Gilderoy Lockhart: Character Analysis

Welcome to the post-DH discussion of Gilderoy Lockhart. Previous discussion without spoilers can be found here:Gilderoy Lockhart: Character Analysis (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=102551)

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place? I think he was a pretty big show off and the students provided a ready made audience for him.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

Yes.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

He didn't.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

He couldn't find anyone else. DD felt the kids should be introduced to all sorts of people - that it would help build their characters in ways. But I think DD made a few poor choices along the way. Lockheart appears to be one of them.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

He was hot - you can't blame a teenager for crushing on a hot professor! :lol: It is normal. But even she came to see him for what he was eventually.

1. Why apply for 'the job'....well, he knew he was the only wizard for the job. I mean, look at what he'd done!
5. Why were 'the ladies' goo goo about him...his good looks, charm, an adventurer....you saw the girls in his class.....they just couldn't get enough of him!
Wonder how the Healers see him at St. Mungo's?

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Maybe by this time he had convinced himself that he could actually do all those things...:shrug:

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I dont think so. I think the real question is: Who would want Lockhart to recover?

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

I really wish he had. I can just imagine him now, walking through the Battle of Hogwarts, having escaped from St Mungo's, asking people if they wanted his signature.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Dumbledore always had a strange sense of humour...

I don't think he could find anyone else, so there was Lockhart ready for the job. He had no choice really.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

He's Lockhart. Everyone loved him. Come on, she was 12, the first thing she's going to notice is his looks. :D

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Next to Lockhart's "good looks" he had also an impressive list with achievements, which must have drawn Hermione's admiration. She devoured his works, I can't believe she only did that because Lockhart looked good. She must have been wowed by his ability to write so many "believable books".

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Next to Lockhart's "good looks" he had also an impressive list with achievements, which must have drawn Hermione's admiration. She devoured his works, I can't believe she only did that because Lockhart looked good. She must have been wowed by his ability to write so many "believable books".

Good point. She did act a bit love struck, but I agree, his impressive literary achievements would have likely impressed her even more. I still can't believe the class where he let all those creatures loose and then fled, leaving it to the children to deal with them :lol::rotfl:

I still can't believe the class where he let all those creatures loose and then fled, leaving it to the children to deal with them :lol::rotfl:

This incident cured Hermione of her admiration for Lockhart I think, I still wonder what possessed him to do a thing like that. Did he really believe he could handle the pixies...

This incident cured Hermione of her admiration for Lockhart I think, I still wonder what possessed him to do a thing like that. Did he really believe he could handle the pixies...

I think he thought he could or he would not have released them. I think he hoped to impress the students, but became scared to death, lol. His quick excuse was just laughable and I think a lot of the students saw through it - his reputation quickly falling in their eyes as he claimed to have been so brave and ferocious in his previous dealings with all things dark arts, lol. Poor Lockheart :)

I wonder what house he was in when he attended Hogwarts? He almost escapes every house description.

I wonder what house he was in when he attended Hogwarts? He almost escapes every house description.

It's funny - I've always envisioned him as a Slytherin, but not because I think he's evil. It's because I see in him someone cunning enough to fake and charm his way to the top (no easy task), and someone who opted to try and save himself over saving Ginny until Harry and Ron forced his hand.

It's funny - I've always envisioned him as a Slytherin, but not because I think he's evil. It's because I see in him someone cunning enough to fake and charm his way to the top (no easy task), and someone who opted to try and save himself over saving Ginny until Harry and Ron forced his hand.

Actually I had thought of Slytherin too....you gave really good reasons and better ones than I was thinking of. I was trying to think of people who were like him and could only come up with Crabbe and Goyle - so I thought Slytherin too, but not so good a reason, lol.

It's funny - I've always envisioned him as a Slytherin, but not because I think he's evil. It's because I see in him someone cunning enough to fake and charm his way to the top (no easy task), and someone who opted to try and save himself over saving Ginny until Harry and Ron forced his hand.

I agree that Slytherin is the most logical house for Lockhart. I have read posts elsewhere that he might be suited in Hufflepuff, because he wasn't very accomplished. But that's very unfair to Hufflepuff which has proven to have had a lot of great wizards and witches. Slytherin would be perfect for him, shame we don't know if he is a pure-blood, but that's likely.

I wonder if Lockhart was a popular student at Hogwarts and among his house mates or that he only got this popular when he was of age and could help himself through magic all the time.

Well he was good looking, I would imagine he would be popular among the girls. But if he behaved in a daffy manner, then they would quickly lose interest I would imagine. I think he became more popular afterward when he published all of his untruthful grand works that told of his prowess, etc. That plus his good looks sold the books and made him popular - especially among women I would imagine.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

To boost his publicity, I suppose. And students could be added to his fanbase.:rolleyes:

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

No. I think that would have been cheesy.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

Well, he didn't.

Pre-DH I would have said probably not. But if he was,it would only be a one liner comic relief or something. I mean, St. Mungo's is kind of a likely place to be for a book that's destined for injury and death.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Lockhart may have been lying about what he was doing, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know enough to teach. He had to interview all of his victims and write entire books! I'm sure his books matched up with a plausible way to defeat the vampire/banshee/whatever.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

He was good looking. She was 13. :love:

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
He likely wanted the recognition, since Hogwarts is a pretty prestigious school. I agree with CleanSweepSeven that he may have also thought the students could increase his fanbase.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
I believe Rowling has said that Lockhart will not recover. And personally I like him better that way. ;)

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
I believe he was very desperate to fill the position. Seeing as the job was cursed by Voldemort, Dumbledore knew that however bad he was, Lockhart would only hold that position for one year, and he knew that he'd have to replace the DADA teacher every year.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
I guess she just had a crush on him. She was only 12 at the time anyway. ;)

I agree that Slytherin is the most logical house for Lockhart. I have read posts elsewhere that he might be suited in Hufflepuff, because he wasn't very accomplished. But that's very unfair to Hufflepuff which has proven to have had a lot of great wizards and witches. Slytherin would be perfect for him, shame we don't know if he is a pure-blood, but that's likely.

I wonder if Lockhart was a popular student at Hogwarts and among his house mates or that he only got this popular when he was of age and could help himself through magic all the time.

Really? I always thought he was a Gryffindor. He seems to have all those bad traits like recklessness and glory-seeking. Okay, he's not brave but he values bravery so I think he chose Gryffindor. But I definitely agree that he was NOT a Hufflepuff. Anywhere but Hufflepuff.

I also think he might have been a late bloomer. So I think he wasn't popular until he left Hogwarts.

Really? I always thought he was a Gryffindor. He seems to have all those bad traits like recklessness and glory-seeking. Okay, he's not brave but he values bravery so I think he chose Gryffindor. But I definitely agree that he was NOT a Hufflepuff. Anywhere but Hufflepuff.


He was definitely someone looking for glory in his life, but you could also call this ambition, which is a characteristic of Slytherins.

Somehow I can't see Lockhart as a Gryffindor, they wouldn't have tolerated a person like him, so unless he was a real loner I can't see him in that house.

I think he might have been a Ravenclaw because you'd have to be pretty clever to track down accomplished people, interrogate them, erase their memories, and write books with enough correct detail to be convincing.

He might be considered not-so-smart because he thinks he's more famous than Harry, and is rude to the other teachers at Hogwarts, but remember, there are different kinds of intelligence and I think he demonstrated one kind by creating such a believable hoax.

I think he might have been a Ravenclaw because you'd have to be pretty clever to track down accomplished people, interrogate them, erase their memories, and write books with enough correct detail to be convincing.

He might be considered not-so-smart because he thinks he's more famous than Harry, and is rude to the other teachers at Hogwarts, but remember, there are different kinds of intelligence and I think he demonstrated one kind by creating such a believable hoax.

