Chapter 314 Afternoon Tea Discussion and Breakfast Nonsense

"By the way, Henry, I met Professor Marchban not long ago." Professor Bubaji said suddenly after drinking half a cup of tea. "She asked me how I was preparing for this year's O.W.Ls and N.E.W.Ts exams. I Tell her great."

Anthony said, "Thank you for the encouragement, Caredi."

Lady Gsilda Marchbain is a highly respected director of the Wizarding Examination Authority and one of the elders of the Wizengamot. Given Professor Bubaji's long title and resume, Anthony was not surprised that they would know each other.

Professor Bubaji continued: "I think she seems quite happy. She said that she will tell the subject group to increase the difficulty of the exam. The passing rate of Muggle Studies last year was a bit high."

Anthony held up the tea cup and looked at her without speaking. Professor Bubaji met his eyes and suddenly laughed: "I have confidence in you, Henry."

"Well..." Anthony said sarcastically, "Thanks a lot."

Professor Bubagi said: "I thought you were very confident in the students. Didn't you give almost everyone a grade prediction of E or above?"

Anthony complained: "You know how difficult the O.W.Ls exam questions are over the years, Caridi."

Professor Bubaji smiled and said, "Yes, I know."

Anthony sighed in distress and soon started laughing again.

"Okay, okay, it doesn't matter." He said, "Fortunately, my requirements are not high. At least I can say that the students understand Muggles better than before... To me, that is progress." He He put the cup back on the stump and started eating the cake.

"That's really not a very tall order," Professor Sprout said.

"Have you ever thought about what kind of students you allow into your advanced class, Henry?" Professor McGonagall asked.

"No." Anthony said easily, "The advanced class is Caridi's class."

"They will be yours." Professor Bubaji said, "I have been saying since two years ago that I have many things I want to do besides teaching. When it comes to raising classes, my standard is O, because... Well, you know what the difficulty of the O.W.Ls exam questions were in previous years.”

Anthony said, "Okay. What are the criteria for an advanced class in Herbology, Pomona?"

"Excellent (O) or good (E) depends on the results of the previous year." Professor Sprout said, opening the lid of the teapot and looking inside, "Normally it is good, but I remember one incident The questions this year were so easy that more than half of the people got excellent grades.”

Professor Bubaji nodded: "I remember that year. The herbalism expert proposition group was scolded by Professor Marchban. They didn't dare to go near her office during the half-month period when the results were counted." She He pondered, "So, last year's Muggle Studies thesis group may have been reprimanded as well. No wonder they were not very happy in the letter."

"What about Charms?"

"Good, that's enough." Professor Flitwick said sharply, controlling the fire spell under the teapot to prevent it from setting fire to the second greenhouse. "Transfiguration is also good, right, Minerva?"

"The requirements for most subjects are good," Professor McGonagall said.

Professor Sinistra said: "Astronomy is excellent because...because," she made a few gestures in the air with the hand that was not holding the cup, then raised her head and drank all the tea in the cup, then put the cup down. Back to the stump, said irritably, "Astronomy doesn't need people who can't even get O's in O.W.Ls!"

"Exactly," Snape said coolly.

"I've had enough of being laughed at by centaurs," said Professor Sinistra. "The night of last year's O.W.Ls practical astronomy exam, the centaurs were standing on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Alas, I never want to do that again - ever in my life. I don’t want to see their expressions when they listen to the students arguing about whether there are sparks in the sky.”

Anthony turned his head and looked at Snape. Snape had a sullen look on his face that said "and I've had enough of students", so Anthony turned his head back and decided not to ask about the origins of the Potions class raising standards.

Professor Flitwick extinguished the flame as the teapot screamed: "Speaking of O.W.Ls, Severus, did you know that Mr. Bol wanted to use the Bubble Charm to replace the crucible and prevent knowledge from evaporating from his head? "

"No," Snape said coldly, "In fact, I can't help but applaud Bol for coming up with such a brilliant idea that didn't involve me or Poppy."

"Oh, that," said Professor McGonagall, "that might be my suggestion - if you must take it that way."

"What?"

"I saw him putting his school bag on his head. So I told him that if he ran rampant in the corridor like a horned beast again, I would ask Filius to put a head-bubble charm on him." McGonagall The professor said calmly, "At least this way he can still see the road."

