บท 58: Chapter 58: Fake Hero Lockhart
Time is flying by, and the school year at Hogwarts is coming to an end. The auditorium is beautifully decorated and the students are gathered together. Because Gryffindor is far ahead in the current scores, the auditorium is filled with bright red and golden ribbons, the colors that symbolize Gryffindor. A banner hanging on the back of the main table depicts a majestic male lion.
There is a cheerful atmosphere in the auditorium, not just because the semester is almost over and they will be able to go home for a pleasant holiday, but also because they get to see the heroes they have been waiting for at the main table.
"Well, it seems my students can't wait any longer. This old man is no match for the young people nowadays, Dumbledore says, still laughing at himself and not caring about his students' attention being on the man behind him. "Let the person you're looking forward to speak now. I think he definitely wants to exchange many opinions with you." Dumbledore gives up his position to the man behind him.
The applause from the students under the stage thunders.
This man is none other than Professor Lockhart, who has been away from Hogwarts for a long time.
"Actually, I just did a little work," Lockhart says with a smile, showing his handsome manner and charming heroic posture. His white teeth are clean enough to reflect, and he is wearing his iconic blue forget-me-not robe adorned with various medals and honor signs. With just one action, he is able to elicit cheers from students of all houses, regardless of gender.
Worshipping heroes is a natural instinct for people all around the world. However, the students at Slytherin are currently an exception, as their hero, Gilderoy Lockhart, has had his reputation tarnished by the other "heroes" on stage.
"As for me, Gilderoy Lockhart, I hold the Third Class Medal of Order of Merlin, or rather, the Second Class Medal now. Order of Merlin only recently discovered me and asked me to change the Medal. I am also an Honorary Member of the Anti-Dark Art Magic and have won the 'Witcher Weekly' Most Charming Smile Award five times. These are just some of my tilted names. Of all my identities, I am most proud to be a professor of DADA at Hogwarts." Lockhart looks up with a gentle, dreamy expression, seeming to remember his teaching career at Hogwarts fondly.
The audience erupts into applause once again. Both Harry and Ron clap eagerly, their hands turning red from the effort.
"Thank you for your enthusiasm," Lockhart says, gesturing for the audience to be quiet. "But, for some reason, I am no longer able to teach here. I believe Professor Dumbledore has already informed you of this. My magic abilities have been greatly impaired. As the Defense Against Magic course is so important for everyone's safety, I believe that the teacher in this position should not only have strong theoretical knowledge, but also practical ability. While I was barely able to fulfill this role before, I no longer possess such ability."
There are sighs of disappointment from the audience. The students regret that they cannot keep Lockhart as their teacher, but understand that it is for the best.
While they are grateful to him, they also consider the perspective of their parents and the school. No one will be allowed to continue teaching the DADA course without the necessary ability.
"Professor Lockhart!" someone from Gryffindor calls out, raising their hand. Many eyes, including Lockhart's, turn to the person with fiery red hair.
"Oh, isn't this Ron from Gryffindor?" Lockhart maintains his gentle smile, not seeming annoyed at the interruption. He extends his hand in a gesture for Ron to speak. "Is there a problem?"
Ron, who hadn't paid much attention when he called out, becomes nervous under the scrutiny of the audience. However, he speaks sternly, "I heard that the professor in our school will be retiring due to age next year. He is the teacher of the Magical Creatures Protection course. I think you might try applying for that position?"
Students from various colleges whispered and discussed amongst themselves. All of the students, except those from Slytherin, hoped that Lockhart would stay.
Lockhart was moved by the response, but when he glanced at Dumbledore and saw his smiling expression, he immediately withdrew the thought from his mind. He remembered what had happened to him at St. Mungo's Hospital.
~~
Lockhart, who had sacrificed himself to fight a basilisk and protect his students, had gained a good reputation in the wizarding world and become a darling of the media.
Almost all newspapers and magazines, except for a certain abnormal magazine, wanted to interview him. When Lockhart woke up, he found himself lying on a large bed covered in a white sheet. Western reporters swarmed in and began asking him questions.
"Mr. Lockhart, I heard that your ability to cast magic has been affected. Is this true?"
"Do you regret going to Hogwarts to teach?"
"What did you think when you rescued Granger?"
"How did you defeat a basilisk that has lived for hundreds of years, or maybe even longer?"
A series of questions left him even more confused. However, since Lockhart, who had previously only had low-level magic, had managed to get along in the wizarding world, he must have had something extraordinary - a talent for boasting.
Based on the fact that he had copied other people's stories and sold his processed works, it was clear that he had a knack for storytelling. The same story could be told very differently to different groups of people.
Lockhart was very clever and had a quick wit. He realized that he was being identified as a hero by these people, so he started to play up to the role. He didn't care whether he had actually done the things he claimed to have done, even though he only remembered fainting on Christmas Day.
"As you all know, I had to fight the basilisk with my eyes closed and my ears were the only way I could identify its direction...so I..." Lockhart rambled on, not saying much of substance.
After his speech, all of the reporters gave him warm applause for his wit and bravery.
A reporter with glasses raised them up and said, "Mr. Lockhart has only just awoken. We cannot continue to interrupt his rest time. Let's end our interview here today. I believe we will have more opportunities to interview him in the future."
The other reporters nodded in agreement and, after bidding farewell to Lockhart, rushed out of the ward together.
Lockhart lay back on the bed, thinking about everything that had happened. It was not something he had done by himself, he thought. He had previously been so unbridled because of the effects of the "Forgetful Charm" spell, and this inexplicable heroic identity always made him feel uneasy. People always have some fear of things they cannot understand, even if they appear to be good on the surface.
However, Lockhart, who had just had a "press conference," suddenly felt a wave of fatigue wash over him. He decided not to think about it for a while and went to bed to rest. As he leaned back and his head was about to touch the soft pillow, he glanced at the bedside table and saw that one of the drawers was slightly open, with a stack of thick materials inside. He reached out and opened the cabinet, taking out the file-like things.
Upon closer inspection, Lockhart was furious. His drowsiness disappeared and he immediately looked around the locked ward, making sure there was no one around.
Special Note:
DADA - Defense Against Dark Arts
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