The slacker professor at Hogwarts

Chapter 339 What does my existence mean to you?

Chapter 339 What does my existence mean to you?

"Since you arrived at Hogwarts, Severus has changed twice."

Dumbledore, curiously observing the state of the three-headed werewolf on the stage of the Great Hall, couldn't hold back any longer after some things happened on stage that caused everyone to scream. He turned around and spoke to Lockhart.

"Twice?" Lockhart asked in astonishment.

"Yes, twice," Dumbledore said with deep emotion. "Initially, you had a very good influence on him, helping him emerge from the shadows of his life and try to make amends for his past mistakes and to redeem himself. We are all delighted to see that he is trying to become a good person, someone who can be useful to others."

He healed Neville's parents, researched Lupin's wolfsbane, and wrote a monumental work of potions that was extremely important to the wizarding world.

"The second time was much worse," Grindelwald quipped. "This dark wizard is trying to become a champion of justice," then he turned and saw Gilderoy Lockhart trying to persuade him to be a good person, realizing that life could be like this, and so he changed his ways as well."

Lockhart objected, "What did I do wrong?"

Grindelwald thought for a moment, then said, "The word 'mocking' would be more appropriate. You see, he's starting down that path too, neither just nor evil, his magic and actions filled with mockery and satire, yet he enjoys immense prestige."

Lockhart shrugged indifferently, unconcerned. "Wizards should have free spirits. Those who want justice should pursue justice and earn everyone's respect; those who want evil should pursue evil and not be bound by reality. In between these two extremes, my situation is the norm, that of a normal person!"

"Come on," Grindelwald said, too lazy to even comment.

A normal person?

hey~

Go ask Tom, that silly boy, whether he agrees with your self-assessment. He's obviously the most qualified to speak on this.

Grindelwald once suspected that Voldemort might not be able to follow them into the new era, because at some inexplicable moment, he might be killed by some whimsical person.

When it comes to Voldemort, Old G has something to say.

"Giddy, you should know what Tom needs to do most right now?"

Lockhart knew, "Unsurprisingly, the key is to find a way to gather the old guard and rebuild influence."

"It seems you know this. Then you should know that Tom's most loyal Death Eaters are actually in Azkaban, and their loyalty has been proven."

Tom couldn't just stand by and watch.

Grindelwald raised an eyebrow. "If you want to save these people, starting with the Ministry of Magic is a very good approach. And right now, he's in your Department of Mysteries' Bloodline Hall. You know what I'm going to say."

He was reminding Lockhart that it wouldn't be difficult for Voldemort to accomplish this, and that if he succeeded, Lockhart's reputation might be tarnished, or he might even be seen as an accomplice by others.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald did not actually object to Lockhart's use of Voldemort.

It would be very difficult for a young wizard with little foundation to implement some new era reforms in Beauxbatons, or even the magical world of Western Europe and the Americas, and to promote the magic school-centered system guided by the Triwizard Tournament, without the help of a powerful Dark Lord.

After all, in their eyes, Voldemort's existence was only of this use.

But you can use it, though you have to be careful not to get your hands dirty.

Unlike these aging elders, the young magical master Lockhart truly represents a certain future. He also represents some of the reforms they have been pushing forward, and as a pillar of the wizarding world, Lockhart will effectively ensure the continuation of these reforms after they step down.

This is actually something to look forward to, because Lockhart is not a lone wolf. He not only profoundly influences those around him, but also leads a group of highly promising young wizards onto the path of magic. This truly allows these two big shots to see a clear lineage of transformative power continuing.

They planned three steps ahead for every step they took. The two old men led the way, followed by Lockhart, Snape, Sirius Black, Lupin, Audrey Flamel, and others, then the younger generation like Harry, Percy, Cedric, and Hermione.

We need to protect and safeguard them properly.

"You suspect that he joined the Department of Mysteries for his own purposes?" Lockhart asked thoughtfully.

"Is that even a question? Could someone like him genuinely help others?" Grindelwald rolled his eyes. "Young man, don't always think of people as complicated and multifaceted. Just treat him as a simple, evil demon, and many judgments will become clear."

This does not align with Lockhart's exploration on a spiritual level.

But it unexpectedly matches the actual situation.

Lockhart seemed to understand something. "I know what to do."

Deflecting a crisis before it occurs requires unique insight and wisdom, which is what makes people like Old Man Gorbachev so remarkable, rather than someone like Dumbledore who is constantly running around trying to solve major crises.

