Chapter 118: You Will Be the Future
Professors were actively preparing their respective assessment content. As the initiator of "The Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts" adventure, Lockhart naturally had to provide corresponding Dark magical creatures.
Common Dark magical creatures that fit the scope of the examination.
For this purpose, Lockhart specifically made a trip to the Ministry of Magic. Through Umbridge's introduction, he found the Wizarding Examinations Authority office within the Ministry of Magic building.
The "Wizarding Examinations Authority" offices in various Ministries of Magic or Magical Congresses, much like the "Department of Mysteries," were established by the "Wizarding Council" of the previous era. In the contemporary political landscape of the "International Confederation of Wizards + various national Ministries of Magic," they operate as independent entities.
No department of the Ministry of Magic, not even Minister Fudge, had the right to dictate to it.
It was founded in 1458, long before the British Ministry of Magic, which was established in 1707.
Strictly speaking, this organization was the direct superior of magic schools in various countries.
Such an international institution, with the help of the International Magical Cooperation Department, had always maintained consistent steps with agencies worldwide, serving all wizards, regardless of nationality.
Global standardized exams, guiding wizards' cultivation direction and selecting talent.
This was an extremely rigorous organization. According to Umbridge's quiet disclosure, for better development within this closed organization, wizards who demonstrated excellence in the field of Muggle Studies would have more opportunities.
Understood.
Lockhart immediately considered it an international "Ministry of Education."
Hmm, it sounded very mysterious.
But it was always people who actually did the work. When Lockhart found the members of this organization responsible for Defense Against the Dark Arts assessments within the British jurisdiction, he found they were all familiar faces.
Almost all of them were members of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance!
Or, to narrow it down even further—at least more than half were members of the Anti-Dark Arts Alliance's "We're Still Alive" club.
The overall leader was Madam Melas, who had taught Dumbledore, McGonagall, and others.
This gave Lockhart a subtle feeling that the "We're Still Alive" club was Madam Melas's departmental team-building little group.
The elderly Madam Melas had a pair of sharp eyes. She sized Lockhart up and down, a smile gracing her face. "You seem to have changed somewhat."
Other important figures nearby also chimed in,
"Yes, he looks more composed."
"Hey, he's a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts now; he doesn't need to desperately prove himself for recognition anymore."
"His fashion sense has also improved greatly; he no longer looks like a peacock—"
Everyone spoke animatedly, some more directly than others, but the atmosphere remained harmonious.
After his excellent performance during the Ministry of Magic werewolf attack, the benefits of his fame had already begun to show. Everyone was more willing to consider Lockhart one of their own.
And more willing to offer help.
Upon learning that Lockhart was there to confirm the scope of the Dark Arts defense examination and to discuss the adventure-style practical training being promoted at the school, Madam Melas even generously arranged for a batch of Dark magical creatures.
Boggarts, Pixies, Ghouls, household pests, etc.
Yes, some magical household pests were actually also within the scope of assessment for this subject.
"The wizarding society is quietly changing." Madam Melas said this, full of profound meaning. "With the explosive development of Muggle technology, wizards' living environments are also changing."
"Dark magical creatures like trolls, hags, Banshees, and vampires have gradually moved away from the lives of ordinary wizards. On the contrary, the numbers of elven creatures, pests, and so on have clearly increased."
"Dark magical creatures are essentially a magical phenomenon. They depend on human living environments and emotions, changing as humans change."
The influence of Muggle society on wizarding society was far more profound than what appeared on the surface.
Lockhart thought of Umbridge mentioning that "research in Muggle Studies is more favored by this organization," and couldn't help but stir. "So, the deeper involvement of Muggle-born wizards in wizarding society holds great significance."
Madam Melas's drowsy eyelids suddenly snapped open. She slightly raised her head, gazing at him, her eyes seeming to hold a subtle difference. She smiled faintly. "It seems you have great insight."
She leaned on her staff-like cane and stood up, inviting Lockhart to her office. Once seated, she caressed a turtle pet radiating an odd red glow and slowly said, "Young man, if you have the patience to listen to an old woman like me, I can give you some guidance."
Lockhart's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Please, speak."
Madam Melas extended her ancient finger and tapped the turtle's shell. A red light spread out, completely enveloping the office. Then, with an inscrutable expression, she said, "How wizarding society interacts with Muggles has always been a complex matter."
"Grindelwald's wizard supremacy was an ambitious attempt that filled people with anticipation, but it failed."
"Dumbledore chose to uphold the Statute of Secrecy and allowed social organizations to integrate Muggle-born wizards with Muggle ideas into the wizarding community."
