As time passed, Sherlock's routine gradually became more regular.
Every morning, he would take Harry for boxing and sword practice, training the wizarding world's savior toward becoming a close-combat wizard.
After breakfast, he attended classes punctually, no longer skipping specific courses as he had the previous year.
Every three nights, he would venture into the Forbidden Forest, continuously supplementing and perfecting the map of the Forbidden Forest stored in his memory palace.
As for weekends, he would spend them with Hermione in the library, further deepening his understanding of the magical world.
It could be said that aside from his nighttime excursions to the Forbidden Forest, his routine was essentially identical to the previous year.
If there was any difference, it would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Last year, he had only attended two of Quirrell's classes before starting to skip, until he helped Harry join the Quidditch team and promised Professor McGonagall he would no longer be absent.
This year, he hadn't missed a single Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
Professor Gilderoy Lockhart's performance had already spread throughout Hogwarts.
Apart from Sherlock's second-year class, his performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes across other year levels was equally noteworthy.
Just like the Freezing Charm he used against the pixies, the spells he demonstrated in class were typically the simple, brutal kind that could solve problems cleanly and efficiently.
All the students were amazed—they seemed to have truly encountered a qualified Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Even the professors who had originally been extremely displeased with him had somewhat restrained their intense feelings of disgust.
They hadn't completely set aside their feelings because Professor Lockhart insisted on conducting that insufferable little quiz in his first class with every year level.
Aside from the last few questions, the vast majority were short-answer questions that seemed more suited to a Lockhart Fan Club than Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Without a doubt, no one except Hermione could complete that test paper.
Even though there were quite a few young witches who admired Lockhart as much as Hermione did, none of them could remember all of Lockhart's preferences.
Not even anyone could correctly answer all the final serious questions like Sherlock had.
Before beginning formal instruction each time, Lockhart would display his most charming smile to everyone.
Even during formal teaching, he would continuously intersperse boasts about his adventurous exploits from his books throughout the entire process.
For the male students, this was truly beyond their ability to complain about.
Greasy—it was just too greasy!
But for the female students, it was quite the opposite.
They generally believed that it was precisely because of Professor Lockhart's magical adventures described in his books that this handsome Defense Against the Dark Arts professor seemed more down-to-earth and perfect.
As for the older students, they were quite satisfied with Professor Lockhart, both male and female.
They dared not expect too much more.
They truly dared not.
Hogwarts had not been without Defense Against the Dark Arts professors more perfect than Professor Lockhart.
Before Sherlock's year of students entered the school, some Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had been more capable than Professor Lockhart.
Take those Cornish Pixies, for example—if it had been those professors, even if the number of pixies had been doubled, they wouldn't have let the scene become so chaotic.
With their abilities, they certainly could have maintained order while giving the young wizards training opportunities.
Of course, Professor Lockhart's fans had already begun making excuses for him.
They said he had done it intentionally, just to give the young wizards a chance to practice.
This explanation gained considerable agreement.
Because after that Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Professor Lockhart had been able to control the situation in all subsequent classes.
He had even brought creatures more troublesome and dangerous than pixies to the classroom.
Among them were creatures classified by the Ministry of Magic as XXX or even XXXX level.
Such as Color-Changing Lizards, Hinkypunks, Erklings, Kappa, and Grindylows.
Even so, his classroom never again experienced the chaos that had occurred with the pixies.
As the course progressed, his performance seemed increasingly effortless.
Under these circumstances, Lockhart's reputation naturally continued to improve.
Especially with last year's Quirrell serving as a reference point.
However, for the older students, this wasn't the most important thing.
The key issue was that since they had arrived at Hogwarts, Defense Against the Dark Arts professors had changed every year.
Although Voldemort had disappeared, the curse he left behind remained.
Such frequent turnover meant that truly capable wizards were unwilling to come teach.
After all, no one wanted to risk things like having their wife divorce them and take half their assets, or suddenly falling ill, just for a job.
Even if a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was highly capable, what use was it if they only taught for a year before leaving?
So having a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor like Gilderoy Lockhart who could teach them real skills was already very, very good.
Compared to his strengths, those shortcomings were truly insignificant.
So, they didn't forget to remind their younger schoolmates to cherish what they had.
Lockhart—use him while you can!
"Harry, where did you hear all this?" When Harry described these matters in detail, Ron looked incredulous. "Why haven't I heard any of this?"
"Uh... Cho told me all this."
"You mean Cho Chang? When did you become so close to her?"