If Grindelwald were Dumbledore, who had sensed the potential danger of Voldemort back in Tom's student days, he would have definitely dragged Tom into the great war that swept the entire wizarding world back then.

If he's lucky, Tom, who hasn't had a chance to fully rise to power, will die in the struggle and become the most useful consumable.

If you're unlucky, Tom, who's been pulled into your camp and subjected to the camp's narrative discipline, will also feel grateful for your help, thus creating a huge influence on Tom and making it easy to restrict him.

Old ginger is spicier; Lockhart hadn't really considered this before.

He wasn't actually as amazing or exceptionally talented as others imagined. He was also making his way forward with difficulty, needing to devote all his energy to exploring magic.

Unlike Dumbledore, Grindelwald, and Voldemort, who were seasoned figures who had already forged their own paths in magic, they could not afford to be distracted by matters of famous politics and power struggles.

His magical life is just beginning.

"It's not a big deal, I'll handle it." Lockhart wasn't particularly concerned about it; he just needed to know what to do and execute it. There was no need to keep thinking about it or worrying about the consequences. "Let's talk about the current situation. The Triwizard Tournament's masterclass is clearly starting to have an impact. Didn't you say you were going to offer a course too?"

Grindelwald chuckled. "Yes, Muggle Studies. That's a sensitive topic."

He raised an eyebrow and gestured to Old Deng beside Lockhart.

"My suggestion is after the family exhibition match; that would be a good opportunity," Dumbledore said.

The Triwizard Tournament is planned based on a "List of Tournament Curses" agreed upon by the three participants.

Among the four categories of "Future Magic, War Magic, Duel Magic, and Life Magic," the Family Showdown is a competition designed around Life Magic.

It will allow young wizards to invite their families to participate, especially Muggle parents from mixed-race and Muggle families, which will bring about some positive social discussion on the sensitive topic of the Secret Service Act.

In such discussions, Grindelwald's courses appear quite naturally, without giving the impression of promoting some kind of Muggle threat theory, thus avoiding touching on some people's sensitive points.

Only in this way can the influence truly resonate with people.

Regarding the three-way battle for supremacy, all three are actually in the process of exploration, and they discuss and adjust some details from time to time based on public opinion and the situation.

For example, there is a problem right now.

"Recently, there have been some voices internationally, with some magic schools hoping to participate in this competition that has attracted the attention of almost the entire wizarding world."

Grindelwald's face was full of sarcasm when he mentioned this, "Ilfamoni (USA), Castello Bruckeau (Brazil), the Magic Institute (small life), Vagado (Africa) —"

"They shouldn't even think about getting involved in the three-way championship!"

He then looked at Lockhart, "I'll show them that the Triwizard Tournament isn't just a competition between three schools, but the three strongest in the entire wizarding world!"

This involves the core interests of the magic school-centric system, and those who are tempted to make trouble may really provoke Grindelwald to take drastic measures.

If this dark wizard is really going to get rid of these people, he has plenty of ways to do it.

"Young man, you have a more flexible mind. Tell me, what are some ways to better emphasize our three schools?" Grindelwald felt quite dissatisfied with what he could do in this matter. Albus kept pulling him aside, urging him to use gentler methods, to be persuasive rather than drastic, so as to avoid provoking some people to take a completely opposing stance.

Then the only option is to ignore them, to ignore the voices of these people.

Continuing the tradition of the three giants, they initially treated it as a game within their small circle, using it to display their arrogance.

Arrogance can sometimes be a strength.

"Yes, there is." Lockhart had been looking forward to this for a long time. "Every game, when the winner is announced, the band will play the winning school song!"

"School song?" Grindelwald's lips twitched. What kind of trick was this?

"Great idea!" Dumbledore clearly agreed. "I heard you directed the production of the school song at Beauxbatons, and Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick are very excited about it and want to create a Hogwarts school song as well."

"Childish tricks," Grindelwald muttered, but then looked at Lockhart with a curious gaze. "Wait, is this also part of your exploration of relationship magic?"

Bingo!

You got it right.

Lockhart smiled broadly. "Rituals and music are wonderful supports for freedom and order, and are certainly part of the magic of relationships. Within the framework of a shared, sung order, every free spirit shines."

This is already an extremely profound concept of magic.

Dumbledore and Grindelwald seemed to be deep in thought.

"Spirituality—" Grindelwald muttered the word, "To be honest, this is actually a relatively weak area for both of us. The exploration of the realm of self-will inevitably leads us to the world rather than to ourselves."

Self-will is of course highly related to the self and spirituality.

