The Return to Hogwarts

At the end of this pleasant meeting, Amosta asked if he should make any preparations so that he could keep up with Professor Lockhart's pace in class, but Lockhart told him that he did not need to make any preparations at all, and that he only needed to follow instructions in class.

"By the way, Professor Lockhart—"

Before leaving the office, Amosta turned around at the doorway, his expression very subtle.

"Do you have any knowledge of memory-related magic?"

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Chapter 42 Highly anticipated

As everyone knows, at Hogwarts, if a secret is known to more than one student or professor, depending on how sensational the news is, it will spread to Hagrid's dog, Tooth, within one to three days.

That evening, Harry, who hadn't left his flying broom all day except to use the toilet, and who even ate a few beef pies that Ron had brought for lunch, also heard this surprising news.

"Is it true that Mr. Blaine is going to become our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Ron?!"

In the mansion's common room, almost everyone was discussing the matter. Harry limped past several cheering upperclassmen and headed straight for the sofa where they often discussed things. When he got closer, he found that in addition to Ron and Neville, Seamus and Dean were also there.

"Just a professor's assistant, Harry."

Ron squeezed next to Neville, making room for the exhausted Harry.

"This news first came from Hufflepuff. At first, I thought it was a joke, but on my way back from bringing you food, I overheard Broglie and Dopin from Ravenclaw discussing it in the hallway. Apparently, Malfoy has already gone to Snape to confirm it."

Ron frowned, looking utterly bewildered. "Honestly, I still don't understand how this happened!"

"But isn't this a good thing?"

Neville cautiously offered his opinion, and when he realized everyone was watching him, he immediately shrank back and his tone became hesitant.

"I mean, he's an investigator, and he should know more about dealing with dark magic than Lockhart!"

Harry and Ron exchanged a glance but didn't reply. As for the teaching level, it was hard to say, since neither of them had witnessed it yet. But as for dueling, judging from Lockhart's performance in the Duel Class last year, even if Lockhart was good at flattery, he probably couldn't match Mr. Blaine in his first year.

At this moment, the twin brothers, who had also just arrived, happily high-fived each other upon hearing the news, enthusiastically celebrating the imminent start of their great adventure.

Neville seemed confused, but Harry and Ron knew what it meant. If Mr. Blaine became the assistant professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, it meant he wouldn't be able to keep an eye on his magical surveillance every night. For Fred and George, this was a welcome relief.

boom!

Hermione, who had suddenly walked over, threw the several large books she was carrying onto the coffee table, almost breaking it. She then squeezed next to Harry without any hesitation, forcing Neville, who took up the most space, to stand up.

"Where have you been? I haven't seen you all day." Ron asked, frowning as he stared at Hermione, who seemed to be in a good mood.

“Where else could it be, Ron? The library, of course. I missed a whole month of classes, I have to catch up as quickly as possible.” Hermione rolled her eyes, seemingly thinking Ron had asked a stupid question.

"By the way, what were you guys talking about just now?"

"Regarding Mr. Blaine's appointment as a teaching assistant," Harry said cautiously, "we've been discussing why this is happening. Wasn't his purpose in entering Hogwarts to capture the heir to Slytherin? Why is he suddenly involved with this course?"

“Perhaps he has already quietly dealt with that heir,” Simon guessed, his eyes wide.

This speculation is unfounded. Anyone would know that if the investigator had truly solved the locked-room mystery, the school would have publicized it extensively.

"It's also possible that he has given up on this plan. Think about it, if even Headmaster Dumbledore couldn't solve it, how could a young wizard who appeared out of nowhere possibly be capable of solving it? Perhaps he wants to take advantage of the opportunity to make some money before he's kicked out of the school by the headmaster. As far as I know, professors' salaries are still quite generous."

This equally absurd guess came from Dean. Dumbledore was not someone to be easily fooled. If Amosta Blaine really had such a shameful intention, then Headmaster Dumbledore would have seen through it, or at least that's what Harry thought.

"What do you think?"

Harry was pleased to see that, at least within this circle, no one still considered him the heir to Slytherin. He rubbed his numb groin and stammered a guess, mainly afraid that his opinion would anger Hermione.

“I’ve dealt with Mr. Blaine once; he’s a powerful wizard, and he’s chosen to be the professor for this course—is that possible?”

hiss.

Aside from Hermione and Harry, everyone gasped. Ron stared at Harry with terrified eyes, stammering something.

"You mean Quirrell is his skill? Oh, Harry, I remember the first time you heard about that."

"You overestimate his abilities, Harry!"

Dean was the first to voice his opposition, saying sharply, "I don't see any evidence that he has that kind of ability!"

Aside from a few die-hard fans, it's almost a consensus among young wizards that Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest strengths are fabricating stories and flattering others.

Being the heir to Slytherin is no easy task. Ron, who has always despised Lockhart, could never convince himself that Lockhart had the ability.

“I know it’s really hard to believe,”

Harry wasn't entirely sure of his own opinion either.

"But if that's just a facade, like Quirrell, he fooled everyone at first too. Otherwise, I can't understand why Mr. Blaine would take on this difficult job. He's a Hogwarts student too; there's no reason he wouldn't know that most professors of this course don't end up well. I mean, maybe he noticed something, but he didn't."

Harry couldn't continue, as his voice was drowned out by Hermione's heavy coughing.

Everyone looked at Hermione, whose expression had changed from pleasure to displeasure. Ron asked in surprise,

"What brilliant idea do you have, Hermione?"

