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Chapter 35: Are You Here to Sell Books?
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
William had imagined what his new colleague would be like, but he never expected the newcomer to be a Tooth Spirit.
Considering the various magical creatures and all sorts of wondrous transfiguration in the Wizarding World, he didn't rule out the possibility that the other person was actually a puppet or a magical prop made with dentures.
"This is Professor Gilderoy Lockhart," Professor McGonagall said, introducing him to William with a rarely seen troubled expression on her face.
"This is Professor Li William."
"It is an honor for Hogwarts to welcome two, hmm, Professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. This is a rare occurrence. Though I've said it many times, I will repeat it once more: welcome to Hogwarts."
William and the Tooth Spirit named Lockhart shook hands and exchanged greetings, then sat down in the two chairs facing Professor McGonagall. Lockhart's white teeth flashed from time to time, reminding William of his earlier speculation about his new colleague.
Professor McGonagall began to clear her desk.
All sorts of reports and bills were stacked together by Professor McGonagall, and a few lively shorthand quills obediently hopped into a drawer under the command of her wand. William glanced at the pile of documents and noticed that the heading on the top one was addressed to Dumbledore.
Without a doubt, Dumbledore had handed over the majority of the school's affairs to his Deputy Headmistress.
Internally speculating just how much of a hands-off manager the Chief White Wizard was, William handed over the forms he had prepared, detailing his textbook choices and the academic years he wished to be responsible for.
Professor McGonagall took the form and studied it seriously for a moment before taking out Lockhart's application form from her desk and comparing the two.
"There are no issues with the textbooks, but it seems you two have quite a few conflicts regarding the year levels you wish to teach."
Professor McGonagall pushed the forms forward and said:
"You both chose the lower years, but the senior students also need a professor, especially since they are approaching their major exams and need a professor's guidance even more."
William glanced at Lockhart's form and saw that he had chosen the First to Fifth Years, leaving the Sixth and Seventh Years open.
As for William, considering his lack of experience, he had simply chosen the First to Fourth Years, leaving the senior students to the new, more conventionally educated professor.
So that was the problem: who would teach the senior students?
Professor McGonagall's gaze fell on Lockhart. Although neither professor had teaching experience, she favored Lockhart slightly more.
From a professional standpoint, Lockhart was significantly older than William and had been immersed in magic for much longer. He also had a string of dazzling titles to his name, and his adventures were documented in his books for all to see. Both his strength and experience far surpassed William's.
On a personal level, William was, after all, an unorthodox wizard who had never received a Hogwarts education. With the establishment of Hogwarts a thousand years ago, such unorthodox wizards had become increasingly rare, and their strengths varied wildly. Lockhart, on the other hand, was a proper Ravenclaw graduate with outstanding grades during his time at the school. Professor McGonagall had more faith in this Hogwarts graduate (Note 1).
By all accounts, Lockhart seemed far more suited than William to be the professor for the senior students.
But just as Professor McGonagall was about to speak, Lockhart quickly cut in before her.
"While I would love to teach the senior students, I happen to have some rather good friendships with the people who set the exams. To avoid any accusations of students gaining an unfair advantage through my connections, I feel it's best I don't get involved with students who are about to sit their exams."
William was stunned. What kind of divine excuse was that?
Did he just insult three parties at once?
He was implying the examiners could be swayed by favoritism, suggesting that the school professors' relationships with the examiners were inferior to his personal ones, and also assuming that the school's students would gladly resort to cheating.
Besides, if that were true, why did he still want to teach the Fifth Year students?
William saw Professor McGonagall's expression darken, but she seemed to hold her tongue.
"Very well. In that case, Professor William, would you have any difficulty in serving as the—er, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the senior students?"
Yes, William wanted to say, but his excuses were clearly not as powerful as Lockhart's.
In any case, he didn't really mind teaching the senior students, so he didn't refuse.
"Alright, I'll be responsible for the Sixth and Seventh Year students. It's a bit different from what I originally anticipated, but there's still a month to go. That should be enough time for lesson preparation."
"Teaching five year levels at once is too exhausting. Besides, the Fifth Year also faces their O.W.L.s. I hope, Professor William, that you can take responsibility for the Fifth Year students as well."
Professor McGonagall quickly scribbled on both of their forms. William noticed a slightly unpleasant look on Lockhart's face, but Lockhart raised no objections to the decision.
"Well then, I will notify the students to purchase the textbooks you two have assigned. Your timetables and office arrangements will be delivered by owl within the next week."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at the time. Business was concluded, and it was time for them to leave.
William and Lockhart rose to take their leave together, but just as William said his goodbyes, Professor McGonagall suddenly added something.