Lockhart knew without asking that Dumbledore and Grindelwald could easily handle Patronus Charms, Animagus spells, and the like.

However, the actual situation is completely opposite to the theory. Because of the expansion of the ego, people move from the "small self" to the "greater self" and to the "world", and do not emphasize the issue of spirituality.

Therefore, people can see that Dumbledore improved the Patronus Charm, allowing the Patronus to speak as a tool for transmitting messages, but it is almost impossible to see Dumbledore use this magic.

"A quote from Sirius reminded me." Lockhart always gained something from each of his Duel Club sharing sessions. The young wizards were learning, and so was he. "He said that the Patronus Charm and the Animagus image are highly related; they are both expressions of the self, shining with spirituality."

"So, I'm wondering, does spirituality have a specific form?"

"This doesn't seem to be a problem, as many people's guardian deities and Animagus images are consistent."

Lockhart raised an eyebrow. "So, is there a way to make the spirit appear directly in front of us? I've been studying Transfiguration lately, which involves topics like curses, will, and life force, and I'm starting to get a general idea."

Grindelwald clicked his tongue, full of admiration for Lockhart's continued vigorous progress on the path of magic.

"The relationship between the Patronus Charm and Transfiguration—" Dumbledore pondered, head bowed. "Perhaps I can offer you some insights for the next lesson, which I will then discuss."

After the three of them discussed for a long time, Lockhart found Voldemort again, this time outside the school.

An ancient castle located in the primeval forest of Wicklow Ranges National Park in Ireland, formerly the property of the Dry Black family.

After Sirius Black was excommunicated and his brother Regulus died, the Black family's assets were almost entirely controlled by Signas Black III. Later, the youngest daughter, Andromeda, eloped with a Muggle named Tonks and was excommunicated. In the end, the Black family's assets were divided among the two remaining daughters, Bella and Narcissa.

Not every political marriage in the Black family resulted in a happy ending.

-

At least Bella didn't have the same happiness as her sister Narcissa and her husband Lucius Malfoy. Bella separated from her husband Rodolphus Lestrange shortly after their marriage, their relationship resembling more of a business alliance than a marriage.

Now freed from Lockhart's control, Bella did not seek out anything related to the Lestrange family and returned to the castle that belonged to the Black family.

Then something very strange happened.

Although Bella had taken her husband's surname and become Mrs. Lestrange in name, she did not exhibit the characteristics of a member of the Lestrange family and still carried the ominous aura of the Black family.

It resonates so perfectly with the atmosphere that permeates this castle.

In contrast, Bella's sister Narcissa hardly evoked any sense of unease in Lockhart; instead, she exuded an extremely strong Malfoy family aura.

Lockhart's spiritual perception revealed that this was the norm; Molly Weasley, born into the Prewitt family, one of the Twenty-Eight Holy Purebloods, now exuded the Weasley family aura.

The inheritance of magical bloodlines is sometimes truly intertwined with the unique issue of family honor.

Lockhart found Voldemort here.

To be honest, this place is not suitable for living.

The ancient castle looked extremely dilapidated and abandoned. Some deep cracks had appeared on one of the walls, and a huge tree had grown its roots in a corner of the castle roof, making the castle look like it was about to collapse at any moment.

Not to mention, the unique chill of the stone house, and the extreme lack of human presence due to the fact that no one had lived there for more than ten years, made everyone who walked in feel extremely uncomfortable.

When Lockhart arrived, Voldemort was sitting at a long table in a high-backed chair in the dimly lit restaurant, playing with a crystal ball.

The crystal ball sparkled in the flames of the fireplace.

It's only October, and the roaring fire in the fireplace still can't bring any warmth to the people in the castle.

"Are you sure you want to stay here?" Lockhart asked, expressing his incomprehension.

Voldemort may or may not have been rich, but Bella's inheritance from the Black family was enormous, filling Gringotts' vaults.

Voldemort did not answer the question, but simply gestured to the crystal ball in his hand, "I went to the Hall of Prophecy when I was in the Department of Mysteries, and this is what I got from there."

According to the rules, the Silent Ones of the Bloodline Hall are not allowed to roam freely within the Department of Mysteries without permission.

But Voldemort was clearly not a rule-abiding person.

Lockhart examined the prophetic crystal ball with some curiosity, then suddenly realized, "This is Professor Trelawney's prophecy about you and the Savior?"

Actually, he had always felt there was a very absurd problem with the prophecy crystal ball incident: Voldemort went to great lengths to obtain this crystal ball in order to know the specific content of the prophecy, going to such lengths to secretly guide Harry Potter, dispatch a large number of Death Eaters, and even personally fight Dumbledore, nearly being killed himself.

