Chapter 145 Why do you want to be my teacher?
"Isn't it normal for students to ask teachers questions? Don't make such a fuss."
"But your question…" Draco hesitated, "No Professor would like it."
"No, to be precise, incompetent Professors wouldn't like it, but competent Professors might."
Draco hesitated for a few seconds, then looked at Aaronwith a complicated expression and said, "I still want to advise you not to write like that. Just do it perfunctorily like everyone else."
"It's fine, I just want to test this celebrity Professor.
Don't tell me students don't even have the right to question their teachers," Aaron said indifferently. At this point, his suspicion of Lockhart had reached ninety-nine percent. This was his final test.
If the other party was truly hiding his strength, he could sincerely apologize, but if the other party was truly a fraud, then there would be no need to attend Defense Against the Dark Arts Class this school year.
"But…"
"Do you think a renowned Professor would make things difficult for a twelve-year-old student in class?"
"Probably, possibly, maybe not, but what if?"
"Crabbe and Goyle will get points for Slytherin, won't they?
No matter how angry Lockhart gets, how many points can he deduct from me? Ten, or twenty?
Two perfect test papers should be enough to make up for the missing points, and Slytherin won't be implicated."
"Alright! Since you've thought it all through, I won't stop you."
More than half an hour later, Lockhart collected the test papers and enthusiastically looked through them in front of the whole class.
"Tsk tsk! Hardly anyone remembers that I like lilac. I mentioned it in 'A Year with the Tibetan Yeti'.
Some students need to read 'Wandering with Werewolves' carefully. I clearly mentioned in the book that my ideal birthday gift is for all magical and non-magical people to live in harmony…"
As Lockhart spoke, he occasionally looked down at the podium, his eyes winking playfully. This level of skill could only be achieved through professional training.
Some students were skeptical of his teaching ability but merely suppressed their laughter, while some die-hard fans listened intently, their faces filled with admiration.
"If he were a magical creature, his cuteness might even surpass Abey's," Draco couldn't help but laugh.
Abey bared his teeth at Draco in annoyance, then turned around and lay down on the table in a comfortable position.
"Uh…" Aaron ruffled the dragon's fur with a wry smile, "It means, don't compare it to trash."
"Hermione Granger." Lockhart suddenly called Hermione's name, "Miss Granger knows my secret ambition is to eradicate all evil in the world and to sell my own line of hair care potions—good girl!
One hundred points!
Where is Miss Granger?"
Hermione excitedly raised her right hand, her body trembling slightly. This was the feeling of being called out by an idol.
"Very good, ten points to Gryffindor." Lockhart said with a smile, then continued to flip through the remaining test papers. Soon, his expression became incredibly interesting.
"Miss Granger's excellence is beyond doubt, but I want to specifically commend these next two.
Their answers are so perfect, so perfect that I can hardly believe it." Lockhart excitedly looked at the students below, seemingly wanting to find his most loyal fans among them.
The students' gazes also gradually fell on Aaron and Draco, because there were only a few top students in this classroom, and besides Hermione, it was just the two of them.
"That's right, it seems you all know who it is.
They are Gregory Goyle and Vincent Crabbe.
Ten points to Slytherin, ten points each, so twenty points." Lockhart smiled, "Where are these two students?
Don't be shy, let everyone get to know you."
Crabbe and Goyle exchanged glances, then reluctantly raised their right hands.
Lockhart's mouth twitched. These two chubby, even strong enough to count as two, young Wizards, if brought out, might affect the overall quality of his fanbase.
Everyone else also looked at them in astonishment, their faces full of disbelief.
It was one thing if it wasn't Aaron and Draco, but Crabbeand Goyle actually got full marks. This was not a joke to be played like this.
Only Hermione looked at Aaron with annoyance. She knew very well what level Crabbe and Goyle were at; they couldn't possibly have answered all the questions. Someone must have helped them.
As for who helped them, she didn't even bother to guess.
What annoyed her was that Aaron knew all the correct answers, which meant he was also a loyal fan of Professor Lockhart.
But in the Great Hall, he had been quite disdainful of Lockhart, and now he had even given all the answers to others.
He clearly admired Professor Lockhart, but he didn't show it at all.
It had only been one holiday! How had he changed from before?