Good point :lol:. I hadn't thought of it that way before, but it would take intelligence to concoct such a plan and execute it. Lockheart is growing more complex the further we explore this. I would have to lean toward Ravenclaw as well for a man of his character.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

The reaction of the teachers to Lockhart was something I found quite shocking / surprising. It’s not a surprise to see Snape being caustic (or worse), let’s face he does not tolerate fools well, but the fact that most of the teachers are glad to join in really surprised me. It’s not the fact that they don’t feel respect for him (Personally I can’t blame them for that) but that they actually bully him! Even McGonagall, who is scrupulously fair, joins in. It seemed odd to me and I wonder why did JKR do that? Any ideas?

Oh yes also at times I got the impression that their horror at him abated their distrust of Snape – could that have been part of the reason?


5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Oh, I get that! He was IMO a parody of fame, the shallow gloss that blinds us to reality. As well as a display that our preconceptions really get in the way of see reality. Who better to use to demonstrate this than ‘the smartest witch of her age’ after all we’re all susceptible (IMO of course!)

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

The reaction of the teachers to Lockhart was something I found quite shocking / surprising. It’s not a surprise to see Snape being caustic (or worse), let’s face he does not tolerate fools well, but the fact that most of the teachers are glad to join in really surprised me. It’s not the fact that they don’t feel respect for him (Personally I can’t blame them for that) but that they actually bully him! Even McGonagall, who is scrupulously fair, joins in. It seemed odd to me and I wonder why did JKR do that? Any ideas?

Yes that was odd. He was only employed for the year (as all dark arts professors had been for eons), so it wouldn't have killed the staff to have shown him some respect at least. On the other hand, when he engaged in something that might endanger the students, then I would agree anyone who could was right to intervene.

As to why JKR likely did such a thing, well I personally believe that it was because he was a great means of adding humor to the story. Lots of things were done in humor that wasn't so grand from the point of view of the characters in the story (making their lives a bit harder or annoying).

As to why JKR likely did such a thing, well I personally believe that it was because he was a great means of adding humor to the story. Lots of things were done in humor that wasn't so grand from the point of view of the characters in the story (making their lives a bit harder or annoying).

I think that she did it for humour as well. Lockhart for me was a very funny character, he was annoying too but in a funny way.

The problem with Lockhart was that he made himself look silly and with it the entire profession of teachers. His only goal as teacher was to promote himself and add to the glorification of himself.

I do think that Dumbledore shouldn't have let Lockhart teach, he was very wrong there. But the other teachers knew Lockhart for the fraud he was, they wanted him to expose himself. I think when they urged him to rescue Ginny, they made a mistake, but they probably believed that Dumbledore would step in.

I really did not like Lockhart as I do with, well with people like him. He was funny at times in the movie, but I always had a problem with him. He did fit J. K. Rowling's description perfectly to me though.

I really did not like Lockhart as I do with, well with people like him. He was funny at times in the movie, but I always had a problem with him. He did fit J. K. Rowling's description perfectly to me though.
That was a fun role for Kenneth Branagh, he obviously enjoyed hamming it up to the max, even sometimes made Lockhart almost likeable, in an amusing sort of way.

There may have been something amusing in the book character of Lockhart, but not "Hahaha" amusing. The man's a fraud, an unscrupulous impostor, a braggart and a coward. Using his good looks to further his ends. But at least, his ends, though far from ethical, were not as evil as Tom Riddle's, who did the same thing, used his looks and charm.

Lockhart was hoisted by his own petard, as Dumbledore said, and it was very fitting. I'm certain he won't recover from his malady (I saw that question in another thread.) Just serves him right.

The thing about Lockheart for me was that he was so over-the-top, he had me laughing everytime he appeared on page. I really enjoyed reading about his charcter, I think it added a lot to the book. I had always imagined him recovering from his illness and everyone would imagine he'd finally see the light due to all that had happened to him - but he'd still be right over-the-top. I guess his injection of the humor in the books just carried on in my thoughts of his later outcome.

I totaly enjoyed Lockheart, he was such a Narcisist, it was all, me me me, with him, he added a lot of colour to the story, even when he lost his memory, his vanity prevaled to keep everyone amused.

Lockhart always manages to make me laugh, no matter how many times I read it and watch the film. He is just so ridiculous. The way he thinks everyone adores him and he doesn't realise that most people know he is a fraud. Like all the teachers. He is so wrapped up in himself, he must have a bit of a dark side to put memory charms on people and take credit for there work and bravery,and not care. All driven by him wanting to be famous and adored.
He is just very funny.

I've always thought he had some kind of superiority complex. I mean, he was like, 'Harry, when I was your age I was more of a nobody,' or something. He thought everyone wanted to be just like him.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place? I honestly don't know. I think once again, Voldemort picked an individual who was weak, didn't have a backbone and was too afraid to say "no". Plus, he knew he was safe to be as flamboyant at Hogwarts as he wanted to be. He knew he could impress everyone with his so-called knowledge and impress the ladies with a flick of his wrist. Even if people were onto him, or thought he was barking mad, he had 20 others who believed his treachery.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover? Well, even after reading D.H., I don't think there was anything to recover in the first place. He was a fraud and used other people's work to gain fame.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH? That would have been so interesting and hilarious to read.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
Well, Albus did everything for a reason, and that was usually to teach Harry or the other Students and Staff a lesson. So I think he hired Lockhart in part to Teach Harry that if you lie about something, take credit for something you didn't do, you'll eventually get caught and possibly be in a lot of trouble. I don't know, maybe in some way, Albus was impressed by Lockhart's celebrity and maybe he really believed he was genuine. You know, some people can really turn on the charm and sweetness and make you believe they're something they're not.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
Well, look at the way young Girls are blinded by some Musicians' and other Celebrities' appearances. They believe these men/boys are perfect, can't do anything wrong. Even if they are caught committing a crime, they usually come up with some sort of excuse for them. She, like many 12 year-olds believed that because he was "good looking" that some how equated he walked on water, etc.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

He thought'd it'd be easy... after all, his ego was the size of France.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

Doubtful.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

He didn't.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I don't understand half the things that Dumbledore does... maybe to give the students an example of what a bad teacher is like?

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

She wasn't. She was trying to get Ron jealous. I know that sounds like a stupid shipper thing to say, but I honestly think that's why she (acted) like she fancied him.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?[COLOR=DarkOrchid] I honestly don't know. I think once again, Voldemort picked an individual who was weak, didn't have a backbone and was too afraid to say "no".

I don't understand where Voldemort comes into this??? :hmm:

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
Lockhart would have been bored by his job of writing autobiographies...He would have wanted to get in the news by applying bravely for an unstable job.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
I don't think so.if it had not been cured in 5 years by skilled Healers I don't think it would.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
No he won't.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
DD would have had some interior complicated reason for it.May be it was just to expose that he was a fraud before other teachers and students,

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
She was only 12 that time and she is a sort of book worm-she believed whatever written in the school books(his books)

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Lockhart revelled in being the centre of attention and being a teacher does put you centre stage. Also, I think he thought he would be adored by the female Hogwart students and admired by the male students. Well, he got it half right with the female students, including Hermione.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

No, I doubt it as he was a long term resident on the Janus Thicky Ward for Permanent Spell Damage.


4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I imagine he drove all the other teachers up the wall with incessant telling of his tall tales in the Staff Room. :lol:
As for why Dumbledore hired him, well according to Hagrid, ''He was the on'y man for the job. An' I mean the on'y one.'

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.[/QUOTE]

Well, she was only 13 and he was good looking and an author, and I think Hermione would admire that. Hermione put her faith completely in books and I think it took her a while to realise that you can't believe all you read.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

He thought he could fake his way through the year, like he had with everything else in his life. I'm sure he also wanted to introduce a whole new generation to the wonder that is Gilderoy Lockhart.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

No. Jo said as much.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

I'm really going out on a limb here, but I'm gonna say 'no' :p

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

My guess is because nobody else wanted the job. If you recall, after this the only people who get a DADA job are members of the Order (past or present) and ministry-appointed people. I'm sure once Dumbledore saw what a fraud he was, he wasn't too happy about his choice. And I'm sure it took Dumbledore no more than 3 words out of Lockhart's mouth to deduce what a fraud he was.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

See "Cruise, Tom"...or "Spears, Brittney". People - both boys and girls alike - are often willing to overlook someone's obvious flaws if that person is good looking enough, or famous enough. But in the end, the flaws often times become too much to overlook. We see this happen over the course of the book with Hermione.

