“Fairy tales?” Dumbledore fell into deep thought.
His life experience was so vast that he could easily find countless real-world scenarios that aligned with Lockhart’s fairy tale theory.
“Yes, magic is the ultimate romance of fairy tales,” Lockhart repeated.
“For a wizard like me, who grew up in the Muggle world and then entered this school, this resonance is profound.
Professor Dumbledore, you might find it difficult to understand the marvelous experience of walking into a literal fairy tale world.” “That experience made me obsessed with magic; it gave me the ability to imagine and dream, and it was precisely that imagination that opened up the possibilities for how I cast my spells.” “You could verify this with any wizard who transitioned from the Muggle world to the magical one,” Lockhart continued, leaning in.
“And of course, I dare say I am the one who understands this theory best.” He wasn’t being humble.
From the moment he stepped into Hogwarts as a boy to his rise in the magical society, Lockhart had navigated life with surprising ease.
He had achieved a social status that many pure-bloods, even those from ancient, powerful families, had struggled to reach.
Take Professor Snape, for instance.
He, too, had grown up in the Muggle world, but for him, entering the magical world had been anything but a “fairy tale romance.” In Lockhart’s pocket, Goldie the monkey peeked out, its golden, furry head emerging to gaze curiously at Dumbledore.
It was only the second wizard it had ever met who seemed entirely unbothered by its presence.
It glanced at the desk, where a fiery red bird was glaring at it with predatory intensity, causing it to shrink back into the pocket.
Lockhart plucked a grape from the desk, slipped it into his pocket, and patted the monkey’s head, signaling it to be quiet.
He then looked at Dumbledore with eager anticipation.
“And how do you intend to proceed?” Dumbledore asked, his fingers interlaced, his gaze piercing.
“I know I shouldn’t recklessly disrupt Hogwarts’ teaching style or pacing,” Lockhart said, choosing his words with care.
“So, I propose weaving these fairy-tale-style exercises directly into the curriculum.” “But the current class sizes—one house at a time—are too small.
It makes these exercises impossible.
I desperately need every student to participate.
At the very least, a single grade level, all four houses together, should attend these classes simultaneously.” “I have my own understanding of why the school uses the House system, but I must say: the fairy-tale exercise component is exactly where students of different House styles should be participating together.” “The ‘Dark Lord’ or the ‘Ambitious Schemer’ can be a Slytherin; the ‘Wise Scholar’ can be a Ravenclaw; the ‘Hero’ can be a Gryffindor; the ‘Hard Worker and Silent Contributor’ can be a Hufflepuff.” “Of course, sometimes encouraging them to play against their nature, or even swapping roles, might be the best way to open their minds.
What do you think?” Genius.
Four houses taught at once meant his workload would be cut to a quarter of what it had been.
His lesson planning would be cut to a quarter!
Dumbledore didn’t answer immediately.
He stared at the portraits of former headmasters on the wall, thinking, then finally turned to them.
“Perhaps one of you would be so kind as to fetch Professor McGonagall?” It’s happening!
Lockhart’s eyes lit up.
He waited with baited breath alongside Dumbledore for McGonagall’s arrival.
She arrived faster than expected.
It was the start of the term and she was busy, so she hadn’t turned in for the night; she was nearby, instructing the prefects.
Lockhart’s proposal was more than just a teaching method; it involved a massive shift in the school’s master schedule.
Heaven only knew how much work she would have to do to make it happen.
Yet, McGonagall—often perceived as rigid and bound by rules—was far more flexible than Lockhart expected.
She pondered for a moment and then agreed.
“I am not certain if Professor Lockhart’s theory is correct,” she said, “but I must admit, Professor Dumbledore, that the past outcomes of our Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum have been far from satisfactory.
I look forward to the possibilities that a well-traveled Lockhart can bring.” In other words: The defense class is already rotten to the core, so why not let Lockhart have a go at it?
Lockhart looked at McGonagall, who was now viewing him with a glimmer of expectation.
He felt a sudden, unexpected swell of emotion.
Being trusted was a good feeling.
Perhaps this was McGonagall’s personal charm: her willingness to give those who earned her recognition a chance to prove themselves.
Much like how she had broken the rules to put first-year Harry Potter on the Gryffindor Quidditch team—Harry must have felt exactly as he did now.
Touched, yet under immense pressure.
Fortunately, the boost in ability provided by a “fairy tale atmosphere” wasn’t a lie Lockhart was spinning.
It was the very reason the original Lockhart had risen so fast.
He didn’t mind sharing the secret.
The original Lockhart had wanted the same thing; he just hadn’t wanted to write it in a book because he wanted to keep the “trade secret” to himself until he could profit from it.
Now, Lockhart planned to reap the rewards: self-improvement, the reputation of a Master Educator, the royalties from books, a better relationship with Hogwarts, and the gratitude and future connections of countless students.
Looking back at the memories of the original story, he knew the original Lockhart had tried this—he used to invite students onto the stage to reenact his battles.
The problem was that he had lost the students’ trust early on, and his reenactments were so pathetic, so devoid of real immersive atmosphere, that they were a total disaster.
Harry and Ron had mocked him mercilessly, and even Hermione, his biggest fan, hadn’t been able to defend him.
Now, could he do it better?
Lockhart looked at Dumbledore and McGonagall.
He broke into his signature perfect smile, stood up, and spoke with gravitas: “You just wait and see.
No one understands magic better than I do!” He would complete the regrets of the original, he would finish the tasks left undone, and he would do it better than anyone else!
Once he achieved this, he would finally swallow, absorb, and digest the original’s memories.
At that point, at the very least, he would possess all of the original’s skills: top-tier Memory Charms, and functional Apparition, Scouring Charms, Unlocking Charms, simple healing, and all the survival skills honed through years of adventure.
…
The next day.
The first lesson of the term was a unique experience for every student.
Under the watchful eyes of Dumbledore and McGonagall, Lockhart was launching his experimental, school-wide Defense Against the Dark Arts masterclass.
All seven years in one room.
McGonagall had actually managed to clear the schedule for it.
With almost every other professor affected by the curriculum shift, they all came to observe, eager to see what kind of performance Lockhart would put on.
“He really is a spotlight-hound,” Ron grumbled in the corner as they crowded into the Great Hall—the only place in the castle large enough to hold them all.
“Ron!” Hermione looked annoyed.
“I don’t think you should talk that way about a professor who is trying to teach you valuable knowledge!” “Oh, is that so?” Ron chuckled.
“I don’t recall you getting angry when we talked bad about Snape.” Hermione was so furious she turned away, refusing to speak to him.
Soon, the Great Hall went quiet under the direction of the prefects.
Lockhart, the ultimate spotlight-hound, walked onto the stage in pure gold, luxurious robes, moving with a light, confident gait.
He had just spent time with the upper-year students asking about the previous curriculum, and, to test them, had had a few of them cast a Sonorous charm on him.
Plan executed perfectly!
“Students…” His voice boomed into every corner of the hall.
It was a bit too loud, so he quickly modulated, dropping his tone into a calm, steady, and captivating rhythm.
He began by telling a few funny, anecdotal stories about defense against the Dark Arts to warm up the room.
Only then did he turn to smile at the students, and at the corner where Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape were observing…
Well, nearly the entire faculty was there.
He wasn’t the least bit nervous.
In fact, he was thrilled.
He knew that the impression he needed to cement—this is a Master of Magic—would begin with this lesson.
He was off to a flying start.
“Now, let us enter today’s subject.” “Today, I wish to discuss with you—the true essence of magic!” See?
Nothing elevated one’s status quite like a topic like that.
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