…

After that, the topic quickly turned from the stupid things students did because of anxiety before the exam, to the various applications of the Bubble Curse and the variant spells other than the standard spell, and then to the standard caliber size of the crucible—— Professor Boubaji mentioned that the Ministry of Magic seemed to be preparing to set up an office to study the manufacturing standards of cauldrons or something similar - and the resistance of cauldrons to various spells and transfigurations.

When they chatted about how hard the cauldron was, Professor McGonagall told them that Harry had left the school hospital healthy and intact.

"Where's the house elf?" Anthony asked. "Dobby?"

"He is still in school, but unless Mr. Malfoy is attacked, we ask him not to use magic in Hogwarts again." Professor McGonagall gave Anthony a meaningful look, "We also ask him not to say anything again The professor said something bad.”

"What bad words?" Professor Bubaji asked keenly, looking at Anthony as well.

Anthony lowered his head to get the second piece of cake: "Maybe it means I didn't get any O.W.Ls certificate."

"Don't let Dolores hear it," Professor Sprout warned gently. "She might take this as another piece of evidence that Albus hires professors arbitrarily."

Anthony said vaguely: "It is."

"That's nonsense," said Professor Boubaji.

…

"That's nonsense," Lockhart said, shaking his head. "To be honest, Henry, I've long been used to these slanders. It's all nonsense... Well, fame is accompanied by applause and, of course, those who hide in the shadows. While in Kosice, the local dark forces spared no effort to discredit me..."

"What's going on, Professor Lockhart?" Anthony asked between picking up a piece of hash brown, feeling like he was trying to use a fence to block an impending flood, with words of "fame" and "adventure" surging on the top of each wave. Words like "home" and "the Order of Merlin."

White clouds moved slowly and leisurely across the ceiling above them, revealing a calm, blue sky.

The weather was amazingly beautiful that day, and the bright sunshine filled the cool air with something calming. So when the cat got under the quilt and woke him up, Anthony just grumbled a few words and squinted at the morning light falling into the room from above the curtains - everything in the room, the chandelier, the coat rack , the wardrobe, the cat's food bowl, the cat's bed, and the piece of mouse tail hanging out of the cat's bed, all stayed quietly in the groggy, half-dark shadows - he turned over and, rarely, looked back. Fell asleep.

The consequence of rising later than usual was that he bumped into Lockhart on his way to the Great Hall and had the unquestionable distinction of sitting next to him at breakfast.

"Oh, it's nothing, really," said Lockhart, smiling broadly again. "Don't think I'm complaining. Like I said, I'm used to this sort of thing." Daily Owl The Daily News always wants to accuse me of having an affair with an ardent reader, and The Quibbler says my true identity is an ogre who sucks the brains out of people who come to book signings...but do I care? ? I never cared. People always have something to say. Mark my words, don't look at me like that one day, Henry, I know it's almost impossible - but if you If you are a little famous, you should know..."

Anthony nodded perfunctorily, followed Lockhart's talk, and moved a sausage onto his plate.

Suddenly, he heard Rita Skeeter's name coming from Lockhart's mouth.

"I was just a little surprised that the Daily Prophet published Rita's article like that." Lockhart said, "Barnabas told me - he is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, a very good A person who is honest and serious - he once told me that he thought half of Rita's reports came from misinterpretations and the other half came from delusions, but some people just like to see her maliciously speculate on other people's thoughts..."

At this time, Professor Sprout walked briskly into the hall, his robes covered with mud spots and dust.

"Good morning, Henry. Good morning, Gilderoy." She sat down on the other side of Anthony. "The weather is really nice today, isn't it? It looks like we will be able to harvest good quality herbs this year. Mandrake is growing. That's great, and there are those poisonous tentacles, but the Whomping Willow is a little sluggish..."

"Good morning, Pomona," Lockhart said. "Don't worry, you know I'm always willing to provide guidance and help if you ever have any herbal questions. As you know, I'll be there early." I made up my mind that I would never stop eradicating the forces of black demons and would always be willing to use my magic to solve problems for others... So I never cared about the rumors and always maintained my friendliness..."