I noticed that Lockhart is sort of the antithesis of Harry. Lockhart's selfish, talentless, cowardly, attention seeking, and arrogant, the opposite of everything Harry is.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Because it tied in with the release of his autobiography. Everyone needs to do publicity, and I think that he'd planned to announce that he'd taken the job of Defense teacher that day he was in Flourish and Blotts anyway, regardless of whether Harry was there.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I'm not sure. It was a pretty powerful backfire that he got in his face, and although he's showing definite improvement, if he does recover, it's going to take a while still

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

N/A

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Like Hagrid said, he was the only man for the job. If he was the only one to apply then the job would have to go to him, and it's not like Divination, Dumbledore couldn't really have decided to discontinue it as a subject.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Well, for one, her age. She was almost 13, she'd read all of his books and had no reason to disbelieve what he'd written. It was like a non-magical teenager having a crush on an actor or a pop star in a magazine, then getting them as a maths teacher or something...

Welcome to the post-DH discussion of Gilderoy Lockhart. Previous discussion without spoilers can be found here:Gilderoy Lockhart: Character Analysis (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=102551)

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

1: I think he applied for the job to sell his books. There were hundreds of students at Hogwarts. He gets EVERY student in the school to buy EVERY book he has published (with the exception of Magical Me). That is a lot of books sold. His Hogwarts salary wouldn't matter after he gets the money for the books.

2: Perhaps, he certainly was getting better in OotP.

3: Obviously he didn't.

4: I can't see why he would, Dumbledore did more to halt DaDa education than the ministry did.

5: I suppose Hermione let the hormones win, and Lockhart did have an impressive achievements list, thatwould have impressed her.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

1: I think he applied for the job to sell his books. There were hundreds of students at Hogwarts. He gets EVERY student in the school to buy EVERY book he has published (with the exception of Magical Me). That is a lot of books sold. His Hogwarts salary wouldn't matter after he gets the money for the books.


I quite agree with this, there is much to it. Also, I believe he thought he will only be teaching theory, after all, how hard can explaining theory be?

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I think Jo said something to the contrary. Hopefully he will not anytime soon...

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Him being the only one who applied I guess.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Because she was very young, and after all, she probably thought that if Lockhart got the job he must have known something. She had no reason to doubt his books before she found out more about him...

I think that if he recovers, he has a nice cell in Azkaban waiting for him. He was funny and all, but what he did was hideous.

I think that if he recovers, he has a nice cell in Azkaban waiting for him. He was funny and all, but what he did was hideous.


While the chances of him being relativley sane are small, I'd like to see him put to justice. Come on, he modified the memories of several great witches and wizards, pretending to have accomplished their good deeds. Even worse, he attempted to do the same to two young boys! :no: I don't think he was funny, but hideous beyond doubt.

[QUOTE=SageThyme;4629879]1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

As Avarice mentioned, it gained him a lot of book sales.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

It's doubtful, but who knows, given his renewed interest in signing his autograph. I've just had a thought- all the people Harry addressed Lockhart's fan-letters to during his detention- imagine their reaction if they knew the Boy-Who-Lived had addressed their letters. :p

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

As Hagrid said, he was the only applicant. Defence against the Dark Arts isn't something that could be omitted from the Hogwarts curriculum- it was one of the core subjects. I think it's likely Dumbledore had his suspicions about Lockhart, however, he could at least impart some information, even if second hand rather than from the horses mouth, so to speak.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

I believe she was swayed by a number of things, his appearance, the things he claimed to have done and the fact that he had books written about them, the fact that she held respect for her teachers. The first two would have made her admire him and the last two would have made her very much inclined to believe him - she trusted in books and would not believe ill of a teacher without evidence. Interesting that in CoS, Ginny was deceived by a book, while many others were also deceived by fraudulent books.

While the chances of him being relativley sane are small, I'd like to see him put to justice. Come on, he modified the memories of several great witches and wizards, pretending to have accomplished their good deeds. Even worse, he attempted to do the same to two young boys! :no: I don't think he was funny, but hideous beyond doubt.


That's a good point you bring up -and one that's often overlooked in discussing the farce that is Lockhart's attempt at teaching and impressing. Not to mention, he would have left Ginny to die. He's quite an unpleasant character, imo, due to his disregard for students who were to be in his care and how casually he talks of tracking people down and modifying their memories.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

The glory and publicity

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

He doesn't have much to recover in terms of memory, other than fraud.

He's probably better off making a fresh start.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

Probably not

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Dumbledore tends to look for the best in people.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Because she was a young naive girl.

Lockhart did some pretty dirty stuff, true, but the way Jo wrote his character makes you forget that. He's so over the top, you know from the first time he appears he's a big phony but you roll with it anyway.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

I believe being a Hogwarts professor (and with Harry as a student) is a nice thing to put into a wizard CV.


2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I hope so. :lol:

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

First, there were no other candidates. And I'm asking myself if everyone really knew he was a fraud before he started teaching. I mean, his books were based on the real knowledge - he was stealing it from good, competent wizards.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Hermione was a good student with a natural tendencies to respect her teachers. And Lockhart was famous and a charming man, also. Maybe she just needed some idol (and frankly, compared to others male teachers, how couldn't he win? :p:lol:)

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

He probably saw the opportunity to increase his popularity with a new generation, sell more books, increase peoples knowledge of him with all the books, quizzes and class discussions about his exploits. He might even have started to believe in his own fabrications as to his abilities.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I don't think so.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

No.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Dumbledore was having trouble finding candidates for the job.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Straight away she respects teachers. She was perhaps a bit naive, and initially blined by his achievements and knowledge (perceived), charm and looks.

While the chances of him being relativley sane are small, I'd like to see him put to justice. Come on, he modified the memories of several great witches and wizards, pretending to have accomplished their good deeds. Even worse, he attempted to do the same to two young boys! :no: I don't think he was funny, but hideous beyond doubt.

Excellent point. Lockhart was prepared to leave Harry and Ron in the mess he ended up in, then leave Ginny to die.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

I agree with UselessCharmMaster's assessment. Firstly, I get the sense that being a Hogwarts professor is quite a prestigious position and being one would do a lot to boost Lockhart's image.

Secondly, before Rita Skeeter started painting him as an attention-seeking lunatic, I think any positive association with Harry was a good thing for someone. We saw Fudge kind of sucking up to him in PoA IMO, Draco tried to get Harry to be friends with him etc..


2. Will Lockhart ever recover?


I think so. IIRC he seems to be recovering somewhat. It seems that people generally recover from the effects of Memory Charms, but the time it takes to recover depends on how powerful the charm is. A very powerful one might take months or years to recover from.

Then again, Lockhart was trying to get Harry and Ron to lose their minds. So maybe he was trying to wipe their memories completely? In that case, I don't know if Lockhart will ever remember who he is.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?


I don't think so. ;) Someone should update these questions....

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

As others have said, there was no one else for the job according to Hagrid.

I dunno if he was really a threat to the students. No one knew that the Chamber of Secrets would be opened when Lockhart was hired, and I don't think even Dumbledore knew just how incompetent Lockhart was at the time of hiring.

I could see that he would be a threat in the sense that they wouldn't learn any DADA and therefore be unprepared to deal with real dangers. :shrug:

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

I think she was just a naive 12 year-old girl. Hermione's allowed occasional lapses in judgment. :)

It isn't that she naturally respects teachers. The previous year we saw her revise her opinion of Snape after seeing him (apparently) jinxing Harry's broom. Yet, she doesn't revise her opinion of Lockhart after Lockhart deboned Harry with his incompetence. And in OotP she makes it abundantly clear that a position of "professor" isn't enough to make her respect Umbridge.



