Hermione the fangirl had far too many questions on her mind.
On the way from the Great Hall to the professors’ offices, she asked countless questions.
Lockhart answered her tirelessly.
In truth, he was in a rather unpleasant mood at the moment.
As he stood on the self-moving staircase, he smiled and nodded at the young wizards who greeted him respectfully in the distance, but he was feeling rather complicated emotions.
He had originally planned to just coast through this year.
But when he truly faced these young wizards, whose faces were filled with admiration and a thirst for knowledge, he found it difficult not to think something: ‘Was he really going to waste a whole year of these children’s lives?’ “Damn this sense of responsibility of mine.” He inwardly cursed himself.
Looking at the ancient, solemn school castle, he suddenly felt a heavy weight settle in his heart.
“Professor Lockhart, I’ve actually always had a huge question.” Hermione spoke very quickly, one syllable tumbling after another, as though someone were chasing her to make her keep talking.
“What exactly is the essence of magic?” “It is… hm?” Lockhart gestured for her to step off the staircase.
He was about to give a casual reply when he suddenly paused.
“That’s an answer people spend their entire lives searching for.
Asking it now may be a little too early for you.” “You seem to be a very exceptional young witch.
I can sense the pride inherent in excellent people from you.
I imagine you’re far better than your classmates.
So why would you have a question like this?” The young witch in front of him was clever, but she was still only in her second year.
Hearing this, Hermione sighed and held the book ‘Magical Me’ close to her.
Still too young to hide her emotions, she looked somewhat dejected.
“I might never find the answer.
I’m not actually that smart.
I’m just harder working than other people.” Now this was rare: proud Miss Granger looking utterly dispirited.
Lockhart smiled and asked, “Have you sought answers from the other professors?” Hermione nodded.
“I asked Professor McGonagall.
She just comforted me, telling me not to rush and that things would get better when I grew up.” “Do you agree with that answer?” Lockhart continued.
Hermione shook her head.
“I don’t know.
I mean… I’m not sure either.” Her face was so serious, so rigid, that for a moment Lockhart felt as though he were looking at a miniature McGonagall.
“I can always make magic produce the intended effects very easily.
I can easily gain the professors’ approval.
But when I try to make magic more powerful, it never works.” She was deeply confused.
“The same magic produces completely different effects in the professors’ hands; it is stronger, more flexible, and with more variations.
I don’t know how to break through that limitation.” She was a textbook Gryffindor.
While quickly searching through his memories, Lockhart arrived at that stereotypical conclusion: Gryffindors always cast magic in a rigid, methodical way, lacking a natural spirituality and ease with magic.
Of course, that was merely a stereotype.
In reality, when it came to battle, Gryffindors often displayed far more instinctive flair and composure with magic than others did.
“I’ve read your autobiography.
You also grew up in the Muggle world, so perhaps your thoughts about magic could inspire me more.” Hermione looked at him with great anticipation.
“Can you give me the answer?” “Of course.
Nothing is difficult for me.
No one understands magic better than I do.” With a flawless smile, Lockhart continued walking with her.
“I may be able to give you the answer.
It used to be my secret, the reason I could easily defeat many powerful wizards.” Hermione’s eyes lit up immediately.
However, Professor Lockhart did not answer directly.
Instead, he patiently guided her forward.
“If you look through historical records, you’ll discover that wizards who lived through major magical events were always stronger than those of other eras.” “Take the four founders of this school, for example.
They lived through the most terrifying era of witch hunts in wizarding society.” “The movement surrounding the Statute of Secrecy fifty years ago also produced many powerful wizards: Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Grindelwald, Newt, Queenie and Credence…” Hermione let out a startled cry, feeling as though she had grasped the answer.
“You mean people need to go through the tempering of battle?” “No…
or rather, not only that.” Lockhart shook his head.
“Many wizards and the newer generation of Aurors live lives filled with intense combat, yet they haven’t grown stronger because of it.” Aurors are the backbone of wizarding society.
In terms of combat magic, they were already among the most powerful groups, aside from the true masters.
However, Lockhart, who essentially engaged in the work of a Dark Wizard, did not fear Aurors all that much.
As long as he didn’t encounter the most powerful Aurors, ordinary ones were beneath his notice.
Hermione became even more confused.
“Then what exactly is it?” Lockhart smiled faintly.
“Fairy tales.
My answer is fairy tales.” “???” Hermione tilted her head in bewilderment.
“Yes.
I believe the power of magic comes from fairy tales.” “Magical creatures and beasts come from fairy tales.
Dark creatures come from twisted fairy tales, and the magic belonging to wizards also comes from fairy tales.” “Magic is the ultimate story of fairy tales.” “If you ask me how to become stronger, my answer is this: immerse yourself in the story of a fairy tale.” “Immerse yourself in a fairy-tale atmosphere and you’ll quickly find your strength improving at an astonishing rate.” This was the experience of the original Lockhart himself.
Recognizing this principle early on enabled him to excel effortlessly during his school years.
After graduating, he traveled the world hunting down powerful wizards and never failed to succeed.
Being a celebrated figure at school was like living a fairy-tale story.
So too was becoming an evil thief who stole other people’s lives.
Some famous figures were naturally exceptional, like James Potter and Sirius, or the current Weasley twins, George and Fred.
Others deliberately trained that image, such as students who were active in clubs or in Quidditch or people like Lockhart who carefully built up their reputations.
The results were remarkable.
At school, he had effortlessly modified the Dark Lord Voldemort’s Dark Mark, replacing the skull with his own portrait.
He would venture to say that many of his former classmates still wouldn’t be able to accomplish something like that even now.
At that very moment, Lockhart was witnessing perhaps the greatest legendary star-making story of all time: ‘Harry Potter.’ He referred to Harry Potter’s extraordinary experiences, along with the schemes of the Order of the Phoenix behind them, as ‘the birth of an epic hero.’ And that too was part of a fairy tale.
Becoming Harry Potter’s professor and one of the most important figures in his epic journey was the greatest stroke of all.
This was the real benefit and the fundamental reason why Lockhart had originally accepted Dumbledore’s offer to teach at Hogwarts.
“Fairy tales?” Hermione’s little face scrunched up tightly.
She was someone who leaned towards rationality.
Living a fairy-tale life…
She didn’t think she could do that.
After all, discrimination existed among wizards, but it also existed among Muggles.
In fact, Muggles generally discriminated against wizards.
Pure-blood or Mudblood, it made no difference to them as they called them all freaks and lunatics.
Especially the sort of people Lockhart described, those who lived in a fairy-tale-like way of life… wasn’t he talking exactly about people like that?
“What should I do?” Hermione took a deep breath and clenched her little fists tightly, believing she couldn’t give up trying.
“The simplest method is to bravely battle the Dark Lord, or become the Dark Lord yourself.
Nothing is more purely fairy tale than that.” At last, the two arrived outside the office.
Lockhart shrugged.
“Of course, sometimes we have to recognize the limits of our own ability and luck.
In that case, becoming the companion of a hero, or a Dark Lord, isn’t a bad choice either.” (End Of This Chapter)