Sherlock, Hermione, and Ron followed Professor Lockhart toward the classroom.
Professor Lockhart's exaggerated robes were particularly eye-catching like a proud peacock on display.
As for the man himself, he was closely embracing Harry, leaning slightly forward and constantly bending down to whisper something in Harry's ear.
To any observer, his face was wreathed in smiles, his eyes narrowed, and his styled hair gleamed with golden highlights in the sunlight—a picture of perfect presentation.
Hermione walked beside Sherlock, staring intently at Harry and Professor Lockhart ahead, her eyes full of curiosity.
Finally, she couldn't help but gently tug at Sherlock's sleeve.
"Sherlock, can you deduce what Professor Lockhart is saying to Harry?"
Before Sherlock could answer, Ron had already said irritably.
"Do we really need to deduce that? Harry will tell us later anyway—and it's definitely not about coursework."
Professor Lockhart was indeed not discussing coursework with Harry.
He was apologizing to Harry.
"Harry, I'm sorry—I have to say, this is all my fault. Sometimes I really want to kick myself."
Harry looked in surprise at Professor Lockhart's gleaming white teeth sparkling in the sunlight, wondering what was going on. Why was Professor Lockhart apologizing to him?
Had he somehow guessed Harry's thoughts?
Oh no, this Lockhart was fighting dirty—had he used Legilimency on him?
While Harry was lost in these wild thoughts, Lockhart continued.
"I know why you did this, of course. It's perfectly obvious."
"Huh?"
Before Harry could react, he heard Lockhart continue. "You and I made the front page of the paper together, so this time you thought you'd hand out signed photos. It's all my fault—I let you taste fame, and now you're addicted to it."
Only then did Harry understand.
He hurriedly shook his head to explain. "Oh—no, Professor, I—"
"Harry, Harry—oh, Harry."
However, Lockhart gave Harry no chance to explain.
He reached out to grasp Harry's shoulder, speaking to him in a fatherly tone.
"I understand. For a young person like you, once you've had a taste, you want a second helping—it's only natural. You can't be blamed for this; if anyone's to blame, it's me. Even adults can hardly resist such temptation, let alone a little boy like you. So, it's perfectly normal that you've been dazzled by fame and fortune."
Harry shook his head frantically. "But—I didn't, I haven't—"
"No need to explain, I understand everything."
You understand what? You don't understand anything at all!
Harry was desperate, but Professor Lockhart pressed his hand on his shoulder and said earnestly.
"But I must say, handing out signed photographs at your current stage is unwise. Honestly, doing so would indeed make you appear somewhat arrogant and conceited, especially when someone is deliberately stirring up trouble.
I just noticed that Mr. Malfoy from Slytherin House was trying to manipulate the situation, inciting others' dissatisfaction with you. It was only when I appeared that he reluctantly left, abandoning his plan—but I won't always be able to appear at just the right moment. So, you need to calm down and wait until you're older. There will be plenty of time then."
"I didn't, I haven't, this is a misunderstanding!"
Afraid that Lockhart would interrupt him again, Harry quickly explained what had just happened in the fastest speech possible.
"It was Creevey, Colin Creevey who insisted on taking my picture and asked if I could sign it. I never agreed to it!"
"Is that so?"
Lockhart tilted his head, then smiled.
"No need to explain, Harry. Whether this was your intention or not doesn't matter anymore. In fact, when I was twelve, I was even more ordinary than you are now. What I mean is, some people already know you, don't they? Because of matters related to 'He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named,' you've been a household name in the wizarding world since the moment you were born!"
At this point, his gaze lingered for a moment on the lightning bolt scar on Harry's forehead.
"Professor, I've already said I had no such intention. Actually, I—"
"I know, I know. I know everything you want to say. For you, although this doesn't compare to the glory of five Witch Weekly Most Charming Smile Awards, this is just the beginning. As I said just now, this time I covered for you in front of little Creevey. As long as he photographed the two of us together, your classmates won't think you're too arrogant, and little Malfoy won't give you any more trouble."
Harry: (;´･Д･`)
After being interrupted by Lockhart multiple times, Harry had given up trying to explain.
No matter what he said, the man wouldn't listen anyway.
At this moment, he suddenly felt that Professor Lockhart was very much like the Malfoy family's house-elf, Dobby.
Both of these characters liked to talk to themselves, do things their own way, and any explanations to them were futile.
What annoyed him most was that they both thought they were doing it for his own good.
At this moment, something Sherlock had once said surfaced in his mind.
"Wishful thinking and self-righteously doing good for others is truly a disgusting behavior."
