Once Professor McGonagall called on her, Hermione immediately stood up with a "whoosh."
She spoke in fluent Oxford accent without hesitation.
"Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration is the fundamental law regarding transfiguration magic. It states that we can transform objects or create things out of thin air, but there are five principal exceptions.
The first exception is that food cannot be conjured from nothing;
The second exception is that life cannot be created;
The third exception is that objects with magical properties cannot be created;
The fourth exception is that unknown substances cannot be created;
The fifth exception is that quantity cannot be altered!"
Hermione spoke as rapidly as if she were casting spells, delivering the standard answer in less than a minute.
The young wizards listening to the lesson showed no surprise at all.
For Hermione Granger, this point-scoring queen, this was routine behavior.
"Excellent! Five points to Gryffindor!"
This time, Professor McGonagall finally showed a satisfied smile.
After one class, Gryffindor had gained another fifteen points.
On the gemstones used for house scoring, the red was beginning to show its edge.
By lunchtime, Harry and Ron, like the other young wizards, began discussing the afternoon's Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Noticing Harry's somewhat worried expression, Ron handed him a chicken leg. "Don't worry, mate. Although I don't like Lockhart either, think about it—no matter how terrible he is, could he possibly be worse than Quirrell?"
Hearing his best friend's comfort, Harry unconsciously nodded.
Being worse than Quirrell was indeed rather unlikely.
Even so, he still felt that Lockhart was somewhat ostentatious.
At Flourish and Blotts, he had merely shown his face, yet the man insisted on dragging him for photos—he couldn't even escape.
Fortunately, he had ended up with Lockhart's complete book series, so it wasn't a total loss, after all, his books were particularly expensive.
No, according to Sherlock, he had still lost out.
He really should have asked for several more sets at the time, so that everyone in Ron's family could have had a set.
After all, Sherlock had already said that Lockhart hadn't been showing great mercy when he dragged Harry for photos.
Ultimately, he was just using Harry Potter's fame in the wizarding world to promote himself.
In that case, asking for books should have been perfectly reasonable.
Unfortunately, he had realized this too late.
While Harry was discussing with Ron, Sherlock had already finished his meal. His gaze inadvertently swept over Hermione, revealing a thoughtful expression.
"It seems you really do like Professor Lockhart, my friend."
At these words, Hermione's face reddened slightly, and she stammered.
"Sh-Sherlock, what are you talking about?"
Sherlock leaned back lazily, his slender fingers tapping on the table in front of Hermione.
"'Voyages with Vampires'—you've been reading this book constantly since earlier, never stopping.
Also, if you don't want people to know your thoughts, you'd better not let others see your class schedule."
His words immediately drew Harry and Ron's attention.
The two immediately stopped what they were doing and leaned over. Seeing this, Hermione was startled and originally wanted to hide her schedule, but it was too late.
"Hermione, why have you circled all of Professor Lockhart's classes with hearts?"
As soon as Ron asked this question, he felt something was wrong and silently cursed himself.
'Why can't I control my mouth!'
Sure enough, Hermione immediately glared at him furiously.
"Ron-ald, nobody thinks you're dumb if you don't speak!"
Ron immediately fell silent as if stricken.
'For homework's sake, I'll endure it!'
Although Harry hadn't spoken carelessly, seeing his friend in trouble, he quickly asked Sherlock to change the subject.
"By the way, Sherlock, last time on the train you said Professor Lockhart might have real ability. Do you still think so?"
Hearing Harry's question, Sherlock didn't answer immediately.
On the day they went to Diagon Alley, due to Harry's foresight and Lockhart's generous gift of books, both he and Hermione had directly received two complete sets of Professor Lockhart's works, thus avoiding the need to queue up to buy books like others.
But this also meant that neither he nor Hermione had seen Gilderoy Lockhart himself at the book signing.
Hermione had been quite disappointed about this at the time.
After returning from Diagon Alley, Sherlock had read through the complete series that would serve as Defense Against the Dark Arts textbooks this semester.
With Sherlock's abilities, he could naturally easily distinguish which content in the books was true and which was false.
The conclusion was that the descriptions of Lockhart's personal adventures in the books were indeed somewhat exaggerated.
Several books had deliberately chosen titles designed to arouse readers' curiosity.
