In the Headmaster's office, Dumbledore was giving Harry a more detailed account of the situation.
"We saw from Dobby's mind that this book drains magic from nearby objects... I just didn't expect the Ministry to expand their crackdown so broadly. Even innocent pure-blood wizards got caught up in it," Dumbledore said with a touch of regret.
Harry nodded, understanding. He wasn't at all surprised that the Ministry would dare to arbitrarily widen their dragnet. With Professor Dumbledore standing firm, how could the Ministry folks not try to make a profit?
"Professor," Harry quipped, "I never realized you had influence within the Ministry! I thought you were truly so detached from worldly affairs that you didn't have any loyal followers."
Dumbledore, however, didn't dwell on that. Instead, he said, "Harry, I hope you'll keep an eye out for anyone among your classmates who's behaving particularly strangely. Lucius went to great lengths to hide this book; he certainly has another purpose. I'm worried he might try to get the book into the school."
Dumbledore paused, then continued, "I hope this item isn't what I think it is."
It seemed like only Harry and Dumbledore were in the castle. Once Harry's initial excitement wore off, he started to feel bored. Dumbledore also refused to teach Harry any offensive spells. "You're still young, Harry," he'd say. "We can talk about that when you're a bit older."
So, Harry resorted to ordering magic books by owl post to teach himself, and he kept up a regular correspondence with Hermione.
Later, Dumbledore had to leave for a bit, and Snape returned to the castle, immediately diving into his dungeon. Because he was so bored, Harry even started trying to provoke Snape. After a few wizard duels, Harry felt his practical combat skills had noticeably improved.
This good fortune didn't last, though. Snape seemed to figure out what Harry was up to, and after that, no matter how much Harry provoked him, he remained completely unfazed. One day, Harry even threw a Dungbomb at the dungeon door, but Snape inside was as still as a tomb.
The start of term arrived quickly, and Harry sat with the professors in the Great Hall, waiting for the Sorting Ceremony to begin. Harry noticed a flamboyantly dressed wizard among the faculty; he guessed it must be the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. The wizard spotted Harry looking at him and flashed a rather sickening smile.
Students started to trickle into the Great Hall. Soon enough, Hermione sat down next to Harry. "Harry, that ring is really, truly wonderful!" Hermione blurted out excitedly the moment she sat down.
"Hermione," Harry said with a wry smile, "you've written me countless letters about that already."
Hermione blushed but, thankfully, didn't continue the topic. "Harry, did you and Professor Dumbledore find anything while you were at school?"
"I'll tell you later," Harry whispered, gesturing for Hermione to look around. The hall had filled up without them noticing. Harry suddenly spotted a red-haired girl in the crowd of first-years staring in their direction. "Probably another Weasley," Harry thought, not giving it much more thought.
During the Sorting, Hermione kept prattling on to Harry about Gilderoy Lockhart's exploits, which was really starting to annoy him.
After the feast, Harry and Hermione walked into a corridor. Harry pulled out the golden skull, and Hermione, despite giving it a disgusted look, still placed her hand on it. Only then did Harry tell her what Dumbledore had said.
"That's going to be incredibly difficult, Harry," Hermione said, looking a bit distressed. "How can we possibly keep an eye on every single student?"
"We just need to focus on the pure-blood children," Harry replied. "I don't think Lucius Malfoy would dare put anything of Voldemort's on a half-blood or Muggle-born wizard."
Hermione nodded. For now, that was all they could do.
The next day, by the entrance to the Herbology classroom, Lockhart stopped Harry.
"Harry, if I may call you that. I waited for you for ages in Diagon Alley, but you never showed up. No matter, I've come to you!"
"I, Gilderoy Lockhart, five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award, hereby present Harry Potter with a complete set of my signed works!" Lockhart announced loudly. The bewildered young witches and wizards nearby burst into applause.
Harry watched, dumbfounded, as Lockhart pulled out a huge pile of books from his robes and forcefully thrust them into his arms. "Professor, thank you for your generosity, but I'm off to class now, and I really can't carry this many books," Harry tried to explain, but Hermione had already eagerly taken the books.
"Professor Lockhart," Hermione gushed, clutching the books, "I'm Hermione Granger, and I've read so many of your books! You're simply amazing..."
Lockhart just gave Hermione a perfunctory reply, then forcibly put his arm around Harry and smiled. Click! A young wizard scurried around the corner.
"Professor Lockhart, I got the shot!" the wizard exclaimed, holding up his camera excitedly. "Hello, Harry! I'm Colin Creevey..."
Having his photo taken without warning, Harry was about to lose his temper, but seeing Hermione excitedly asking Lockhart for a photo, he decided against it. Harry silently walked into the greenhouse, with Hermione struggling behind him, clutching Lockhart's signed books.
"Hermione, let me cast a Hover Charm on those—"
"No, I can manage!" Hermione cut Harry off, holding Lockhart's signed books even tighter. Harry could only help Hermione carry her Herbology textbook.
"Alright, everyone, look here! Mandrakes..." Professor Sprout tried to draw everyone's attention away from Lockhart, but with little success.
In the afternoon's Defence Against the Dark Arts class, Lockhart's teaching philosophy was even harder for Harry to stomach.
"Who knows my favorite... Excellent, Miss Granger, five points to Gryffindor!" After awarding points to several students in quick succession, Lockhart finally moved on to the "practical" segment.
"Harry, I noticed you didn't answer any questions, but don't worry, you'll love this."
Less than two minutes later, Lockhart was chased out of the classroom by a swarm of Cornish Pixies. Harry grimly managed to round up and cage the pixies, while Hermione continued to defend Lockhart.
"He probably just wanted to train our ability to handle crises."
(That show-off, Lockhart.)
If Harry were to rank all his professors, Lockhart would undoubtedly be "number one." In the days that followed, Lockhart would constantly appear before Harry with a throng of followers, forcing Harry to pose for photos. Because of Hermione, Harry couldn't even get angry, which left him in a foul mood for days.
Fortunately, some people eventually saw through Lockhart's true colors.
"He's a complete buffoon! He actually made us perform a play in Defence Against the Dark Arts," Fred grumbled in the common room. Angelina heard this and angrily told Fred to shut up. "Fred or George, I don't care which one you are, you are not to slander Professor Lockhart!"
That statement clearly had the opposite effect. The next day, Lockhart was attacked. Harry was certain he saw red hair disappearing around the corner of the stairs.
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