How absolutely right that was!
Sherlock truly never deceived him!
By now, Lockhart had already swept Harry down a corridor full of students and up the stairs.
Seeing the two of them like this, all the nearby students stared at them in amazement.
Being watched by such gazes, Harry was so embarrassed he wanted to dig a two-bedroom apartment with his toes.
However, Lockhart seemed to enjoy this feeling very much.
Under everyone's gaze, he bent toward Harry again in a friendly gesture and spoke.
"One day in the future, you'll be like me, needing to carry a stack of photographs wherever you go. But I think you're not ready for that yet, so now you must listen to me. Being low-key is the highest form of showing off."
Finally reaching the classroom, with Professor Lockhart's light laugh, he finally released Harry.
Harry breathed a long sigh of relief, quickly smoothed his clothes, and ran to a seat in the back row at the fastest speed possible.
Just to put distance between himself and Lockhart.
When he noticed that Lockhart's gaze still occasionally glanced in his direction, he quickly stacked all seven books in front of himself.
This way, he wouldn't have to see the man.
At this time, the other students who had followed Lockhart also entered the classroom one after another.
By second year, the young wizards' seats were no longer fixed.
Sherlock no longer had to sit in the second-to-last row by the window.
Seeing Harry in the back row, Sherlock, Hermione, and Ron naturally walked over.
As usual, Sherlock and Harry sat in the middle, with Hermione and Ron sitting beside Sherlock and Harry respectively.
"Hi, man!"
Ron, seeing Harry's condition, couldn't help but elbow him.
"Your face is redder than my hair right now."
(ﾉωﾉ)
Harry felt too ashamed to face anyone.
"You'd better pray that kid doesn't meet Ginny, or they'll probably start an 'H.P. Fan Club' together."
At this point, Ron couldn't help but laugh at his own joke.
Hermione also couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand.
Even Sherlock raised an eyebrow.
Ron, you really do have a talent for sarcasm.
Harry immediately became anxious. "Don't—don't talk nonsense, if you keep saying that I'll—"
He got stuck here because he didn't know what he should threaten Ron with.
Seeing him like this, Ron was even more amused.
"Although you don't like Professor Lockhart, what he said to you wasn't actually wrong."
"Sherlock?"
Harry looked at his best friend in surprise, seemingly not expecting him to say such a thing.
"Harry, I think Professor Lockhart must have been using his own experience to warn you that you shouldn't do something as ostentatious as handing out signed photographs right now, correct?"
"Yes, you got it right again—but I wasn't doing that at all!"
Harry said indignantly, "And I don't need his guidance!"
"Obviously, he directly projected his own behavioral habits onto you."
Looking at the annoyed Harry, Sherlock said calmly, "But objectively speaking, his appearance did indeed save you from embarrassment. When this incident gets out, people will only think that Professor Lockhart forced you to pose for photos with him, rather than believing it was your own intention."
"But I wasn't doing that at all!"
Harry emphasized once again.
"Your thoughts don't matter."
Sherlock's gaze lingered on Lockhart's robes for two seconds, then he looked away and continued.
"People often believe only what they want to believe—even when the facts are right in front of them. For others, 'the wizarding world's savior handing out signed photographs' sounds much more in line with their expectations than 'this is a misunderstanding.'
If one day the wizarding world spreads rumors like 'the savior wants to maintain his popularity, so he deliberately fabricated lies saying Voldemort has returned,' I wouldn't be surprised at all."
After hearing Sherlock's words, Harry fell silent after a moment of surprise.
Hermione, however, looked at Sherlock with eyes full of joy. "So you also think Professor Lockhart is amazing, right, Sherlock?"
'Indeed, Sherlock thinks the same way I do!'
Ron, on the other hand, looked completely confused.
Had he really misunderstood Lockhart?
Was he actually another Snape?
What was that phrase again—a despicably kind good person?
"So should I thank him then?"
At this point, Harry had also come to his senses and asked somewhat hesitantly.
"That's not necessary."
Sherlock smiled, "I already said that Professor Lockhart's behavior only helped you objectively. Subjectively speaking, he's still using your name to promote himself. My suggestion is: mutual benefit."
"Mutual benefit?"
"Yes, to be precise, his existence is quite useful to us."
"Useful?"
This time, Harry, Hermione, and Ron were all puzzled.
Saying a professor was useful to them?
What kind of strange way to describe it was that?
Just then, all the students in the class had taken their seats, and Professor Gilderoy Lockhart cleared his throat loudly to quiet everyone down.
The three friends could only suppress their questions and turn their attention to Professor Lockhart.
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