Teaching was a genuinely fascinating experience for Lockhart.
It wasn't just a job—it was a way to sort through his own memories. Every question from the young witches and wizards sparked his curiosity, connecting bits of knowledge and building a fuller, richer understanding of the magical world.
Another perk? After he finished teaching theory, Snape would take over for practical lessons, giving Lockhart a chance to learn even more. Snape had loads of insights about the Patronus Charm.
Delightful.
But teaching meant something deeper to Lockhart. It was his way of truly stepping into the fairy-tale world of Harry Potter.
Interacting with the characters from the books, influencing them in new ways—it was changing things. Slowly, these people were becoming real to him, and the idea of the "original story" was fading from his mind.
The "original story" wasn't the original anymore. With Lockhart's involvement, the Harry Potter fairy tale had transformed into something new.
This was a wizarding world with Professor Lockhart in it—a brand-new fairy tale.
So real, so alive!
The wizarding world was fascinating. Magic was fascinating. Dark magical creatures were fascinating. Even the young witches and wizards were fascinating.
Lockhart had never felt his own existence—or its meaning—so clearly before.
It was a wonderful feeling.
"*Expecto Patronum!*"
A silver glow burst from the tip of his wand, rippling outward like water, filling the office with a soothing wave that calmed the hearts and souls of every creature inside.
A pity, though.
Lockhart's sense of life's beauty hadn't fully taken shape yet. His Patronus was still just a shimmering silver light, not a corporeal form.
But it was different this time.
The dark magical creatures in the room—his little golden Snidget, the banshee, the Boggart—usually shrank away from the Patronus Charm's power, trembling in their corners. Now, as the dreamy silver light washed over them, they felt something entirely new.
Joy?
Happiness?
No, it was something stranger, something that smoothed their souls, gently stroking their fur, their essence, their very being.
The office fell into a unique, serene calm.
The dark creatures, once restless, now felt a newfound peace. They squinted at the man lounging lazily against a tree trunk, his eyes half-closed, and then—they fell asleep.
For the first time in their lives, they sank into an indescribable sense of relaxation.
Moonlight spilled through the window, mingling with the glow of magic. The distant chirping of insects carried on the breeze, and everything felt… perfect.
Yes, perfect.
That was the word for it.
Lockhart gazed dreamily at the magical light. He didn't even need to dig deep for feelings of joy or beauty—just looking at the Patronus Charm's glow was enough.
Magic…
It didn't always have to be dazzling or intense. It could be calm, so calm it was intoxicating.
Funny thing about the wizarding world: the visual effects of magic were always a bit of a mystery.
Take the Disarming Charm, for example. Normally, it had no visible light, but push it hard enough, and it would glow. At its most extreme, it could even surge like a bolt of plasma.
The Patronus Charm was just as peculiar.
That silver-white light.
It wasn't a common color for magic, but Lockhart knew it well.
It was the same sheen as the memory strands drawn from a wizard's mind.
He thought about other silver-hued magic. The ghosts of Hogwarts, for instance, shimmered in a similar shade, though theirs leaned more toward pearl-white or even a ghostly pallor.
Was there a connection?
Lockhart didn't know—not yet. The wizarding world didn't seem to have explored this, but maybe, if he kept walking his own magical path, he'd find an answer.
Late at night.
The moonlight cast a soft, silvery glow, draping the Forbidden Forest in an air of mystery, both quiet and alive with rustling sounds.
Lockhart led his little companions from the now-silent Hogwarts, where humans rested, into the lively, whispering Forbidden Forest.
From a "mysterious" perspective, nighttime in the wizarding world seemed to carry a special meaning.
Nighttime wanderings, then, held their own unique significance.
It was a way to experience and feel magic.
Like when he said, "Magic is the ultimate romance of a fairy tale," or "Magical creatures come from fairy tales, and dark creatures come from grim ones." These weren't just poetic musings—they were insights into magic itself.
The "Forest Child" state of a "Forest Witch" was another such magical insight.
He moved lightly through the ancient forest. Owls hooted from the treetops, greeting him. A golden viper slithered from the grass, brushing against his feet before winding away. Unknown insects hummed songs just for him.
After their brief nap, his companions seemed more vibrant, brimming with life. Unlike their usual restlessness, they now seemed almost… enlightened.