"Professor William, please wait a moment. I just remembered that we haven't discussed the elective course matters for the Sixth Year students. That needs to be determined based on their O.W.L.s grades."
It wasn't a particularly complicated matter.
After the Fifth Year students took their O.W.L.s, the courses in the Sixth and Seventh Year became electives. Only students who were interested in continuing the subject or whose future professions required it would continue their studies—but enrollment eligibility was based on their previous exam results.
But whether intentionally or not on Professor McGonagall's part, William saw the list of textbooks Lockhart had chosen.
*Travels with Ghouls* by Gilderoy Lockhart, *Vacation with Hags* by Gilderoy Lockhart... *Year with the Yeti* by Gilderoy Lockhart.
It was a long list of books, all written by Lockhart.
Was this professor really here to teach? Was he sure he wasn't here to sell books?
Considering that Sixth and Seventh Year students had to pass through the dual filters of exams and the professor's approval, William had reason to suspect that Lockhart had given up on these two years simply because there would be fewer students.
"Students who received an 'Exceeds Expectations' can also take the elective, can't they? Perhaps they just performed poorly during the exam. If their future career planning requires a higher-level certificate, they should have a chance to work for it."
William took a serious look at the grade requirements and generously approved a batch of registration qualifications—normally, only students with the highest grade, 'Outstanding,' were eligible.
"Very well, I will inform those students. The number of registered students will be sent to you at the start of school, along with the timetable and classroom arrangements."
After saying this to William, Professor McGonagall finally looked up and noticed Hagrid, who had been waiting at the office doorway the whole time.
"Oh, Hagrid, I'm sorry, I'd completely forgotten about you. Was there something you needed?"
---
Note: Lockhart graduated from Ravenclaw and was nearly Sorted into Slytherin. He had outstanding grades and once petitioned the Headmaster to create a school newspaper, carve his name in capital letters on the Quidditch pitch, and project his own face onto the sky above Hogwarts. His greatest feat was sending himself eight hundred Valentine's Day cards while he was a student at Hogwarts.
He entered Hogwarts' Ravenclaw House in 1975, at which time Dumbledore was already Headmaster and Professor McGonagall was the Transfiguration professor, though it cannot be confirmed whether she taught him.
(end of chapter)
2022-07-14 Author: I'm Just a Pigeon
William had imagined what his new colleague would be like, but he never expected the newcomer to be a Tooth Spirit.
Considering the various magical creatures and all sorts of wondrous transfiguration in the Wizarding World, he didn't rule out the possibility that the other person was actually a puppet or a magical prop made with dentures.
"This is Professor Gilderoy Lockhart," Professor McGonagall said, introducing him to William with a rarely seen troubled expression on her face.
"This is Professor Li William."
"It is an honor for Hogwarts to welcome two, hmm, Professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts this year. This is a rare occurrence. Though I've said it many times, I will repeat it once more: welcome to Hogwarts."
William and the Tooth Spirit named Lockhart shook hands and exchanged greetings, then sat down in the two chairs facing Professor McGonagall. Lockhart's white teeth flashed from time to time, reminding William of his earlier speculation about his new colleague.
Professor McGonagall began to clear her desk.
All sorts of reports and bills were stacked together by Professor McGonagall, and a few lively shorthand quills obediently hopped into a drawer under the command of her wand. William glanced at the pile of documents and noticed that the heading on the top one was addressed to Dumbledore.
Without a doubt, Dumbledore had handed over the majority of the school's affairs to his Deputy Headmistress.
Internally speculating just how much of a hands-off manager the Chief White Wizard was, William handed over the forms he had prepared, detailing his textbook choices and the academic years he wished to be responsible for.
Professor McGonagall took the form and studied it seriously for a moment before taking out Lockhart's application form from her desk and comparing the two.
"There are no issues with the textbooks, but it seems you two have quite a few conflicts regarding the year levels you wish to teach."
Professor McGonagall pushed the forms forward and said:
"You both chose the lower years, but the senior students also need a professor, especially since they are approaching their major exams and need a professor's guidance even more."
William glanced at Lockhart's form and saw that he had chosen the First to Fifth Years, leaving the Sixth and Seventh Years open.
As for William, considering his lack of experience, he had simply chosen the First to Fourth Years, leaving the senior students to the new, more conventionally educated professor.
So that was the problem: who would teach the senior students?
Professor McGonagall's gaze fell on Lockhart. Although neither professor had teaching experience, she favored Lockhart slightly more.
