Chapter 143 The textbooks are actually seven autobiographies
Aaron was speechless seeing Hermione's adoring expression.
"Everyone else's legends have a few titles, including our great Principal Dumbledore, but this one..." Aaronawkwardly looked down at the book, reading out the protagonist's name, "Gilderoy Lockhart.
This Gilderoy Lockhart actually used a whole book to introduce himself—that's beyond narcissistic!"
"Aaron," Hermione said, giving him an angry look, "You can't talk about Professor Lockhart like that; his reputation in the Wizarding World is absolutely not low."
"That's true," Ron nodded, "My mom is his most loyal fan; his book signing event completely packed out Flourish and Blotts."
"Really that amazing?" Aaron couldn't help but feel a little suspicious.
Although it's said that great reputations aren't unfounded, and he must have some skill to be so successful, the descriptions in this book were a bit too exaggerated.
He'd bet that even Merlin wouldn't have been this outstanding at the same age.
Hermione closed 'Voyages with Vampires' and looked at Aaron seriously, saying, "Professor Lockhart is that excellent, otherwise he wouldn't have been hired as a Professor at Hogwarts."
"Are you so sure? Just based on this one book?
Hermione, I always thought you were the kind of girl who could always stay rational, but now it seems my judgment was a little off.
Harry's reputation in the Wizarding World isn't low either, but after truly getting to know him, you'll find..."
"My reputation and ability don't match at all, right!" Harrysaid with a wry smile, "I know it's true, but please don't say it to my face, okay?"
"Sorry," Aaron chuckled awkwardly, turning to Hermione, "I haven't met Lockhart, so I can't judge him by his looks, but I'm skeptical about whether he's qualified to be our teacher."
"That's prejudice."
"Perhaps!" Aaron shrugged, "But this prejudice is definitely not because he wrote an autobiography for himself, but because he's making us use this autobiography as a textbook.
With all due respect, his approach is somewhat irresponsible.
With this kind of textbook, we can't even self-study."
"You..." Hermione huffed, somewhat displeased, "Professor Lockhart will prove his talent with his actions, and then you'll have to apologize to him."
"You're being a bit unreasonable."
"No, you're the one who slandered a great Wizard first.
Didn't you receive a letter from the school during the holidays?"
Aaron froze for a moment.
All his mail during the holidays had been intercepted by Gines, including the letters from Hogwarts.
He didn't dare to casually read letters sent by friends, but he handled all the school letters himself.
Seeing Aaron's blank expression, Hermione guessed what had happened, "It seems you didn't receive it."
"Does that matter?" Aaron asked, puzzled, "If the school needed anything, Gines would take care of it for me.
If my parents aren't around, he's my primary guardian."
"No wonder," Hermione tapped the cover of 'Voyages with Vampires', "We need to prepare seven textbooks like this, all about Lockhart's great deeds."
"Seven? Of the same type... autobiographies?" Aaron's mouth twitched.
If he had only been three-tenths suspicious before, now that suspicion had risen to seven-tenths.
Lockhart making students use his works as textbooks might contain elements of showing off and narcissism, but it didn't rule out the possibility that he had genuine talent.
After all, Professor Snape never brought textbooks to class, but who would dare doubt the flawlessness of his Potionskills?
But seven books seemed a bit exaggerated.
At least in Aaron's opinion, truly powerful Wizards would never waste their peak years writing books.
And these were seven works.
If the content of the books was imagined by him, it proved he didn't have much ability, but if the content of the books was his personal experience, then it proved even more that he didn't have much ability.
The time spent traveling, plus the time spent writing books, would be at least ten years.
Lockhart didn't seem to be thirty yet, which meant that before he was twenty... *hiss!* The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it became!
In other words, either this new Professor was one in a million, a peerless genius with the potential of a magic god, or he was a scoundrel with no ability but particularly good at opportunism.
Otherwise, there was no way to explain why he was so successful.
"Very impressive, isn't it?" Hermione asked with a smile, "Vampires, Werewolves, Ghouls, Ghouls, Goblins, Trolls, and so on—he's encountered all these dangerous magical creatures."
Aaron gave a forced smile.
He wouldn't dare share his conjectures with a fanatical admirer, or Hermione might just smack him on the head with that thick book.
