sighed slightly. “I know. I do need to brush up a bit. I was a bit lazy over the break, and it-”
Gilderoy was speechless. All he could do was nod.
“Well,” y/n giggled. “It’s your turn.”
Slumping back in his chair, Gilderoy chuckled. “Now I’m just going to feel stupid.”
He knew he could never compare to y/n’s ability. When he was around more talented witches and wizards, he never felt the need to try his best. But around y/n, he didn’t even want to try at all.
“Why? You shouldn’t feel stupid.”
“But I’ve been paired with you.”
“So.” She smiled at him. “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try. Besides, you’re better at charms than I am.”
“Not those kind of charms.”
He blushed as he picked up his wand. “Not what I expected you to say, but…” He looked at y/n’s notes one last time.
“Nothing.” He sat her notes back on the table, and took a deep breath. He felt different somehow, but he couldn’t quite place the feeling. “It’s just —” He sighed. “I have no idea if I’m doing this right, but I’d like to try.”
He waved his wand and recited, “Orchideous.”
A white flower petal floated down and landed on top of y/n’s notebook. She knew what he needed. “You just need a little more confidence, and you’ll have it.”
“Come on!” She moved her chair closer to his. “You are the master of confidence! I’ve seen you in the Great Hall, as well as other places… making the all the girls giggle and blush, as well as making all the boys jealous of your… charm.”
Gilderoy let out a laugh. “Thank you.”
Y/n kept her warm smile. “You can do it.”
As he took a deep breath, he placed his wand in the ready position.
“Confidence.” He repeated.
He took another deep breath. “Orchideous!”
Multiple flowers appeared on the table. Y/n was in disbelief as she looked around.
Gilderoy opened his mouth to say something, but was quickly interrupted.
“How did you know these were my favorite?”
“Lilac. Lilac is my favorite flower.” Y/n continued. “Was this your way of flirting back with me?”
With a smirk, Gilderoy spoke. “I guess so.” He gazed into her eyes for just a moment, but quickly composed himself. “But, to be fair, Lilac is my favorite color.”
“Well, it seems like you two have made some great progress today.” McGonagall picked up a lilac stem, interrupting them. “We’ll keep working before we share with the rest of the class, though. Some other students are having some trouble.”
McGonagall walked to another table. Y/n and Gilderoy looked at each other, smiling.
“Well, I guess that gives you a little more time to practice.” said y/n.
“Yeah…” Gilderoy was gazing at her again. “Hey, umm… you wouldn’t want to maybe… help me with learning these, would you?”
Y/n stuffed her noted back into her bag with a smile. “I’d love to!”
Gilderoy felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders. “Room of Requirement, say… after dinner?”
Transfiguration had ended, and the two headed to their next classes. Gilderoy was excited for his study date with y/n, but he was nervous. He wondered if he was just making a fool of himself, and was clueless to whether y/n felt the same way he did about her. Then it dawned on him: he forgot to mention it was a study ‘date’.
Y/n took a seat in her next class, Charms, and tried her best to keep up with notes. However, she kept getting distracted by what Gilderoy had asked. ‘Was he actually flirting?’ She thought to herself. ‘Or, was he just acting the way he normally does around girls and those who are a little more advanced than him?’ Not being able to concentrate, she raised her hand. “May I be excused?”
Dinner came and went. Y/n made her way up to the 7th floor of the castle, bringing all of her notes; extra quills; and snacks to share. Gilderoy was in the hall waiting for her, looking a little more dashing than usual. He had more lilac stems in his hand. Y/n giggled lightly.
“What’s so funny?” He asked.
She walked up to him, setting her things down on the floor. “I just feel underdressed, that’s all.”
“Oh.” He looked down at his sleeves. “Yeah, I may have gone overboard with my outfit.”
“That’s alright.” She picked her bag back up off the floor. “I think you look nice.”
They both started to pace back and forth to reveal the entrance of the room. “Thank you. You do as well.”
After a few rounds, the entrance appeared.
“Oh!” Gilderoy remembered the flowers. “These are for you.”
She blushed and took the flowers carefully before hey both headed in.
There was a big table for them to sit at, as well as a space on the floor with blankets and pillows. There was a bookshelf with some useful transfiguration books, and a restroom towards the back. They decided the floor was best. They both set their bags down and took a seat. Y/n pulled a blanket over herself and grabbed her notebook from her bag, as well as a snack. “would you like some?” she asked.
Over the next hour or so, they both went over basic spells. Gilderoy had filled the room with flowers at this point, and y/n loved watching the petals float to the floor. After another few spells, she thought it was time for a break. Gilderoy could tell she was getting tired. “Maybe we should stop for the night.”
She shook her head. “No, I just need a little break.”
“I mean,” she began, “I am tired, but I really want to help you with these until you’re finished for the night.”
He scooted closer to her. “Hey, it’s okay. I promise there will be another time to do this again.”
Both of them sat in silence for a moment. It was quiet; peaceful. The flowers filled the room with a heavenly scent, and Gilderoy couldn’t help but to gaze at y/n’s beauty.
Gilderoy leaned a little closer. “Can I tell you something?”
“Earlier in class, when we were practicing spells, I felt something I’ve never felt about another person before.” He swallowed. “I know I’m a confident person, but around you I feel a little nervous. A good nervous, of course. And when you made that ‘charms’ comment, it really made me think about all the times I’ve tried to impress someone and how the feeling I felt was nothing like the feeling I felt today… How I feel about you.”
Y/n couldn’t help but to hide her cheesy smile under the blanket. Hearing him say that made her feel butterflies.
“And to be completely honest,” he continued, “I may be wrong, but I got the sense that you may feel the same. But, that could just be me craving attention.”
Y/n opened her mouth to speak.
“I know I’m a bit of a narcissist. I am. But, while I was trying to get everyone to notice me, I think I was just trying to get you to notice me…” Gilderoy sighed. “I’m probably rambling at this point, but… I needed you to know how I felt.”
Gilderoy looked the floor, waiting for her response. It was silent. Y/n didn’t know what to say. She was actually shocked that Gilderoy had actually admitted as much as he did. In that moment, she rose up and kissed him on the cheek. Gilderoy’s cheeks went pink. He turned to look at her, both of them remaining silent, and he leaned in close. He caressed her cheek and slowly pulled her in for a kiss.
Y/n put her hand on his arm, not resisting a bit. She wanted this. She had wanted this.
Gilderoy pulled away even more slowly. Y/n opened her eyes and grinned. Gilderoy also grinned, still holding her face in his hand. “Sorry,” his voice cracked. “I couldn’t resist.”
She giggled lightly. “That’s quite alright.” She moved her hand to his. “I really enjoyed that.”
“Thanks for giving me the confidence to do that.”
With another sigh, Gilderoy knew it was time to head back to their dormitories. “Maybe we should pack up. It’s getting late.”
Y/n agreed. They both packed up their belongings and made their way back to the dormitories, hand in hand. During their walk back, they’d occasionally glance at each other with a smile. Before getting to the y/h door, Gilderoy stopped her for a moment.
“Tomorrow during our free period, would you like to study by the lake?”
Y/n nodded with a grin. “I would love that.”
“Okay, perfect!” Gilderoy couldn’t contain his excitement. “I’ll see you tomorrow!” He kissed her on the cheek, and made his way back to his dormitory.
Y/n watched him walk away, thinking of how wonderful of a time she had with him. Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.
