Harry Potter: From Muggle Cousin to Conceptual Wizard

Chapter 292 A charming smile, outrageous demands, Lockhart arrives!

Inside the principal's office.

Dudley watched as Dumbledore silently finished reading the extremely pretentious letter.

"Dali, Lockhart will soon be teaching at the school."

Dumbledore said to Dudley, though his expression was slightly awkward as he spoke, "But is he really suited to be the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor?"

Dudley sensed something amiss and asked knowingly, "Did he make a difficult request in the letter?"

"It's not that it's difficult to handle, but it's a bit outrageous and too ostentatious."

Dumbledore replied, "The textbooks he requested were all his own works, which is fine. I've read those books, and they do contain a lot of useful experience and combat techniques."

But he also demanded... demanded that I agree to let him form a 'Charming Smile Fan Club' at school, saying that this would help guide his enthusiastic student fans to carry out correct, reasonable, and orderly support activities for him.

He also asked me to expand the owl post office at school and raise a separate group of owls to deliver letters for him and his fans.

He also said that if the Daily Prophet were to report on the Defence Against the Dark Arts class after its curriculum reform at Hogwarts and needed to include a group photo of the six professors as an accompanying image, he would be willing…

He was willing to stand in the center of the group photo, showcasing his irresistibly charming smile—a smile that had won the Wizarding Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times—to enhance the overall image of the professors.

Even with Dudley's vast experience, he was still taken aback by Lockhart's demands, and after a moment of digestion, he exclaimed:

"He's really bold! And his thinking is so thorough! No wonder he's someone who's specially trained his smile muscles; his skin is thick enough to be used as car tires!"

"Should we agree to his request? He's expected to arrive at Hogwarts the day before Christmas Eve," Dumbledore asked.

"Of course I'll agree! Mr. Lockhart must be trying to show off his presence by doing something fancy because there are too many professors in Defense Against the Dark Arts class!"

If I don't agree, he might not come, and then I won't be able to... properly get to know this superstar wizard!

Dudley replied, his tone becoming increasingly sinister towards the end.

Dumbledore understood immediately.

Dudley said he could grant Lockhart's request, but once Lockhart actually arrived at Hogwarts and met Dudley, these fancy ideas would probably disappear.

"Be mindful of the impact, Dudley. Don't go all out in your actions or words. After all, we invited him."

Dumbledore offered a brief reminder, then picked up the quill and blank parchment from the table and began writing a reply to Lockhart.

"Don't worry. I recommended Professor Lockhart, so I'll naturally take full responsibility."

Dudley smiled slightly, bid farewell to Dumbledore, turned and teleported away from the headmaster's office.

……

Over the next few days, Dali focused his efforts on training Haiger's teaching abilities.

Lockhart is coming, Christmas is coming, and Hagrid will soon take over Professor Kettleburn's responsibilities as Professor of the Department of Magical Creatures.

We need to do some last-minute training.

With Dudley's guidance, Haiger made rapid progress.

Time flew by and it was now December 23rd.

This was the day Lockhart was supposed to arrive at Hogwarts.

Today, Dudley checks periodically to see if Gilderoy Lockhart's name appears within the Hogwarts grounds, preparing to intercept him.

As lunchtime approached, Dudley finally sensed Lockhart appearing on the edge of Hogwarts grounds.

Still in the direction closest to Hogsmeade Village.

"How cunning! They arrived at the castle at lunchtime, just in time to make their grand entrance in the Great Hall and give the Hogwarts students and teachers a dazzling debut."

Dudley muttered to himself, analyzing Lockhart's mindset in great detail.

Then, with a thought, he vanished.

The next instant, he appeared directly in front of Lockhart, whose smile had not yet completely faded, blocking Lockhart's path.

"Oh hoo!"

Lockhart was startled by Dudley's sudden appearance, and involuntarily let out a strange cry, frantically reaching for his wand with his right hand.

He had just come from Hogsmeade Village, and was in a very good mood, smiling, signing autographs, and waving goodbye to many adult witch fans.

Who would have thought that he would encounter a strange person who teleported right up to his face at Hogwarts, the safest place in the wizarding world?

He tried to reach for his wand, but he had long forgotten most of his combat experience and was not on guard. In his panic, he fumbled around on his person for a while but couldn't find his wand.

"Are you Professor Gilderoy Lockhart? I am Dudley Dursley, Hogwarts' teaching assistant, and I've come here specifically to escort you into the castle."

Dali gave a fake smile and introduced himself in a mild manner.

"Teaching assistant?"

Lockhart paused for a moment, realizing he had misunderstood the other person.

Then he noticed Dudley's face, which had appeared in wizarding news reports many times before. Confirming the newcomer's identity and reputation, he instantly forgot his panic, regained his confidence, and began to put on an act.

"Teaching Assistant Dursley, right? I know you! I didn't expect you to be such a big fan of mine, that you actually came out to pick me up."

Lockhart's lips curved into a perfectly crafted smile, revealing his signature charming grin as he flashed his bright white teeth.

He then tried to excuse his earlier flustered behavior, saying, "I was just looking for my peacock feather pen to sign for you. You didn't misunderstand, did you?"

“Of course! Professor Lockhart, how could I misunderstand you? I know you quite well.”

Dali squinted, his smile growing even brighter as he looked at the middle-aged conman, who was dressed in flamboyant and luxurious clothes, had golden-brown hair, and was indeed quite handsome, and replied meaningfully.

"I knew it!"

Lockhart completely missed the deeper meaning in Dudley's words; he was extremely excited, both in his heart and on his face.

After all, Dudley wasn't just any fan; he was the most talented wizard in the wizarding world, widely recognized as such.

This person is also his fan and has even made a special effort to learn about him. How could Lockhart not feel secretly pleased and excited?

"Would you like me to give you an autographed photo? It's an exclusive, limited edition version with my most charming smile!"

On a whim, Lockhart even opened his suitcase to get Dudley's autographed photo.

If he hadn't already given out all the autographed photos he carried with him in Hogsmeade Village, he wouldn't have needed to go through all this trouble; he could have just pulled them out at will.

"No rush! There's no rush." ​​Dudley quickly stopped Lockhart's actions.

He didn't want an autographed photo from an old conman.

Of course, we can't say that right now.

Dudley, seeing Lockhart's questioning gaze, explained gently:

"It's almost lunchtime, and I imagine the professors and students at Hogwarts are getting impatient."