Newt Still Had Some Training to Do

[Had the Marauder's Map failed?]

[Or had the Homunculus Charm or the Tracking Charm failed?]

Gavin studied the questions on the blackboard.

It was 3:17 in the morning.

After leaving the Girls' Bathroom, Gavin hadn't gone back to bed.

Dawn was close. He might as well stay up.

He decided to use the quiet hours to think through a few things.

When he reached the Room of Requirement, the Troll in the Tapestry was snoring, looking as foolish as ever. Tonight, Gavin had no interest in the sight.

He sat on the floor of the empty room, closed his eyes, and steadied his breathing.

His jumbled thoughts settled like silt in a stirred-up river. The sediment sank, and the water cleared.

Meditation gave him rest, but it also helped him sort through information. With dawn so close, he wasn't going to sleep.

Half an hour later, he opened his eyes. At last, he felt ready to think again.

Then he faced the question.

Was Lockhart genuine?

Something was wrong with him. Gavin was certain of that.

From the shield he had cast instantly in their first Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson to every later glance he had "accidentally" sent Cordelia's way, every detail about him set off alarms in Gavin's head.

The question was—

Who was underneath that skin?

Was he the real Lockhart, or an impostor?

If he was an impostor, he was a fine actor. He had Lockhart's vanity down perfectly.

If he was real, where had he gained so much combat experience? His performance in class today had been masterful.

Assuming he was an impostor, Polyjuice Potion was the simplest answer.

But if it was Polyjuice Potion, the Marauder's Map should have shown his real name.

In the original story, Harry had seen the name Barty