Didn't they ever think of asking Professor Trelawney directly?

Without any threats, the impoverished and unusually heavy-drinking Professor Trelawney would easily succumb to the temptation of alcohol. After a few sips, hey, even just a few drinks, he would reveal all the details.

Well, it's probably because Professor Quirrell, who was in the group, died young. This former Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, who was still relatively sane, should have been able to help Voldemort handle this matter.

uh~

I don't understand these people's thought process.

"No." Voldemort's eye twitched, a dark glint in his eyes. "On the very night I was confirmed to join the Silent Ones, the Department of Mysteries' official documents recorded a visit from a magical master. Apparently, Dumbledore brought Harry Potter here to retrieve it."

The Hall of Prophecy was enchanted with powerful magic, and only those involved in the prophecy could take it from the shelves.

Old Deng was excellent!

Wait, something's not right.

Lockhart asked in confusion, "Then what kind of prophecy is this?"

"A divination by a professor from the American Ivorymoney School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was a member of the Gaunt family and often performed divinations about the future of his family members. During one divination, when content related to me appeared, he was alarmed and handed it over to the International Confederation of Wizards, which eventually ended up in the custody of the Department of Mysteries at the British Ministry of Magic."

The origins of the Gaunt family branch in the American wizarding world can be traced back to the founding of the Ivermony School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The school was founded by the witch Aesop Thale, her Muggle husband, and their two adopted sons. The dominant witch, Aesop Thale, was herself a Parseltongue from the Gaunt family.

This witch was raised by her Aunt Gaunt, received the most traditional Gaunt family education, and possessed the wand of her ancestor Salazar Slytherin. Thanks to this, the Gaunt family in America today maintains intricate connections with the Magical Congress and magic schools.

(Similar to the Malfoy family, who came from the French wizarding society to the British wizarding society, but without a dominant Dumbledore in the magic school)

"My blood-related prophet has divined a message about me."

Voldemort continued, staring intently at Lockhart, "Information suggests that the theft of some of my wealth, accumulated decades ago, is connected to a life thief!"

Oh~

The magical world is truly amazing!

Lockhart suddenly became unsure whether the occupation came first, leading him and a group of people on an adventure to the past, or whether his adventure created a predetermined fact in the past, making it history, and thus the occupation occurred long ago.

It doesn't matter anymore; getting caught up in the paradox of time is a pointless thing.

He didn't answer Voldemort's question, but just smiled and continued the previous topic, "This place is really not suitable for living. I've only been here for a short time, and I already feel the cold seeping into my bones."

As he spoke, his expression became quite serious. "Tom, someone has found me. You know, people in the Western European wizarding world are always so sensitive. They've expressed concern about my position at the British Ministry of Magic."

"Our reforms there cannot be affected by this, so I decided to move the bloodline research from the Department of Mysteries in the British Ministry of Magic building to the small building we bought in Hogsmeade Village."

"Now that you're involved in this project, perhaps you'd be happy to take the lead, for example, by moving into this small building?"

Voldemort was starting to lose his composure. "What is this? Compensation? Money for a house?"

"All I can say is—" Lockhart shrugged, "It's killing two birds with one stone. You know, the two of us are indeed a bit inappropriate for the British Ministry of Magic these days."

He blinked. "Of course, we can bring out all the help that the Bloodline Hall can provide. The Minister and Deputy Minister of Magic will help us with that."

Voldemort stared intently at Lockhart, knowing that the matter was probably not as simple as Lockhart had made it out to be.

Because he knew Lockhart in one way: this seemingly approachable but actually extremely arrogant young man didn't care at all about what those guys in the Western European wizarding world thought.

"Can!"

Voldemort agreed.

Lockhart made a condition that he found hard to refuse.

This relates to his previous achievements in the field of "exploration".

During his previous imprisonment, after fully embedding himself in the curse he had cast on Hogwarts in his youth, he secured his freedom in three directions.

First, at Hogwarts; second, beside Lockhart; third, that little house in Hogsmeade Village.

Yes, it's amazing, that house that belongs to Lockhart, in a magical sense, truly belongs to him.

"Alright then." Lockhart stood up. Now that Grindelwald's worries had vanished, he didn't want to stay any longer. "This dilapidated, cold place is really unbearable. I'm leaving now."

Voldemort didn't speak, but simply watched him leave in silence.

His gaze was deep, and it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.

