The first class of the day was History of Magic. Before heading to class, John decided to visit the Whomping Willow, a tree that had been previously injured by his father. The Whomping Willow, a massive and temperamental willow tree located on the grounds of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, is known for its aggressive behavior towards anything that comes too close, lashing out with its branches at any perceived threat.
Upon John's arrival at the Whomping Willow, he found two individuals already there. One of them was boasting, "I once encountered a Whomping Willow during my travels. As long as you do this..."
"Stop it, you're only going to make it angrier!" the other warned.
"Don't worry, I'm Gilderoy Lockhart, holder of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and possessor of the most charming smile," the first speaker declared confidently.
With a flick of his wand, Lockhart attempted a spell, only to infuriate the Whomping Willow further. Professor Sprout, the Herbology professor who happened to be nearby, was inadvertently caught in the crossfire and sent flying by the tree.
At that moment, Professor Sprout was seething with anger towards Lockhart. She couldn't fathom why Dumbledore had allowed this disgraceful former Ravenclaw student to return as a professor. "It's alright, Professor Sprout. I've dealt with trolls; this injury is nothing," Lockhart blithely commented.
"Stop it, don't come any closer!" Professor Sprout, mustering all her strength, quickly moved out of the Whomping Willow's reach. She was genuinely frightened; Lockhart's interference could either result in her being seriously injured by the tree or by her own hand in frustration. Claiming that she needed to prepare for her upcoming class, she urged the bothersome Lockhart to leave immediately.
"Is this the man who knows everything about Defense Against the Dark Arts?" John mused, having observed Lockhart's reckless endangerment of a fellow professor. He questioned the wisdom of hiring such a person, especially given the high turnover of Defense Against the Dark Arts professors. Remembering Lockhart's published works, John began to doubt whether the man's public persona matched the reality.
"Are there charlatans even in the wizarding world?" John pondered, his skepticism growing as he approached the Whomping Willow after the others had left. He knew of a secret passage beneath the tree from the Marauder's Map, but getting close was a challenge due to the tree's hostility.
As John neared, a branch swung violently towards him. He quickly stepped back, observing the tree's aggressive movements. "Its sensitivity and activity could have unexpected benefits if used in amulets," John thought, eyeing the tree's wounds and contemplating how to obtain a piece of it.
Without much hesitation, John cast "Petrificus Totalus," freezing the tree's thrashing branches. Seizing the moment, he used his flying boots to leap up and cut off some of the damaged branches. After collecting the branches, John activated his flying boots once more and swiftly departed the scene.
As the Whomping Willow regained its mobility, it thrashed its branches in fury. "Ah, well, I'm not going to figure out how to treat you," John reasoned, feeling justified in his actions. To him, taking a small piece from such a large tree seemed inconsequential.
Stuffing the branch into his bag, John turned and left, feeling that the task of treating the Whomping Willow's injuries was better left to a professional, such as Professor Sprout.
With class time approaching, John made his way to the History of Magic classroom, his mind still on the events at the Whomping Willow and the peculiar Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. John was well-versed in the labyrinth of secret passages within Hogwarts, which is why he remained unfazed even as the clock ticked dangerously close to the start of the History of Magic class. With a practiced step, he made his entrance into the classroom just in time. Professor Binns, the ghostly instructor of the History of Magic, had long ago forgotten to detach himself from his mortal slumber, resulting in lessons that were as monotonous and lifeless as his spectral appearance. Despite his best efforts, John struggled to keep his eyelids from drooping. Officially, he was there to learn about the history of magic, but his real focus lay on the alchemy notes hidden within his textbook.
The afternoon promised a shift in pace with Defense Against the Dark Arts. During lunch, Ron lamented over his malfunctioning wand, while Daphne expressed her excitement for the class, influenced by her mother's praise of Professor Lockhart. John, however, harbored no such expectations, especially after witnessing Lockhart's morning spectacle involving Harry. As he carefully peeled and consumed his potato, he couldn't help but notice Malfoy's absence, likely sulking over Harry's latest encounter with Lockhart, which had sparked envy among the Malfoy children.
Daphne had forgotten her copy of "I Can Be Magical" for Lockhart's signature and had gone back to retrieve it. Hermione approached, clutching Lockhart's book, her cheeks tinged with a blush of anticipation. "I can't wait to see what kind of exciting class Professor Lockhart has planned, just like the adventures in his book," she said, her voice filled with hope.
John hesitated, not wanting to crush her spirits. "Well... I'm not sure it'll be quite what you're expecting," he gently warned, pondering how the revelation might disillusion Hermione, who was currently basking in her admiration for Lockhart.
The scene, John mused, would make for scandalous footage should Hermione ever ascend to the position of Minister of Magic.
Meanwhile, Harry found himself in an awkward situation, not only due to Malfoy's taunts but also because of Lockhart's overbearing presence. Colin Creevey, a first-year Gryffindor and avid Harry Potter fan, eagerly snapped photos of Harry, much to his discomfort. Lockhart's insistence on a joint photo only added to Harry's embarrassment.
As the afternoon class approached, Lockhart, basking in his perceived success, whisked Harry away, leaving Ron and Hermione behind. John finished his lunch and approached Ron, who was visibly upset after Malfoy's mockery. "Ron, don't let it get to you. I heard about your wand," John said, offering a sympathetic ear.
Ron, frustrated, showed John the broken wand. Upon inspection, John was relieved to find the core intact. "I've been studying wand-making. I might be able to fix this for you," he offered, much to Ron's delight. The prospect of avoiding another scolding from Mrs. Weasley was a relief to Ron.
"We should head to class. I'll start on the wand repair once I've gathered the necessary materials," John promised as they made their way to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
The classroom was a stark contrast to the others, adorned with countless photos of Gilderoy Lockhart himself. It was a testament to the professor's vanity.
Lockhart's entrance was as flamboyant as his reputation suggested. Clad in a turquoise robe complemented by a matching top hat with a gold rim, his blond hair gleamed under the classroom lights. His appearance was as ostentatious as the tales of his adventures, setting the stage for what was sure to be an unforgettable class. Malfoy's discomfort was palpable as he sneered at the photograph of Lockhart and Harry, his disdain for the celebrity wizard clear. In stark contrast, the girls in the room reacted with visible excitement, their eyes sparkling and cheeks flushed with adoration. Many of them, influenced by their mothers or their own admiration, were fervent fans of Lockhart. Despite being known as a charlatan, Lockhart's charm and good looks were undeniable. He had a knack for self-promotion, as evidenced by his introduction.
"I am Gilderoy Lockhart, recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defence League, and five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award...though I don't like to talk about that. It wasn't my smile that banished the banshee from Wan Lun," he boasted, ending with a quip that unfortunately went over the heads of his audience.
John could only shake his head in disbelief. Among the litany of self-congratulatory titles, the only one that seemed remotely relevant to teaching was his honorary membership in the Dark Force Defence League. Yet, even that felt superficial. John's skepticism was soon validated when Lockhart revealed the day's activity: a questionnaire about none other than himself.
The questions were as follows:
1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?
2. What was Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?
3. What do you consider Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?
John was incredulous. These questions seemed more suited to a fan club meeting than a Defense Against the Dark Arts class. The absurdity of the situation was not lost on him, as he wondered if they were there to learn or simply to indulge Lockhart's ego.
_________
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https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge