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"What a pity. I wasn't able to see that duel. I imagine it must have been a truly magnificent contest."
"However, it did give me inspiration. Recently, I have been planning a secret event, one that is guaranteed to bring everyone a surprise."
After Lockhart heard that Hermione had single-handedly defeated a sixth-year prefect, he said things like this more than once in his own class.
He understood very well how to use public opinion and draw other people's attention to himself.
To be precise, he was very good at it.
Although in the end, things often went wrong for various reasons, turning his efforts into nothing more than grandstanding.
Still, his ability could not be denied.
"I imagine everyone must be very curious about what it is."
Whenever he reached this point, Lockhart refused to continue.
He merely winked and revealed a row of dazzling white teeth.
To be honest, he should not have tried selling shampoo.
The Potter family's special shampoo had always held an irreplaceable dominant position in sales, and no other shampoo could replace it.
Although Lockhart truly worked hard at marketing, the actual sales were not especially good.
Only a small number of die-hard fans were willing to pay for it.
The correct thing for Lockhart to endorse should have been toothpaste.
Those teeth that looked as if they came with special effects were enough on their own.
Lockhart's mysterious manner really did pique plenty of students' curiosity.
He was, after all, a professor.
Although his ability was limited, surely he could not be bored enough to tease them for no reason, right?
But whenever they asked Lockhart about it, he refused to reveal even the slightest bit more.
"You will know on Monday morning."
That was what Lockhart said.
He continued maintaining the mystery.
Monday morning arrived as scheduled.
When the members of the disciplinary group returned to the castle after morning training, they suddenly saw a crowd of students gathered around the notice board, reading the words on a piece of parchment that had just been pinned there.
"It's probably one of Lockhart's boring tricks," Ron said with disdain on his face. "What is it this time, rounding up a nest of pixies?"
If one had to name the person in the disciplinary group most unhappy with Lockhart, it would definitely be Ron.
His mother and younger sister were both loyal Lockhart fans.
Although Ginny had become far less obsessed with Lockhart after coming to Hogwarts and seeing the real person's incompetence, his mother, Mrs. Weasley, was still very much "following her star."
The Weasley family was not wealthy, and Lockhart's books were absurdly expensive.
Just the full set of Lockhart books at the start of second year had been a significant expense.
Even the small amount Ron had earned last year was nowhere near enough to make up the difference.
What was more, Ron had spent all the money he earned buying gifts for his family.
He had not even replaced his own wand or bought himself a new pet.
Like Neville, he was still using an old wand.
Ron's was his brother's, while Neville's had belonged to his father.
"You may be wrong this time."
Dudley glanced at the contents of the parchment and said softly, "He has actually done something good."
"Dueling Club? Hosted by Lockhart?"
Hermione read the contents of the parchment aloud, her expression strange.
"Dueling? Lockhart? Him?"
The contempt in that final word was unmistakable.
Hermione was a student who greatly respected professors.
The prerequisite was that the professor possessed the ability or character worthy of her respect.
As for Lockhart...
It was one thing for him to lack ability.
His character was also...
Recently, certain rumors about him had often been spreading among the older students.
Yes.
The emotional kind.
Hermione had already begun collecting evidence in that direction.
Once it was confirmed, what Lockhart faced would not simply be expulsion from Hogwarts, but formal accusation.
The charge of molesting underage students was not light at all.
It was the same in the magical world.
Even if he did not end up in Azkaban, he would still have to take a trip before the Wizengamot.
"Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick actually agreed?"
Neville followed the parchment with his eyes.
Beneath Host: Lockhart, there was also a line of small text, as well as the names Professor Snape and Professor Flitwick.
With Lockhart highlighting himself like that, there was no need to think about it.
This notice had definitely been written by Lockhart himself.
"What Confundus Charm did that fellow cast on the professors?"
Professor Flitwick was one thing.
It was said that he had once been a dueling champion when he was young, so perhaps he would be interested in a Dueling Club.
But Professor Snape?
Professor Snape was not someone who enjoyed excitement.
Harry had deep personal experience with this.
Every time he went to Snape for extra lessons, it was never a pleasant experience.
"I don't think Lockhart can cast an advanced spell like a Confundus Charm."
Ron began fulfilling his role as the group's commentator.
"Maybe they were annoyed into agreeing."
"It seems your brain has opened for once. This may be the closest you have ever come to the truth, Mr. Romeo."
Malfoy mocked him without the slightest mercy.
This was basically their daily routine.
Ron was responsible for the commentary, and Malfoy was responsible for mocking him.
Harry was occasionally inserted into the exchange as well.
"Stop giving me strange nicknames! Careful, or tonight I'll teach you a lesson and pluck out that not-quite-gold, not-quite-silver mop of yours."
The first meeting of the Dueling Club was tonight.
"It is platinum, you uncultured donkey."
If you said anything else, Malfoy definitely would not get angry.
Instead, he would seize the flaw in your sentence and mock you with it.
But if you mentioned his hair, he would explode one hundred percent of the time.
"I'll stuff your red head up your own backside."
"Come on, then. Who's afraid of who?"
"It seems everyone agrees to go. In that case, everyone, prepare yourselves for tonight."
Dudley nodded, then suddenly raised his voice a little.
"Harry."
After a long pause, Harry finally responded with an "Mm."
"Recently, during training, you've been acting distracted. You often lose focus, and when people speak to you, your mind is somewhere else."
"Tonight, you and Neville will duel alone."
"Let me see whether you have improved or regressed during this period."
Dudley was very dissatisfied with Harry's recent state.
When asked anything, Harry refused to speak.
There had to be a problem.
The reason he arranged Neville was because Neville had improved the most during this period.
At eight o'clock that evening, the long dining tables had disappeared.
Along one wall stood a gilded stage, lit by hundreds of candles floating overhead.
The ceiling had once again turned as black as velvet.
Most of the students had come, packed together, each holding their wand, their faces full of excitement.
"Who will teach us dueling techniques in the first lesson?"
The students chattered among themselves.
"I guess Professor Flitwick. He was once a dueling champion when he was young!"
The students who said this were generally Ravenclaws.
"It has to be Professor Snape. He is one of the strongest wizards I have ever seen."
That generally came from Slytherin students.
Naturally, they supported their own Head of House.
In any case, there were guesses for everyone.
Some Gryffindors even shouted Hagrid's name.
Ron grinned and said jokingly, "Surely it isn't going to be Lockhart himself, right?"
Lockhart could not be that lacking in self-awareness.
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