Marvel's Magic Master: I Have a Clone in the Harry Potter World!

After the Transfiguration class ended, George didn't head straight to lunch. Instead, he spent an entire hour chasing after Professor McGonagall, bombarding her with questions about Transfiguration until he finally left, thoroughly satisfied.

It was common knowledge that every professor had to teach several year groups, making them extremely busy. George knew if he didn't seize opportunities like this, he might not get another chance to ask questions.

...

Afternoon: Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

Clad in a lavender purple robe, Gilderoy Lockhart flamboyantly strolled into the classroom and took his place at the podium.

"I, Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League; five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award—but I don't talk about that. I didn't vanquish the Bandon Banshee with just my smile!"

His attempt at humor left the boys exchanging confused looks. The girls, however, were enraptured, breaking into excited applause.

"This guy does have a good-looking face," George thought, studying the man who had scammed his way to a glittering array of accolades. George begrudgingly acknowledged that Lockhart's popularity among witches of all ages wasn't solely due to his writing—it owed much to his handsome appearance and shameless self-promotion.

Despite Lockhart's lack of genuine skill, George saw value in him.

In fact, George concluded that Lockhart possessed "three virtues":

1. Generous with Points

- As long as you cater to Lockhart's ego, he's more liberal with awarding points compared to other professors.

2. Authority with Access

- Only professors could issue permits to access the Restricted Section of the library. A good relationship with Lockhart could make obtaining one far easier.

3. Master of Memory Charms

- While hopeless with most spells, Lockhart's skill in memory charms rivaled the best. Learning this spell could be immensely useful for George in the Marvel universe.

Thus, George decided this class wasn't one to slack off in.

"I see you've all purchased my complete works. Excellent!" Lockhart began. "Today, let's start with a little quiz. Don't worry—it's just to see how well you've read and absorbed the material."

He pulled out a stack of quizzes and distributed them to the students.

"You have thirty minutes. Begin!"

George picked up the quiz and scanned the questions. All of them were about Lockhart himself. His Marvel counterpart quickly opened a computer to search for the answers.

When Lockhart became the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he replaced all standard textbooks with his seven autobiographical works. George, of course, bought these books but also purchased the usual first-year textbook, The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection.

Although George had read all seven of Lockhart's books, it wasn't for their self-aggrandizing content. Many of the magical adventures described were authentic, stolen from skilled wizards whose memories Lockhart erased using his expertise in memory charms.

Half an hour later, Lockhart collected the quizzes and began grading them at the podium.

Most students didn't fare well, even the smitten girls who only managed to answer half the questions correctly. Then Lockhart came across George's quiz.

"Oh, who is this? George! I know you—you're the one who declared yesterday that you'd win the House Cup for Slytherin. Very good, very good indeed!"

Lockhart's face lit up with a grin as he continued, "Not only did you know my favorite color, but you also got my ideal birthday gift and my noble aspirations perfectly. You answered every single question correctly! Twenty points to Slytherin!"

Lockhart beamed with delight. Across all his classes so far, only Hermione Granger in second-year Gryffindor had come close to answering half of the questions correctly. For someone to ace the quiz, and a Slytherin first-year no less, stroked his vanity immensely.

"Professor, I find your works to be filled with invaluable magical experiences. I've read them repeatedly, and they've left a deep impression on me," George said, raising his hand.

This flattery hit Lockhart squarely in his ego. He walked over to George, laughing heartily.

"Rest assured, with your magical talents—so close to my own—you too can achieve great success someday. I have high hopes for you!"

"Any success I achieve will undoubtedly be thanks to your guidance, Professor. I've always been someone who values gratitude," George said with a meaningful smile.

Lockhart's eyes gleamed with appreciation, and his attitude toward George became even warmer.

"Alright, next we'll read from my book Gadding with Ghouls. This book contains extensive information about ghouls, and I'll ask questions at random. Correct answers will earn points."

By the time the Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended, George had earned another ten points for Slytherin.

In just two days, George alone had scored ninety points for Slytherin, putting the house far ahead in the standings.

After class, George wasn't done with Lockhart.

"Professor, I have some magical questions I'd like to consult you about."

"No problem! Since we're kindred spirits, I can spare some of my precious post-class time for you," Lockhart replied with a wink.

From George's behavior, Lockhart sensed a fellow fame-seeker. Rather than feel threatened, Lockhart found himself liking George, seeing him as someone who could bolster his own fame.

"Professor, I'm particularly interested in memory charms. Would you mind…"

Initially wary, Lockhart planned to brush George off. But when he realized George was asking about memory charms—his one area of genuine expertise—his demeanor changed instantly. Puffing up with pride, he replied:

"A mere memory charm? That's one of my least challenging spells. Compared to those Ministry Memory Modification Squad wizards, I'm just a touch better."

The Ministry's Memory Modification Squad, under the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, specializes in erasing Muggle memories of magical events and repairing damages caused by magical mishaps. These wizards are among the finest in their field, masters of memory and repair spells.