Upon hearing that, Ethan slightly straightened his back.
That's right.
To promote his new club, he had painstakingly created a promotional poster during the summer break.
He ensured it would be different from all the other gaudy and cheap ones.
It would stand out among the countless clubs at Hogwarts.
What Lord Voldemort had said before he turned to dust last semester reminded Ethan.
Besides himself, he also needed people to support him.
After all, he couldn't be everywhere at once, and in the future, for his great cause, he would need more manpower.
For example, Grindelwald's followers, Lord Voldemort's Death Eater army...
Hmm? Wait.
Why am I comparing myself to the Dark Lords? I'm clearly their opposite!
Ethan fell into deep thought.
On the other side, Michael shivered as he looked at Ethan's expression.
Why does Ethan look like he's about to cause big trouble...
A new epic has already emerged beneath Hogwarts.
Ethan seems like a hellish developer, gradually shaping Hogwarts into his own form.
Ethan: "Look forward to it."
"I've combined my summer practical experience to create a painting that fully embodies the true essence of the club."
"I experimented with new techniques in The Quibbler. Even with printed images, it can make viewers feel like they are truly there."
"The effect was excellent. The number of letters from readers directly doubled, full of enthusiasm, and they all used bright red envelopes."
"It must be my painting, 'The Fly Man,' that left such a deep impression on them."
Michael:
He would call those readers who, despite knowing it was torture, insisted on buying every issue, "Snow Eaters."
On the stage,
Dumbledore continued, "Before that, I want to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for this semester." Below the stage, a new student asked, bewildered, "What about the last one?"
An older student: "He dueled a student and was burned to ashes."
New student: ???
Dumbledore: "—Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart."
Clap, clap, clap.
The Great Hall immediately erupted in enthusiastic applause.
Most people were incredibly excited.
Especially the girls; their hands weren't just red from clapping.
Their faces were red too.
"Oh my goodness! He's even better looking in person than in his photos—" Lockhart proudly raised the corners of his mouth.
He displayed the smile that had won him the 'Most Charming Smile Award' from Witch Weekly five times.
—It's just, a little less than Ethan's.
Lockhart's smile faltered.
He was so shocked he practically doubted his own ears!
"Yes, Ethan always has a mysterious aura, and he looks like a handsome vampire under the moonlight~"
"Oh I'll open my dormitory door and offer my neck to Ethan without resistance"
"Heh heh, dream on, get in line behind me."
Listening to the discussions from below the stage,
Lockhart's mouth twitched, unable to form that perfect smile anymore.
He, the great he, the magic-wielding he.
Was actually defeated by a child?!
Outrageous!!
Lockhart angrily turned his head to look.
He met Ethan's smiling gaze directly at the Ravenclaw table.
In that instant,
Like a lightning bolt striking his soul, Lockhart jolted, his heart constricting as if grasped.
He instinctively averted his gaze!
"Mr. Lockhart?"
Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, looking at Lockhart, who had suddenly frozen in place.
Why did he have Quirrell's expression...?
In that moment, it seemed like an old acquaintance had returned.
However, after careful investigation, Dumbledore confirmed that Lockhart was not possessed by evil.
Therefore, this could only be his own delusion.
Lockhart snapped back to reality and subconsciously chuckled:
"...Oh! Please forgive me! I was simply overcome with excitement upon seeing so many of my admirers among the students!"
Yes, that's it.
As Lockhart spoke, he even convinced himself.
Him, afraid of a second-year little brat?
Unless the great Hogwarts had a cesspit buried beneath it.
At the faculty table, Professor McGonagall rolled her eyes dramatically.
Calming himself, Lockhart spoke:
"That's right. Perhaps you'll say I wasn't born with immense fame like the Savior, Harry Potter."
"Everything I have achieved was accumulated little by little through my own talent and strength!"
Below the stage, Michael chuckled, "Like being brutally defeated by a Dark Wizard in Knockturn Alley?"
The remark, not too loud nor too soft, reached Lockhart's ears perfectly.
Lockhart's old face flushed slightly, and he brazenly declared:
"Oh! I hear someone mentioning my 'setback' in Knockturn Alley this summer!"
