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Chapter 272: Lockhart's Confidence
Chapter 272: Lockhart's Confidence
Fred and George Weasley left the table without finishing their meal, clutching a few slices of bread as they rushed off.
Apparently, they wanted to send their letters before class started.
Harry, Ron, and Neville exchanged bewildered glances, honestly, they still didn't understand what was going on.
However, they didn't have time to ponder further as Professor McGonagall was distributing class schedules along the Gryffindor table.
"Kael, you're just in time."
After handing Neville his schedule, she said, "Professor Sprout is looking for you. If you're done with breakfast, come with me."
"Yes, Professor."
Kael finished his lemon juice and followed Professor McGonagall out of the Great Hall.
If his guess was correct, Professor Sprout wanted to discuss the Time-Turner.
After all, the first class of the new school year was about to begin, and there should be news about it.
Moreover, before coming to the dining hall, he had already collected his class schedule from the common room.
The first class for Third Year was Magical Creature Care and Arithmancy... Both classes were scheduled for 9 am.
...
After leaving the dining hall, Professor McGonagall didn't head to the upstairs offices but led Kael out of the castle to the other side of the grounds.
Professor Sprout was there, tending to the Whomping Willow...
Due to the reckless actions of two individuals the day before, this poor little tree had several broken branches. Professor Sprout was carefully wrapping the broken areas with potions and bandages.
Kael noticed that the Whomping Willow wasn't still; it was still moving. A passing owl nearly got snatched from mid-air.
Fortunately, the owl was small and quick, escaping just in time, leaving behind a trail of feathers as it flew away, muttering complaints.
Clearly, Professor Sprout hadn't treated the area near the roots where the scar was located.
However, the Whomping Willow showed no signs of attacking her, allowing her to move freely among its branches.
Moreover, another professor was present.
Gilderoy Lockhart.
He stood about thirty feet away from the Whomping Willow, shouting,
"If I were you, I wouldn't do that... It's too troublesome."
"Oh... You're being too troublesome, Pomona. I know a useful spell that can perfectly reattach those completely broken branches."
"That's right. I was just thinking of teaching you that spell, but I didn't expect you to know it too!"
Lockhart continued to chatter below, and Professor Sprout's expression grew increasingly displeased.
If Lockhart weren't standing so far away, she would have asked the Whomping Willow to give him a warm embrace.
How annoying!
At that moment, Professor McGonagall arrived with Kael nearby.
"Oh, Minerva, it's delightful to see you." Lockhart approached.
"The feeling is mutual, Professor Lockhart," Professor McGonagall replied politely, then called out in the direction of the Whomping Willow,
"Pomona, are you done? I've brought Kael."
"One more branch," Professor Sprout replied, glancing back, her movements becoming noticeably faster.
"Wait, are you the youngest recipient of the Merlin Knight Medal in history?" Lockhart asked, staring at Kael as if he had discovered a new continent.
"Yes, Professor Lockhart," Kael nodded.
"We should have met before. Remember, at Flourish and Blotts, you came to buy my book," Lockhart said with a smile, his white teeth gleaming in the sunlight.
"But you were too shy and hid."
Professor McGonagall gave a slight sideways glance.
A person who dared to face a Death Eater alone, confront werewolves head-on, and forcibly break into a forbidden place with a Three-Headed Dog... could be shy?
Professor McGonagall couldn't possibly associate Kyle with the shy and timid Fred and George. It was absurd, and she'd rather believe that Fred and George were a pair of well-behaved children.
But she soon recalled a recent issue of the Daily Prophet and the photo of a flustered Harry.
If her guess was correct, Kyle was probably there too, but he had left early and avoided being captured for the group photo.
Professor McGonagall's lips twitched slightly, as if she was smiling.
But Lockhart didn't notice this.
"I'm also a recipient of the Merlin Knight Order Medal, and I've encountered werewolves."
He patted Kyle's shoulder, "You're so lucky to have achieved what I have at such a young age."
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"Kyle's achievement of the Merlin Knight Order Medal has nothing to do with luck."
Professor Sprout approached and said nonchalantly, "He saved an entire floor of patients."
"Yes, of course, that deserves recognition." Lockhart adjusted his golden-trimmed hat.
"In fact, I've saved many people during my travels, but I've never mentioned these incidents."
"Yes, you never mentioned them, but they're all written in your book," Kyle thought to himself.
Although no one responded, Lockhart didn't feel embarrassed at all and continued, "I believe you've read my book, 'Wandering with Werewolves,' where I detailed fifteen methods to deal with werewolves."
"Professor, isn't it seventeen methods?"
Kyle blinked, "Did you forget?"
"Seventeen..." Lockhart paused, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Of course not. It's just that two methods are too risky, and I don't recommend ordinary wizards to try them... It seems you've been reading my book carefully. Very good. Which house are you in?"
"Hufflepuff."
"Then... Hufflepuff, plus ten points." Lockhart said with delight, "Your future is bright, and you'll surely become an internationally renowned wizard like me.
Of course, you've already achieved some things, though it's not as glamorous as winning the Wizard Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times in a row. But this is just the beginning.
When I was thirteen, I was much more ordinary than you."
Professor McGonagall, standing behind them, started twitching and grinding her teeth.
The Wizard Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award is more prestigious than the Merlin Knight Order Medal?
How could he say that?
Even if they offered her a large sum of Galleons, she'd have to consider it.
It's so embarrassing. If her old friends saw this, they might think that Hogwarts couldn't afford to pay its teachers.
At that moment, a group of people, including Harry, Hermione, and Ron, emerged from the castle... Their first class was Herbology, and they were heading to the greenhouses.
"I have to go." Lockhart patted Kyle's shoulder again.
"By the way, although I was just instructing Professor Sprout on treating Whomping Willow injuries, I don't want you to think I'm better at Herbology than her. I just happened to come across a few of these peculiar plants during my travels..."
"Where did you see them, Professor?"
Kyle asked, "I've always wanted to grow a Whomping Willow, but Professor Dumbledore and Professor Sprout wouldn't allow me to dig it up. If it's in the wild, there shouldn't be a problem, right?"
"It was in a very distant place..." Lockhart thought for a moment and said, "And you might be disappointed, as the Whomping Willows there are also someone's private property, and they value them highly."
(End of Chapter)
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