Just as Lockhart was about to walk out the door and waved his arm to make it open by itself, Voldemort called out to him in a low, eerie voice.

It was clear that he was hesitant about what to say.

"Giddy Roth, sometimes you are so unpredictable." Voldemort casually tossed the prophecy crystal ball into the fireplace beside him, letting it burn in the flames and burst into a large amount of silvery-white light.

"I've been pondering a question, but I often have no answer—"

He placed his hands on the table, leaned forward, and said, "Then it dawned on me. People like you can be so honest sometimes. Maybe I can just ask you directly."

Lockhart turned around and looked at him. "You say it."

Voldemort remained silent for a long while, pursing his lips, before finally asking, "What does my existence mean to you?"

Given the difficult circumstances, he needed an answer to determine his next course of action.

The space he can move around in now is not as relaxed as it seems. Dumbledore and Grindelwald are able to tolerate him like this because, firstly, they have seen Lockhart's suppression of them and the relatively peaceful attitude in which the two can talk, and secondly, he has integrated the compromise expressed by the younger Tom no longer going to extremes.

It was a silent compromise—"Okay, I'll quit being the devil, boss, give me a chance."

Dumbledore and Grindelwald gave, but not completely.

He could feel that invisible constraint tightly surrounding him in many things, trapping him in every space he could maneuver.

He could deduce that Dumbledore and Grindelwald would not stop him from rescuing the Death Eaters from Azkaban, but they also would not allow him to use his influence within the pure-blood families and the Ministry of Magic to exonerate these people.

This means that these Death Eaters must exist as "sinners," not as free individuals with full political rights.

Yes, he accepted.

This was also his compromise.

The new era requires new strategies.

Like Grindelwald, he realized that his era had passed, but he did not want to be abandoned by the new era. He still wanted to make a difference, so he had to find a new direction.

Therefore, Gilderoy Lockhart's attitude, which can counter him, is extremely important.

He has to consider this.

That's why I asked what my existence means to you.

Lockhart certainly has the answer to this question.

Lockhart smiled slightly. "I don't know if you can understand what I mean, but in my opinion, my life is a great fairy tale adventure, and your absence will make this fairy tale less interesting."

It's very important. Without Voldemort, the Harry Potter story always feels like something is missing.

But it's not that important; even without Voldemort, this place is still full of excitement.

Yes, that's great.

No, but it's not something to regret.

His attitude has always been consistent and has never changed.

Voldemort pondered these words, and finally a slight smile appeared on his face.

Just as he believed in his worldview, values, and outlook on life, he divided everything into two categories: "useful" and "useless".

Conversely, if he is useful to others. If what he does benefits Dumbledore and Grindelwald's cause, he will no longer be targeted, and may even receive some support. For the greater good, the inclinations of these two predecessors are not hard to guess.

Lockhart's side is even more anticipated. If he becomes the most exciting part of this fairytale adventure and an indispensable force in this new era of change, perhaps he will also become an indispensable part in Lockhart's eyes.

He knew what to do next.

The Bloodline Hall of the Bureau of Mysteries might be the best entry point.

Yes, sometimes being a pureblood is a great title and a great asset, but sometimes, for the sake of profit, betraying a pureblood is just a matter of a word.

The research of the Bloodline Hall, seemingly an exploration of purebloods, is in essence a subversion of the theory of pureblood superiority.

The innate talents that come with one's bloodline, such as speaking in a snake-like voice or being favored by a phoenix, are actually two different things from being a pureblood.

In order to seize the opportunities of the new era, Voldemort decided to become a pure-blooded gravedigger himself.

And he will rise again from these ruins.

That's just the kind of person he is. He doesn't care about any bullshit pureblood theory. Pureblood theory was only useful to him in the past, but now, destroying pureblood theory is more useful to him.

This is a pledge of allegiance.

He was really looking forward to seeing Dumbledore's interesting expression when he saw this pledge of allegiance.

After all, he had already foreshadowed this by possessing the power of the Phoenix's favored bloodline.

Severus's research on wolfsbane, ah, it's quite admirable, yes, he was amazed, but not enough, not nearly enough!

The most powerful figure in potions in the modern era is neither Dumbledore, who explored the twelve uses of dragon blood, nor Severus, who resumed his research on wolfsbane, but him.

Tom Riddle!

He makes his grand entrance as a master of potions, not as an evil dark wizard!

"You'll see soon enough!"

Voldemort stood up, looked out the window at the sky, and said, as if to Lockhart, and perhaps to himself, "This world cannot do without Tom Riddle!"