[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring":3,"chapter-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-78":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Starting at Hogwarts, Logging into Elden Ring",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1496252,1944,"Chapter 78: A New Game? A Complete Farce","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-78",78,"\u003Cp>These past few days, Arthur had been completely obsessed with 20 Minutes Till Dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly speaking, those \"grind-and-repeat\" roguelike games were seriously addictive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't gone back to the Lands Between in days, couldn't be bothered to read, and spent all his time staring blankly at the screen, attention wholly consumed by the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranni had even asked Hermione what was wrong with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione merely waved it off—she'd seen it before. Her cousin had gone through the same phase last semester, zoning out all the time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this time, it was lasting longer than she expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main reason? The system's new task was brutal—Arthur had to unlock all the game's achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nine characters. Eight weapons. Fifteen difficulty levels. Twenty-four achievements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just clearing the hardest mode with every single character meant he had to play nine perfect runs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And no failures allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, his mental fortitude and reflexes were much sharper than most people's—otherwise, who knew how many retries it would take.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most ridiculous achievement of all required him to clear the game without firing a single shot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in the late stages, when the screen was flooded with monsters, there were times when Arthur couldn't even see where his own character was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After several days of this, Arthur slapped his forehead and decided—why should he be the only one suffering?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he materialized the game into reality. The system was moved to tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sensation of burning energy for such a silly purpose was way too satisfying!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone's \"iPad\" received a massive update.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thus, the number of players suffering jumped from one to five.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The unlucky five: Arthur, Harry, Ron, and Ron's two brothers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione wasn't that into the game—she only played occasionally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of her time was spent discussing Plants vs. Zombies with Ranni.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur had given Ranni an \"iPad\" as well, and judging from her fascination with that game, she seemed to love it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Ranni was mainly intrigued by how the sunlight in the game could be used to grow plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her eyes, spending sunlight to plant things was the same as stimulating their growth—just skipping a few steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She even began to wonder if her moonlight could do the same thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, she'd been experimenting in Arthur's \"Zen Garden,\" testing her theory on the plants he'd grown there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur, thankfully, had the foresight to keep that golden marigold isolated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, if Ranni discovered it, his money-making flower would probably be doomed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the new semester came new changes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Sprout, the Herbology teacher, had acquired a new batch of Mandrakes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During class, she instructed the young wizards to re-pot them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Neville, as expected, promptly fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yes, still the same timid Neville.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Harry, on the other hand, had gained himself a devoted little fanboy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His name was Colin Creevey.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To this, Arthur remarked dryly that it was a good thing Colin liked portrait photography—if he'd chosen landscape photography, he'd probably never find a wife. (Just a joke, of course.)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur soon realized Harry might not have just one fanboy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was another—an utterly deranged one: the Malfoy family's house-elf, Dobby.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That little lunatic had apparently heard some rumor from his master and became convinced that Harry was in danger at Hogwarts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was desperately trying to keep Harry away from school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first Defense Against the Dark Arts and Counterattack class of the semester.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within five minutes of entering the classroom, Gilderoy Lockhart had made it abundantly clear to Arthur and the others that he was a narcissistic fraud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His introduction was so long and self-congratulatory, it sounded more like an obituary being read at a funeral.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third-Class Order of Merlin. Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League. Five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur nearly gagged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This guy was even greasier than Brother Xiaoming. He shouldn't have come to class thinking he'd give Lockhart a shred of respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wouldn't fishing by the Black Lake have been a better use of time?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't touched his fishing rod in ages—well, at least not the one by the lake. He still fished plenty inside the Zen Garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the massive, two-man-high portrait of Lockhart next to him, Arthur had to resist the urge to throw a \"Bombarda\" at it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four who knew he was a fraud—Arthur, Hermione, and Draco (yes, Draco, not far away)—all shared the same thought: toss this peacock out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry and Ron, though still unaware of the truth, were nauseated by Lockhart's endless self-praise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But truth, as they say, is often known only to a few.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most of the second-year girls were utterly entranced by Lockhart's \"charming\" smile, gazing at him as though he were casting a spell on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Excellent,\" Lockhart beamed. \"I see you've all bought my complete works!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron was bewildered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You're the one who made us buy them!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Those ridiculously expensive adventure memoirs had cost the Weasleys a fortune. If not for Harry's suggestion that the whole family share one set, they'd probably be eating dirt for months.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Today's lesson will begin with a small quiz,\" Lockhart announced. \"Simple enough—if you've read my books carefully, you'll get a high score.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He walked down the aisles, personally handing out test papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was when Hermione realized—this author she used to admire was nothing but a decorative fool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even know how to use a simple Levitation Charm to distribute the papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they received the quizzes, Arthur found himself, for the first time, hating his own perfect memory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>During the summer, out of boredom, he'd read all of Lockhart's books. And truth be told, the man could write. The stories were polished and entertaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But because of his photographic memory, Arthur remembered every single detail—meaning he could easily ace the quiz.