Lockhart's Dueling Club

Ever since they had parted on bad terms that day, Eli shut himself in the Room of Requirement whenever he had time.

He had been tinkering with little alchemical gadgets specifically designed to deal with the Basilisk.

Hermione Granger had indeed stopped going to the library alone to investigate.

Lockhart was dressed particularly flamboyantly today, though he was not usually much better.

A dueling platform had been set up in the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, and Lockhart stood on it with great swagger.

Although he had lost quite a few fans after his previous two public humiliations, he still had a group of die-hard supporters.

One only had to look at the girls beneath the platform gazing at him with rapt fascination to know that.

Lockhart thoroughly enjoyed such looks. They were what he had pursued his entire life.

He had graduated from Ravenclaw, the legendary house of academic prodigies.

Yet his spellcasting ability seemed rather mismatched with his house.

Because he had always devoted himself to cultivating his reputation.

Fortunately, he had mastered Obliviate to perfection, using his looks and disguises to win adventurers' trust before claiming their achievements as his own.

This had brought him immense honor, and he had become intoxicated by it.

Now, basking in the gazes of these young wizards, he felt deeply satisfied.

"Students, I hear you have formed a Dueling Club, but I believe you ought to have the proper guidance of an excellent teacher—that would be me."

"So, I applied to Professor Dumbledore to establish a Gilderoy Dueling Club, and I have also invited Professor Snape to serve as my assistant!"

He removed his cloak and tossed it down to the students, sparking a scramble.

Professor Snape walked onto the platform expressionlessly. Seeing that look on his face, Eli knew