Lockhart’s sudden appearance gave Hermione quite a start.
“P-p-professor Lockhart!” she nearly shrieked.
“What are you doing here?”
“Some matters to discuss with the Head Boy and prefects, so I boarded the train,” Lockhart said, feigning ignorance.
“Looking for someone?”
“Yes, my two friends.
I can’t find them on the train,” Hermione spoke rapidly.
“One is Harry Potter, the other is Ron Weasley.
You’ve seen him before, at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour, when he ordered…”
“I remember him, and I know who Harry is,” Lockhart hurriedly interrupted Hermione’s torrent of words—he didn’t recall her being such a chatterbox.
“So, did they actually board the train or not?”
His question stopped Hermione short.
“…Probably not.”
“‘Probably’ not?” Lockhart emphasized the first word.
“Actually…
we don’t remember,” Hermione felt herself blushing.
“Mrs.
Weasley and I were busy settling Ginny, Fred and George vanished in the blink of an eye, no idea where they went, Percy said he had to go to the prefects’ compartment for a meeting…
we thought they had already gotten on with the twins…
but just now Fred said he never saw them, they were busy talking to Lee Jordan about their summer.”
“What an enviably large family,” Lockhart understood.
Clearly, whatever mishap occurred later, Harry Potter had still come to The Burrow and, together with Ron Weasley, failed to enter Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
That said, even if Harry and Ron couldn’t get in because of “that incident,” they could have just waited a few minutes for Arthur and Molly to come out and then explained the situation.
It’s just that the urgency of missing the train made their brains a bit too slow, like when you hear the kettle boiling while on the phone and instinctively panic, even though it wouldn’t be a big deal if it overflowed.
“Don’t worry, Dumbledore won’t let anyone miss school, Miss Granger,” Lockhart comforted her.
“At most, they’ll miss the Sorting Ceremony.”
“That’s serious enough,” Hermione muttered under her breath.
“If Miss Granger is worried, I can help you look.
After the train stops, I’ll Apparate back to London to check the situation—Apparating on a fast-moving train is an easy way to get splinched,” Lockhart suggested.
“Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you, Professor?” Hermione asked, somewhat embarrassed.
“Not at all,” Lockhart said.
“I’m the only faculty member on this train.
Something like this happening is somewhat my dereliction of duty.
I’ll write to Dumbledore to inform him, then go look for them after we disembark…
Who-who!”
Lockhart suddenly opened the window and called out.
A Great Grey Owl, twice the size of a normal owl, flew in through the window and immediately spotted the pastries Lockhart had placed on the table, swooping down to snatch one.
Lockhart swiftly scribbled a few lines on a piece of paper and tied it to the owl’s leg.
“Take this.
Remember, give it to Dumbledore personally,” Lockhart instructed specifically.
The owl gave a soft hoot to show it understood.
Lockhart was only sending the owl to Dumbledore to show his “diligence and responsibility.” In fact, he knew perfectly well exactly how those two would end up arriving at the school.
“I bought too many cakes earlier.
I didn’t expect them to be so sweet; just three and I’m nearly full…
Take some back to share with your companions.”
Having played the good guy thoroughly, Lockhart finally turned his attention back to the newspaper.
But Hermione showed no immediate intention of leaving.
“Professor Lockhart?”
“Yes?”
“Last year, we learned almost nothing in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, so…
can I know what we’ll be learning this year?
I mean…
so I can prepare in advance, to avoid falling behind in your lessons.”
Hermione seemed to be enduring some kind of torment, overcoming immense shame to utter these words.
Lockhart shook his head.
“Don’t worry, Miss Granger, you won’t fall behind.
Because I plan to change the teaching method.
As long as you memorize the spells in the textbook, you won’t fall behind.
Besides, I must say, ‘The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection’ is actually quite a good book.
At least for first years, the Sparking Spell, Knockback Jinx, Wand-Lighting Charm, and Smokescreen Spell in it are very practical—though I don’t quite see the practicality of the Sneezing Hex.
I plan to continue using this book for the first-year curriculum this year.”
“But starting in second year, we’ll use that ‘Practical Defensive Magic and Its Use Against the Dark Arts’?” Hermione asked eagerly.
“Start with the basics and progress gradually,” Lockhart said noncommittally.
“That textbook is actually for fifth and seventh years, but I think there’s no harm in learning a bit early.
For years one through four and year six, I’ll teach some practical things.”
“Practical things?” Hermione’s pupils seemed to dilate slightly.
“Like what?”
“A bit of this, a bit of that!” Lockhart continued maintaining his air of mystery.
“If you’re too keen on digging to the root, you might lose the sense of anticipation early.”
“Oh, I didn’t mean to pry, I hope you don’t…” Hermione hastily backtracked.
“It’s alright.
I believe remembering the necessary spells isn’t the hard part; the hard part is application.” Lockhart glanced out the window.
“If I were you, I’d hurry and change into school robes, comb your hair, make yourself pretty, and get ready for the Sorting Ceremony…
You see, it’s somewhat impolite to ride the Thestral carriages dressed like that.”
He was referring to Hermione’s still Muggle attire—a wool coat, jeans, and a small cylindrical purse.
But Hermione instinctively touched her hair—and found it was bushy.
She gasped, only then realizing her current appearance might not be suitable for being in front of Lockhart.
“You’re right,” she said, hands covering her hair, arms held high, backing towards the door.
“I think I should go change.”
Lockhart wanted to warn her that walking backwards is an easy way to trip, but the girl moved swiftly, vanishing through the doorway in the blink of an eye.
He didn’t have time to warn her.
After Hermione left, Lockhart checked his watch and found there was still plenty of time.
The Scottish Highlands where Hogwarts was located were a full 800 kilometers from London.
Only two or three hours had passed; it wasn’t that fast yet.
The Hogwarts Express departed at 11 a.m.
and usually arrived at its destination by nightfall, meaning the Hogwarts Express’s speed was around 100 kilometers per hour.
For a train surviving from the steam era, this speed wasn’t bad at all.
And before its appearance, Hogwarts students had to provide their own transportation to school.
The annual scene of large numbers of wizards traveling to school would be noticed by Muggles, making it impossible to keep secret for long.
So finally, the then-Minister for Magic, Ottaline Gambol, proposed a bold idea—using a train to take students to school.
She was already well-known for her appreciation of Muggle technology.
With sufficient reason, she naturally seized the opportunity to implement her ideas, and this train was the product.
Although the pure-blood families of the time scorned the idea, under her forceful threat of “either take the train or don’t come to school,” the pure-bloods had no choice but to comply.
Lockhart greatly admired this tough-minded Minister for Magic—especially for her ability to force pure-blood families to concede.
If I ever come to power in the future, what could I leave behind…
besides a bunch of illegitimate children?
Lockhart thought with anticipation.