“Many students who have just started learning magic will discover a secret,” Lockhart said.
“It’s that the louder you shout, the better the spell seems to work.” As he spoke, he swept his gaze around the room.
Seeing several students who excelled in Charms nodding in agreement, he broke into a broad smile.
“Of course, once you reach the higher years and gain more experience with spellcasting, you’ll discover that the true essence of magic is a firm and unwavering will.” Murmurs immediately spread through the hall.
Some of the young wizards began whispering excitedly to their neighbors, talking about how they had tried that method before and how effective it had been.
Harry Potter, for example, looked as though he had suddenly achieved enlightenment.
He turned to Ron and eagerly explained that he really had been shouting loudly while casting spells, so it turned out he had been right all along.
From nearby, Draco of Slytherin turned his head with a sneer, ready to mock Harry for his “shout-your-way-through-magic” approach.
But the moment he looked over, he suddenly noticed Hermione Granger staring dreamily at Professor Lockhart on stage, with a face full of admiration.
…
Oh.
Recently, Draco had noticed that many students seemed utterly infatuated with Lockhart, and he found it absolutely disgusting.
Fortunately, the discussion did not last long.
The Prefects from each house quickly stepped in to restore order to the classroom.
After all, they took their glorious task, personally assigned by Professor Lockhart, very seriously.
“I know…” Lockhart said, strolling leisurely across the stage with calm confidence.
“I know that some students may disagree with this statement.
They may believe that the essence of magic is not a strong will but rather a rich imagination, or more specifically, the ability to construct vivid mental images.” He casually waved his wand, a tool that was hardly different to him from a fire poker.
The movement he performed was the most basic Transfiguration technique imaginable.
His elegant posture caused some of the younger witches to squeal excitedly once again.
The Prefects had no choice but to start maintaining order again.
Lockhart merely chuckled as he watched them, nodding approvingly at the eager Prefects before continuing his lecture.
“Many wizards find that when they have a clear expectation of a spell’s outcome, ideally when they can form a vivid mental image, their magic becomes both marvelous and effortless.” “Take the Repairing Charm, for example: ‘Reparo’…” “Take Transfiguration and its corresponding Counter-Transfiguration, for example…” Lockhart gave example after example of such applications.
Each time, he struck a pose and performed the most perfect wand movement possible…
spellcasting so flawless that even Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, masters of Transfiguration, could not have found fault with it.
He rapidly summarized seven different ‘secrets’ to casting magic, each supported by detailed explanations and arguments.
“A firm will, vivid imagination, intense emotions…” He said slowly, pacing across the stage.
His golden wizard robes swayed around him, reflecting the lights of the Great Hall and making him shine brilliantly.
Then he asked, “Yet even after summarizing so many secrets of magic, we still find that none of them can be applied universally to every field of magic, so then… what exactly is the true essence of magic?” His intense gaze swept across every student present, even reaching the professors seated in the corners.
To his surprise, he found that they, too, had fallen into deep thought, which caused his eyebrows to rise slightly.
Next, he randomly selected several outstanding students to attempt to answer the question.
Being the scheming sort, he naturally chose students who were talented and eager to show off…
and, most importantly, his fans.
Their excellence would create a lasting impression among the other students at Hogwarts.
“Look!
Professor Lockhart’s fans are all high-achieving students.
Supporting him must be the right choice.” Lockhart received many responses, but even Hogwarts’ professors might not be able to provide a wholly convincing answer to such a question.
In truth, this kind of question had never had a definitive answer.
As any answer would inevitably be questioned, as long as it contained genuine substance, it would spark discussion rather than rebuttal.
This would make the lofty image he established seem grounded rather than pretentious.
Lockhart smiled at everyone present.
“My answer is…
Story.” “Yes, Story is the true essence of magic.” His eyes shone with wisdom as he spoke slowly and firmly.
“And if I had to give that story a qualifier, I would call it a fairy-tale story.” He looked seriously at the young wizards below him.
“Many young wizards believe that life is very long and that childhood can be wasted, so they don’t devote themselves to learning.
But when you leave Hogwarts, you may realize that the most important time of your life was spent there during your childhood.” “If, like me, you graduate at seventeen or eighteen and begin traveling around the world, meeting countless people and witnessing countless things, you’ll notice a phenomenon: many powerful wizards reached the peak of their magical creativity during childhood.” “Many of the spells you learn, or have heard about, were invented during their creators’ childhood years if you carefully study their histories.” Examples of this were everywhere.
Take Professor Snape, standing right before them.
He invented many spells during his youth, but how many new spells had he created after graduation?
“Why is that?” Lockhart looked at the suddenly silent young wizards.
“I believe it is because they begin to face the cruel reality of life and gradually lose their sense of adventure.” “And specifically, they began to lose hope in their fairy-tale story.” “Our fantasies about magical effects, our unwavering belief in magic, the ease with which we pour our emotions into magic itself…
that kind of drive just disappears.” “Adult wizards find it difficult to continue living within a fairy-tale story.” “The natural adventure of a young wizard’s childhood is the finest soil for magic.
Treasure these seven years of school life because they offer limitless possibilities.” The widely traveled Professor Lockhart smiled warmly at everyone below the stage.
From where he stood, he could clearly see Snape in the corner, his expression dark and troubled, as though Lockhart’s words had struck him deeply.
“So then, to be more specific… Perhaps the Sorting itself already pointed you towards your path.” “Gryffindor…
perhaps it is adventure?
Defeating a Dark Lord?” “Slytherin…
perhaps it is orchestrating a world-shaking conspiracy?” “Ravenclaw…
perhaps it’s an outstanding professional achievement?
Great fame and prestige?” “…” He shook his head with a smile.
“No, it cannot be defined.
Everyone must have their own magical, fairy-tale life.” “And that is something you must search for yourselves.” “Now then, let us move on to a practical demonstration to show you just how astonishing the magical effects of a fairy-tale story can be.” “I think I’ll need to invite two assistants onto the stage…” “To perform a fairy-tale-style play.” His gaze swept across the crowd as he murmured, “I need a brave hero who wishes to defeat the Dark Lord and a wise man who is firmly convinced that he is right.” Oh, he quickly found his targets.
Even though many young wizards were eagerly raising their hands, his eyes settled on two boys who were desperately trying to hide behind their classmates.
“Harry Potter…” “Draco Malfoy…” “Would you two please come up to the stage?” (End Of This Chapter)