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he hated that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he tossed his paper aside and refused to do it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ranni, equally unimpressed, pulled out her \"iPad\" and started playing Plants vs. Zombies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Draco, in the back, followed suit—dropped his quill and started daydreaming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Hermione, forcing down her disgust, filled out the test in full, determined to earn some points for the House.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thirty minutes later, Lockhart was grading the papers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Tsk, tsk… almost no one remembered that my favorite color is lilac! Only Miss Hermione Granger…\" he said, giving Hermione a wink.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first time in her life, Hermione understood what it felt like to have goosebumps crawling all over her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even earning House points didn't feel worth it anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Arthur picked up a curious detail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Lockhart also sold hair potions?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting. Competing with the Potter family, was he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur remembered that Harry's grandfather had invented the Sleekeazy's Hair Potion—a conditioning formula that had made the Potter family rich.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Maybe this fraud wasn't just trying to bask in the Savior's fame—maybe he wanted that recipe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? It seems a few of you turned in blank papers,\" Lockhart said, flipping to the back. \"Not even a name written! Any explanation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blank-paper culprits ignored him completely, leaving him awkwardly standing there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was clear that this man spent far more time grooming than teaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn't even have a proper attendance list. Now he couldn't even call out the culprits by name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah, well,\" Lockhart coughed to cover his embarrassment. \"You can always write to me after class to explain your difficulties. Now then, on to the next part of our lesson!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He strode to a covered cage beside the podium and spoke in a low, dramatic voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My duty is to teach you how to face the most dangerous creatures known to wizardkind. Today, you'll confront your greatest fears…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, raising his voice: \"But fear not! As long as I am here, you are perfectly safe!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he whipped away the cloth covering the cage—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Revealing a group of mischievous Cornish Pixies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blue, impish, and barely as thick as an adult's arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The anticlimax sent the entire class into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Laugh while you can, Seamus Finnigan!\" Lockhart said, glaring. Then he opened the cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The pixies swarmed out immediately, turning the classroom into chaos.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur calmly cast Protego around his friends and sat back to enjoy the show.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pixies zoomed everywhere—books flying, hair yanked, robes torn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two of them even grabbed Neville by the ears and hung him from the chandelier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur whistled in admiration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kid was tougher than he looked—dangling by the ears and still intact. Wizard physiology was something else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lockhart, realizing he'd lost control, pulled out his wand to cast a spell—only for the pixies to snatch it right out of his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, he bolted for the door, calling out over his shoulder,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I'll leave the rest to you! Just pop them back into the cage when you're done!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then he was gone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The class exchanged looks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, Hermione cast Petrificus Totalus, freezing all the pixies in place, and together they shoved them back into the cage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur briefly considered tossing a few into his Zen Garden—but decided his garden didn't need such unruly pests.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus ended the class—in complete farce. The teacher had vanished, and no one learned a thing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the five of them walked down the Hogwarts corridor afterward, Hermione complained, \"That class was completely useless.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arthur chuckled. \"At least we didn't walk away empty-handed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached into his pocket and pulled out a white wand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Wait—that's Lockhart's wand?\" Hermione recognized it instantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Of course not. It's an unclaimed wand,\" Arthur said, emphasizing the words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The clever witch caught his meaning at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You're not planning to give it back, are you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry and Ron both looked over, realizing what he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron hesitated. \"Er… isn't that… you know, kinda wrong?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? Really?\" Arthur drawled. \"Because I was thinking of modifying it and giving it to you. Didn't your wand break?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that, Ron changed his tune immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ahem! Well, when you put it that way—it makes perfect sense. I mean, Lockhart's rich from all those book sales. A new wand's nothing to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No, wait—this wand you found doesn't even have an owner. Which means… I can be the new owner!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone knew Arthur's alchemical skills were top-tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he said he could merge two wands, no one doubted him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron, whose wand had snapped against the Whomping Willow, was ecstatic. He'd been taping it together and could barely cast a proper Wingardium Leviosa.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, luck was finally turning his way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione and Harry, both thinking Lockhart deserved a bit of payback, agreed to the plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Ranni, the Moon Princess, she couldn't have cared less—she was too busy playing her game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright then,\" Arthur said, holding out his hand. \"Give me your wand too. I'll merge them when I get back.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He might not know the intricate craft of wandmaking, but with his mastery of alchemy, combining the two was well within his reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Visit my patreon for more chapters\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Advance 30+ Chapters Available\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>patreon.com\u002FWhiteDevil7554\u003C\u002Fp>",1827,"2026-06-06T04:19:46.381Z",1,"novelbin.me","a62f56afa46401a3cb235c4a208b64e00596781682da4e90a61f55b8bf9d3535","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-79","starting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-chapter-77",281,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstarting-at-hogwarts-logging-into-elden-ring-cover.jpg"]