Harry Potter: Reborn as a Prisoner in Azkaban

On Wednesday morning, when William opened his eyes, he already knew the weather would be dreadful today.

The window, which usually let the sunlight stream in perfectly, was dim and overcast. A single glance at the sky told him there would be a downpour.

Dreadful weather.

Although September was known to be a rainy month, it didn't stop William from complaining about such dismal conditions. The oppressive humidity before the rain always reminded him of the unpleasant atmosphere in Azkaban.

Sleep a bit longer? Or go for breakfast?

These two options spun around in his mind until he fell back asleep without making a decision.

When William woke up again, the air was no longer stifling but damp and sticky; the rain had finally begun to fall.

I hate rainy days.

Thinking that, he lazily wore his clothes. Wednesdays were his free days with no classes, and as for breakfast, Bart was more than happy to take care of that for him.

Maybe I should find a place to practice magic. I've mastered a lot of spells, but when it comes to actually casting them, it's not always seamless.

The rainy weather made William abandon his earlier plans to read. Feeling restless, he doubted he could focus enough to immerse himself in any books. He had already studied the fundamentals of magic thoroughly, and researching new spells wasn't as casual as it used to be.

The practice room has been ready for a while, but I didn't expect to be its first user. Students haven't even stepped foot in there yet.

Hogwarts provided the professors with well-equipped workspaces. Even when they needed non-rare herbs, magical creatures, or potion ingredients, the school could supply them. It was one of the main expenses in Hogwarts' budget.

As these thoughts crossed his mind, Bart arrived with breakfast.

***

"Sorry, Professor. The kitchen was incredibly busy, so it took a while. Professor Lockhart suddenly requested a massive batch of sweets, and we've all been working hard to meet the demand."

"No problem, Bart. I woke up late, so having food at all is a blessing. But… you know how to make candy?" William thanked him while asking out of curiosity.

"Of course, Professor. We're skilled in anything food-related. This morning, Professor Lockhart brought a load of packaging materials and ingredients after breakfast, asking us to make candies for the students."

"What on earth does Professor Lockhart need candies for?"

"You don't know yet, Professor?"

Bart sounded surprised, then quickly explained, "Since early this morning, Professor Lockhart—pardon me, I don't mean to speak ill of him; he's been eager to tell everyone about it—has been going around introducing himself to most of the portraits, boasting that he received over a dozen letters from admirers within the school asking for guidance about their futures. He's announced that he'll use his wisdom and life experience from his many adventures to help these admirers resolve their doubts."

"Actually, Professor, if you check the school bulletin board, you'll find that Professor Lockhart has established a club called 'Lockhart's Problem Solving Club.' He plans to welcome all students who admire him to seek advice about life and academics."

!!!

William suddenly panicked a little. While he had been painstakingly adjusting his relationship with the students, Professor Lockhart had already started moonlighting as a trusted confidante!

Dozens of letters from admirers within the school, and here I am, still without a single student acknowledging me out of liking or dislike!

William let out a long sigh, and the bread on his plate lost its flavor. Admiration and letters were two different things. For example, Adams greatly admired Professor Lockhart, but William doubted Adams would ever write to him.

Especially consultation letters; those were written when students felt uncertain about their future and sought advice from a reliable mentor.

That meant those students placed absolute trust in Professor Lockhart. No wonder he was excited to open a club to address their concerns. With so many letters already, who knew how many more students might want to consult him in the future?

As William envied him, he reached into the basket to search for something. Bart usually placed fruit at the very bottom when delivering breakfast.

This time, however, William's hand found small pieces of candy, something he hadn't seen before.

"Professor, the kitchen is filled with candies being rushed out. I thought you might like some, so I brought a few over."

The candies, crafted by the house-elves, were wrapped in sparkling, magical candy paper. On the packaging, Professor Lockhart's signature smile beamed brightly. Below his portrait, an enchanted inscription read, 'Professor Lockhart is more than just a classroom teacher.'

"..."

Well, alright then.

William unwrapped one and discovered the candy was surprisingly good; nearly at the level of what Honeydukes would produce.

So, was Professor Lockhart planning to produce club merchandise as well?

The thought made William sigh. While he had to carve out time to self-study magic, Professor Lockhart had found a way to shine outside of class. Despite not being particularly skilled in teaching, he still managed to enjoy overwhelming popularity among the students. Wasn't that proof of his exceptional abilities?

And then there was Professor Dumbledore. As the most renowned white wizard, even when he wasn't present at the school for daily affairs, Professor McGonagall still served as the Deputy Headmistress.

So, William, you've got to work harder! Finishing the last bite of bread, William encouraged himself with this thought.

Under Bart's pleading gaze, William used a charm to clean up the trash on the table and returned the books he had read yesterday to their proper places.

"Oh, Bart, if you could, please bring me a stack of parchment and leave it on my desk. I've been running through them too quickly lately."

"Of course, Professor!" Bart responded energetically as William left the room.

***

"Professor Lockhart's Problem Solving Club welcomes all students and faculty to join! From 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM every evening, Professor Lockhart's office is open to anyone facing difficulties in life or academics. Professor Lockhart will always support those who support him!"

As William turned a corner, a knight in a portrait solemnly made this announcement to him. William finally understood how Bart knew all about what was happening.

"Alright, I understand, Sir Knight. Professor Lockhart is starting a club. So, what kind of reward did Professor Lockhart offer?"

"No reward is necessary. Professor Lockhart is a recipient of the Third Class Order of Merlin. Any knight should assist such a distinguished figure." The knight in the painting declared this with great formality.

William suddenly felt that the candy he had eaten earlier hadn't been sweet at all. It felt more like a lemony sour...

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