Professor Sprout was slightly surprised and replied: "Of course, Gilderoy."

She looked at Anthony, trying to get some clues, but Anthony could only shake his head in confusion. They spent more than ten minutes listening to Lockhart talk about what a warm-hearted, kind-hearted, optimistic and confident powerful adventurer he was, until Lockhart remembered that he should show Hagrid how to drive away the water monsters in the well.

As soon as he left, Professor Sprout asked, "What's going on?"

"Have you ordered the Daily Prophet, Pomona?" Anthony asked.

Professor Sprout said: "Oh, of course, I just haven't found the time to look at it yet -" She fumbled in her bag for a while, put a few shovels and herb hoes on the table, and then put the crumpled " The Daily Prophet was pulled out and dusted, revealing Mr. Crouch's distorted face on the front page.

"What's wrong?" she asked while flipping through the newspaper. Broken grass stems and leaves fell out from between the pages from time to time. "Barty Crouch called for strengthening international magical exchanges and cooperation... Oh, the bug killer is again The price is going up, this is the second time this year... Oops!”

She suddenly gave a low exclamation and skimmed through one of the pages. Anthony glanced and saw words like "Professor Lockhart" and "Hogwarts".

Professor Sprout tilted the newspaper in his direction, so Anthony leaned over to read with her.

"At only 29 years old, the charming Gilderoy Lockhart is already a famous adventurer and writer. In addition, he accepted Albus Dumbledore's invitation last year to become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts. His perfect smile always makes everyone who approaches him feel warm..."

Anthony said, "That doesn't seem to be a problem."

Professor Sprout read the newspaper with a subtle expression.

"Keep reading, Henry," she said, "keep reading."

Anthony read down, skipping the paragraph about Lockhart's achievements. He could recite more honors and titles than that.

"...Behind his handsome face, it seems that there is a less radiant heart.

"'I think he may have a bad character. 'He's not like the adventurer Lockhart I imagined,' said Millicent Bulstrode. 'She is a lively and lovely second-year Slytherin student who is very happy to share the details of her studies with us.

"'In the first class of the new semester,' she recalled, 'Professor Lockhart brought a cage of Cornish pixies to teach us how to resist these horrible magical creatures. Those things were terrible. They screamed and flew around, throwing ink bottles and parchment everywhere... Professor Lockhart taught us a spell to fight against this most evil creature known to the wizarding world - he must have said so - but I have forgotten it.'

"However, when another incident was mentioned (the author happened to hear that Professor Lockhart played an important role in a funny story related to slugs), Miss Bulstrode immediately refused to talk more.

"After unremitting exploration and questioning, another student who did not want to be named finally hinted that they were asked not to discuss this matter. Some people speculated that Professor Lockhart played a less glorious role in it, but those who knew about it were asked to remain silent forever. In order to protect the students, the author had to give up this topic.

"In addition, having a popular new colleague like Professor Lockhart seems to make the already closed and exclusive Hogwarts particularly vigilant.

"Professor Filius Flitwick, although Professor Lockhart's former professor and dean, refused to call Professor Lockhart his favorite student. He maintained a polite and skeptical attitude towards Professor Lockhart's grades, and thought that the series of activities organized by Professor Lockhart since he entered the school were quite boring.

"Potions Professor Severus Snape suggested that Dumbledore should be more cautious in choosing the professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts, and inadvertently revealed that it was Dumbledore who insisted on inviting Professor Lockhart against all odds at the beginning of the semester, which made him the current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Although Dumbledore was an old madman who was old-fashioned and rigid in his thinking, he obviously had a different view of this handsome and dashing adventurer, which undoubtedly brought more hostility and doubts to Professor Lockhart.

"It seems that Professor Lockhart has experienced more difficult challenges at Hogwarts than those in previous adventures: people are doubting whether he is really as powerful and helpful as he said.

"In the scrutiny of students and former teachers, is the seemingly perfect appearance really so indestructible? The author believes that readers will have their own judgments, but now, perhaps we should pray for students who are in these undercurrent disputes.

"(For reports on the suggestion to downgrade the Cornish elves from XXX-level magical creatures to XX-level, please see page 14 of this newspaper.)"

Professor Sprout quietly put down the newspaper.

"Oh." Anthony said.