Hermione glared at Ron resentfully, then haughtily raised her chin.

"This morning, I went to Professor Lockhart's office."

"Are you going to Lockhart's office?"

Ron immediately interrupted Hermione, "Don't you already have one of his autographs? Do you want another one?"

Harry immediately kicked Ron, reminding him to shut up.

Whether Lockhart is a suspect or not is not important, nor is why Hermione went to his office. What is important is that in the coming years, the two of them will still need Hermione's help to complete their homework for Potions and History of Magic. If they completely anger Hermione now, they will be doomed!

Late at night, Harry lay on his soft four-poster bed, his eyes half-closed, his mind filled with the murderous voice, his own Parseltongue, Dobby's warning, and Malfoy's story about the Chamber of Secrets being opened fifty years ago. He was probably the person in the school who was most preoccupied with this matter, and he wouldn't be able to relax completely unless the murderer was caught and the Chamber of Secrets was completely resolved.

"--But how could that be, Harry?"

Ron, who was next to him, rolled over and whispered,

"How could a wizard like Blaine be a fan of Lockhart, and become his assistant just to get close to him? Oh, Hermione's idea is ridiculous. Could it be that everything he wrote in his books is true? Oh no, I absolutely do not believe that!"

“I don’t know either, Ron.”

Harry also stirred and faced the window, gazing at the brilliant starry sky, letting the hazy sleepiness creep into his consciousness. Before completely falling asleep, Mr. Blaine's excessively young face flashed before his eyes. He recalled the impressively gentle smile on that handsome face and the pale purple eyes, and mumbled something...

"But at least, we can have some expectations for this course."

She still has a fever.

Chapter 43 Lockhart's Teaching Methods (Part 1)

February arrived, and under the caress of the spring breeze, the withered trees in the Forbidden Forest sprouted new buds in large numbers. In the castle, the young wizards were about to welcome Valentine's Day in 93 amidst the vibrant spring atmosphere.

For first and second graders who are still in a daze, Valentine's Day is just a holiday with unclear meaning, but for middle and upper graders, the importance of this holiday is self-evident.

On the first morning of the first week of February, Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff, at the urging of his roommates, stopped a pretty Chinese girl at the entrance of the Ravenclaw common room and gave her a handmade singing Cupid card.

Even the good student Percy couldn't stand the loneliness. During Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class, when no one was looking, he transformed a fire lizard into Penelope's likeness and grinned at her for several minutes.

Headmaster Dumbledore, unusually displaying his gentlemanly manners, ordered a bouquet of flowers from Hogsmeade for every female faculty and staff member at Hogwarts. Influenced by this, Lockhart cheerfully announced to all the professors at lunch that he would write a hymn for everyone in the school, and mysteriously indicated that he had come up with a brilliant idea to present the hymns to everyone on Valentine's Day.

"Amosta, is it possible for you to take care of this idiot before that day comes?"

After listening to Lockhart's words, Snape's face darkened, and he asked in a low, cold voice.

"I'll do my best, Professor!"

Amostella chewed on a piece of smoked bacon and said with a wry smile, "But why don't you make some poison yourself? You're a Potions professor, and a Potions Master, you must be quite good at it!"

After lunch, Amosta used his lunch break to review the surveillance footage from the previous night, but still found nothing.

On Monday afternoon, the sixth-year students of Gryffindor and Slytherin had two shared Defense Against the Dark Arts classes. This was his first time teaching alongside Lockhart, and to show respect, he changed into a brand-new black wizard's robe and appeared in the classroom before everyone else.

Ten minutes before 2 p.m., the sixth-grade students arrived at the classroom one after another. Although the news had already spread, the young wizards were still surprised and excited when they found that the Investigator had actually appeared in their class.

Professor Lockhart had not yet arrived; only Amostella stood on the podium, smiling at the noisy, clearly divided Gryffindor and Slytherin students.

Everyone here had spent time with Amosta at school, but he had no recollection of most of them, except for a few.

"Flint, I heard you're the captain of the Slytherin team now?"

When Amosta spoke, the classroom seemed to suddenly fall silent, and all eyes turned to Marcus and Amosta.

"Yes, sir, I mean, Professor Blaine."

Tall and imposing, with a troll-like appearance, Flint instinctively stood up. Facing a professor was a very different experience than facing a professor with the status of an investigator. The usually rough-and-tumble Flint on the Quidditch pitch looked nervous, and his tone was very reserved.

"That happened just last year—"

After all, it was his own college's team, so Amosta had to offer his support in spirit. He nodded approvingly.

"Then you should work hard, Flint. I hope the Slytherin team can achieve great things under your leadership."

When Amosta said that, the Gryffindors in the classroom, who had been full of curiosity about him, immediately turned cold. Some of the die-hard Quidditch fans even showed hatred in their eyes.

Oliver and Percy, sitting in the crowd, exchanged a glance and then lowered their heads, pretending to look at the book "Walking with Trolls" that was already open on the table.

Amos Tower's encouragement spurred the young wizards of Slaterlin into a state of smugness. They instinctively assumed that Professor Blaine, like Professor Snape, was very protective of his 'own people.' Marcus, the first to be called out, was even a little carried away. After giving Oliver, who was bowing his head arrogantly, he revealed a sly smile and loudly proclaimed,

"Thank you for your support, Professor Blaine. We—all of us in Slytherin—are excited about your appointment as our teaching assistant. Professor, we believe you will be the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor in recent years. So, what are you going to teach us?"