Chapter 198: Ghost Ship and the Dawn of an Era
Collective Apparition via a gigantic Patronus was a magnificent experience.
Upon arriving at Hogwarts, everyone was so excited, animatedly discussing the event on the grass near the Black Lake and Hogsmeade station.
Lockhart assumed they would be talking about the Dark Lord or their recent encounter with the Dementors, but to his surprise, many were talking about a ship.
"???"
He looked around, a little bewildered, wondering if he had lost his memory and missed some 'plot point.'
"Yes, we all saw it! It's not our fault you didn't!" Ron said triumphantly to Draco, then asked his two cronies, "What about you? Did you see it?"
Goyle shook his head, looking dazed. Draco sneered, thinking the savior trio was just trying to get attention. But then he turned around and saw that Crabbe had nodded.
"I saw it too. It was very rundown, and the sails were blood-red, as if they were made of blood."
The young wizards chattered on, some saying it was a ghost ship from a fairy tale, while others speculated it might be some kind of magic used by the mysterious man to counter Professor Lockhart's Patronus.
It wasn't just Harry's group talking about it; almost all the young wizards were.
Lockhart blinked in surprise. After a moment, he raised his wand to his temple and delved into his deepest memories.
He had been simultaneously performing three powerful spells: the Patronus Charm, Apparition, and the Lightning Storm.
His mind had been stretched to its limit, and he also had to be on guard against Voldemort. He simply hadn't paid attention to anything else, so he had no memory of the ghost ship the young wizards were talking about.
Fortunately, he had a way to peer into the timeline of his own memory.
His memory was like a huge, boundless gear. He gently turned the gear, and time flowed, quickly bringing his thoughts back to that moment.
If someone were to observe his eyes at that moment, they would see the reflected image rapidly flickering.
Arriving at Hogwarts and dropping off the young wizards, the journey through Apparition, the confrontation with Voldemort...
And then it stopped.
The images in his eyes began to move up and down, left and right, finally settling on the image of a large ship to his rear.
Hiss!
Lockhart gasped, unsure where this thing had come from.
Logically, this object should not have appeared. He had seemingly taken the students on a mass journey through space, but he had actually used memory as an anchor to travel along a time axis, entering the Hogwarts of his memories before returning to the Hogwarts of reality.
It was an extremely pure mental activity, not a physical movement through space.
So...
Where had this ghost ship come from?
He looked up at the old, blood-sailed ghost ship he had no memory of, and a sense of awe suddenly filled him. Awe at the endlessly mysterious and strange magic of this world.
This thing had appeared completely illogically, as if it were a mockery of the magical path he had forged and the magical theories he had built.
"This is impossible!"
He wanted to deny this completely illogical thing in front of him, but he had to face the reality of its existence.
It was just like Voldemort's shocked shout after he had cast the Killing Curse at him. It felt like his entire worldview was about to collapse.
Fortunately, he wasn't alone.
Pink tentacles quickly emerged from his body, gathering into a jellyfish-like form in mid-air. It rapidly transformed, finally becoming a Vengeful Fairy that floated and perched on his shoulder.
"That's a dark magic creature!"
The Vengeful Fairy provided an answer.
"A dark magic creature?" Lockhart was a little shocked.
"Yes, don't you wizards call dark magic creatures 'non-existents?' This is a non-existent," the Vengeful Fairy said, examining the ghost ship. "It sails on the river of time. Perhaps it never had a chance to be seen by the world, and your spell just now made it visible."
"What is it? What can it do?" Lockhart asked, a little excited, his eyes burning with curiosity as he looked at it.
The Vengeful Fairy shook its head. "I just know it's a dark magic creature. It's a perception of a kindred spirit, but I don't know what it is specifically."
Just then, a voice came from a distance. "Professor, did you summon that ghost ship?"
The images in his mind quickly flowed backward, continuously collapsing back into the dimension of real time. Lockhart's vision returned to the grassy field beside the Black Lake.
He looked over to see many young wizards gathered around him. One older student was looking at him with great anticipation, and it was clear he had asked the question.
Lockhart gave a mysterious smile. "Now is not the time to answer that question."
Because he didn't know the answer himself.
Fortunately, Professor McGonagall and Hagrid, who had rushed over, drew the students' attention. The first-years were led by Hagrid to the lake for the traditional boating ceremony, a rite of passage for all new Hogwarts students for centuries. The other students were called by Professor McGonagall and guided by the student prefects to their dormitories to wait for the opening feast.
"How are things over there?" Lockhart asked, concerned.
From what he knew of Voldemort, the old Dark Lord would probably not run back into Dumbledore's line of fire. But who knew if the influence of the Horcrux diary, which he had used months ago during the full moon, had changed the current Voldemort?
Especially since he knew that Dumbledore had also been messing with Voldemort's Horcruxes that day, but hadn't told him what he had done.
"He's gone. Everyone else has been sent to the Ministry. Dumbledore will preside over the trial at the Wizengamot, so he probably won't be back tonight."