"We still don't know if such an attempt is entirely correct. I may not live to see the answer."
"This world is so complex; Dumbledore alone doesn't have the final say."
"Every wizard who becomes powerful is exerting immense influence on the wizarding world from their respective fields and groups."
"The International Confederation of Wizards, the Wizarding Examinations Authority, the Department of Mysteries, the Extraordinary Potions Association, the Order of Merlin—"
She looked at Lockhart. "These organizations are the true forces driving the real development of wizarding society in every field, and you'll find that they are actually independent of each other."
"When you use your position as a Hogwarts professor as a springboard to these organizations, you might feel confused: How does wizarding society actually operate?"
"The answer, in fact, is only one: the power of magic!"
"For example, in contemporary society, suitable living environments for Unicorns are becoming scarcer. The Ministry of Magic will enact laws for strict control of magical creatures. The Extraordinary Potions Association will advise major hospitals worldwide not to use Unicorn magical ingredients. The Wizarding Examinations Authority will remove knowledge of Unicorn efficacy from wizarding assessments in major magic schools worldwide."
"From then on, magic related to Unicorns will gradually fade from the wizarding community and eventually disappear completely."
"Conversely, in all fields—whether ritual, alchemy, potions, or charms—magic that can replace the role of Unicorns will be found, thereby changing this society in every aspect."
"For us in the Defense Against the Dark Arts field, this impact is even more profound."
"Phenomena are always an extension of society."
"Dark magical creatures like Obscuri are so rare in modern times that they are hard to find. However, Boggarts, ghouls, and various elves have become more numerous."
She looked at Lockhart. "Based on this, what do you think will be the future direction of magic in wizarding society? Or rather, what kind of magical power will become the mainstream of the era?"
Lockhart's eyes lit up. "Related to Muggles!"
Madam Melas nodded with great satisfaction. "Yes, this is the answer for the new era. Keep pace with the times, lead everything from the forefront, and you will find that you will wield unprecedentedly powerful magical forces."
"You are a very promising young man."
"I see the shadow of young Dumbledore in you."
"I hope you will seriously consider this question. Magic is in everyday life, and the changes in contemporary wizarding life are so drastic, unlike anything wizarding society has experienced in thousands of years before."
She shook her head, sighing. "Many of us old wizards at the pinnacle can no longer provide answers. We are accustomed to ingrained thinking, carrying inherited magical imprints; it's too difficult to adapt."
"And among the new generation, the drawbacks of intermarriage within pure-blood families are too deeply entrenched to overcome, while Muggle-born wizards find it difficult to integrate into true magical life. Only someone like you fits just right."
"Especially since you now have sufficient reputation and influence in wizarding society."
She gazed at Lockhart. "You will be the future, Lockhart!"
"Each of us is the protagonist of our own lives"—many people understand this principle, but few actually treat it as a life motto.
Lockhart gradually began to feel this way.
Madam Melas wasn't the first person to tell him he was the future; the Forest Witch had also mentioned it.
If life was a fairy tale adventure, Lockhart began to grasp the understanding of being a protagonist in this world brimming with magical power.
Yes, he came from Muggles, yet had no connection to the Muggles of this world. He longed for magic so intensely, more so than Muggle-born wizards and pure-blood wizards.
If not him, who else could be the protagonist?
I will be a legend of an era, just like Grindelwald and Dumbledore!—His mind surged, causing his magic to boil.
Lockhart didn't want to delve into Madam Melas's intentions in telling him all this. Whether it was out of an elder's affectionate guidance for a younger generation, or for some ulterior influence, he didn't mind.
He could feel a very unique "spirit" taking root in his soul.
Suddenly, an extremely real yet dreamlike path appeared before him.
"Fairy tale romance" no longer felt like a stage play at this moment. He didn't need to act anymore; he genuinely had to be himself, to experience his own magical life, and then the path would unfold before him.
"Yes!"
"The future will be Lockhart's era!"
He Apparated back to Hogwarts, standing on the castle's sky bridge, overlooking the noisy crowd on the Quidditch pitch in the distance, his eyes shining with divine light.
He suddenly knew what kind of magic he should explore next.
Weather charms!
That was a field that Muggles, no matter how much technology advanced in the next few decades, even if they planned to move to Mars, would be unable to solve.
And natural forces like weather complemented forces like the forest.
Setting aside grand narratives that were too distant, in his current research on Dark magical creatures like werewolves, would they truly not be affected by Weather Charms?
For instance, by summoning a full moon night?
.....
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