The slacker professor at Hogwarts

Chapter 198 Ghost Ship and the Beginning of an Era

Chapter 198 Ghost Ship and the Beginning of an Era

Riding on the massive Apparitions of the Guardians is a truly magnificent experience.

Upon arriving at Hogwarts, everyone was so excited that they chatted animatedly on the grassy area near Hogsmeade Station by the Black Lake.

Lockhart had expected people to discuss things like the Dark Lord or their recent encounter with Dementors, but to his surprise, many people were talking about a ship.

"???"

He looked around blankly, wondering for a moment if he had lost his memory and was missing some part of the 'plot'.

"Yes, we all saw it. It's your problem if you didn't!" Ron looked at Draco smugly, then asked his two henchmen behind him, "And you, did you see it?"

Goyle shook his head somewhat blankly, and Draco immediately sneered, thinking that the Saviors trio were just trying to find some topics to attract attention. But when he turned his head, he found that Crabbe had actually nodded.

"I saw it too. It's very dilapidated, and the sails are blood red, as if they're covered in blood."

The young wizards chattered excitedly, some saying it was the ghost ship from fairy tales, others saying it might be some kind of magic used by a mysterious person to deal with Professor Lockhart's patron saint.

It wasn't just Harry and his group who were saying it; almost all the young wizards were saying it.

Lockhart blinked in surprise, thought for a moment, then raised his wand to his temple and began to delve into the deepest layers of his memory.

He was simultaneously casting three powerful spells: Guardian Angel Spell, Apparition, and Thunderstorm and Mountain Fire.

My mind was on edge, and I had to keep an eye on Voldemort, so I didn't pay attention to anything else. I had no recollection of the ghost ship the young wizards were talking about.

Fortunately, he has a way to peer into the time period of his own memories.

Memory is like a huge, boundless gear. Gently turning the gears, time flows, and soon his thoughts return to that point in time.

If someone were to observe his eyes at this moment, they would notice that the image reflected in his eyes is flashing rapidly.

Arriving at Hogwarts to drop off the young wizard, Apparition, confrontation with Voldemort...

Then it came to a standstill.

The image on my eyeballs began to move up, down, left, and right, eventually settling on a large ship in the background.

"Hiss~"

Lockhart gasped, wondering where this thing had come from.

Logically, this thing shouldn't have appeared, because it seemed to be leading the young wizards through space, but in reality, it was just using the anchor of memories to walk along the timeline, entering the Hogwarts of memories, and then returning to the Hogwarts of reality.

It was an extremely pure mental activity, not a spatial movement.

and so……

Where did this ghost ship come from?

He looked up at the dilapidated blood-sail ghost ship, which he had no recollection of, and was suddenly filled with awe—awe for the endless exploration of the magical world and its unpredictable and mysterious nature.

This thing just appeared there in such an illogical way, as if it were a mockery of his adherence to the path of magic and the magical philosophy he had constructed.

"That's impossible!"

He desperately wanted to deny this completely illogical thing in front of him, but he had no choice but to face the reality of its existence.

Just like the terrified scream he let out after Voldemort cast the Killing Curse on him, he felt as if his worldview was about to collapse.

Fortunately, he wasn't alone.

Pink tentacles quickly emerged from his body, converging in mid-air to form a jellyfish-like shape. They rapidly changed shape, eventually transforming into a wronged fairy who floated and perched on his shoulder.

"This is a creature imbued with dark magic!"

The fairy who died unjustly provided the answer.

"A dark magic creature?" Lockhart was somewhat shocked.

"Hmm, don't you wizards call dark magic creatures 'non-existent'? This is non-existent." The Wrongfully Dead Fairy examined the ghost ship. "It sailed through the river of time, perhaps never having had the chance to let the world catch a glimpse of it. It was your spell just now that made it visible."

"What is it? What abilities does it have?" Lockhart asked excitedly, his eyes fixed intently on the thing.

The wronged fairy shook her head. "I only know that it is a dark magic creature. It's a sense of its own kind, but I don't know exactly what it is."

Just then, a voice came from afar—"Professor, did you summon that ghost ship?"

The scene in Lockhart's field of vision rapidly reversed, constantly collapsing towards the real time dimension, and Lockhart's vision returned to the grassy area beside the Black Lake at Hogwarts.

Looking around, he saw many young wizards gathered around him, and one of the older students was looking at him expectantly, clearly the one who had just asked the question.

Lockhart smiled mysteriously. "Now is not the time to answer that question."

Because he didn't know either.

Fortunately, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid arrived in a hurry and attracted the young wizards' attention. The new students were led by Hagrid to the lake to go boating. This was the Hogwarts initiation ceremony that had remained unchanged for hundreds of years. The students from other grades were led back to their dormitories by Professor McGonagall, student representatives, and prefects, and then patiently waited for the opening banquet.

"How's the situation over there?" Lockhart asked with some concern.

Based on his understanding of Voldemort, he figured Voldemort wouldn't go back to run into Dumbledore's gun now, but who knows if the influence he had on the full moon a few months ago, through the diary and Horcrux Tom, would change Voldemort now.

In particular, he knew that Dumbledore had also been messing with Voldemort's Horcruxes that day, but hadn't told him what he had done.

