The slacker professor at Hogwarts

What would you do if the only person in the world who could protect you had to stay in what you considered the most dangerous place in the world?

Lucius ultimately chose to compromise.

Of course, in Lockhart's words, it's even more romantic: Lucius followed the guidance of fate and chose to follow the strong on an adventure.

He had to take the risk, betting that Dumbledore could really protect the students at the school.

Even if little Gore and little Crabbe were lying stiff as stones on the bed, their fate unknown.

No one can guarantee that Voldemort will remain at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry forever, and not appear elsewhere in the world. If the Dark Lord truly insists on purging these traitors, then taking the children away from the school now would only harm them.

So the wise Mr. Malfoy immediately set his sights on Lockhart, who was standing to the side.

He knew that Dumbledore was reliable, but for those of them who were on the opposite side or even hostile, that reliability was questionable.

But Lockhart is different.

He was so powerful that he rescued the three brothers from the clutches of the monsters sent by the Dark Lord to purge the traitors.

And he was so kind and upright.

Yes, he hadn't forgotten how terrible the atmosphere between them had been at the beginning; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it hostile. Even so, Professor Lockhart still chose to put aside his personal feelings and save them.

Not to mention Lockhart truly loves his son Draco.

Lucius knew that Lockhart had agreed to teach at Hogwarts because he was eyeing Harry Potter's fame, but when he chose to take the young wizards out to broaden their horizons, he also took Draco along with Harry Potter.

Maybe……

He is the one who can protect his children at Hogwarts!

As Mr. Lucius Malfoy watched Professor Lockhart's shifty expression, Lockhart was gesturing wildly as he recounted a very similar event that had occurred in Ouagadougou, the capital of the Upper Volta in Africa.

Old Gore and Old Crabbe, who were concerned about their children, were stunned by what they heard.

"I have a detailed account in my autobiography, 'The Magician Me,' where I provided various kinds of amulets to the people, which solved their problems instantly." (Original text)

"No one knows better than me how to defend against dark magic!"

Amulets are a massive industry in wizarding society that permeates the daily lives of wizards.

After news of the Chamber of Secrets opening spread throughout Hogwarts, the first thing the students did was rush to buy all sorts of amulets.

During a "Duel Club" class, Neville showed his friends several items he had bought: a sharp amethyst, a rotting salamander tail, and a stinking green onion.

Lockhart was extremely knowledgeable in this area. He knew that the dozen or so powerful wizards in his mind had chosen to live in seclusion after leaving official institutions such as magic schools and the Ministry of Magic, and selling amulets was a major source of income for them.

Just as he said, the wizard's power lies not in "power" but in "mystery".

All sorts of magical items truly possess powerful magic, and this forms an inconspicuous yet ubiquitous and eerie backdrop to the magical world.

When Lockhart brought this up, old Crabbe clearly had something to say.

His language expression ability is strange; he can only communicate normally when he is emotionally agitated, and his voice is dull and he looks somewhat sluggish in daily life.

Old Crabbe tried his best to cover little Crabbe in the hospital bed with a blanket, but because little Crabbe was laughing so hard when he was petrified, the blanket kept slipping off.

He finally gave up, slapping the bed in frustration, and looked up at Lockhart. "We, the Crabbe family, have a..."

He clumsily gestured with his hands, indicating a large area, then clenched his fist and waved two fingers, "Colorful fish..."

Lucius walked over and gently patted old Crabbe on the shoulder, indicating that he would explain, "Since the sixteenth century, the Crabbe family has been breeding and cultivating a mutated rainbow fish. This magical creature has a hard bone on its back that looks like a stone. It can effectively resist magic damage of the whole body type and is an extremely high-quality talisman."

The Rainbow Ball Fish, a magical creature with a danger level of ✕✕✕, has colorful scales, a ball-shaped body, and two long, webbed legs.

Generally living in deep lakes, they are considered pests by mermaids, who will tie their long legs into knots and let them drift away with the current.

Lockhart knew about this magical creature because he remembered a wizard who was skilled at making fish soup and fried fish nuggets from several varieties of colorful fish.

As for the species with bones in their backs that protect against curses, he had never heard of them.

Ancient pure-blood families always manage to find something good in their long history.

Of course, that's not the main point. The main point is what Lucius mentioned about "effectively resisting magic damage of the whole body type," which is quite remarkable.

The petrification caused by indirect visual contact with the basilisk is a type of systemic damage. In contrast, the Divine Slash, invented by Snape, causes localized damage.

"You mean..." Lockhart raised an eyebrow, pointing to the two petrified young wizards on the hospital bed, "that the Crabbe family possesses such protective charms?"

Lucius nodded, then shook his head. "The bones of the mutated rainbow fish can only be stored for three to five years before losing their effectiveness, and the Crabbe family's breeding farm in the Białowieza Forest was abandoned by the family more than fifty years ago."

He shrugged. "According to the elders, they were cursed because they offended a Greek witch, and they can no longer get even a single rainbowfish from there."

"That's a real shame," Lockhart clicked his tongue.

He was unfamiliar with the Białowieża Forest and had no memory of it, so he couldn't help.

To everyone's surprise, old Crabbe excitedly patted young Crabbe on the shoulder, looked at Lockhart, and said, "Find the bone, save him, and the ranch will be yours!"

Lockhart blinked, not quite understanding what he meant.

Lucius explained from the side, "Old Crabbe is willing to give you this family farm. If you can break the curse and find the rainbow fish in the farm, we only need two fish bones to save these two children."

This……

Lockhart wasn't sure if he could handle the situation, but then he saw Professor Dumbledore quietly nod at him.

Is there a way?

But he still tried to be cautious in his words, "As you know, the children only need to patiently wait for the Mandela cultivated by Professor Sprout to mature before they can prepare the Mandela herb resurrection potion..."

Lucius interrupted him, "I just consulted Mrs. Pomfrey, and she said that the mandrake will take at least six months to arrive, and none of us know what will happen in those six months!"

They were about to be purged by the Dark Lord as traitors, and who knew when death would suddenly strike.

By then, the child will still be petrified and completely unconscious; who knows how he will be treated?

Especially some of the enemies who came from Gryffindor.

They always say that the children of evil people have dirty and dark blood flowing in their veins, and then, waving the banner of justice, they execute their children without any qualms.

He knew all too well the evil in some people's bones!

Lockhart finally nodded. "Alright, I can give it a try, but I can't guarantee it will work. I'm only good at Defense Against the Dark Arts. If it's a curse from the realm of spells, then there's nothing I can do."

He frowned again as he spoke, "I might not have much time lately, especially on weekends..."

At this moment, Dumbledore finally spoke, reminding us, "In two weeks it will be Christmas, and we will have a three-week holiday."

"!!!"

Lockhart looked at him with a strange expression upon hearing this.

Old Deng, I have a feeling you're using this opportunity to make me leave Hogwarts for a while?