Lockhart continued to look through the students' test papers. The remaining students had not given correct answers, but one or two had actually taken the opportunity to ask him for autographs, which made him sigh at the enthusiasm of his fans.
It wasn't until the last test paper that Lockhart couldn't help but frown.
He glanced at the students below the podium with a hint of guilt, but his face remained impassive, "Who is Aaron Gaius?"
"It's me." Aaron calmly raised his right hand.
"What do you mean by this sentence you wrote on the test paper?" Lockhart said with a forced smile, "What makes you qualified to be my teacher?"
The classroom suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked at Aaron. Besides some of Lockhart's fanatical fans who were a bit angry, everyone else's eyes were full of excitement.
They also had similar suspicions, but they didn't have the courage to question the Professor. They hadn't expected Aaron to voice everyone's thoughts in the very first class.
"It's the literal meaning?" Aaron looked directly into Lockhart's eyes, not flinching, "What makes you qualified to be my teacher?"
Lockhart smiled, "You're quite the joker."
"This isn't a joke, I'm serious.
I imagine Professor Lockhart wouldn't refuse to clear up a student's confusion, would he?"
Lockhart hesitated for a moment, and the smile on his face gradually faded, "I think I already gave a perfect answer when I entered the classroom."
"But I don't think so.
I need a more accurate answer, not just some off-the-cuff resume." Aaron said earnestly, "Oh, by the way, didn't you just say you drove out the Bandon Banshee?
Could you please demonstrate how you did it back then?"
"This…" Lockhart stammered, "I…"
"Aaron, you've gone too far." Hermione said in a low voice, "Apologize to Professor Lockhart quickly. He is one of the greatest Wizards of this century, and he won't hold it against you."
Hearing this, Aaron was somewhat amused and frustrated.
He knew Hermione was offering a way out for both sides, and a show of apology might resolve the conflict, but the problem was, he didn't need one.
"Hermione, I must tell you, what's written in books isn't necessarily correct."
"Well said." Lockhart applauded, "I completely agree with Mr. Gaius's statement. I plan to add this sentence to my next book. You don't mind, do you?"
"Whatever makes you happy. I didn't say that anyway." Aaron said impatiently, "So, can you demonstrate how you did it back then?"
"Of course… not." Lockhart gave Aaron an apologetic look, then looked at the somewhat disappointed students, "It's not that I don't want to demonstrate, but the power of this magicis too great.
Once cast, this classroom might not survive, and I have to consider the safety of my students."
Lockhart spoke with conviction, and the students didn't doubt him. After all, the destructive power of powerful Wizards in battle was no ordinary feat.
"It's fine." Aaron smiled indifferently, "We can go to the sports field to admire the Professor's magic. I can go ask Dean Snape for permission.
I think he, more than anyone, would want to witness the strength of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor."
Lockhart froze for a moment, then gave an awkward laugh and said, "I'm afraid that won't work either.
The power of that spell might be much greater than you think. I'm worried it would destroy the sports field.
It would take a week or two to repair it even with a Reparo spell, which would severely disrupt student activities."
"Heh heh!"
Aaron sneered inwardly. This wouldn't work, that wouldn't work. Besides a guilty conscience, he couldn't think of any other possibility.
"Professor Lockhart is truly amazing!" Susan, sitting in the front row, said with an adoring look.
Aaron stumbled, almost losing his balance. This girl's IQ wasn't usually this low; why had her brain suddenly gone awry?
"Then does Professor have any other way to prove his abilities?"
"Of course." Lockhart pulled out a large cage covered with a cloth from behind the podium, then gave Aaron a look, "Don't be scared!"
Aaron sat up straight and nodded, then made a gesture for him to begin his performance.
Lockhart took out his wand and looked at everyone seriously, "Let me preface this by saying, my duty in this classroom is to teach you to fight the most evil magical creatures and to face your deepest fears.
Of course, as long as I am here, you will be unharmed. Please do not scream, as that will provoke them."
These words were very infectious, and the atmosphere in the classroom grew heavy. The students in the front rows involuntarily leaned back, wanting to get as far away from the cage as possible.
Lockhart lifted the cover. The cage was filled with eight-inch-long livid creatures. They clung to the cage, shaking it constantly, emitting squeaking and squawking noises.
But their size, similar to that of Mandrake seedlings, made it impossible to associate them with the word 'danger'.