Has it struck anyone else what an enormous contrast Lockhart was with Lupin, the following year's DADA professor? I don't know if that juxtaposition was intentional on Rowling's part, but it is certainly a powerful one IMO.

I agree with UselessCharmMaster's assessment. Firstly, I get the sense that being a Hogwarts professor is quite a prestigious position and being one would do a lot to boost Lockhart's image.

That's a good point, a Professor at Hogwarts, approved by Dumbledore, would certainly be a prestigious addition to his achievements.

I think any positive association with Harry was a good thing for someone.

:agree: A good association/connection with Harry would have improved his image, giving him guidance and mentoring him, kind gestures, etc.


It isn't that she naturally respects teachers. The previous year we saw her revise her opinion of Snape after seeing him (apparently) jinxing Harry's broom. Yet, she doesn't revise her opinion of Lockhart after Lockhart deboned Harry with his incompetence. And in OotP she makes it abundantly clear that a position of "professor" isn't enough to make her respect Umbridge.

I think Hermione did a have a certain ingrained (taught to respect them) respect for teachers authority, unless they're like Umbridge. I haven't read the book in little while, but I guess, the difference between Snape and Lockhart, is that Snape was proved to have been trying to save Harry's life, Lockhart did nothing to inspire her to reconsider revising her opinion as he continued to be incompetent and then endanger Harry, Ron and Ginny's welfare. Imo.

ETA: Hermione had little respect for Trelawney, but again that was due to her belief that the teacher was incompetent and a fraud, in other words not good enough for the job/profession. Imo.

I think Hermione does have a certain ingrained respect and trust for teachers authority, unless they're like Umbridge. I haven't read the book in little while, but I guess, the difference between Snape and Lockhart, is that Snape was proved to have been trying to save Harry's life, Lockhart did nothing to inspire her to reconsider revising her opinion as he continued to be incompetent and then endanger Harry, Ron and Ginny's welfare. Imo.

I was referring to her change in opinion right after the Quidditch match. She goes from being sure that Snape isn't trying to steal the Stone to being convinced that he is. *Gets book out*

"Rubbish," said Hagrid again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothin' of the sort."
"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" cried Hermione.
The afternoon's events certainly seemed to have changed her mind about Snape.

My bold.

^That's what I meant.

That's what I meant.

Ah, gotcha! I thought you meant Hermione revising her opinion after her thinking Snape was trying to hurt Harry, versas revision of her opinion after Lockhart's additional mess ups. :)

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
Probably saw a chance to spruik some more books.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
Doubt it. He'll be signing autographs in St Mungos till his dying day.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
We know he didn't.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
Honestly? I believe Dumbledore was taken in by him at first. You can say what you like, but at the end of the day Dumbledore made mistakes like any other man, only, as he himself said, his mistakes tend to be disproportionately larger. Of course, he realised soon enough that he was a ** artist.
Plus, as Hagrid said, he was the only person who wanted the job.
I don't buy the theory that he was put to show the students what a bad teacher was capable of. Dumbledore liked to test his students (the trio in particular) but no way would he sabotage their education in such a way with complete intent.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
Cause that's what 13 year old girls do. As smart as Hermione was, she isn't immune to all the stupidity that comes with teenagers.

Has it struck anyone else what an enormous contrast Lockhart was with Lupin, the following year's DADA professor? I don't know if that juxtaposition was intentional on Rowling's part, but it is certainly a powerful one IMO.

You're absolutely right. I think that Lupin (independently of his role in the whole story) comes in PoA as a pleasnat surprise - I mean, hey, there can be a nice and competent DADA teacher! :lol:

Yes, if you compare the poor, ill-looking, shabby Lupin with Lockhart and his beautiful robes, radiant smile and... err... shiny wigs... :lol:, this is really a CONTRAST!

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

I think it was a way to add to his resume as a daring and talented fighter against the Dark Arts. He is always going on about his books, his membership in societies, his awards, etc. This was supposed to be just another laurel in his crown. ;)

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?


I do not think so. We see him nearly 3 years later in OotP and I do not see much improvement.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I am not sure Dumbledore knew Lockhart's modus operandi before he hired him. He might have considered Lockhart's adventures mere fiction, and so did not have a reason to suppose he'd be a real danger, as opposed to merely an annoying waste of time. :)

Has it struck anyone else what an enormous contrast Lockhart was with Lupin, the following year's DADA professor? I don't know if that juxtaposition was intentional on Rowling's part, but it is certainly a powerful one IMO.

The enormous contrast that always struck me was with Severus Snape, actually. :) Rowling seems in CoS to go out of her way to out them together in scenes, most notably "The Duelling Club". I think this was partly for comic effect. It was very successful in my opinion, anything from Harry's description of the duel to the sight of Snape smirking at portraits of Lockhart in curlers to Lockhart's suggestions of how Snape might join in Valentine's Day festivities were great moments and scenes.

But I think there was a serious point to this as well. Lockhart in the duel is very showy, dressed in the special costume, and holding forth at length about his expertise. Snape just blows him off the platform when it is time to duel. :) It's substance over show. Similarly we see Lockhart talk a big game about the monster, but clearly he could not care less about Ginny. Snape says nothing, but we see the brief moment in which his knockles tighten on the chair-back when the teachers learn the news.

You're absolutely right. I think that Lupin (independently of his role in the whole story) comes in PoA as a pleasnat surprise - I mean, hey, there can be a nice and competent DADA teacher! :lol:

Yes, if you compare the poor, ill-looking, shabby Lupin with Lockhart and his beautiful robes, radiant smile and... err... shiny wigs... :lol:, this is really a CONTRAST!

Exactly. Lockhart was beautifully dressed, handsome, a celebrity and of course, cartoonishly conceited. He turned out to be a complete coward and fraud who taught the second-years nothing.

Lupin meanwhile had poor, shabby robes, was showing signs of premature aging, and far from being a celebrity, turns out to be a complete outcast. As a teacher, the students appear to learn quite a lot from him, and more importantly, he teaches Harry how to conjure a Patronus.

In later books, of course, we see that Lupin knows a bit more about dueling than Lockhart. ;)

Could these two have been more different?

The enormous contrast that always struck me was with Severus Snape, actually. Rowling seems in CoS to go out of her way to out them together in scenes, most notably "The Duelling Club". I think this was partly for comic effect. It was very successful in my opinion, anything from Harry's description of the duel to the sight of Snape smirking at portraits of Lockhart in curlers to Lockhart's suggestions of how Snape might join in Valentine's Day festivities were great moments and scenes.

But I think there was a serious point to this as well. Lockhart in the duel is very showy, dressed in the special costume, and holding forth at length about his expertise. Snape just blows him off the platform when it is time to duel. It's substance over show. Similarly we see Lockhart talk a big game about the monster, but clearly he could not care less about Ginny. Snape says nothing, but we see the brief moment in which his knockles tighten on the chair-back when the teachers learn the news.

I was thinking more in terms of the DADA teachers. That's an interesting point too though. :tu:

Exactly. Lockhart was beautifully dressed, handsome, a celebrity and of course, cartoonishly conceited. He turned out to be a complete coward and fraud who taught the second-years nothing.

Lupin meanwhile had poor, shabby robes, was showing signs of premature aging, and far from being a celebrity, turns out to be a complete outcast. As a teacher, the students appear to learn quite a lot from him, and more importantly, he teaches Harry how to conjure a Patronus.

In later books, of course, we see that Lupin knows a bit more about dueling than Lockhart. ;)

I was thinking more in terms of the DADA teachers. That's an interesting point too though. :tu:

I think you're all making good points. :tu:

The contrast with Snape is brought out as a sort of sharp relief in CoS (and let's not forget that Snape does ultimately become one of the DADA teachers). But the contrast with Lupin - Lockhart's DADA successor - is also to the point. I think it's a bit more subtle than the Lockhart/Snape contrast because it's not hitting you in the face in the same book.

At any rate, Lockhart is all show and a fraud, while Lupin, like Snape, is anything but show. Of course, they are quite different, but neither one of them is out to draw some sort of freakish attention to himself the way Lockhart does. And both of them are able at defending against the Dark Arts.

