"Ah... it seems some of you still lack a bit of understanding about me, but that's alright. We'll have plenty of time ahead of us to get to know each other."
Lockhart said as he winked at the students, causing many Young Wizards to feel a sudden urge to vomit.
Lynn watched him without any reaction, waiting for him to officially begin the lesson.
Unfortunately, Lockhart clearly had no such intention. He continued flipping through the papers, and his eyes lit up when he saw Lynn's and Hermione's tests.
"Wow!"
"Miss Lynn, Miss Granger, where are you?"
Hearing the Professor call her name, Lynn raised her hand without hesitation, her eyes staring at Lockhart with a deathly stillness.
Beside her, Hermione could only reluctantly raise her own hand as well.
Lockhart fell silent for a moment when he saw Lynn's face. He recognized this girl; she was the one who had taught the Malfoy father and son a lesson in Diagon Alley, and the one he had nearly succeeded in using to boost his own fame.
If it hadn't been for that nonsensical reporter's refusal... didn't he know how much of a performance boost that could have brought him?
He might have even been promoted because of it! Lockhart lamented the missed opportunity for a moment, then immediately flashed a wide smile.
"I'm very pleased that you've read my books so diligently. There's no doubt you must admire me greatly."
Lynn's expression remained unchanged, while Hermione's face fell even further. Admire a straw man? Merlin's scarecrow, she'd rather face the trials at the end of the last school year again!
As he spoke, his gaze locked onto Lynn's face. "Without a doubt, I will certainly teach you how to wield great power, just as I have done before, using it to help others."
Lynn met Lockhart's gaze unmoved, her eyes still possessing the deathly stillness of an inorganic object.
Lockhart felt a chill run down his spine and quickly looked away. Merlin above, this girl was a bit too odd.
He'd better stay as far away from her as possible, if she couldn't be of any use in helping him boost his fame.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen," Lockhart walked slowly to the front of the podium and spread his hands. "This school year, in my class, you will witness many of the most dangerous, most wicked Dark Arts and magical creatures. I will teach you how to deal with them, just as I have done countless times myself."
Hearing his words, the Little Eagles and Little Lions gave several merciless sneers. Most dangerous? Most wicked? That would probably scare you to death.
"It seems you don't quite believe me?" Lockhart arched an eyebrow, his hand reaching for a cage covered with a black cloth on the podium desk.
"Now, let me show you an evil creature, an extremely evil creature. Please don't scream, as that will provoke them."
Lockhart's facial expressions changed richly; his "peak" acting skills actually managed to bluff some of the Young Wizards.
Even though Lockhart had no real ability, what if he really had brought some dangerous magical creature?
Hermione took a deep breath, pulled out her wand, and leaned forward, faintly shielding Lynn.
Lynn glanced indifferently at Hermione in front of her and didn't react.
Based on the size of the cage by Lockhart's hand and the degree of its shaking...
Every book she had read indicated that no creature in the Wizarding World so small and unable to break through a single cage was actually dangerous.
Furthermore, hearing the faint squeals and looking at that cage, she had already determined that the creatures inside were most likely Cornish Pixies.
They were creatures that weren't exactly dangerous but were exceptionally annoying. Once released, they would cause chaotic destruction until everything around them was a mess.
Hermione could handle such creatures, so Lynn didn't react to Hermione shielding her.
If it were a more dangerous creature, she would have pulled Hermione behind her long ago.
After all, in her personal inequality, Hermione's life was greater than her own.
Seeing that his goal was achieved, a large portion of the Young Wizards below showed nervous expressions.
Lockhart smiled triumphantly and whipped off the black cloth covering the cage. "Let me reveal to you: freshly caught Cornish Pixies!"
As the black cloth was removed, a cage full of Cornish Pixies was presented before the Little Eagles and Little Lions.
A burst of laughter suddenly erupted in the classroom. All the Young Wizards slapped their thighs, unable to stop laughing.
"They're not dangerous at all."
"Cornish Pixies, hahaha..."
Hearing the laughter and comments of the Young Wizards in the classroom, Lockhart arched an eyebrow. "Don't underestimate them; they can be quite tricky to deal with."
"Now, let's see how you handle them."
With that, he yanked open the cage, and over a dozen Cornish Pixies flew out.
"That madman!"
Hermione cried out in surprise. Clearly, she also knew the power of these mischievous pixies, and she swiftly packed her and Lynn's things into their respective bags.
Lynn made no move. In her view, as a Professor, Lockhart must be releasing the Cornish Pixies to train them in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Next, he should be teaching them the spell for this lesson and letting them use it to deal with the Cornish Pixies.
Sure enough, Lockhart pulled out his wand when he saw the Young Wizards begin to pack their things in a panic.
"Alright, alright, don't panic everyone. These pixies are easy to deal with; you just need to follow my lead."
He then waved his wand and chanted a spell that no one had ever heard of.
Unsurprisingly, it had no effect. His wand was snatched by a Cornish Pixie and thrown away.
The smile on his face stiffened for a moment, then he forced his lips into a smirk.
"Next is the challenge I've left for you: capture these Cornish Pixies and put them back."
After saying that, he "scrambled" back into his office. The Young Wizards watched his retreating back, speechless.
As expected... a total straw man.
The Cornish Pixies ran amok in the classroom, wantonly tearing up textbooks and overturning ink bottles.
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