#69 - Section 69
Even if they were to compete, Malfoy might not necessarily be richer than Cassandra when it comes to spending money.
“That's right!”
Cho Chang was just saying it; she also guessed that Ethan would most likely refuse.
[Thank you,大佬 catseye, for the reward! Thank you, 大佬!]
Chapter 95: A Terrible Defense Against the Dark Arts Class
In the afternoon, there was only one Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
The young wizards were quite looking forward to this class, especially the young witches, who gathered in groups of twos and threes to discuss the new Professor Gilderoy Lockhart.
From appearance to clothing to writings, these were all topics of their discussion.
Ethan walked to Cassandra's side.
“Aren't you going to chat with them?”
Only she seemed out of place with these girls; even Hermione occasionally spoke a few words with her roommates.
Hermione didn't have the same admiration for Lockhart as in the original book, but simply thought his writing was good and interesting.
“What's there to talk about? Just a showy, embroidered pillow.”
Cassandra said disdainfully.
This sentence caused several young witches in front to turn their heads, wanting to see who was talking nonsense, but when they found out it was Cassandra, they turned their heads back even faster.
This was someone they couldn't afford to offend!
“Why do you say that?”
Did Cassandra know some inside information? Ethan only knew he was no good from the movies. Just looking at his books, the legendary experience was still very impressive.
“Who would a true powerhouse dress up like a clown to attract the attention of others?”
“If it were really as he said in his books, Lockhart would already be a guest of honor in the major pure-blood families. Would he need to write books and dress gaudily to attract middle-aged and elderly women?”
“In fact, my father has never mentioned Lockhart's name. He has no status or glory among the pure-bloods, except for that so-called Order of Merlin, Third Class.”
Okay, that's very Cassandra.
The venomous and arrogant Cassandra of the past had returned.
“Very insightful. Actually, Fred told me that after attending his class, you'll know he's just an embroidered pillow.”
After Ethan finished speaking, he returned to his seat. As for the young wizards around him who heard Ethan's words, who would dare to jump out and refute him?
As the class bell rang, Lockhart walked into the classroom with Harry, carrying a cage covered in velvet cloth.
At this moment, he was saying something to Harry, but Harry seemed a little impatient.
He was ridiculed by that fourth-year black guy in the first class, and Lockhart couldn't stand it, so he immediately prepared this thing to prove himself.
Not strong, but numerous and scary-looking, perfect as his target.
“I am Gilderoy Lockhart!”
As he spoke, Lockhart picked up the book “Voyages with Vampires” from Neville's desk in the front row. The cover featured a photo of him winking.
“Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award—but I don't bring that up, I didn't get rid of the Bandon Banshee by smiling at her!”
Ethan turned his head and happened to see Cassandra winking at him.
Ethan understood: I was right, wasn't I? Showing off like a clown to attract attention.
From the next operation, Ethan knew why Fred and his roommates were going to argue with him.
Outrageous!
In the first class, he passed out papers for everyone to do, and they were all Lockhart's personal questions, unrelated to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
For example:
1. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's favorite color?
2. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's secret ambition?
3. What do you consider to be Gilderoy Lockhart's greatest achievement to date?
4. What is Gilderoy Lockhart's birthday? What is his ideal birthday present?
There were as many as three pages of such questions.
Ethan had read his books and they were indeed well-written. Because of his extraordinary memory, he also remembered these questions. The books touched on them more or less, but Ethan didn't want to answer such questions.
Dumbledore should really be dragged over to do this paper!
Half an hour later, Lockhart collected the papers, and Ethan naturally handed in a blank paper.
Hermione, as a perfect score, received ten house points for Gryffindor.
“So, back to business!”
Lockhart picked up the cage he had just brought over from under the podium and placed it on the table.
“Now—be careful! My job is to teach you to defend against the most evil things known to the wizarding world!”
“You will face the most terrifying things in this classroom, but remember, as long as I'm here, you won't be harmed in any way. I only ask that you remain calm.”
His words aroused everyone's curiosity, a long-awaited practical lesson.
Since Snape's weeks of substituting were over, there had been no chance for practical work in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Lockhart was very satisfied with the gazes of the young wizards below. It seemed that buying these things in Hogsmeade Village during his meal time was the right decision.
Let's see who else will say that he is superficial like that black guy, just like the deadbeat Quirrell last year.
Speaking of Quirrell, although they weren't in the same year, they were classmates for several years and were both in Ravenclaw. He remembered that his level was good!
Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, he began the next step.
“I must ask you not to scream,” Lockhart lowered his voice and said to the young wizards in front of him, “That will anger them!”
Ethan was speechless. A Cornish Pixie was being touted like this. If he lent you a bat-bogey, wouldn't you go to heaven!
But the vast majority of young wizards were swayed by Lockhart's words, holding their breath and watching the velvet cloth in Lockhart's hand with nervous anticipation.