From a professional standpoint, Lockhart was significantly older than William and had been immersed in magic for much longer. He also had a string of dazzling titles to his name, and his adventures were documented in his books for all to see. Both his strength and experience far surpassed William's.
On a personal level, William was, after all, an unorthodox wizard who had never received a Hogwarts education. With the establishment of Hogwarts a thousand years ago, such unorthodox wizards had become increasingly rare, and their strengths varied wildly. Lockhart, on the other hand, was a proper Ravenclaw graduate with outstanding grades during his time at the school. Professor McGonagall had more faith in this Hogwarts graduate (Note 1).
By all accounts, Lockhart seemed far more suited than William to be the professor for the senior students.
But just as Professor McGonagall was about to speak, Lockhart quickly cut in before her.
"While I would love to teach the senior students, I happen to have some rather good friendships with the people who set the exams. To avoid any accusations of students gaining an unfair advantage through my connections, I feel it's best I don't get involved with students who are about to sit their exams."
William was stunned. What kind of divine excuse was that?
Did he just insult three parties at once?
He was implying the examiners could be swayed by favoritism, suggesting that the school professors' relationships with the examiners were inferior to his personal ones, and also assuming that the school's students would gladly resort to cheating.
Besides, if that were true, why did he still want to teach the Fifth Year students?
William saw Professor McGonagall's expression darken, but she seemed to hold her tongue.
"Very well. In that case, Professor William, would you have any difficulty in serving as the—er, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for the senior students?"
Yes, William wanted to say, but his excuses were clearly not as powerful as Lockhart's.
In any case, he didn't really mind teaching the senior students, so he didn't refuse.
"Alright, I'll be responsible for the Sixth and Seventh Year students. It's a bit different from what I originally anticipated, but there's still a month to go. That should be enough time for lesson preparation."
"Teaching five year levels at once is too exhausting. Besides, the Fifth Year also faces their O.W.L.s. I hope, Professor William, that you can take responsibility for the Fifth Year students as well."
Professor McGonagall quickly scribbled on both of their forms. William noticed a slightly unpleasant look on Lockhart's face, but Lockhart raised no objections to the decision.
"Well then, I will notify the students to purchase the textbooks you two have assigned. Your timetables and office arrangements will be delivered by owl within the next week."
After she finished speaking, she glanced at the time. Business was concluded, and it was time for them to leave.
William and Lockhart rose to take their leave together, but just as William said his goodbyes, Professor McGonagall suddenly added something.
"Professor William, please wait a moment. I just remembered that we haven't discussed the elective course matters for the Sixth Year students. That needs to be determined based on their O.W.L.s grades."
It wasn't a particularly complicated matter.
After the Fifth Year students took their O.W.L.s, the courses in the Sixth and Seventh Year became electives. Only students who were interested in continuing the subject or whose future professions required it would continue their studies—but enrollment eligibility was based on their previous exam results.
But whether intentionally or not on Professor McGonagall's part, William saw the list of textbooks Lockhart had chosen.
*Travels with Ghouls* by Gilderoy Lockhart, *Vacation with Hags* by Gilderoy Lockhart... *Year with the Yeti* by Gilderoy Lockhart.
It was a long list of books, all written by Lockhart.
Was this professor really here to teach? Was he sure he wasn't here to sell books?
Considering that Sixth and Seventh Year students had to pass through the dual filters of exams and the professor's approval, William had reason to suspect that Lockhart had given up on these two years simply because there would be fewer students.
"Students who received an 'Exceeds Expectations' can also take the elective, can't they? Perhaps they just performed poorly during the exam. If their future career planning requires a higher-level certificate, they should have a chance to work for it."
William took a serious look at the grade requirements and generously approved a batch of registration qualifications—normally, only students with the highest grade, 'Outstanding,' were eligible.
"Very well, I will inform those students. The number of registered students will be sent to you at the start of school, along with the timetable and classroom arrangements."
After saying this to William, Professor McGonagall finally looked up and noticed Hagrid, who had been waiting at the office doorway the whole time.
"Oh, Hagrid, I'm sorry, I'd completely forgotten about you. Was there something you needed?"
---
Note: Lockhart graduated from Ravenclaw and was nearly Sorted into Slytherin. He had outstanding grades and once petitioned the Headmaster to create a school newspaper, carve his name in capital letters on the Quidditch pitch, and project his own face onto the sky above Hogwarts. His greatest feat was sending himself eight hundred Valentine's Day cards while he was a student at Hogwarts.
He entered Hogwarts' Ravenclaw House in 1975, at which time Dumbledore was already Headmaster and Professor McGonagall was the Transfiguration professor, though it cannot be confirmed whether she taught him.
(end of chapter)