"What I want to say is—"
"Everything I did was to protect the student who accompanied me there—Ethan Vincent!"
"Otherwise, I absolutely have the strength to defeat that insidious and evil Mr. Lamp!"
Upon hearing this,
The Great Hall erupted in an uproar!
Malfoy nearly spat out a mouthful of pumpkin juice, indignantly saying:
"Ethan needs protection from that peacock? I think he's eaten too many mushrooms!"
Beside him, Blaise Zabini chuckled softly:
"You never know. After all, none of us have witnessed Ethan's true combat level."
Malfoy: "I have. The left side of my face experienced it personally."
Zabini:
That's a bit too blunt, Young Master Malfoy.
Ethan sat quietly in his seat, nonchalantly raising his goblet and taking a sip.
Lies are like splinters in the hand; one day they will be pulled out by the root.
Leaving behind a bloody wound.
Just then, Luna, who was beside him, suddenly turned her head and looked at Ethan seriously, enunciating each word:
"You are ten thousand times stronger than that Mr. Peacock."
Ethan raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Then he chuckled, ruffled Luna's fluffy head, and said in a deep voice:
"Of course, Luna. The gap between him and me is longer than the distance from Earth to the Moon."
"Mhm!"
Luna nodded vigorously, smiling happily.
Beside them, Michael, who had also wanted to say the same thing, silently retreated.
He took a lonely sip of pumpkin juice.
Today's pumpkin juice was particularly bitter.
After the feast ended,
The Prefects, as usual, led their respective first-years to the common rooms.
Ethan, amidst the envious gazes of both new and old students, opened the portal and leisurely teleported away with Luna.
No need to climb those long, winding stairs.
A new student, envious, exclaimed, "So amazing! The seniors at Hogwarts are all so powerful!"
The 'excellent' seniors who also had to climb the stairs:
Avert eyes.jpg
"But that door, why does it feel a bit familiar..."
A dark door that could be opened anywhere, at will...
The new students' eyes gradually widened in horror.
So, this rule, which resembled a campus horror story, was created by a second-year senior?!!!
So innovative, even capable of influencing school regulations.
Ravenclaw, truly amazing, truly brilliant!!!
The next morning,
Ethan carried his club promotional poster.
He walked quickly towards the Great Hall, his heart fluttering with excitement and anticipation.
It was just past six o'clock.
Ethan had intended to go early to secure a good spot on the notice board.
But when he entered the Great Hall, he was surprised to find that the central positions were already completely taken.
A circle of older students surrounded the notice board.
Seeing Ethan holding a promotional poster, they all showed cunning, triumphant smiles.
Penelope, the Prefect, was also present.
She said, troubled, "I miscalculated. I didn't expect some Prefects to secretly help students put up posters last night..."
"That's why no matter how early I got up in previous years, I could never get a central spot."
It was her first time as a Prefect, and she wasn't yet proficient in the duties.
Ethan murmured, "I should have placed a portal in front of the notice board last night."
To throw all the sneaking Prefects into his Ethan's Amusement Park.
Penelope:
That's really not necessary.
Just then,
A figure emerged from behind the notice board.
It was their new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart.
Upon seeing Ethan, he instinctively flinched.
However, like a cat whose backside is being patted, the more it's patted, the more excited it gets.
He actually spread his arms and walked directly towards him:
"Ah ha! Ethan Vincent! I heard you're also starting a club?"
"Hmm~ if you ask me, you're a bit too hasty. It's better for a second-year to focus on academics."
Lockhart winked at Ethan.
Ethan smiled, the portal card in his hand flickering faintly.
"However, I won't be too harsh on you! I already see the promotional poster in your arms!"
"Come! Give it to me, let me, with my rich experience and artistic cultivation, properly appreciate it!"
Upon hearing this,
The portal that had been stirring in Ethan's hand disappeared.
"Alright."
Ethan said compliantly.
Obediently, he handed over the poster in his hand.
A dark glint, which made Penelope's heart turn cold, flickered in his cobalt-blue eyes.
Penelope, who already knew Ethan's nature well, looked with pity at the unsuspecting Professor Lockhart.
She quietly moved a few steps away.
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