Defense Against the Dark Arts Office.
Gilderoy Lockhart was replying to a letter to a fan of his books when there was a knock on the door.
"Oh, what a headache. My little book fans won't let me go even at night."
He thought it was a book fan who came to sign his autograph, and he enjoyed it and even felt happy.
Pure fame and vanity make him happy, even if it makes him snap autographs.
After opening the door, his bright smile turned a little awkward.
"John Wick, I mean Mr. Wick, why are you here?"
His behavior made Percy feel a little strange, because Lockhart claimed to have taught John, but he looked like he was in awe of John.
"Professor Lockhart, we have something to talk about. I hope you don't mind if we take up some time here."
John walked in with a look that was completely contrary to his respectful words.
Percy nodded respectfully towards Lockhart: "Professor Lockhart, you are still actively preparing teaching materials at night."
"Uh, yes, I mean, I'm preparing teaching materials."
Lockhart calmly took the envelope away from his desk. After Percy came in, he closed the door. He didn't know how to cross his hands on his abdomen, rubbing his two thumbs in circles.
John sat in a chair and conjured a chair for Percy with a flick of his wand.
Instead, Lockhart transformed into a waiter-like role, bringing out tea and cups.
"Professor Lockhart and I had some friendship over the holidays. We were pen pals."
Seeing Percy's surprise, John made up a random excuse.
He smiled and said: "After all, connections are an indispensable part of a good wizard, and the same is true for an excellent wizard like Professor Lockhart."
Lockhart straightened his back when he heard the compliment.
Percy nodded in approval. His way of doing things was not favored in the Weasley family. It was rare for someone to agree with his point of view. He had some affection for John.
Picking up a piece of toffee, John put it in his mouth. The sweetness burst out and he took a sip of black tea.
"Similarly, connections should not be limited to outside the school. To be honest, Percy Weasley, I know you want to become the student union president next year. The support of the four houses is essential."
Everyone could see Percy's ambition. John picked up a piece of toffee and put it in Percy's hand. He chuckled and said, "I will take care of Slytherin for you."
"Why, why do you want to help me?" Percy pinched the toffee, a little confused.
He was a little uneasy. Although he was four years ahead of John, he was outnumbered in terms of momentum.
"Connections."
John said meaningfully: "I said, you are an excellent person, and you will be the same in the Ministry of Magic after graduation. In this case, why not make friends with you?"
The easiest way to deal with Percy is to show him real help, John pointed at Lockhart.
He said: "Professor Lockhart will help you establish prestige among the students. You need to show your excellence. Defense Against the Dark Arts Assistant is a good stage."
Defense Against the Dark Arts currently only has one assistant. If there is an additional assistant, it will not only reduce Lockhart's pressure, but also make that assistant stand out among the students.
John used this to bribe Percy, which made Percy very excited.
Percy opened the toffee and put it in his mouth, nodded with a smile on his face and said, "You're right, connections are indeed important."
He agreed to John's bribe. John held out his hand and Percy shook it.
In this Defense Against the Dark Arts office, Lockhart witnessed with his own eyes the deal between the two power players.
After Percy left, Lockhart asked uneasily, "Aren't you afraid that he will find out my secret? I mean, would it be too dangerous to have one more assistant?"
"No, you are his backer, and he will not betray you, as long as you continue to give him power."
John glanced at Lockhart and gave him a shot in the arm, not forgetting to warn him.
"Put away your flashy ideas and make good use of the lesson plan I gave you. Don't use magic."
Lockhart's magic skills were so bad that John even wondered how he ended up at Hogwarts.
Smiling awkwardly, Lockhart liked to show off so much that he couldn't figure out the nature of his magical novice.
He took out the Blast-Ended Skrewt Amulet and a ring inlaid with emeralds from the small bag and placed them on the table. John handed them to Lockhart and said calmly: "Use this when you really need to do something. It contains the Iron Armor Charm and the Petrification Charm." .”
This is a newly made prop that allows Lockhart to support the scene at critical moments.
Lockhart felt like he had found a treasure, and being doubted about his strength these days put him under a lot of pressure.
"Thank you Mr. Wick, I will complete the task well."
John stood up and left. Before leaving, he said calmly: "Call me John. As I said, connections are also an important part of a good wizard."
Lockhart was stunned. He originally thought that John was using excuses to threaten him to show off his power. Now it seems that maybe John really wants to cultivate his connections.
Yes, cultivate.
Just like you did with Percy, give him power, give him fame.
"Okay John, I'll write to you when my term is over," Lockhart said as a gesture of goodwill.
John nodded and left.
...
October has arrived.
The temperature difference was huge, and many little wizards contracted the flu.
Madam Pomfrey prepared some extra refreshing potion for this purpose. Although her ears would smoke after drinking it, it was very effective.
As an outstanding student in Potions class, John was also called over to help.
After delivering a pick-me-up to the school hospital, John heard crying as he passed through the second-floor corridor.
He walked towards the sound and saw Peeves throwing stones into the girls' bathroom.
And inside there is the cry of a female student ghost being bullied.
"Peeves, you can leave now."
Peeves was bullying Myrtle. He turned around when he heard the sound. When he saw it was John, he was so frightened that he knocked down the medieval armor and ran away.
"Isn't it just a matter of fixing you a few times?"
John couldn't help but muttered when he saw Peeves's reaction.
When he walked into the girls' bathroom, he saw the ghost of the bullied female student still crying and asked, "Are you okay?"
Myrtle screamed and flew through John's body. John felt as if he had been splashed with cold water, which made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Sorry, I just..."
Before she finished speaking, Myrtle remembered the sad things and started crying again.
John had a headache when he saw this situation. He really didn't know how to deal with ghosts.
But Myrtle's clothes made him curious, "Are you a student at Hogwarts?"
Myrtle was wearing some different Hogwarts student clothes, which made John wonder if there had been student deaths at Hogwarts?
Or did he forget to take away his body and become a ghost like Professor Binns?
Myrtle wears glasses, has straight hair, and the style of clothes she wears should be from a long time ago.
"Of course I'm a student at Hogwarts."
Myrtle stopped crying and glared at John, then turned and jumped into a broken toilet.
"Well, it seems that not all ghosts are easy to talk to."
Spreading his hands, John walked out of the bathroom.
Picking up the knocked down sign that said 'Glitch' and putting it away, John returned to the Slytherin common room.
"Goyle, don't eat too much, or you'll look like a pig."
"And you Crabbe, stop, don't make me angry, okay?"
Daphne lectured Goyle and Crabbe in the Slytherin common room. She really couldn't understand why these two guys were so good at eating.
Pansy scoffed bitterly: "Maybe they were just domestic pigs."
When John walked in, he saw Daphne snatching back the cupcakes that had been taken away by Goyle.
"John, here is your letter, your dog brought it back from outside."
Daphne immediately restrained herself from acting like a lady, and handed the two envelopes to John like a Slytherin mistress.
"Tom brought it?" John raised his eyebrows.
There were three ink spots in the lower right corner of one of the letters that seemed to have been accidentally dropped on it. John frowned. It seemed to be from Johnny Silverhand.
Nodding her thanks to Daphne, "Thank you for taking care of Tom for me."
Daphne looked up proudly, but her ears were a little red.
Back in the dormitory, John opened the envelope, and the contents inside made him frown.
"Mr. Alex Beilby of Bodhidharma will be awarded the medal on October 24."
It seems that my investment is starting to take effect.
John smiled.