Just then, Professor McGonagall, the Deputy Principal, walked over.
She handed out the timetables to each student.
"This is your timetable for this semester, and I do not wish to see any more lateness to class," Professor McGonagall said, giving Harry and Ron a meaningful look.
The two of them hung their heads in shame; they had been late for the first class last semester.
Professor McGonagall finished distributing the timetables and prepared to leave, ready for her first class of the new semester.
But she had only walked a few steps out of the Great Hallwhen Aaron, who had followed her, stopped her, "Professor, wait a moment."
"Mr. Gaius, is there something you need?
I believe Slytherin's first class isn't Transfiguration Class, is it?"
Aaron pointed to Defense Against the Dark Arts Class on the timetable and said somewhat awkwardly, "May I ask, Professor McGonagall, how much do you know about Gilderoy Lockhart... Professor?"
"Why do you ask?" Professor McGonagall asked, puzzled.
"I'm just a little curious," Aaron scratched his head, "Professor, you know me; I wouldn't ask you this question without reason."
Professor McGonagall pondered for a moment, then mused, "His books are well-written."
Aaron:... "That's it?"
"That's all I know," Professor McGonagall spread her hands, "Professors at Hogwarts are either invited by the school, hired by the school, or recommended by others."
"And he is?"
"He applied himself," Professor McGonagall said, "Not long after you all went on holiday.
The school was short of a substitute teacher, and he just happened to come to us.
Given Lockhart's reputation in the Magical World, we had no reason to refuse.
Moreover, his books introduce all sorts of dangerous creatures in detail, which complements this class quite well."
"Any more questions?"
"No," Aaron replied.
Aaron looked thoughtfully at the Defense Against the Dark Arts Class on the timetable.
He hadn't expected that even the school Professor didn't know Lockhart's true abilities.
But it didn't matter.
Whether he was a mule or a horse, they would find out once he was put to the test.
Slytherin had History of Magic in the morning, and Professor Binns entered the classroom through the blackboard.
He recounted the history of the Goblin rebellions, which was a bit more interesting than the school's founding history he had told last semester.
Aaron wasn't particularly interested in this period of history, but out of respect for his teacher, he still took notes.
The second class was Herbology, where they would learn how to repot Mandrakes with Professor Sprout.
Mandrakes are a dangerous magical plant; while they might not compare to the Whomping Willow, their scream can cause unconsciousness.
However, mature Mandrakes are a crucial ingredient in many antidotes, making them very valuable.
Professor Sprout, wearing earmuffs, gave a simple demonstration.
She pulled a seedling from a pot, and the fat-headed doll-like seedling immediately opened its mouth and let out a piercing scream, though no one could hear it.
The Mandrake seedling looked very angry, gnashing its teeth, its roots and leaves constantly trembling.
Professor Sprout didn't indulge it; she decisively stuffed it into a new pot and then buried it with damp compost.
Afterward, Professor Sprout gestured for everyone to remove their earmuffs and explained the precautions.
"Doesn't look that hard," Draco said dismissively.
"Draco," Aaron shook his head meaningfully, "I used to think like you, but as someone who's been through it, I'm telling you, never compare yourself to your teachers before you've mastered something; it's quite foolish."
Draco paused, looking at Aaron in surprise, "How much psychological trauma did those teachers inflict on you during the holidays?"
"Heh heh! Guess?"
"Alright, put on your earmuffs and try it yourselves," Professor Sprout said.
The two didn't continue chatting.
They put on their earmuffs and gloves that blocked poisonous tentacles, then each pulled out a Mandrakeseedling from a pot.
Aaron examined the Mandrake in front of him.
Its teeth were particularly sharp, and it struggled fiercely, trying to break free and burrow back into the soil.
"Quite strong, aren't you!" Aaron smiled meaningfully, then winked at Abey.
The Holy Dragon immediately roared, jumped onto the table, and slapped the Mandrake's body with a claw.
The Mandrake instantly saw stars, and when it recovered, it saw a snarling magical animal, and what was most terrifying was that a little drool hung from its mouth.
The Mandrake seedling immediately closed its mouth, neither screaming nor struggling, appearing remarkably docile, completely unlike the ones in everyone else's hands.
Compared to being eaten, moving to a new living environment wasn't so unacceptable.