The little golden Snidget perched on Lockhart's shoulder, eagerly eyeing the forest. With his encouragement, it hopped onto a nearby branch, chirping excitedly and occasionally vanishing from sight.
The Thestral stretched its glowing blue wings, soaring gracefully through the forest.
The banshee floated quietly behind, no longer maintaining her human-like witch head. Her rabbit-like ears twitched at the sounds around her.
The usually chatty Boggart, meanwhile, stayed curled up in Lockhart's robe pocket, dozing lazily.
Soon, Lockhart met more of the forest's inhabitants.
A dragon-burrow rabbit, with its magical burrowing holes, and the mysterious Lady Car, who'd rolled in from who-knows-where.
Of course, there were also uninvited guests.
Acromantulas, chasing the tire tracks of Lady Car.
Well, to the Acromantulas, he and Lady Car were probably the intruders in their Forbidden Forest home.
Lockhart wasn't afraid of the giant spiders, even without his companions by his side.
With a gentle wave of his wand, he felt himself blending into the forest, as if becoming one with it. He pointed at the Acromantulas, and they scuttled back into the darkness.
"Go back to sleep," he said, echoing the memory of a Forest Witch soothing the forest creatures that once tried to attack her.
"Hm?"
"Wait a second!"
Lockhart twirled his wand, sensing a faint message from the forest. He glanced at the dragon-burrow rabbits at his feet. "This isn't the Acromantulas' territory, is it?"
The rabbits nodded eagerly, their long whiskers twitching.
Even animals, no matter how fiercely they hunted, wouldn't carelessly wander into another creature's territory.
It was a matter of survival.
This part of the forest belonged to a male Sphinx, guarding its mate and their cubs.
Sphinxes—human-headed, lion-bodied, originally from Egypt—loved riddles and puzzles. They often stood still as statues, only becoming dangerous when their guarded treasures were threatened.
These were intelligent creatures, as wise as centaurs. If they caught Acromantulas trespassing, they wouldn't hesitate to make a meal of them.
"They're being awfully bold," Lockhart remarked, sensing the forest's displeasure at the disruption of its order. He raised his wand, placing the tip near his lips.
The wand transformed.
Its tip swelled and twisted, sprouting a thick bird's beak with three faint purple streaks.
"Forest, forest, give me a hint," he said.
The beak opened and closed, letting out a crisp, distinctive bird call that echoed far into the distance.
The sound continued until a rustling of wings approached.
A green parrot-like bird swooped in, cocking its head and staring at Lockhart. Suddenly, it spoke in a human voice: "Caw! Devil's minions! Caw! Devil's minions!" Then it flew off.
"???"
Lockhart looked at his companions, puzzled. "Anyone catch what that meant?"
They all shook their heads.
The banshee, her rabbit head tilted as she listened to the earth, ventured, "It's like… some powerful dark force is influencing them?"
She wasn't sure. The voice of the earth was as new to her as it was to Lockhart.
He shrugged, deciding not to dwell on it. "Alright, I'll mention it to Hagrid tomorrow."
He didn't particularly like Acromantulas, but that didn't mean he could just wipe them out. Strictly speaking, they were valuable property of Hogwarts. Even Hagrid, who'd raised their ancestor Aragog in the Forbidden Forest, didn't have the right to dispose of them.
Lockhart's impression of the giant spiders, aside from this, was their role in the final battle, when they fought for Voldemort.
Voldemort's downfall wasn't without reason. In his pursuit of victory, he ignored the broader wizarding community's interests, recruiting werewolves, giants, Dementors, and Acromantulas to attack humans. That kind of move would turn most wizards against him.
It wasn't just about opposing sides—it was a matter of human survival.
"Tch," Lockhart muttered, shaking his head.
His visit to the Forbidden Forest tonight wasn't just a whim. He had a task.
He was working on a new chapter for Caro's Bedtime Fairy Tales, called "The Chamber of Hogwarts," creating an adventure setting for the young witches and wizards.
The previous setup, mimicking Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets, wasn't suitable anymore. He didn't want students later connecting it to the real Chamber and spinning conspiracy theories about him. Plus, after fooling Lucius and his crew, it wasn't wise to show it off again.
So he decided to design the setting as a primal forest, with terrain similar to the Chamber, to help the Duelling Club members gain experience and eventually find a "speedrun" strategy.
Then it hit him. "An Acromantula nest could make a great setting!"
Brilliant!
That was the way to go.