I actually believe that Jo tried to bring Lockhart and Snape together as much as she did partly for comic purposes. It's hard not to laugh at the thought of those two together.

Snape and Lockahrt = magic's Odd Couple.

I tell you though, I would have loved to have seen Lockhart in Snape's dungeon, giving him potion advice, and more importantly Snape's reaction. I know he did with the Mandrakes, but that was a one-off line. A full scene dedicated to it...

I tell you though, I would have loved to have seen Lockhart in Snape's dungeon, giving him potion advice, and more importantly Snape's reaction. I know he did with the Mandrakes, but that was a one-off line. A full scene dedicated to it...

In my opinion, "The Duelling Club" was much the same scene. Snape's no slouch at duelling either. :lol: Though I suppose his reaction would perforce have been less physical and magical, and more sarcastic...so I guess I agree, that would be a great scene.

I loved Lockhart -I thought he was hilarious, vacant and brought some needed hilarity to goings on. On the serious side though and getting back to the questions posed here, he was a disaster as a teacher, he put students in danger and taught them absolutely nothing.

The only reason I can see why Dumbledore hired him is that it was either Lockhart on his terms or as we saw later - someone from the Ministry on someone elses terms. I think a lot of Lockhart was down to Dumbledore and the control he exerted and how he tried to orchestrate things at hogwarts for a very long time.

Other than being skilled with memory charms (except with Ron's wand), the only other skill Lockhart posessed as far as I could see was the ability to spin a yarn. On one hand, this is great and entertaining but as a teacher especially for a DADA not a very reassuring one as the students could have (and were) at risk.

It has to be said that he is a lapse of judgement on Dumbledore's part

The only reason I can see why Dumbledore hired him is that it was either Lockhart on his terms or as we saw later - someone from the Ministry on someone elses terms. I think a lot of Lockhart was down to Dumbledore and the control he exerted and how he tried to orchestrate things at hogwarts for a very long time.

I don't think the Ministry had any real power over Hogwarts pre-OoTP. Remember, beck then Fudge was always asking for Dumbledore's help - I can't see him telling Dumbledore who to hire.

It has to be said that he is a lapse of judgement on Dumbledore's part

Maybe so but given the rumours about the post and Lupin being convinced to take up the post in POA there's no doubt it was bottom of the barrel stuff for that year.

But Hagrid said Lockhart was the ONLY man for the job. I'm guessing no one else submitted an application or anything, except for Lockhart, and they needed a teacher, so Lockhart got the job. Though maybe Dumbledore could have taught DADA himself? He used to teach Transfiguration, after all.

Though maybe Dumbledore could have taught DADA himself? He used to teach Transfiguration, after all.

Teaching DADA would have put Dumbledore at unnecessary risk. The position was literally cursed by Voldemort when Dumbledore refused to hire him for DADA. Nobody in that position lasts longer than a year.

You may be interested in discussing that in the DADA position curse (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=116094) thread.

Let's get back to Lockhart, now, shall we? :)

Too true. XD

I'm currently re reading Order of the Phoenix, and it made me wonder, could Lockhart have been writing autographs and all that even as a kid? Like, he lost his memory, but he still had a liking for writing autographs. Of course, now it's just because of his good looks his fans write to him.

I'm currently re reading Order of the Phoenix, and it made me wonder, could Lockhart have been writing autographs and all that even as a kid?

It's a curious thought. :) It's possible Lockhart had a very early dream or desire to gain fame, and could have pretended to sign autographs in the same innocent and playful way people use a hairbrush (sometimes singing in front of the mirror) and pretending to be a pop star. :lol: Somewhere along the line he developed a liking for being center of attention, I think, and spinning a good yarn, whether embellished tales of his own and/or possibly using other people's experiences. When he grew a talent for memory charms, he started stealing sections of other people's lives and achievements. His scruples led him down the wrong path and he became a fraud and superficial, instead of working hard to develop his own skills, he thieved from others (no recognition to those people). Imo.

Of course, now it's just because of his good looks his fans write to him.

His fans would still be aware of and admire all the great achievements he claimed to have done. They probably felt sorry for him as well. Imo.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
Bragging rights, I guess. I bet he would LOVE to beat the jinx and stay for another year, just to prove he can (though we know that his motives are futile). Also, he probably thought that he'll be hero worshipped in Hogwarts.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
We have seen that Memory Charms are fairly recoverable, so in time, yeah.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
If I didn't know already that the answer is no, I would have doubted the idea all the same. It is highly unlikely that there will be a St. Mungo's scene, since DH is like the quest for Horcruxes and the search for answers.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
He was probably the only man who applied.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
Hermione may be smart, but she isn't immune to the teenage hormones. She probably liked him the same reason as some people like Justin Bieber - because she thinks he's cute.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
I would think it was several reasons to why he applied. Firstly, I think that after lying about what he'd done for such a long period of time, and with everyone believing in him, he eventually started believing that he actually had enough skills to teach. Also, it would be a new thing to add to the list of things he'd done, and last, I think his biggest motive was to beat the jinx and stay for more than a year.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
No. Not entirely, anyways. When the trio met him nearly three years later there were no signs of recovery.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
Considering I already know the answer, no - but if I'd answered this before I read DH, I would doubt it.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
I think I've read this somewhere, either in the books or someplace else, but he was the only one who applied for the job. Dubmledore didn't have much of a choice.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
Well, she didn't know he was a fraud, so it's natrual for her to be impressed with everything he's done, he appears to be a very talented wizard. Also, she is a girl, and she is a teenager, and Lockhart has good looks.

Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

To show off: I think he would have liked the idea of standing in front of a group of students, demonstrating his so-called skills. Also, I think he wanted to increase his status in the Wizarding World.

Will Lockhart ever recover?

Hopefully not. Even if he did, he'd be disgraced in the Wizarding World for lying about his adventures and attempting to wipe Harry and Ron's memories.

Also, didn't JK say he wouldn't? I can't remember :)

Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I think until he attempted to wipe Harry and Ron's memories, he was seemed harmless and so Dumbledore hired him because there was no one else.

Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Hermione was only 12 at the time and she had a schoolgirl crush. It happens to everyone and Hermione may be clever but she's not flawless.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

I don't remember what the book said (have to re-read that one), but I think his narcissism was part of it. He certainly loved being the center of attention, so having that job would guarantee a lot more of the spotlight.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

Hm. Depends on how well they take care of him. Didn't seem like he had improved much in OotP. Maybe he'll remain a bit loopy for the rest of his life.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

He did not. I would have enjoyed a bit of his silliness in the midst of all that chaos.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Maybe because he could counter the serious nature of the Dark Arts with his personality.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

JKR describes him as a charming fellow, so until he started causing problems, he was probably rather sweet despite his self-centeredness.

JKR describes him as a charming fellow, so until he started causing problems, he was probably rather sweet despite his self-centeredness.

LOLHe is. He was acting just like a little kid.XDI can see why his healer treated him like a precocious two year old. And the peacock quill he signed Hermione's permission slip with. And the crowd in Flourish and Blotts, when he presents Harry, who only wanted to buy his autobiography, Magical Me, which he presented to him free of charge(applause), and little did he know that he would be getting the real Lockhart, or Magical Me.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DADA job in the first place?
I think he might have been pressured into it a little bit - I mean, he's supposed to be this really amazing guy who's great at Defence and getting out of tight spots all the time so I reckon at one point someone would have asked why he didn't teach DADA. And of course he would go along with the façade just so he could keep his reputation and, as others have said, he liked being in the spotlight and probably didn't take the curse too seriously or wanted to show that he could beat it.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
I don't know, maybe. If he was going to then it would take years and he might be an old man by the time he gets his full memory back because they didn't seem to have got that far in OotP.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
No, he didn't. But it might have made quite a little amusing scene if he had managed to escape from St. Mungos and found his way to the Battle. Although, if that had happened he probably would have died, and we had enough deaths as it was.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
I don't know whether they knew he was a fraud to begin with, but I'm sure after nearly a year of teaching with him, hearing about his lessons from the students, talking to him privately and Harry's 'incident' after the Quidditch match it probably wasn't hard to figure out that he hadn't done all the things he said he had. I'm sure Dumbledore was willing to give him a chance and he most likely was the only applicant so Dumbledore had no choice.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
Hermione was 12/13 and Lockheart was described as good looking - I don't think it's hard to do the maths :lol: Plus, he was claiming to have done all of these amazing and brave things which I'm sure attracts a lot of young girls.

