Lockhart's Downfall

About two hours later.

"Harry, you're awake so early?"

"Do you like the dress? And the decorations in the house?" Sirius asked.

He also came to the living room, ready to continue arranging the birthday party, and was very surprised to see Harry.

"I really like it. I almost thought I was in the Herbology classroom." Harry put down the Daily Prophet.

The Daily Prophet features a handsome wizard who, even in shackles, remains dashing and never forgets to flash his eight teeth.

"That's good. Your Potter family has been involved in these kinds of plants for generations, so I guessed you would like it."

"Even James used to be like that; he just pretended not to be interested because he thought it wasn't manly."

"But he changed after fifth grade—he gave up his love for these strange plants in order to get closer to your mother."

"After all, Herbology and your mother's specialty Potion-Making, are closely related," Sirius said nostalgically, then looked at the things Harry had placed on the table. "Aha, you know."

"That Lockhart is such a good-for-nothing, always posing and stealing other people's stories to write books."

"Molly Weasley still talks about him all the time."

"Harry, you wouldn't believe it, but when we were cleaning up Black Family Manor, Molly Weasley came to help. She was holding a copy of 'Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Getting Rid of House Pests,' and kept saying, 'He's amazing. He knows all about the pests in his house. It's a great book...'"

"But now, look." Sirius burst out with a long string of words, clearly harboring a deep-seated grudge against Lockhart.

Harry knew this very well. If Mr. Arthur saw this report, Harry believed that even if Lucius Malfoy were in front of him, he would be so happy that he would give him a hug.

"This must have something to do with you," Harry winked shrewdly.

"Aha! You guessed right, Harry."

"But you absolutely mustn't tell Molly Weasley."

"This actually has little to do with me."

"Gilderoy Lockhart has been a bit out of fashion lately, so he hastily wrote a new book called 'I Am Magic' in an attempt to regain popularity. He even plans to apply for a position as Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts."

"You know, because the Daily Prophet has changed its style, our star reporter Rita Skeeter is preparing to make a change, and I happen to know what Lockhart was like in his student days."

"As the boss, I just gave it a push, and Rita Skeeter got a lot of dirt on Lockhart," Sirius said in a calm tone, but from the slight upturn of his lips, it was clear that he was very proud of this decision.

"What? He's even applying for a professorship at Hogwarts!" Harry angrily grabbed the Daily Prophet and pointed to a page. "Look what he said after drinking the Veritaserum: 'If people don't believe I did all those things, the book won't sell well. Readers won't want to read about the deeds of an ugly old America wizard, even though he saved a village from Werewolf. Putting his picture on the cover would be awful; he has no taste in clothes. And that witch who banished the Wan Lun's ghost, she has a cleft lip!'"

"How dare he, just by relying on his skillful use of the Obliviation Charm?"

"In my opinion, Dumbledore would definitely not agree," Harry said indignantly.

In his eyes, Hogwarts was his second home, and a fraudster dared to apply for a professorship!

It would be better to just have Voldemort!

"Harry, although I hate Lockhart too."

"But I must remind you, according to Dumbledore, if it weren't for the existence of a teenage version of Voldemort, Gilderoy Lockhart might have been the new Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor at Hogwarts," Sirius said with a strange smile.

"How is that possible!" Harry's voice even became strained with surprise.

"Just like my reaction back then."

"Dumbledore also felt that something was wrong with him, but Harry, you know what kind of person Dumbledore is. He would never, and would never stoop to, using any extra means."

"If it weren't for that young Voldemort, Dumbledore would have approved Lockhart's application."

"Firstly, because he's Ravenclaw; even if his magical abilities are lacking, his knowledge is at least extensive."

"Secondly, there are those stories. At least those stories are true. Lockhart himself visited and investigated those events, so he will at least teach you some lessons."

"Third, and most importantly, is the curse from the Defense Against the Dark Arts. Someone like him, who already has flaws, will be punished accordingly by the curse."

"After all, without my help, Gilderoy Lockhart would have only been fined by the Ministry of Magic for all the dirt on Rita Skeeter," Sirius explained.

"I understand now, Dumbledore's criteria for finding the Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor," Harry said confidently.

"What rules?" Sirius asked curiously.

Harry, who had the same face as James, always felt like he was talking to James.

For Sirius, seeking James's opinion on a matter was a habit ingrained in his very being.

"A consumable," Harry said, glancing at Sirius's puzzled expression, and then emphasized again, "I mean, find a consumable."

"You may not know, but our Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor last semester Quirrell."

"Dumbledore even withheld his salary."

"I think Dumbledore has tasted the sweetness of success."

"Once Lockhart gets arrested because of the curse from that class, Dumbledore might be able to extort some money from him," Harry said seriously.

"Harry, Dumbledore may not be a truly good person, and he has a dark side, but he wouldn't be this shameless, would he?" Sirius said, half-believing.

"Sirius, you're wrong about that."

"They're Dark Wizard, what's the point of talking about morality with Dark Wizard!" Harry said, exasperated.

For some reason, this gave Sirius an even stronger feeling of James.

That's what he used to say about Slytherin students.

In the past, although Sirius was always the one to cause trouble for the Slytherin first, James's influence was not uncommon behind it.

The same applies to dealing with Snape.

It's not shameful to team up against Dark Wizard!

This is a just unity!

A power that Dark Wizard cannot learn!

One-on-one, it's the other side taking on all four of them at once!

The group fight was a group fight against everyone the four of them had brought!

These are all famous quotes from James.

Unfortunately, James changed after the fifth grade.

"Damn Lily Evans!" Sirius muttered.

"What did you say?" Harry sensed something was wrong.

"Nothing, I was talking about Dumbledore," Sirius said, squinting.