"He's gone. Everyone else has been sent to the Ministry of Magic. Dumbledore will be going to Wizengamor to preside over the trial, and he probably won't be back tonight."

Professor McGonagall looked at the young wizards around her and breathed a sigh of relief. "We're so lucky, Professor Lockhart. If it weren't for you, I don't know what terrible things would have happened."

Lockhart smiled and shook his head. "I think Dumbledore must have prepared other contingency plans, but he didn't bring them out because I took action. The student council will be fine."

Professor McGonagall's expression turned strange. "Yes, everyone says that. Dumbledore will arrange everything."

But is this really the case?

Professor McGonagall certainly believed that her best friend Albus was the most powerful wizard of the time, but the great wizard's power probably had little to do with any so-called "scheming" or "planning".

Grindelwald's blood oath was stolen by Newt from Dumbledore.

The unicorn, who is said to be able to elect the supreme ruler of wizards, was also saved by Newt.

Voldemort was killed by Lily Potter.

Minister of Magic Fudge is always looking for an opportunity to deal with Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall saw it all.

At least in her eyes, Dumbledore was just an old man with ordinary abilities besides magic, who was struggling to carry the heavy responsibility that the world placed on the most powerful wizard.

If Dumbledore hadn't gotten involved in all of this, he would certainly be the most legendary wizard in wizarding history, not the so-called "greatest" wizard of our time.

But she was clearly not one to gossip about others behind their backs. She just kept a straight face and didn't let herself laugh. She beckoned Lockhart to go to the Great Hall with her. "Dumbledore has found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor named Remus John Lupin. I think you'd better talk to him about your idea of ​​a 'fairytale romance exercise' before he officially starts teaching."

"after all……"

Professor McGonagall glanced back at Lockhart with admiration. "You have completely transformed Hogwarts, and we all hope to continue this transformation, which has revitalized both students and faculty."

Lockhart smiled and nodded. "I'd be happy to."

During the summer vacation, he also took the time to visit Lyle Lupin's laboratory. With some of the research results provided by Lupin, Lyle's experiments on werewolves began to enter a new phase.

Perhaps Remus would want to know what kind of efforts his father is making.

The two discussed Lockhart's upcoming position as the Magical Creatures Protection teacher for the next academic year. McGonagall seemed somewhat sentimental, "This year is unlikely to be peaceful. The school will have to increase its security measures. Gilderoy, I have to suggest that you stay at the school for at least the next six months and avoid going to Hogsmeade Village."

Lockhart quickly realized, "Because of the book I published?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Today's attack is just the beginning of a turbulent undercurrent, far from the end! Professor Lockhart, prepare for the challenge; there's definitely more to come!"

She didn't know how to evaluate Lockhart's book.

When she saw this book in a street bookstore in Italy while shopping during her summer vacation, she couldn't help but lose her temper and swear.

She was stunned.

Are all young people this brave these days?

Previously, everyone firmly believed that if Voldemort were to be resurrected, his first target would definitely be Harry, followed by Dumbledore. But now, no one knows for sure, because Voldemort might hate Lockhart far more than Harry.

Then she received an invitation from Dumbledore to participate in a secret meeting to officially relaunch the Order of the Phoenix.

She had assumed that such a formal launch would revolve around discussions about Harry Potter, but she never expected it to be Gilderoy Lockhart.

Times are quietly changing.

She had that intuition.

Having lived such a long life, I know all too well the biggest difference between the wizarding world and the Muggle world in their evolution: the emergence of one era-leading wizard after another, whether for good or bad.

Gellert Grindelwald, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort...

Now it's Gilderoy Lockhart!

For a moment, she began to regret inviting Lockhart to Hogwarts as the professor of Magical Creatures Protection. Compared to Dumbledore's hard work in maintaining everything in the wizarding world, her life was much purer, and she devoted most of her energy to Hogwarts, not wanting anything to happen to the school.

Maybe……

This must be fate.

She scrutinized Lockhart with a serious expression. "Never underestimate any wizard! Always remain humble! I once told Dumbledore this, after all, he was arrogant for a time, and I know what kind of stage a wizard with powerful magical abilities will go through."

Lockhart nodded seriously. "Thank you for reminding me. I will keep that in mind."

He was well aware of how common it was to be caught off guard and lose one's luck. Grindelwald was knocked down by Newt, and Voldemort was killed by Lily's counterattack. These top figures were the most obvious examples.

"I'll move back to Hogwarts..."

Lockhart spoke, then suddenly looked towards the Forbidden Forest in the distance, raising an eyebrow. "Would you allow me permission to build a small cabin in the Forbidden Forest?"

"???" Professor McGonagall blinked, her expression faltering. "What?"

"I want to live in the Forbidden Forest," Lockhart requested. "I want to be closer to nature; the answers to my future magical path lie there."

Professor McGonagall eventually agreed.

Although she thought the request was bizarre.

Since becoming vice principal, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professors have changed one after another, other courses have also changed occasionally, and there is a large teaching staff. Lockhart is the first to propose living in the Forbidden Forest.

"I'll ask Hagrid to provide you with some assistance."

Nice!

Lockhart began to look forward to his upcoming life at Hogwarts.

(End of this chapter)