It's possible Lockhart had a very early dream or desire to gain fame, and could have pretended to sign autographs in the same innocent and playful way people use a hairbrush (sometimes singing in front of the mirror) and pretending to be a pop star.

:lol:. I agree with you about Lockhart having always dreamt about being famous. Which would actually explain many things about his older self. How he would've done anything to become famous; taking credit of things which he'd never done, is a good example.
Also, I sometimes felt that he was somewhat jealous of Harry. This could be because -as you suggested- he always dreamt about being famous. And here, he finds one among his students who was twice as famous as he is, and probably not even half his age. That's why, he insisted on Collin taking the picture of the two of them. Not because he wants Harry to be humbel, but because he doesn't want Harry to get more attention.

Has JK Rowling ever said anything about which house Lockhart was in? I actually think he might've been a Gryffindor - he certainly embodies the worst qualities of that house. Foolhardy, overconfident with a pathological need for attention. There was no way a Slytherin!Lockhart would've let those Cornish pixies out of that cage unless he was 100% certain he could handle them himself.

Failing that, he could've been a Ravenclaw. It's possible he started out studious and 'went bad'.

Has JK Rowling ever said anything about which house Lockhart was in?.

No, i dont think so. If so, I think he were in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.

Has JK Rowling ever said anything about which house Lockhart was in? I actually think he might've been a Gryffindor - he certainly embodies the worst qualities of that house. Foolhardy, overconfident with a pathological need for attention. There was no way a Slytherin!Lockhart would've let those Cornish pixies out of that cage unless he was 100% certain he could handle them himself.

Failing that, he could've been a Ravenclaw. It's possible he started out studious and 'went bad'.

I can't see him as a Ravenclaw. He doesn't seem to be particularly intelligent and he certainly doesn't seem to value intelligence. I can't imagine a Ravenclaw making such a mockery of a subject like DADA. His classes were never about learning, they were only about himself.

I can see him as either a Gryffindor or a Slytherin.

Slytherins don't have to be intelligent, they just have to be crafty enough and ambitious. I think it could be argued that Lockhart had both of those qualities.

I can't see him as a Ravenclaw. He doesn't seem to be particularly intelligent and he certainly doesn't seem to value intelligence. I can't imagine a Ravenclaw making such a mockery of a subject like DADA. His classes were never about learning, they were only about himself.

I can see him as either a Gryffindor or a Slytherin.

Slytherins don't have to be intelligent, they just have to be crafty enough and ambitious. I think it could be argued that Lockhart had both of those qualities.

Yet we have Ravenclaws like Roger Davies, who is only ever portrayed as a foppish pretty boy. Really, not all Ravenclaws are bookworms. Look at Zacharias Smith. The guy doesn't have a loyal bone in his body. Lockhart could have been the Pettigrew of Ravenclaw.

Yet we have Ravenclaws like Roger Davies, who is only ever portrayed as a foppish pretty boy. Really, not all Ravenclaws are bookworms. Look at Zacharias Smith. The guy doesn't have a loyal bone in his body. Lockhart could have been the Pettigrew of Ravenclaw.

If the houses are completely arbitrary then why are we even talking about them?

Has JK Rowling ever said anything about which house Lockhart was in? I actually think he might've been a Gryffindor - he certainly embodies the worst qualities of that house. Foolhardy, overconfident with a pathological need for attention. There was no way a Slytherin!Lockhart would've let those Cornish pixies out of that cage unless he was 100% certain he could handle them himself.

Failing that, he could've been a Ravenclaw. It's possible he started out studious and 'went bad'.

I've long thought of Lockhart as a Gryffindor. I imagine that the four "bad news" DADA teachers Harry had were from the four different Houses, based on what they seemed to value. (Quirrell-Ravenclaw; Lockhart -Gryffindor; Crouch Jr -Hufflepuff; Umbridge-Slytherin). Lockhart wasn't particularly brave, but perhaps he had more courage as a child? Or perhaps he valued courage more than the other House traits? He certainly wanted to be seen as brave, rather than be associated with any of the other House traits. On the other hand, perhaps it took a certain type of courage to track down the powerful witches and wizards who had actually done these deeds, and put memory charms on them.

Yet we have Ravenclaws like Roger Davies, who is only ever portrayed as a foppish pretty boy. Really, not all Ravenclaws are bookworms. Look at Zacharias Smith. The guy doesn't have a loyal bone in his body. Lockhart could have been the Pettigrew of Ravenclaw.

That was Harry and co.'s perception of Davies, he could have been intelligent , there are more kinds of intelligence than just booksmarts. Plus, Seamus (I think) considered Cedric "only a pretty boy", but he was deemed the Hogwarts student most worthy to participate in the Triwizard Tournament.

Intelligence isn't what Lockhart values, or even tries to impersonate. He pretends to be a hero, not an intellectual. That would suggest that he was a Gryffindor, not a Ravenclaw, if he attended Hogwarts.

Well, that makes sense. I wondered what house he would be in. I assumed that the teachers had gone to Hogwarts.

I've long thought of Lockhart as a Gryffindor. I imagine that the four "bad news" DADA teachers Harry had were from the four different Houses, based on what they seemed to value. (Quirrell-Ravenclaw; Lockhart -Gryffindor; Crouch Jr -Hufflepuff; Umbridge-Slytherin). Lockhart wasn't particularly brave, but perhaps he had more courage as a child? Or perhaps he valued courage more than the other House traits? He certainly wanted to be seen as brave, rather than be associated with any of the other House traits. On the other hand, perhaps it took a certain type of courage to track down the powerful witches and wizards who had actually done these deeds, and put memory charms on them.

It's funny you call Umbridge a Slytherin, because I've never pictured her as a Slyth at all. I know she allies herself with them but I've always thought she was a Ravenclaw gone bad (as was Augustus Rookwood in my mind) rather than a Slyth.

It's funny you call Umbridge a Slytherin, because I've never pictured her as a Slyth at all. I know she allies herself with them but I've always thought she was a Ravenclaw gone bad (as was Augustus Rookwood in my mind) rather than a Slyth.

Will reply in the Umbridge thread.

In the Lockhart thread, the matter of Lockhart's House came up. I'm inclined to believe that the four "bad" DADA teachers represent each of the House traits put to bad use. Quirrell -Ravenclaw; Lockhart- Gryffindor; Crouch Jr -Hufflepuff; and Umbridge -Slytherin. These characters' actions show their House traits put to bad use, rather than going against their House traits, IMO.
I'm perplexed - how do you figure Lockhart for a Gryffindor? He's not brave or loyal or honest. :no: He's actually a cheat and a coward.

I see him more in Slytherin. Using his looks and charm the way Tom Riddle did, but without Tom Riddle's intelligence, though he was cunning and ruthless enough.

He didn't hesitate to kill or harm (obliviate) the people he stole from or tricked to get their stories. He was willing to pack up and run and let Ginny die. I don't see a Gryffindor doing that. :no:

He didn't hesitate to kill or harm (obliviate) the people he stole from or tricked to get their stories. He was willing to pack up and run and let Ginny die. I don't see a Gryffindor doing that. Gryffindor's are generally brave/loyal/true - but not in all instances. So, while I don't believe Lockhart was a Gryffindor, it's not beyond the realms of possibility either. I mean, he did claim multiple feats of bravery to his name, even if he was lying about it all.

