The slacker professor at Hogwarts

The words on the photo in the news about the opening of the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts School clearly frightened some people.

Gore and Crabbe's parents waited several days before coming to the school to visit their children, accompanied by their elder brother, Lucius Malfoy.

Old Gore and Old Crabbe, like their two children, also seemed to be slow-witted.

But it's just that he's slow-witted, not really stupid.

They knew perfectly well how to continue the family's glory: to steadfastly follow the intelligent Malfoy, no matter what happened.

They are like that, and so are their children.

They proved to be right; unlike other increasingly impoverished pure-blood families, their family still retained a great deal of influence.

The Malfoys also took good care of the Goyles and Crabbes.

Now, Narcissa, the matriarch of the Malfoy family, dotes on Gore Jr. and Black Jr., treating them like Draco's own brothers.

"You've come at the wrong time; Professor Dumbledore isn't at the school right now." The person who came to meet them on the castle bridge was Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.

This is the designated location where outsiders can Apparate into the castle.

Malfoy and his two companions were supposed to come to the school to inform Vice Principal Professor McGonagall, and the Vice Principal should have accompanied these board members. However, Professor McGonagall was not happy to see the three of them.

Meanwhile, Professor Snape, the head of Slytherin House where Goyle and Crabbe were studying, was busy teaching young wizards and taking the opportunity to humiliate Harry Potter, so he didn't have time.

So the matter fell to Lockhart, the personal instructor of the "Duel Club" that Little Gore and his friends attended.

He had no prior dealings with Mr. Lucius Malfoy. The proud Malfoy was not particularly interested in communicating with this writer from a mixed-race family who mingled in the world of fame and fortune. When he needed such connections, he would contact Rita Skeeter, who was of pure blood.

Lucius didn't want to respond to Lockhart's words.

We can't exactly say that they deliberately chose to come when Dumbledore wasn't around, can we?

More than a decade later, Old Deng has recently arrested one Death Eater after another (Amicus Caro, and the unfortunate guy caught in the Gringotts theft case), giving them the impression that he's going to dredge up old grievances again. They are now really a little scared of Old Deng.

Lucius, leaning on his snake-headed cane, stared coldly at Lockhart with an accusing air. "We send our children to Hogwarts because we believe in its safety. Otherwise, they should have been sent to Durmstrang School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for a better education. Yet you professors have allowed them to suffer such great harm?"

Lockhart's bright smile froze instantly, turning indifferent and drooping as he looked at him with a cold laugh. "But what I've heard is that the Dark Lord has returned, and he's beginning preparations to purge his former traitors..."

"Nonsense!" Lucius suddenly couldn't hold back any longer and strode forward, staring intently into Lockhart's eyes, emphasizing each word, "He's dead! Dead! And we were..."

What is it?

Was it due to the influence of the Imperius Curse? Was it threatened by the Killing Curse? Was it forced by the Cruciatus Curse?

Huh~

You've been saying these words for over a decade, and they've become second nature to you. But now, when the words are on the tip of your tongue, you probably don't dare to say them anymore.

Lockhart looked at him with a cold smile. "Lucius Malfoy, remember this! It's not just the Order of the Phoenix who's watching you Death Eaters; the League against the Dark Arts and Ser Merlin's Order are watching you too!"

The Anti-Dark Magic Alliance is easy to understand; they have always been hostile towards these dark wizards.

Lockhart is an honorary member of the League Against the Dark Arts, and he actually has a certain influence within this international organization.

The Sir Merlin Orchestra is quite interesting.

This organization, which has a long history like many ancient pure-blood families, actually has a terrible reputation in the eyes of many pure-blood families—many pure-blood families secretly curse this organization as "Muggle lackeys".

Yes, the Order of Merlin was founded by the legendary wizard Merlin, with the aim of being loyal to the Muggle royal family, protecting Muggles, and managing the wizarding community.

The reason why the British Ministry of Magic was originally called the "Ministry of Magic" instead of the "Magical Parliament" across the ocean was partly due to the influence of the Order of Merlin.