Like "Break with a Banshee," or "Holidays with Hags."
Even someone completely ignorant of the wizarding world would probably be unable to resist taking a look upon seeing such titles.
Regarding the specific content of the adventures, some trivial matters were described at excessive length and in too much detail, with obvious artistic embellishment.
For instance, the relationships between the author and the banshee, as well as the hags, were all described with subtle romantic suggestions.
However, Sherlock had still discovered the blind spot.
That was, this bestselling author did have real skills—because those adventure experiences were all real.
Although literary works written from a first-person perspective can indeed enhance immersion, without personal experience, it's not easy to express the various details and psychological activities through imagination alone.
After all, people cannot understand things beyond their imagination.
Furthermore, the fact that his books could be so popular had been tested by the market.
After all, this wizarding world really did have ghouls, hags, werewolves, trolls, banshees, and other such magical creatures.
Pure fabrication would be easily exposed.
For the above reasons, Sherlock had developed some interest in this new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
When they arrived at Hogwarts station to check for Dark Arts objects, Sherlock finally met Gilderoy Lockhart himself. At the opening ceremony, he further witnessed his remarkably spectacular self-introduction.
Through his observations of Lockhart, he discovered that this person was—
How should he put it?
Quite interesting.
"The adventures in his books are not fictional," Sherlock said slowly. "Pure imagination cannot depict those details and psychological activities."
"You mean he's really that capable?" Ron was stunned upon hearing Sherlock say this.
After all, besides Hermione, his mother was also a Lockhart fan.
Their house still had a copy of "Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Household Pests."
However, when it came to de-gnoming, he and his twin brothers had always handled it directly by hand.
This book had naturally never been opened even once.
But if Lockhart had real substance, then he had truly wronged him before. Should he take another careful look when he returned this year?
"Insufficient evidence, cannot deduce," Sherlock chuckled lightly. "But we'll know this afternoon in class."
In fact, not only them, but all the young wizards were full of anticipation for the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the new year.
Defense Against the Dark Arts!
For any young wizard in school, this should have been the most interesting course.
Unfortunately, due to Voldemort's curse, their attitude toward this course had gradually changed from hope to disappointment, and now showed signs of turning from disappointment to despair.
However, before the afternoon class, Sherlock and his friends encountered a small incident.
While walking to the classroom together, Sherlock suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong, Sherlock?" Harry asked curiously, seeing Sherlock pause.
"Someone has been following us since we left the common room."
"What?"
Hearing Sherlock's words, Harry, Hermione, and Ron all gasped in unison.
Why hadn't they noticed anything?
Sherlock turned his head, his gaze sweeping toward a certain hidden corner.
"Come out. There's no point in continuing to follow."
As soon as he finished speaking, a person slowly emerged from behind the wall.
Seeing that someone was indeed tailing them, all three showed surprised expressions.
The person who appeared before the four was a small, thin boy with gray hair. He looked unremarkable and held a simple camera in his hands.
Sherlock glanced at his three companions and knew they didn't recognize the other person.
On the contrary, he recognized him immediately.
At this year's Sorting ceremony, Sherlock had, as in the past, deduced the backgrounds of these new students one by one. This little boy had been one of them.
At that time, Sherlock's assessment of him had been.
[Boy from a Muggle family, father works as a milkman, has a younger brother at home, likes photography]
Now that he appeared before them, Sherlock immediately understood his purpose.
"Harry, he's here for you."
"Ah? For me?"
Hearing Sherlock's words, Harry was stunned.
"Y-yes—"
Harry was still confused, but the little boy nodded upon hearing Sherlock's words and stammered.
"Hello, I—I'm Colin Creevey."
He was breathing rapidly, his face flushed red, and when speaking to Harry, he looked just like a fan meeting an idol.
Then his next actions truly proved that he and Harry had an idol-fan relationship.
"I—I'm a first-year Gryffindor student. Mr. Harry Potter, sir, may I—may I take your photograph?"
Harry looked at Creevey with complete bewilderment, not understanding what he meant at all.
So, he instinctively asked. "Photograph? Why would you want to photograph me?"
Now that caused trouble.
Just like Hermione on the Hogwarts Express last year, when this little wizard named Colin Creevey heard Harry ask for reasons, he immediately perked up and began talking nonstop.