Peter was Gryffindor, wasn't he? He betrayed James/Lily. He killed 12 innocent people and allowed an innocent man to go to prison in his place. What of other Gryffindors? There's Albus Dumbledore, who fell in with Grindelwald and seemed alright with subjugating Muggles - at least for a time. Percy Weasley, who's greatest ambition was to become Minister of Magic and who dropped his family and turned on Harry in a heart beat. And Seamus Finnigan, who'd been in Harry's dorm and known him for 4 years, suddenly believed all the mad things about his friend and he turned away from that friendship and had nothing to do with him for more than half the school year. Of course, Ron Weasley, one of Harry's best mates, is prone to fits of jealousy and that jealousy has dire consequences for his friends, who he turns on rather quickly. Then there's McLaggen to consider. Use his looks and connections and expect to get his way and if not, attempts intimidation {like he tried on Harry at the quidditch trials}.

Actually, I picture Lockhart more like Zacharias Smith, that loathed wart of a Hufflepuff. Lockhart has the ability to toil through, trolling for victims and scribbling down their amazing acts of bravery, then apply a quick charm and *presto* all his drudgery has earned him fame, fortune, and an award for smiling. :D

All in all, it matters not one whit what Hogwarts house one was in. There are unpleasant people in every house.

I'm perplexed - how do you figure Lockhart for a Gryffindor? He's not brave or loyal or honest. :no: He's actually a cheat and a coward.

I see him more in Slytherin. Using his looks and charm the way Tom Riddle did, but without Tom Riddle's intelligence, though he was cunning and ruthless enough.

He didn't hesitate to kill or harm (obliviate) the people he stole from or tricked to get their stories. He was willing to pack up and run and let Ginny die. I don't see a Gryffindor doing that. :no:

My thinking was that he wanted to be seen as brave - he didn't want to be seen as intelligent, or diligent, or especially ambitious. He built up a reputation of courage for himself. I think that valuing courage like this suggests he was a Gryffindor. Valuing it in the sense that he put it above other traits, I mean. (Apart from vanity)
I don't think he displayed courage, but then, that might just be my dislike talking. In a way, it was brave to track down the people he Obliviated. These were talented witches and wizards, who had performed great feats - and he goes along and risks a memory charm against them? Any one of them could have been a believer in "Constant Vigilance" and hexed him silly when he tried to Obliviate against them. While it was underhanded, and certainly miles away from the courage of the people who were genuinely responsible for those feats, there was maybe some nugget of courage in doing that.

Plus, Wormtail was a Gryffindor who did pack up and let others die.

Lockhart a Gryffindor? Over my dead body! :grumble:

Saying one did brave deeds is not being brave, it's lying. Boasting one can do something then trying to run away is cowardly. Trying to Obliviate Ron and Harry to escape, leaving Ginny to the Basilisk and Riddle's not so tender mercies is selfish, ruthless and cowardly. No way Lockhart was ever Sorted into Gryffindor. :no:

Pettigrew is a different matter. I already said elsewhere that I'm convinced he was put in Gryffindor as a plot ploy. But that belongs in another thread.

Lockhart a Gryffindor? Over my dead body! :grumble:

Saying one did brave deeds is not being brave, it's lying. Boasting one can do something then trying to run away is cowardly. Trying to Obliviate Ron and Harry to escape, leaving Ginny to the Basilisk and Riddle's not so tender mercies is selfish, ruthless and cowardly. No way Lockhart was ever Sorted into Gryffindor. :no:

Couldn't have said it better. taking credit for deeds and actually doing them are two completely different things. Taking credit for something you didn't do is something a Slytherin would do, as they would stop at nothing because they were so ambitious. No offense to Slytherins or anything, it's just something I read somewhere.

Who says Gryffindors are all good people, or care for other people's welfare? Lockhart obviously valued courage, or at least the appearance of courage, above everything else. We know that Slytherins tend to despise such open glory-seeking. It fits perfectly, in my view. Lockhart knew he wasn't a hard worker, wasn't strategic enough and wasn't clever enough, so he went and obliviated all those witches and wizards so at least he could appear brave.

Slytherin, over my dead body. :no:

Who says Gryffindors are all good people, or care for other people's welfare? Lockhart obviously valued courage, or at least the appearance of courage, above everything else. We know that Slytherins tend to despise such open glory-seeking. It fits perfectly, in my view. Lockhart knew he wasn't a hard worker, wasn't strategic enough and wasn't clever enough, so he went and obliviated all those witches and wizards so at least he could appear brave.

Slytherin, over my dead body. :no:

Why do you say Lockhart wasn't strategic? His method of Obliviating gifted witches and wizards, then taking credit for their achievements worked for him, and was only exposed through chance. This scheme, plus his actions down in the Chamber of Secrets suggest that he was willing to "use any means to achieve his ends".
I think he could have conceivably been a Slytherin. But, I'm still leaning towards Gryffindor - he went for glory, not power, for starters. And he did want to be seen as brave above anything else. But I think he did have some Slytherin traits, too.

:lol: No one wants Lockhart in their House.

:lol: No one wants Lockhart in their House.

True. Although, I thought I read somewhere that he was a Ravenclaw. I guess one does need brains to wipe people's memories successfully.

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Gilderoy_Lockhart that states he was in ravenclaw, but i dont recall that from any of the books, it must be a movie thing. I guess i could see him as a ravenclaw, except that none of his spells ever work (getting rid of the pixies, mending harry's arm...)

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Gilderoy_Lockhart that states he was in ravenclaw, but i dont recall that from any of the books, it must be a movie thing. I guess i could see him as a ravenclaw, except that none of his spells ever work (getting rid of the pixies, mending harry's arm...)

I just clicked on the footnote, and it is indeed from the movie.

Who says Gryffindors are all good people, or care for other people's welfare? Lockhart obviously valued courage, or at least the appearance of courage, above everything else. We know that Slytherins tend to despise such open glory-seeking. It fits perfectly, in my view. Lockhart knew he wasn't a hard worker, wasn't strategic enough and wasn't clever enough, so he went and obliviated all those witches and wizards so at least he could appear brave.

Slytherin, over my dead body. :no:
Valuing something like courage and being brave oneself are two entirely different things. Lockhart was a coward, can't ever have been in Gryffindor. But certainly ambitious, cunning and unscrupulous enough to be a Slytherin. Sorry to trample your dead body. (No offense meant.) :p

Geez, even Pettigrew showed more bravery than Lockhart ever did, though it is my considered opinion, expressed in the Pettigrew thread, that he didn't belong in Gryffindor either.

http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Gilderoy_Lockhart that states he was in ravenclaw, but i dont recall that from any of the books, it must be a movie thing. I guess i could see him as a ravenclaw, except that none of his spells ever work (getting rid of the pixies, mending harry's arm...)Oh, yeah, the Ravenclaw patch on his robes...definitely a movie thing and we all know the movies aren't canon. Or I'm just saying that 'cause I want him to be a Hufflepuff. :lol: Seriously, in the books, he's described as wearing various colors of robes with no House affiliation apparent.

Yeah, Gilderoy was rather inept at certain types of magic. But you know, Cho wasn't that good at Defensive magic and Luna was said to be "patchy" right along with the Creevey brothers. That could be down to their simply not having had any good DADA teachers for the most part. Or it could be down to just because your smart doesn't necessarily mean you're talented when it comes to casting spells. Knowing the theory and applying it effectively are two different things.

I don't think we ever find out, but I'd say either Gryffindor or Slytherin would be good bets, with Ravenclaw as a tiiiiny possibility. Hufflepuffs value fairness and hard work, and what Lockhart does is definitely unfair and lazy.

I say Gryffindor because it can definitely hold braggarts, like McLaggan, and self-serving cowards, like Wormtail. Lockhart's actions show, IMO, that he values courage (even if he does not practice it) and engages in a pretty gutsy enterprise.

And I say Slytherin, because he appears to want fame and is willing to go to extremes to get it.

Geez, even Pettigrew showed more bravery than Lockhart ever did, though it is my considered opinion, expressed in the Pettigrew thread, that he didn't belong in Gryffindor either.

