Chapter 79: Pixies

"You all didn't help me."

After the bell rang, Professor Lockhart finally released Harry and walked up to the seats.

Harry whispered his complaint to Arthur, he hadn't settled the score with Arthur for scaring him and Ron yesterday.

Unexpectedly, Arthur had tricked him again today.

Suppressing their laughter, Arthur replied in a serious tone, "After all, we're not the famous Harry Potter and we don't want to experience the feeling of being famous."

Hearing the teasing tone in Arthur's voice, Harry gave Arthur and Hermione a resentful expression.

He really disliked Professor Lockhart, but ever since Professor Lockhart forced him into taking photos at the bookshop last time, Professor Lockhart became his Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, and he was selected.

Professor Lockhart smiled at the young wizards below and introduced himself with a long row of useless titles that made Arthur cringe.

However, Arthur was somewhat surprised that Professor Lockhart was actually a prize winner of the Order of Merlin.

He didn't expect this fraud professor to be able to deceive the Wizengamot's judges.

The Order of Merlin was a highly respected honor, and it was rare for even one to be awarded in a decade.

Arthur thought that title could be useful, helping improve his reputation in the wizarding world. He also wondered when he could get one for himself.

Soon, Professor Lockhart distributed several test papers. Arthur took one and glanced at it:

What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?

What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?

Three whole pages were all about Professor Lockhart's personal questions, without a single question related to Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Arthur directly threw the test paper aside without even looking at it, to save his eyes from blinding.

Although Hermione and Harry also disliked Professor Lockhart, as students, they didn't dare to leave their papers blank, so they began answering.

Half an hour later, Professor Lockhart collected the test papers and started flipping through them one by one.

"Tsk tsk, hardly anyone remembers that my favorite color is lilac. I mentioned it in 'Year with the Yeti.'"

"Hmm?"

"Arthur Gaunt? Why did you turn in a blank paper? Don't you even know my birthday?"

When Professor Lockhart came across Arthur's paper, he furrowed his brow and questioned him unhappily.

Arthur answered calmly and slowly, "I don't know these boring questions."

Professor Lockhart didn't expect Arthur to be so straightforward.

He remembered who Arthur was—it was the Ravenclaw wizard who heldparticipated in the house sorting ceremony yesterday.

Recalling what Professor Flitwick had told him, Professor Lockhart didn't dare to scold Arthur too much.

He could only put on a fake smile and say, "It's alright, I'll announce the correct answers later. These things will be very helpful to you.

Arthur felt a bit annoyed.

Why wouldn't Professor Lockhart stop?

He hadn't exposed him yet out of respect for Dumbledore, but now Professor Lockhart was still causing trouble for him.

Thinking of this, Arthur stood up and sarcastically asked, "Professor Lockhart, can your birthday teach me new spells? Can knowing your favorite color help me successfully fight dangerous magical creatures?"

When hearing Arthur's direct questioning, Professor Lockhart's face turned pale and green.

He didn't know how to respond. He didn't expect to have a troublesome student on his very first class.

The other young wizards were also dissatisfied with Professor Lockhart's test paper, so they joined the fun and watched.

After hesitating for a while, Professor Lockhart chose to ignore Arthur's questions.

To get everyone's attention away from him, he brought out a cage covered with a cloth.

"Now! — Be careful, my task is to teach you to fight the most evil things known in the wizarding world! You will see very terrifying things, but don't worry, because I'm here!"

Professor Lockhart's words were captivating and quickly diverted the attention of the young wizards.

Everyone excitedly stared at the covered cage, wanting to know what was inside.

Professor Lockhart held his breath and lifted the cloth.

Suddenly, the cage revealed its true nature, filled with Cornish Pixies.

"Haha!"

Seamus from Gryffindor couldn't help but laugh, and when others heard him, many young wizards couldn't help but join in the laughter.

These young wizards from wizarding families knew that Cornish Pixies were already the lowest level of dangerous magical creatures.

Yet Professor Lockhart described them so seriously, which caused the young wizards to burst into laughter.

Professor Lockhart became somewhat annoyed and opened the cage in a fit of anger.

Chaos happened in the classroom as dozens of pixies broke free, wreaking havoc.

Neville was caught by the ears and flew into the air, and several pixies crashed through the glass and flew out the window.

Professor Lockhart was also a bit flustered.

He took out his wand and recited some unknown incantation, but it had no effect. The wand was snatched away by the pixies and thrown out the window.

Covering his head in embarrassment, Professor Lockhart opened the classroom door and shouted, "Your task for this lesson is to catch these pixies!"

After saying that, he ran out of the classroom without looking back and closed the door.

Hermione couldn't stand it anymore and cast a freezing charm, preventing the pixies from moving.

Neville dropped from the air, rubbing the sore spot on his head.

The bell for the end of class rang, and the chaos finally ended.

The young wizards fled the classroom as if escaping for their lives.

...

"I really don't understand why Professor Dumbledore invited a fake to teach us," Hermione complained to Arthur in the corridor.

Harry nodded vigorously beside her, expressing his opinion.

"I guess no one wants to apply for this position, you know, the Defense Against the Dark Arts is the cursed subject of the school. No one can hold the position for a full year," Arthur shrugged and replied to Hermione.

"A Curse?"

Harry and Hermione became interested as they were unaware of these matters.

"It is said that Voldemort approached Dumbledore back then, expressing his desire to stay at Hogwarts as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, but Dumbledore refused."

"After Voldemort became the Dark Lord, he placed a curse on this position in his name."

Arthur patiently explained the reasons to the two.

When hearing this, Harry and Hermione suddenly realize and understand Dumbledore's situation.

After all, this position consumed a professor every year.

Dumbledore probably couldn't find a more suitable candidate, and at that moment, Professor Lockhart suddenly agreed.

This was better than no one, right?

...

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