After leaving the classroom of Defense Against the Dark Arts, Alaric walked all the way to an incredibly ugly giant stone monster, then stopped in front of it and uttered the incantation.
"Sherbet Lemon!"
The monster suddenly came to life, jumped aside, and the wall behind it split in half.
Behind the wall was a rotating staircase, slowly moving upward, like an escalator. As Alaric stepped on it, he heard a loud noise behind him, and the wall closed again.
He ascended, turning higher and higher until finally, he saw a shiny oak door ahead, adorned with a brass knocker shaped like a lion-headed eagle.
He knocked on the door, and it opened to reveal Dumbledore's office, his second time being there.
It was a spacious, beautiful circular room filled with various whimsical noises.
On the long-legged table, there were many peculiar silver utensils that spun, emitting small puffs of smoke.
Portraits of former male and female headmasters and headmistresses adorned the walls, each gently snoring in their respective frames.
There was also a massive desk with claw-shaped legs. On the desk's shelf was a tattered and wrinkled wizard hat—the Sorting Hat.
Alaric saw Dumbledore behind the desk, but his attention was immediately drawn to the bird at Dumbledore's feet.
It looked like a turkey with half its feathers plucked.
The bird stared at him with a sorrowful gaze, emitting choking sounds, its eyes lifeless, and feathers continuously falling from its tail.
"Oh, a phoenix," Alaric muttered, looking at the bird. "A phoenix preparing for rebirth, quite rare."
He turned to Dumbledore, "Professor, can you call me when your phoenix is ready for rebirth? I have never witnessed such a scene."
"Of course, Alaric, I'm pleased that you're interested in my Fawkes," Dumbledore smiled, looking at the phoenix.
"So, what brings you here? I recall Alaric should be in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class right now."
"You want me to stay in that charlatan's class?" Alaric disdainfully rolled his eyes. "You're wasting my time. In fact, that's why I'm here."
He took a step forward, approached Dumbledore, and asked, "I don't understand. Why do you insist on letting such a braggart become a professor at Hogwarts?
Can't you see? He can't even cast a simple Shield Charm. Having him as a professor won't teach us anything."
"Yes, indeed, Lockhart is not a powerful wizard," Dumbledore nodded with a smile.
"He has always loved boasting and seeking attention, even in his youth.
I remember when he entered Hogwarts, he claimed he would create the Philosopher's Stone before graduation, lead the English Quidditch team to win the World Cup, and ultimately become the youngest Minister of Magic in Britain."
"Oh, you are familiar with Lockhart's past?" Alaric asked in confusion.
"Of course, when he was in school, I was already serving as the headmaster of Hogwarts," Dumbledore said with a nostalgic look.
"At that time, he was already quite unpopular. To gain attention, he became a troublemaker.
He once carved his name in 20-foot letters on the Quidditch pitch, projected his portrait into the sky like the Dark Mark, and sent himself eight hundred Valentine's Day cards.
I remember that breakfast was canceled that day because a large amount of owl droppings and feathers fell into the porridge. When Lockhart graduated, we all breathed a sigh of relief."
"Why would you still let such a person come back as a professor?" Alaric wondered.
"Because no one else applied for the position? Or because of his fabricated experiences? You don't really believe those, do you?"
"Those experiences are indeed true," Dumbledore sighed.
"But Lockhart didn't achieve them. Someone else did, and Lockhart traveled to exotic places, deceiving accomplished wizards.
They would confide in Lockhart about their greatest achievements, and after learning about them, Lockhart would erase their memories.
Then, he would write these achievements into books and claim them as his own. In his 'achievements,' there are two that I am very familiar with.
I even know the original owners of those achievements: an Armenian old wizard and a beaked witch. Lockhart wiped their memories.
However, when I tried to expose Lockhart, I found that I couldn't. I pondered for a long time but couldn't figure out why."
"Because people need such an idol," Alaric replied, recalling annoying celebrities from his previous life.
"People need a perfect idol who is handsome, accomplished, and fulfills all fantasies, especially for young girls and housewives.
Lockhart perfectly satisfies these needs. I have to admit; he is indeed a good heartthrob.
Moreover, Lockhart brings significant benefits to others.
The media needs him to constantly create news, bookstores need to sell expensive works through him, and organizations like the Ministry of Magic and the Anti-Dark Arts League need his existence to prove to all wizards that the wizarding world is beautiful and safe.
In short, in such a situation, Lockhart's position is unshakable."
"Yes, you see through it better than I do. It took me a long time to understand it approximately," Dumbledore agreed, nodding appreciatively at Alaric.
He continued, "That's why I had to bring him to Hogwarts. I believe the school is the best place to expose his deception.
I trust that, once Lockhart is placed in an ordinary school life, his deception will be revealed, and he will receive the punishment he deserves."
Listening to Dumbledore's explanation, Alaric realized that this method was quite effective.
Lockhart, during Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, always had to personally demonstrate, exposing himself in front of the students.
Hogwarts students were the future of the entire British wizarding world, and more importantly, they witnessed Lockhart's true level while staying at school.
They were less likely to be fooled by the media, and their opinions could quickly change their parents' views.
Thus, Lockhart's reputation would gradually decline, and his value would diminish.
By then, except for a few die-hard fans, no one would speak up for him, and Dumbledore's goal would be achieved—assuming there were no incidents with the Chamber of Secrets and the Serpent of Slytherin, as in the original book.
"Your idea is indeed good, but please don't make me continue to stay in the same room with him, and the same goes for my friends."
"Alright, I can agree to this request," Dumbledore said.
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