In this day and age, the Order of Merlin has begun to change, and is filled with all sorts of messy factions. Compared to the Pureblood Supremacy and Muggle-Pro-Support factions, which have developed in recent decades, Wizards Supremacy is the most powerful voice.

Of course, these factional struggles are all underhanded and conducted in private, but in public, everyone still has to adhere to the bottom line of the "Secrecy Law" when expressing their views.

This is undeniably ironic.

Lucius Malfoy's face was filled with rage, and beneath that rage lay a deep fear. Had the Dark Lord really returned? Was he really going to purge them, the traitors?

I didn't really betray them!

I was truly out of desperation at the time!

Lord Dark Lord, give me a chance to explain!

His expression shifted between anger and displeasure. Old Goyle and Old Crabbe were not happy to see their leader being mocked like this, so they both drew their wands, pointed them at Lockhart, and shouted angrily.

Lockhart simply sat casually with his hands in front of him, not even bothering to draw his wand, and looked at them with a cold smile. "Very well, while the Dark Lord is preparing to purge you, you're preparing to attack the professor personally invited by Dumbledore at Hogwarts?"

Lucius's expression changed. He gestured for his two underlings to step back, but stared coldly at Lockhart. "Don't change the subject. I'm only asking you, what's going on with those two kids, Goyle and Crabbe?"

This is supposed to be a way of giving them a way out; it's all bluster and no substance.

Lockhart was silent for a moment, then sighed with some pity. "Of course I'll treat them if they're injured. After all, I'm their personal professor, and I'll save them no matter which side they're on."

"You?" Lucius said, as if to say, "Who do you think you are?"

"Mandelabra resurrection potion." Lockhart rolled his eyes. "Lucius, if you had studied properly when you were at Hogwarts, you would know that the Potions Society taught how to concoct this potion in the seventh-year NEWT Advanced Class. It can solve the problem."

Old Goyle and Old Crabbe quickly turned to look at Lucius. Back in sixth and seventh grade, they were busy retaking the "Ordinary Wizarding Level Exam" and were not qualified to participate in the NEWT Advanced Class.

Lucius nodded, looking at his two concerned followers, and explained, "This potion can restore appearances caused by curses or shapeshifting, returning people to their original state."

He immediately seized on the key point, questioning Lockhart, "Are you sure this medicine can cure them?"

Lockhart shrugged. "You can consult Professor Dumbledore for his judgment."

Concocting this potion is not difficult, and even collecting the ingredients is not difficult for these pure-blood families. The only difficulty is knowing whether Little Goyle and Little Crabbe are currently in a condition that can be treated with this potion.

"!!!"

Lucius fell silent.

On the contrary, old Gore and old Crabbe both breathed a sigh of relief.

Although they swore allegiance to the Dark Lord and stood against Dumbledore along with Lucius, they deeply admired Dumbledore's character and immense power; if Dumbledore said so, then so be it.

Great news! The children are saved.

"Come with me!" Lockhart turned around and led them toward the castle, as if he had no reason to talk to them.

Lucius glared at Lockhart's retreating figure, but eventually beckoned his two henchmen to walk over with him.

No one has ever...

No one dared to be so rude to him!

They even dared to mention the Dark Lord and the Death Eaters so easily!

Lockhart must pay the price!

With malicious thoughts swirling in his mind, he followed Lockhart around a corridor, when suddenly his legs gave way and he seemed to fall into thin air.

All they could see was a dazzling array of colors. Looking up, they saw Professor Lockhart looking bewildered, as if he had rushed up to grab them and save them but failed.

He heard old Goyle and old Crabbe exclaim in his ears, "The Dark Lord is going to wipe us out! He's going to wipe us out! Lucius, what should we do?!"

"Waaaaah, I told you not to come to Hogwarts! He's right here! He's right here! Waaaaah, I don't want to die!"

"!!!"

Lucius's already pale face instantly lost all color. Looking at the panicked Lockhart above, he hurriedly shouted.

"Help me, Professor Lockhart, help me!!!"

You were personally invited by Dumbledore to teach at the school, right? You must be very capable, right? Actually, I also trust Dumbledore's judgment!

Help me!!!