Professor Sprout would never know how Lockhart had dealt with the Mandrake screaming crisis, but after this incident, she had a much better impression of Lockhart and gave Professor Snape a meaningful look.
“Professor Lockhart clearly possesses extraordinary knowledge.” Honestly speaking, as a Potions master, Snape was also highly experienced in handling magical plants and ingredients.
Yet even he had no idea how Lockhart had made over a hundred Mandrakes stop screaming so effortlessly.
Whether it was because he was influenced by Lockhart’s enthusiasm or because he held Professor Sprout in high regard, Snape ended up being dragged along by Lockhart to help with the Mandrakes.
The three of them worked quickly and finally finished before sunset.
Covered in dirt from head to toe, they returned to wash up and prepare for the school’s welcoming feast.
Lockhart enthusiastically handed Snape a bottle of luxury shampoo.
“Hey, this stuff works way better than the Potter family’s shampoo.” He forcibly shoved the bottle into Snape’s arms.
“It’s made using powdered Occamy eggshells.
You know how expensive those are.
Trust me, once you use it, you’ll never want to live without it again.” Lockhart flicked his silky, glowing curls and raised an eyebrow.
“Everyone who’s tried it says it’s amazing!” Professor Snape, who was wealthy enough to afford luxury shampoo and had a head of messy, greasy, long hair, was a high-potential customer.
One must strive to become a refined gentleman.
Lockhart winked and left, while Snape wore a strange expression on his face.
What he failed to notice was Snape silently watching his departing figure before lowering his gaze to the shampoo bottle in his hand.
Perhaps this was the only gift he had received in the past ten years.
…
Bang~ Fireworks exploded overhead.
The new year’s students have officially arrived.
Of course, this year did not feature the classic scene of Hannah Abbott spending ages under the Sorting Hat, since Harry Potter was now in his second year.
But…
Lockhart glanced left and right but failed to spot Harry Potter anywhere.
Perhaps it was because the real Harry Potter didn’t actually resemble the film version.
After all, he himself looked nothing like the Lockhart from the films.
“Professor Snape.” Lockhart turned towards Snape, who was sitting beside him.
“Where’s our Boy Who Lived?” Snape’s brows immediately furrowed.
He scanned the hall before looking towards Dumbledore at the head table.
Following Lord Voldemort’s confirmed return to Hogwarts last school year, Harry Potter’s sudden disappearance was definitely not a good sign.
Yes.
Harry Potter was missing!
Somewhere during the short journey between leaving the protection of his blood relatives and arriving at the safer Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry…
…he had vanished.
There was almost nothing more alarming than that.
Lockhart could clearly see the veins on Snape’s neck twitching beneath his seemingly emotionless, deadpan face.
Not far away, Professor McGonagall also looked deeply uneasy.
Tsk.
‘What a child, showered with everyone’s attention.’ Soon, a Prefect hurried onto the stage and quietly informed Professor McGonagall that Harry Potter and Ron Weasley had failed to arrive at the school on schedule.
Professor McGonagall nodded, instructing the Prefect to maintain order among the students, before pressing her lips together and sitting silently.
Dumbledore, however, remained calm.
He turned and gave Snape a slight nod before walking up to the owl-decorated podium to begin his speech.
Oh.
Lockhart remembered now.
His memories were far too chaotic.
The web novels he had read in his previous life had become intertwined with his existing disordered memories, making them almost impossible to notice.
But now, finally, he had recalled them.
After all, Ron had disappeared alongside him.
During the summer before their second year at Hogwarts, Harry Potter should have been staying at the Burrow with the Weasley family.
On the first day of term, Dobby, the Malfoy family house-elf, who was fanatically loyal to Harry, had magically sealed Platform 9¾ at King’s Cross Station, preventing Harry and Ron from catching the Hogwarts Express.
These two exceptionally daring boys, therefore, activated Mr.
Weasley’s magical flying car and set off on an adventure.
Lockhart could already imagine how utterly devastated Mr.
and Mrs.
Weasley must have been when they finally returned to the Muggle side of King’s Cross Station to find the two children missing.
At that moment, Dumbledore was probably waiting for news from the Weasleys or perhaps from members of the Order of the Phoenix who were mobilizing in secret.
Dumbledore soon received news.
Though not from the Order of the Phoenix.
Instead…
“Merlin’s beard!
Look!” A student suddenly pointed out of the Great Hall window and shouted.
Something utterly incompatible with the atmosphere of the magical world appeared in the distant sky.
A Muggle car!
And not just any Muggle car.
A flying Muggle car.
Trailing black smoke and occasionally spitting flames, it narrowly scraped past the castle walls, flew over the greenhouses and vegetable gardens, swept across the school lawns, and then sped towards the Forbidden Forest.
Inside, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley were screaming wildly.
Lockhart clearly saw Professor Snape relax in relief before the corners of his mouth curled into a mocking sneer, as though ridiculing Harry Potter’s disgraceful entrance.
Professor McGonagall also appeared to relax visibly, a smile returning to her face as she continued to direct the first-years through the Sorting Ceremony.
As for Dumbledore, his expression remained impassive.
He simply sat there quietly.
Soon, all the professors seated at the staff table could see the two unfortunate boys tiptoeing and hunching over like thieves as they approached the Great Hall with their luggage, only half of their heads visible as they peeked through the windows.
Professor Snape snorted coldly, pushed back his chair, and strode outside.
Meanwhile, Lockhart sat happily gnawing on a chicken drumstick, enjoying the drama and very much wanting to say: Oh my dear Severus… Those two children belong to Gryffindor House.
You’re the Head of Slytherin House.
Shouldn’t it be Professor McGonagall who disciplines them?
Hehehe…
People often say that all suffering comes from attachment.
Most of life’s troubles arise because one cares too much.
Lockhart had his own troubles, too.
To conceal the embarrassing fact that he couldn’t perform magic, he became obsessed with maintaining the prestige of his reputation.
And so he had to endure the side effects of fame.
Namely: The screams of his fangirls and fanboys.
“AAAAHHHH…!” Countless voices mixed together.
Some of the younger students had especially shrill voices; honestly, they were no less painful than the screams of Mandrakes.
Unfortunately, this situation couldn’t be solved with ‘fertilizer.’ People crowded around him from all directions.
Hermione Granger was by far the most excited of them all.
She desperately squeezed through the crowd while clutching a copy of Magical Me decorated with little heart stickers, hoping to obtain his autograph.
Honestly…
The feeling was actually pretty great.
If only the screams wouldn’t stir up the chaotic memories in his head once again.
Lockhart barely maintained his flawless charming smile while warmly signing autographs one after another and offering endless encouraging words for free.
Looking around, he realized more and more young wizards were gathering around him.
Before long, a young wizard carrying a magical camera came running over, and Lockhart immediately turned into something like a celebrity tourist attraction, posing for photos with one student after another.
To be fair, the scene was so overwhelmingly popular that even some professors who hadn’t yet left after dinner looked a little jealous watching it.