Professor McGonagall looked at the young wizards around her and breathed a sigh of relief. "What incredible luck, Professor Lockhart. If you hadn't been here, I don't know what terrible things would have happened."
Lockhart smiled and shook his head. "I'm sure Dumbledore had other plans ready. He just didn't need to use them because I stepped in. The students will be fine."
Professor McGonagall's expression became strange. "Yes, everyone says that. Dumbledore will take care of everything."
But was that really the case?
Professor McGonagall certainly believed that her good friend Albus was the most powerful wizard of their time, but this great wizard's strength probably had little to do with 'planning' or 'strategizing.'
Gellert Grindelwald's blood pact was stolen by Newt for Dumbledore.
The Qilin, which was said to be able to anoint a wizard as the leader of the wizarding world, was also saved by Newt.
Voldemort was defeated by Lily Potter.
And the Minister of Magic, Fudge, was always looking for an opportunity to go against Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall had seen all of this.
At least in her eyes, Dumbledore was just an ordinary old man with extraordinary magical abilities, who was struggling under the immense pressure of the responsibilities the world had placed on the most powerful wizard.
If Dumbledore hadn't gotten involved in all of this, he would have been the most legendary wizard in history, not the 'greatest' wizard of the modern era.
But she was clearly not one to gossip about people behind their backs. She just held her serious expression to keep from smiling and called out to Lockhart to join her in the Great Hall. "Dumbledore has found a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. His name is Remus John Lupin. I think before he officially starts teaching, you should talk to him about your 'fairytale romantic practice' idea."
"After all..."
Professor McGonagall looked back at Lockhart, a look of admiration on her face. "You have completely changed Hogwarts. We all hope to continue this change. It has made the students and staff full of life."
Lockhart smiled and nodded. "I'd be happy to."
During the summer, he had also found time to visit Lyle Lupin's laboratory. With some of his research results, Lyle's experiments on werewolves had entered a new phase.
Perhaps Remus would want to know what kind of efforts his father was making.
The two discussed Lockhart's upcoming role as the Care of Magical Creatures professor for the new school year. McGonagall sounded a bit wistful. "This year will probably not be peaceful. The school must strengthen its defenses, Gilderoy. I have to advise you to at least live at the school for the next six months and stay away from Hogsmeade."
Lockhart quickly understood. "Because of the book I wrote?"
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Today's attack is just the beginning of a rising tide; it's far from the end! Professor Lockhart, prepare for the challenge. There will definitely be more things to come!"
She didn't know how to describe Lockhart's book.
When she saw the book in a street bookstore in Italy during the summer vacation, she couldn't help but let out a curse.
She was shocked.
Were young people today really that brave?
Everyone used to believe that if Voldemort returned, his first target would be Harry, and then Dumbledore. But now, no one was sure, because Voldemort's hatred for Lockhart might be even greater than his hatred for Harry.
Then she received an invitation from Dumbledore to participate in a secret meeting for the official relaunch of the Order of the Phoenix.
She had assumed that this official launch would be a discussion centered around Harry Potter, but to her surprise, it was about Gilderoy Lockhart.
The times were quietly changing.
She had that intuition.
She had lived for so long that she knew the biggest difference between the history of the wizarding world and the Muggle world was the appearance of one epoch-making wizard after another, for better or for worse.
Gellert Grindelwald, Albus Dumbledore, Voldemort...
And now, Gilderoy Lockhart!
For a moment, she began to regret inviting Lockhart to be the Care of Magical Creatures professor at Hogwarts. Unlike Dumbledore, who tirelessly maintained everything in the wizarding world, her life was more pure, and she put all her energy into Hogwarts. She didn't want anything to happen to the school.
Perhaps...
This was fate.
She looked at Lockhart seriously, her expression stern. "Never underestimate any wizard! Always remain humble! I once told Dumbledore the same thing. After all, he also had a period of arrogance, and I know what kind of phase a wizard with powerful magical abilities can go through."
Lockhart nodded earnestly. "Thank you for the reminder. I will be careful."
He was naturally aware of how common it was to have an unexpected failure. Grindelwald was defeated by Newt, and Voldemort was killed by Lily's rebounded curse. These top-tier wizards were the most obvious examples.
"I will move back to Hogwarts..."
Lockhart said, then suddenly looked at the Forbidden Forest in the distance, his eyebrows raised. "I wonder if you would allow me to build a small cabin in the Forbidden Forest myself?"
"???" Professor McGonagall blinked, unable to keep her expression straight. "What?"
"To live in the Forbidden Forest," Lockhart requested. "I hope to be closer to nature. The answers to my next magical path are there."
Professor McGonagall finally agreed.
Although she thought the request was quite bizarre.
Since becoming Deputy Headmistress, she had seen one Defense Against the Dark Arts professor after another, and other courses occasionally changed. There was also a large staff of teachers. Lockhart was the first one to ask to live in the Forbidden Forest.
"I will ask Hagrid to give you some help."
"Nice!"
Lockhart began to look forward to his life at Hogwarts.
............
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