Chapter 129: Lockhart Returns to School

Last year's pet wands were all the rage; this year, Hogwarts saw a new trend emerge.

And it all started because Weasley's Wizard Wheezes launched a new product:

【Do you want a companion that never leaves your side?】

【Do you want to cast magic without a wand?】

【Guaranteed to fulfill your wish】

【Guaranteed not to break school rules】

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes proudly presents: the Follow Ball.

【Note: You may also attach an owl feather or a cat's whisker to give it unique meaning.】

On the first day of February, this eye-catching advertisement appeared miraculously in every common room, instantly sparking everyone's curiosity.

That evening, Fred and George appeared in the Great Hall carrying two oddly shaped Bludgers.

Fred flicked his finger lightly, and the Bludger glowed with a soft Bai Guang; people were astonished to see a lion painted on its surface, along with the words "Gryffindor, Victory!"

"Oh, look at that!" someone exclaimed.

George's Bludger suddenly transformed into the shape of an owl, circling him continuously.

"What is this thing?"

"Of course, our new product," Fred said with a grin. "You can own one for just three Galleons."

"And if you're willing to add one Sickle, you can make it take the form you like—just like this," George extended his hand, and the "owl" immediately landed on his arm.

"Owl messengers can't be carried around all the time, but a magical owl can," George said. "For just one Sickle, you'll become the center of attention. Isn't that a great deal?"

…

"No, it's not a good deal at all…" Ron muttered from outside the crowd.

He wanted to be the center of attention, but he couldn't afford it—not even the three Galleons for the Follow Ball, let alone the extra Sickle for the transformation.

But Hermione beside him had bought one.

"I think the magic on this has real research value—it's worth buying," Hermione said, a cat crouched on her shoulder, round and plump, identical to Tom (Silven's cat).

"Alright, I get what you're saying," Ron grumbled. "But why did you spend an extra Sickle to have Silven cast the transformation spell on it? Can't you do it yourself?"

"I thought I could," Hermione said, a hint of frustration on her face.

"Thought you could? What does that mean?"

"It's like this…" Hermione pulled out a button, waved her wand, and turned it into a beetle.

It looked exactly like a real beetle—except it didn't move.

"We've only learned how to turn a turtle into a teapot, but that's entirely different from turning a teapot into a turtle. I still can't do reverse animal transfiguration."

"So you mean even you can't do it, but Silven…"

"Is skilled," Hermione said, her tone even more dejected.

"That can't be right," Ron still didn't believe it. "Silven's grades aren't much better than ours—he only got three O's last year."

"If it's transfiguration, Hermione's probably right," Harry reminded him. "Don't forget Silven's been reading nothing but transfiguration books all year—even during History of Magic."

…

Harry was right: Silven could now perform reverse animal transfiguration, and he'd even come up with the idea himself—practicing transfiguration while making money, a perfect two-for-one.

The reason it was so cheap was that, with his current transfiguration skill, the effect lasted only about a day before reverting to its original form.

Over the next week, Silven became even busier, because the Follow Ball's core pattern was completely different from a wand's, requiring corresponding magical runes to be altered—he needed time to experiment and adapt.

But Silven was delighted to discover that, while focusing on these tasks, he'd completely forgotten the leaf still in his mouth.

This discovery spurred him on further; he actively gathered a new batch of wand cores.

Unicorn hair—not tail or mane hair, but the kind that naturally sheds—was mostly used for crafts and was expensive.

But here it was suitable: Hagrid could simply walk into the Forbidden Forest and pick up a handful; one strand lasted a long time.

Silven was preparing for tomorrow's full moon—he'd increase his workload then, and maybe succeed in one go.

But Silven still failed this month.

His plan had been excellent: while concentrating on making the wands, he'd truly forgotten the mandrake leaf entirely, and this state had lasted two weeks.

Then, two weeks later, a sudden appearance made Silven nearly bite his tongue while eating—he accidentally swallowed the leaf.

But none of that mattered now; Silven stared at Professor Lockhart at the staff table, his expression growing increasingly strange.

Lockhart looked terrible—pale, exhausted, clearly not fully recovered.

Yet he forced himself to smile and interact with the excited admirers around him.

"Oh yes, I'm fine now."

"To be honest, I was careless. The relaxed life here made me lose my vigilance, and I was attacked after drinking too much."

"Thank you for your concern, Miss Brown."

"Yes, I'll catch those people eventually—they won't escape."

"But right now, what concerns me most is your studies."

…

"He actually came back…" Ron said in disbelief. "I thought he'd learned his lesson and would hide in St. Mungo's until the end of the term."

Silven nodded silently—he'd thought the same thing, and Lockhart could have easily done it.

Madam Pomfrey said he'd been hit by a powerful Dark Curse; though he survived, he needed long rest.

St. Mungo's had said the same: Lockhart could have used this as an excuse to recuperate there until term's end, avoiding any risk of exposure.

But he'd returned anyway—dragging his weakened body back. That kind of spirit even moved Silven for a moment.

If he didn't know what Lockhart truly was, he might have thought him a diligent, responsible professor, an exemplary Hogwarts teacher, a model wizard.

But he knew Lockhart—during the Dueling Club, the man had already lost all face, exposing the fact that he knew nothing at all.

Later, the topic was dropped only because he was suddenly attacked.

If Silven were Lockhart — or rather, if Lockhart could only think normally — he would never have returned to Hogwarts.

But he came back anyway.

Silven seemed to think of something, narrowed his eyes, and stared at Lockhart, who was surrounded by the crowd… Still can't bear to part with the basilisk in the Chamber, after all?

Watching Lockhart as well was Dumbledore.

He shook Lockhart's hand warmly.

"The best decision I made this year was inviting you to Hogwarts to serve as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor," Dumbledore said, dabbing at tears that did not exist at the corner of his eye.

"Thank you, Gilderoy, thank you for coming back at a time like this to continue serving as professor. And Professor Snape, I believe, would also like to thank you — I've always felt that his being in charge of two subjects was far too tiring."

Everyone looked at Snape; he was staring at Lockhart with an expressionless face, looking in no way grateful.

……

(End of chapter)