"My friend Gilderoy Lockhart asked me to help him apply to Hogwarts for the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor for the next school year."
Moriarty had said that Lockhart had asked him to submit the application to Dumbledore so as not to expose their master-servant relationship. In truth, Lockhart was in Romania acquiring dragons.
The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor was Moriarty's Christmas gift to Lockhart.
Hogwarts professors enjoyed immense prestige in Britain's magical world, especially the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Though the position was highly controversial, it made it easier for Lockhart to build a positive public image.
After opening the underground passage and the Chamber of Secrets incident, Moriarty's influence at Hogwarts had greatly increased—whether Dumbledore and the School Governors acknowledged it or not, his identity as the Heir of Slytherin was there for all to see.
So Dumbledore truly found it difficult to refuse Moriarty. He was exceedingly puzzled. Had I been wrong? Was Moriarty's relationship with Lockhart limited to Lockhart bringing Moriarty back to Britain, with nothing more between them?
Moriarty swept his gaze around the portraits of former headmasters. They had been silent ever since he entered the office, but their eyes were wide open.
Just as Dumbledore suspected, while everyone doubted the relationship between Moriarty and Lockhart, no one had expected Moriarty to personally place Lockhart right under Dumbledore's nose!
This was practically an open scheme! Wasn't Dumbledore investigating Lockhart? By sending Lockhart into Hogwarts, Moriarty was clearly showing that he had no fear of Dumbledore's investigation!
Obviously, Dumbledore was in a difficult position.
After another long silence, Dumbledore reached for a Cockroach Cluster, only to withdraw his hand—the Cockroach Clusters were already gone.
"Gilderoy Lockhart... Since you have mentioned him, let us talk about him."