"Because—because this way I can prove I met you!
You probably won't believe this, Mr. Harry Potter, but even though we never met before yesterday, I know everything about you!
How you escaped You-Know-Who's clutches, how he disappeared from his peak, and how you foiled an evil wizard's plot last year!
Everything about you, I know it all!
I heard you still have a lightning bolt scar on your forehead, is that right?"
When he said this, he kept staring at Harry's forehead.
This action made Harry frown deeply.
But this wasn't the end.
The little boy continued.
"A boy from a wizarding family in my dormitory told me that as long as I use the right developing potion, the people in the photos will move.
Oh, and you were also raised in a Muggle family—doesn't this sound really interesting?
And, and! Before I got my Hogwarts letter, I never knew that those strange things I could do were magic.
My dad's a milkman, and he can't believe any of this either, so I want to take lots of photos to send him.
If I could have one of your photos—"
Colin Creevey had started speaking haltingly due to nervousness.
But the more he spoke, the more fluent he became, and the faster he spoke.
By the end, his speaking speed was almost identical to Hermione's when answering questions.
When he reached this point, he suddenly stepped forward, startling Harry.
Colin looked at Harry with pleading eyes.
"Look, this simple camera is very easy to use.
I just need to stand next to you and have your friend press the shutter.
Oh, and after we take the photo, could you possibly sign an autograph?"
After Colin Creevey finished speaking, Harry and his companions were all stunned.
Don't just assume things on your own!
He hasn't agreed to the photo yet!
Harry was the most shocked of the three.
He had never expected that a first-year student would be fanatical to this degree.
He still remembered when he first came to school last year, he had indeed been intensely observed as a rare creature for a long time.
Not only did students come to the classroom to observe him one by one, but when passing in the corridors, some people who had already brushed past him would run back to look at him.
Fortunately, as time passed, his classmates' attention toward him gradually decreased.
Plus, with the birth of Sherlock, the "Gryffindor Lion King," a large portion of the attention concerning him had been diverted, making the situation somewhat better.
But even so, no one had ever come to ask for photos and autographs!
Not even Ron's sister Ginny, who blushed whenever she talked to him!
This was Harry's first encounter with such a situation, so he instinctively looked to Sherlock for help.
However, before Sherlock could respond, a sharp voice had already rung out.
"Giving out signed photographs? Are you giving out signed photographs, Potter?"
Even without turning around, Harry could already tell this voice belonged to Draco Malfoy.
Someone he thoroughly disliked.
In first year, Harry had never imagined he could dislike a boy more than he disliked Dudley.
Now that his relationship with Dudley had been repaired, Malfoy had risen to first place on his most-hated-people list.
So, when Malfoy's punchable face appeared in front of Harry, he couldn't help but frown.
Behind Malfoy were two old acquaintances, Crabbe and Goyle.
After a summer vacation, both had grown considerably taller and fatter, making them significantly more arrogant.
However, when Crabbe and Goyle noticed Sherlock beside Harry, their gazes couldn't help but shrink slightly.
Damn it, how had this guy grown taller too!
What happened to smart people only growing brains, not height?
By this look, he was still unbeatable!
Damn!
At this moment, Malfoy had already begun speaking sarcastically.
"Ha! Everyone line up—the savior Harry Potter is giving out signed photographs!"
After being taught lesson after lesson, Malfoy had conducted in-depth research on Sherlock.
Then he discovered that as long as he didn't directly launch personal attacks on Sherlock's friends—Harry, Hermione, Ron, and others—in his language, then Sherlock wouldn't make a move against him.
Sure enough, after saying this, he carefully glanced at Sherlock.
Then he found that Sherlock appeared to be daydreaming, seemingly having no reaction to this.
Seeing this, Malfoy immediately felt confident.
Excellent, this was possible!
Instead, Harry clenched his fists and angrily said.
"I'm not—I didn't—you're talking nonsense!"
Ron, who had always wanted to find an opportunity to teach Malfoy a lesson and prove his abilities, stepped forward, about to speak.
Unexpectedly, Harry's newly appeared fanatical fan, Colin Creevey, was even faster than him.
"You're just jealous!"
It was really hard to imagine that Creevey's entire body was only as thick as Crabbe's neck, yet at this moment he dared to defend his idol.
