Professor of Gemology at Hogwarts

Lockhart nodded, put down the envelope in his hand, and sat down in his chair, feeling all the muscles in his body relax.

"I did it on purpose..." Lockhart said. "Everyone knows this. The position of Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts... cannot last more than a year because it is cursed. Look at the previous professors. I will be no exception if I am injured by endless accidents and finally leave my job. When I became the professor of this course, I was thinking about how to get out of this position safely - I didn't want to be like them , living in St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Maladies! Of course, this is the best result, and some people even died because of it, such as Professor Quirrell last year, who was still my old friend in Ravenclaw!"

Lockhart paused for a moment, looking slightly tired. Gray did not interrupt, but wanted to wait for him to continue.

"You will definitely ask, then why do I still come here, right? After all, apart from Snape, I have never seen anyone else want to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts." Lockhart sighed again, He looked at his complete set of works on the table, "Cunning Dumbledore...Dumbledore came to me last June and said he would provide me with a job at Hogwarts and told me that I could teach Harry is a second grader, and being the teacher of "Famous Harry" gives me more popularity than anything else."

"You wouldn't put your personal safety aside just for this, right?" Gray said.

"This temptation is huge. It can increase my fame. You know, Gray, I don't have to write those autobiographical story books anymore!" Lockhart said while waving his arms, "Just when I was hesitating, Dun Bullido released his trump card, he said he knew my secret..."

Gray had already guessed what it was. Dumbledore happened to know the two wizards whose memories were wiped by Lockhart. He knew what Lockhart had done to become famous for writing books.

Lockhart stood up with his hands on his hips. This posture was his habitual one. Gray thought that Lockhart would inevitably be anxious when he confessed these things. Taking this habitual posture might make him feel more comfortable and calm. .

"To tell you the truth, Gray, I'm showing my hand." Lockhart said, "Most of the books I wrote are not things I personally experienced. Of course, they are not purely made up by me. Compared with There is a faster and easier way to make up stories, to coax words out of other people's mouths and then cast a forget spell on them, so that these stories become your own."

"Wait, couldn't you..." Gray became more vigilant.

"No, no, no, don't misunderstand! Gray!" Lockhart said hurriedly, "I will not cast a forgetting spell on you! I am communicating with you to confess!"

"Okay...I believe you for now..." But Gray was still ready to draw out his wand at any time and kept an eye on the opponent's movements.

"Dumbledore said that he knew two of the wizards whose memories I had wiped. He knew what I did, and I was caught by him! In this way, relying on this to restrain me, I came to fill Hogg's head. The vacant position at Watts..." Lockhart said, "I thought about agreeing first, and then thinking of a way to leave my job later, and it would be best to arrange it cleverly, so that everyone thought I left because of a curse, but in fact It was all caused by me. This is the most perfect idea! If I reject Dumbledore directly, it will be all over! The fame I have worked so hard to accumulate, so many people know me, if they know about me , I’m done!”

"So you deliberately taught poorly?" Gray asked, "deliberately released the elves, and deliberately kept performing your great achievements?"

"Ahem..." Lockhart coughed twice awkwardly, "Actually, the elf's incident was indeed an accident..."

"..." There was an embarrassing silence.

"But since then I have discovered that deliberately messing up the classroom is definitely a practical method. Sooner or later, many people will be dissatisfied with my teaching! And I don't have to worry about the impact of my reputation, because when I reply to fans, I have already mentioned that I am not suitable for teaching, and many students do not understand what I mean. Even after I leave my job, many people will say that I have rich experience, and that people like me who take risks everywhere should not be professors. It is really overkill, and very few people can understand the knowledge I impart. Only those with extraordinary talents can understand it, otherwise everyone can become me! What a great statement! This is definitely the best way to make people After being reported, I finally left my job safely and decently, and I was able to free up time not to prepare lessons but to respond to fans’ letters——”

He was still thinking about fame and fans, even in this situation.

"I thought you had a deeper insight..." Gray said slightly sarcastically.

"So, seeing that this school year is coming to an end, I have to work harder." Lockhart pointed to the letters, "The more I receive, the better. My plan will be successful right away. I am dozens of The first Defense Against the Dark Arts professor to resign safely and honorably in years!”

"You are being held by Principal Dumbledore, so aren't you worried that one day he will really expose your things in front of everyone?"

"I was worried!" Lockhart looked embarrassed, "But now there is no way. There is not much time left for me. My main goal now is to ensure that I leave this position alive. Gray! You don't know how I feel these days I'm so worried, I'm afraid that if something happens, I'll be injured. Even when I go to the toilet, I'm afraid that I'll slip and fall to death! I don't care about that much anymore, I'll escape first, and then hide from the wind for a while."

"Well, since you have planned it yourself," Gray said, "but if you tell me this now, Gilderoy, I don't quite understand what you mean..."

Lockhart came over and patted Gray on the shoulder.

"You are my friend, Gray! A good colleague and a good friend." Lockhart smiled. "When everyone wanted me to pack up my things and leave, you came to me specifically to remind me that someone was dissatisfied with my teaching. Worried that I will lose my job because of being reported! I think I shouldn't hide it from you, I will be able to escape from here soon, and we will leave without saying goodbye, but because of your kindness in persuading me, I will confess to you. Gray, You are so kind! I will give you a complete set of photos and autographs in the next few days, and then take a photo together?"

Gray touched his nose. He felt a little embarrassed. His relationship with Lockhart didn't seem to be as good as the latter imagined. He came here simply because of Harry and Ron's request, and because he was curious about Lockhart's recent presence. What's going on?

"I can't guarantee that Dumbledore will still reveal your scandal after you pretend to leave because of the curse, but if you continue to be active among fans and your books...he will definitely."

"I think so too!" Lockhart said, "So I decided to hide somewhere else after leaving my job and disappear for a while, so that I could still retain a good impression in the eyes of others - after I found that the profession of professor was not suitable for me. Later, Lockhart decided to live in seclusion. The great writer has now disappeared, and everyone is looking forward to his return!"

Several portraits show Lockhart applauding.

"But you delayed the students' Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a whole school year just because of this."

"The Defense Against the Dark Arts class changes professors every year. How many of them are good at teaching?! If they really want to learn, they will learn it by themselves, such as Miss Granger. For the sake of my confession to you, for the sake of us For the sake of friendship, Gray." Lockhart held his shoulder and leaned closer and said, "Let me leave my job safely... I just want to leave alive, I want to save my own life, what's wrong with that?"

If Gray goes to Dumbledore with this piece of known information now, it seems that there will be no benefit. Since Lockhart is determined to leave, he can make room for Lupine, and Gray's goal is achieved.

As for whether Lockhart's shameful things would be revealed, he didn't bother to care, leaving it to Dumbledore to make his own choice.

……

A few days later, in the same scene as before, Harry and Ron were lying in front of the podium looking at Gray eagerly.

"What's the matter? You two." Gray didn't stop what he was doing. He put aside the papers to be corrected and put them together.

"Professor Lockhart seems..." Harry said, "He seems to be more exaggerated in his lectures."

"Professor, is he stimulated by something?" Ron asked.

"Professor Lockhart, I talked to him before. He said that he knew what he knew and would make some changes if necessary. This may be what he meant by making changes." Gray stood up and then put the table on the table. He had a stack of paper assignments in his hand, "But the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next school year should be great."

Harry and Ron looked at Gray's walking back and were very confused. They looked at each other: "Are we going to change teachers?"