"Yesterday when I was doing morning exercises with Sherlock, we happened to run into her, so we chatted for a bit..."
As Harry said this, his face reddened slightly.
Since the beginning of this term, his relationship with Cho Chang had become better than last year.
They had already had plenty of common topics, and even more so after Cho officially became Ravenclaw's Seeker this year.
Hermione snorted, with some dissatisfaction in her voice, "Professor Lockhart originally graduated from Ravenclaw House, and that's also the house with the highest proportion of girls, so they naturally support Professor Lockhart the most.
Unfortunately, even in Ravenclaw, no one has been able to break my perfect score record.
Not only is there no one now, there never will be.
Because Professor Lockhart has already finished giving first classes to all seven-year levels!"
"That's hard to say, Hermione," Ron said irritably. "Maybe this professor will come up with some new tricks—don't forget, he once had us recite long passages about his great exploits from his books!
This kind of challenge only requires advance preparation, and getting a perfect score wouldn't be difficult."
"You're right, but it's meaningless, because until now, only I have been able to do it!"
"That's because everyone else can't be bothered to do it!"
Ron was astounded. "Seriously, what are you so proud of? Is this something worth boasting about?"
"Hmph, I think you're just jealous!"
"I'm jealous of him? Are you kidding me? Why would I be jealous of him!"
"Of course, it's because—"
"Shut up!"
Just as the two were arguing, Sherlock suddenly spoke up. "You're interrupting my thinking."
As soon as Sherlock spoke, both of them sheepishly turned their heads away and stopped talking to each other.
However, soon after, Hermione began discussing knowledge points from "One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" with Sherlock again.
Harry and Ron exchanged glances and shrugged. They had long since become accustomed to this.
Compared to first-year courses, second-year courses were indeed more difficult, but the difficulty was limited.
As time passed, the young wizards eventually adapted.
However, different students had different abilities. Taking Gryffindor students as an example.
Students like Sherlock and Hermione could quickly get into the rhythm right after school started, performing effortlessly in every class.
Adjustment period? What adjustment period?
Harry and Ron needed a brief adjustment period of two to three days, but within a week they had completely recovered their form.
Seamus and Dean took a full week to adjust, and after spending a weekend at school, they finally emerged from their summer vacation mindset.
As for Neville... he was still in a state of confusion.
"Potter, why didn't you remind Mr. Longbottom to wait until the potion in the cauldron had completely cooled before stirring it?
Do you think you'll look good by letting him make mistakes? Because of your negligence, Gryffindor loses ten points!"
"Sorry, Harry..." After class, Neville apologetically said to Harry, "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have been scolded by Professor Snape."
"It's not your fault," Harry comforted him. "Even if you hadn't done anything, Professor Snape would have found another reason to deduct points."
"But... but I really did forget to wait for the potion to cool before stirring..."
"Just remember next time."
"Sherlock, you're absolutely right!" Neville looked at Sherlock with a crestfallen expression. "But... but I just can't remember!"
"Neville, if you ask me, you shouldn't worry about these details!
Just like Harry said, even without you, the old bat would find other reasons to dock points.
'Potter, who told you to stir the potion with your left hand? Gryffindor loses ten points!'"
Ron's imitation of Snape was spot-on, and as soon as he spoke, the atmosphere became cheerful.
Seeing everyone laughing but Neville still looking dejected, Hermione consoled him. "It's okay, Neville. You'll quickly earn those points back in Professor Lockhart's class."
Hermione had good reason to say this.
By now, Professor Lockhart's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes had developed a fixed routine.
As soon as class began, he would first display that charming smile to everyone, showing off his past adventures through self-aggrandizement.
When formal class started, he would have students dramatically recite long passages from his own works.
After the recitation ended, he would have the young wizards cooperate with him to recreate his past adventures from his books.
He called it "classic scene recreation."
This left everyone utterly helpless.
Please—this was Defense Against the Dark Arts, not a stage play!
But it was precisely because this segment existed that Professor Lockhart had grown fond of Neville.
In his view, Neville Longbottom was clearly a little badger who had wandered into a pride of lions—obedient, well-behaved, and without any desire to show off.
Having him play villainous roles like werewolves, vampires, and ghosts, his clumsy demeanor could highlight his own kingly bearing.
Because of this, Neville could earn quite a few points for Gryffindor in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes each time.
Even more than in his best subject, Herbology.
This was truly an unexpected pleasant surprise.
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