Lockhart lifted the cover!
"Excellent!" He wore an exaggerated expression: "Freshly caught Cornish pixies."
The classroom fell silent for a moment, until Seamus, sitting in the front row, couldn't help but snicker.
This thing is considered the most dangerous, the most evil?
Indeed, it's a little more dangerous than a Puffskein, at least it can fly!
At his grandfather's house, there were plenty of these things; they were useless except for pranks.
It was on the same level as the Horklump that Professor Snape had brought out, but Professor Snape didn't say it was dangerous.
He just used the Horklump as a target for practicing magic.
Lockhart's temple throbbed with a vein. He naturally understood the meaning of the laughter and immediately asked with a smile, "What's wrong?"
"They're not very dangerous, are they?"
Seamus was laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
"Don't be so sure." Lockhart was already losing his composure: "They might be little troublemakers as cunning as devils."
Here came another heckler, and a Gryffindor one at that. Could he be in league with that bloke from this morning?
The more Lockhart thought about it, the angrier he became. Looking at the suspicious, disdainful, and mocking gazes of many young wizards below, his sanity snapped.
"Alright!" Lockhart said loudly: "Let's see how you deal with them!"
Then, he yanked open the cage door.
These Cornish pixies had already been jumping up and down in the cage, eager to get out. Now that the cage door was opened and the restraints were removed, the classroom instantly descended into chaos.
Ink was splattered everywhere, books and parchment were torn to shreds, and the painting on the wall was pulled into a mess.
Poor Neville was grabbed and hung from the chandelier.
The young wizards, one by one, hid under the desks, none of them wanting to be the next Neville.
At this moment, Lockhart also regretted it; this had clearly become a teaching accident.
Just as he wanted to clean up the mess and recite a series of highly confusing spells, his wand was snatched away by a flying Cornish pixie.
It even knocked down the dinosaur skeleton hanging from the ceiling, almost hitting Lockhart himself.
Ethan, on the other hand, remained steadily seated in his place, with only a few small, unmoving creatures on the ground around him.
Whenever a Cornish pixie flew over, Ethan lightly tapped the table with his finger, and the Cornish pixie would fall down.
A simple Stupefy spell.
Ethan didn't care whether these Cornish pixies were there to play pranks or to cuddle; he just didn't like them.
Just then, the bell rang, and the young wizards scrambled to run outside.
"I'm assigning you to catch these Cornish pixies and put them back in the cage."
Lockhart, who had already escaped to the staircase and was preparing to flee to another exit, noticed Ethan's situation and immediately ordered Ethan.
Ethan waved his hand, and the door behind Lockhart was directly closed.
"Let's go!"
Ethan grabbed one in each hand, led Cassandra and Hermione away from the classroom, gave Harry and Ron a look, and even took the hanging Neville with them.
There were only a few people left in the classroom at this moment; the others had run as if chased by dogs the moment the bell rang.
After Ethan left, the door slammed shut, and the Cornish pixies, stunned by Ethan's Stupefy spell, instantly woke up, their eyes turning red as they charged towards Lockhart.
You said adding points, didn't I help you deal with it?
It wouldn't cost you a thing, just a word.
The request wasn't high; ten points for each Cornish pixie was enough, but Lockhart not only didn't add points, but also gave orders in a matter-of-fact tone.
Who the hell is going to put up with that!
"Will everything be alright?"
Hermione was a little worried; she could also see that Professor Lockhart was a dud.
Even his wand was snatched away; how could he be faking it?
That's practically a wizard's second life.
"What could happen? At most, he'll lose a few pieces of flesh!"
Ethan didn't want to bother with it and immediately led the others to leave.
"He's a professor, and these are the teaching tools he prepared. If there's a problem, it's his own fault."
Cassandra didn't care at all; everything that had just happened confirmed her thoughts.
Ron and Harry, who were beside her, also disliked him. The two walked even faster than Ethan, and Neville also jogged along the way, genuinely terrified just now.
In the end, someone went to notify Professor McGonagall. By the time she arrived, Lockhart's clothes had already been torn into strips, and there were barely any good pieces of flesh left on his body.
Lockhart was now famous.
He had made Hogwarts history.
On his first day of teaching, the professor was injured by his own teaching tools and sent to the school infirmary.
Many students thought that Lockhart was even more of a dud than Quirrell, definitely the worst Defense Against the Dark Arts professor ever.
But some of Lockhart's fans didn't agree with this statement. They still believed that Lockhart had deliberately done this to give the young wizards more practical opportunities.
They cited Lockhart's books such as "Voyages with Vampires", "Wanderings with Werewolves", and "Year with the Yeti" to prove that Lockhart had such great strength and rich experience, how could he not be able to handle Cornish pixies.
The two sides even started a debate.
[Thank you to Big Boss 13819 for the monthly ticket, thank you Big Boss!]
Chapter 96: Alchemical Products