Commendable courage!
But his actions and words made Harry feel helpless.
Didn't saying this essentially admit that he was giving out signed photographs?
"Hahaha!"
Sure enough, Malfoy immediately burst into laughter.
He gleefully pointed at Harry. "Jealous of what? I wouldn't want an ugly scar on my head—"
Malfoy spoke halfway, then suddenly realized something and quickly changed course.
"—Hmph, it seems he really does want a signed photograph from you!
Speaking of which, this would be worth more than your friend Weasley's house!"
After saying this, he quickly glanced at Sherlock.
That was close!
Malfoy's survival instinct was quite strong.
He had almost launched a personal attack on Harry.
That would have given Sherlock reason to make a move against them.
Fortunately, he had held back.
But really, this feeling of dancing on the edge of danger was quite interesting.
Although he could only take some verbal advantage, being able to make Harry and Weasley uncomfortable in front of Sherlock was already Malfoy's greatest joy at this stage.
Of course, when this year's Quidditch team recruitment came around, he had prepared a surprise.
Harry's expression would definitely be even more interesting then.
"How dare you, I—"
Hearing his rival Malfoy mock him once again, Ron was about to do something when suddenly a voice came from not far away.
"What's going on! What's going on?"
With this voice, Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and famous author Gilderoy Lockhart strode toward them.
His peacock blue robes fluttered behind him, and his face wore that charming smile.
"Who's giving out signed photographs?"
It had to be said that Lockhart's appearance was indeed impeccable.
As soon as he appeared, he immediately became the most conspicuous person in the crowd.
Even young wizards who hadn't originally been paying attention to this matter gathered around.
Seeing this situation, Harry panicked even more and hurriedly tried to explain.
"No, Professor, you misunderstood—"
But Lockhart directly reached out to hook his shoulder, pulling him over in one motion.
"No need to ask! We meet again, Harry!"
Lockhart's voice was cheerful, his smile growing even more brilliant, his perfect teeth gleaming in the sunlight, making one wonder if he'd used bleach.
No matter who it was, seeing this scene wouldn't doubt that Professor Lockhart and Harry had a close relationship.
However, Harry, caught beside Lockhart, was so embarrassed his face was burning.
At this point, seeing a professor appear, Malfoy could only reluctantly retreat into the crowd.
But his face was full of satisfaction—his purpose had been achieved anyway.
Harry's expression had been seen by him—as long as Harry was unhappy, he felt happy.
Lockhart didn't ask others what had actually happened. Seeing Colin Creevey holding a camera, he immediately smiled charmingly and greeted him.
"Come now, Creevey! A photo together is most economical!
When you develop the photo, we'll both sign it for you."
Creevey had never expected such an unexpected bonus.
He nodded heavily, excitement and enthusiasm rendering him nearly speechless.
Although he had come for Harry Potter, the savior of the wizarding world.
But if he could simultaneously get a photo with Gilderoy Lockhart, this star of the wizarding world, that would be a tremendous profit—a complete victory!
Afraid that they might change their minds, he quickly raised his camera to focus on Harry and Lockhart.
It's settled—double happiness!
Because his fingers kept trembling, he failed several times before successfully pressing the shutter while aimed at Harry and Lockhart.
Continuous "click" "click" sounds rang out as he took many photos in succession without hesitation.
When he finished, the class bell also rang.
"Come on, everyone, let's get to class."
Lockhart called out to the crowd, then walked toward his classroom.
"Wait, isn't he going to let Harry go?"
Seeing Harry still tightly held by Lockhart, Hermione showed a surprised expression.
"Hehe, he already did something similar last time at Flourish and Blotts."
Watching Harry being carried away by Professor Lockhart, Ron said sarcastically.
"I think Harry must be full of regret right now."
"Regret what?"
"Regret not learning a Body-Bind Curse."
"By the way, Sherlock, what do you think?"
In Ron's view, this incident should be enough to make Sherlock see Lockhart's true nature.
This time Sherlock had finally made a mistake.
Lockhart was just a fraud!
And a show-off fraud at that!
"I think—he's very interesting."
"Interesting? You actually say he's interesting?"
Ron hadn't expected Sherlock to give such an answer. He looked at Lockhart's retreating figure again, trying to find even one interesting point about him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't find a single one.
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