He was, however, idubitaby IN Gryffindor, so supposing someone is not in Gryffindor because he was cowardly is not definitive proof he could not have been. It has been shown Lockhart valued the appearance of courage; perhaps that also explains Peter's Sorting. We know choice plays a part.

Definitely not Ravenclaw! Not one thing about him shows that he values wisdom and pursues knowledge for its own sake. In fact, he tries to get other people to do the learning for him and takes credit for it!

Slytherin seems like a safe bet, because he was definitely cunning, ambitious, and not afraid to trample on others to reach his goal. Based on the revelations he makes about his evil master plan to become famous, I'd almost even go so far as to call him a "textbook Slytherin".

Yet... there's something about his whole demeanor that just doesn't say "Slytherin". First of all, I don't think he cares at all about blood status. Also, he tries to go for the whole "heroic, courageous knight in shining armor" thing, which is a very Gryffindor thing, and which I think Slytherins would despise. The fact that he wants to be seen this way is very telling, and I can't bring myself to see him as anything else but a former Gryffindor who lost his way.

I also happen to be of the opinion that it's the traits we value the most, rather than the ones we possess in the greatest quantity, that determines which house we're sorted into. This could the apparent House misfits we see throughout the series. Most, like Hermione and Neville, "grow into" the traits they value which their House represents, and a few, like Pettigrew and possibly Lockhart, never really do. (Whew... third time I've posted this argument in different threads today:yuhup:)

I know Lockhart was suppose to be used as comic relief but am I the only one who did not find him funny? Making people forget who they are and taking credit for all their achievements is truly heinous. It's a crime worthy of Azkaban.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Maybe publicity?

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

Not fully. He probably will make some progress though

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

well he didn't!

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I think Dumbledore was desperate for anyone to take the post. If he knew about the one year curse on the post he probably thought Lockhart wasn't going to be there for a long period of time. Dumbledore probably thought Lockhart was harmless anyway

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Well because he was good looking! She didn't care about the lies he had told. In her eyes he was attractive whether he lied or not because of his physical appearance

I know Lockhart was suppose to be used as comic relief but am I the only one who did not find him funny? Making people forget who they are and taking credit for all their achievements is truly heinous. It's a crime worthy of Azkaban.

Of course, the things that he did to credit achievements that weren't rightfully his is no laughing matter.:no: I think what is funny, IMO, is what happened in between the moments he took credit for heroic actions he didn't do... his flamboyant personality and mannerisms were definitely humorous to me.

I know Lockhart was suppose to be used as comic relief but am I the only one who did not find him funny? Making people forget who they are and taking credit for all their achievements is truly heinous. It's a crime worthy of Azkaban.

I agree that it's a crime and worthy of Azkaban. However, his actual fate, I think, is far worse than a stint in Azkaban.

At the same time, the question for me is: did he seem funny before we found out the truth about him? I think he did, and I still do.

Of course, the things that he did to credit achievements that weren't rightfully his is no laughing matter.:no: I think what is funny, IMO, is what happened in between the moments he took credit for heroic actions he didn't do... his flamboyant personality and mannerisms were definitely humorous to me.

This is pretty much where I land on Lockhart. What he did in order to get material for his books is decidedly not funny. But his persona, I think, is hilarious... if rather creepy. I find him funny in sort of the same way that I find Mr. Collins or Mrs. Bennett funny in Pride and Prejudice. That is, I think he's a very uncomfortable sort of funny.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

So he could grow his fan base. Imagine all of those students, having to purchase all of his works. The odds are good many will become fans. Plus, it gives him material for his next work.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

He will, if some fan in the helping profession can figure out how to fix him. I'm betting this never happens.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

They're be no point, but it would be a blast reading about his awesome exploits at the Battle of Hogwarts.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

He thought he was attractive? And would perhaps teach the students to see through fraud, and how, just because someone is gorgeous, charismatic, and talks a good game, that does NOT mean they are competent and worthy of admiration.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

She was young. I don't think the fascination lasted too long.

And, BTW, I agree with the movies - he was a Ravenclaw. He seemed to love interviewing people and learning about their lives and putting his learning down in book form, even if he was a fraud.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

They're be no point, but it would be a blast reading about his awesome exploits at the Battle of Hogwarts.

Oh, wouldn't it just! How he knew exactly the spell that would have seen off Nagini, how he'd known all the time Harry wasn't dead, how he could have seen off Voldemort himself if he'd only been in the room (as opposed to hiding in a broom closet which he probably would have been)!

I finished reading Re-reading CoS last night and I guess I'll answer the questions as well

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
To increase his fanbase (since he claimed to have defended and fought against many different creatures) and also use his opportunity to use Harry to boost up his fame even futher. "Hey look I taught the famous Harry Potter! Free Hugs for all!... with a newly signed re-print of Magical Me"

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
Considering the effects of Obliviate followed by Ron's former wand's condition... I don't think so. He'll probably have the mental capacity to write his own letters but that's it.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
I don't think there is a reason for him to reappear.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
Because Dumbledore knew he was a fraud and manipulated Lockhart to believe he was fit for the job and set a task for all his staff to see how long before they crack with Lockhart in the house. But honestly, I think Dumbledore didn't have the slightest clue about Lockhart's "adventures" since Dumbledore isn't GODLY.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
She's a 12 year old girl, we have to accept that this girl is still a girl and it is fair to her to have School Crushes. It shows how normal the main characters are.

To increase his fanbase (since he claimed to have defended and fought against many different creatures) and also use his opportunity to use Harry to boost up his fame even futher. "Hey look I taught the famous Harry Potter! Free Hugs for all!... with a newly signed re-print of Magical Me"Indeed, what better way to increase one's fame than by exposing yourself to lots of children? In fact, even Voldemort realized that the best way to obtain a following was to go in amongst children and teach them your ideals and views. So it stands to reason that Lockhart wanted to show the younger generation how awesome he was to gather more fans.

Because Dumbledore knew he was a fraud and manipulated Lockhart to believe he was fit for the job and set a task for all his staff to see how long before they crack with Lockhart in the house. But honestly, I think Dumbledore didn't have the slightest clue about Lockhart's "adventures" since Dumbledore isn't GODLY.In addition to that, Hagrid tells the trio that Lockhart was "the only man for the job", the only person who stepped forth who appeared to be qualified. Hagrid goes on to say that people suspect the DADA job is cursed (which we know is the truth), so not many people volunteer to become the DADA teacher. So it doesn't sound like Dumbledore had much of a choice in Harry's second year.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Perhaps a nice pay day, a ton of adoring fans everywhere he looked, his books on the curriculum... pretty much a massive self-promotion gig. The only thing he should have known was that the job was jinxed. If he had have known that, he might have backed off- in fact, he definitely would have backed off, the coward he was.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

No, he won't. He will probably get more and more articulate and more intelligent as the years go by, but no way will he ever regain his memories and that is very much for the better. "New Gilderoy Lockhart" is actually hilarious.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

I dearly wish he had. It would have been nice to have seen what became of him since OoTP, and it would have been especially amusing to have seen him in the actual battle (although that'd never happen, but people DID come back to fight). Even a cameo would have been good. He made me laugh a lot.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Perhaps for the same reason he let Snape bully students. He wanted to show the pupils that there were these kinds of people that they'd have to deal with later in their lives. Maybe as a test, to see if his pupils could see through him, and of course, because nobody ever applied for the job, he'd take whatever he got.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

...I see the attraction to Gil as kind of Justin Bieberish. You either love him or hate him, and the opinion's divided greatly. Personally, I'd rather sign Gil's fanmail for 4 hours every night for the rest of my life than listen to Bieber for one hour, once.

Also, I think that Gil was a Ravenclaw. There was a picture of him in Ravenclaw Quidditch robes somewhere.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

Even though he didn't actually do any of the great things he wrote about doing himself, he still couldn't have been to dumb. I think he was at least smart enough that working as a teacher at Hogwarts would provide him with even more fame.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

Hopefully not!

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

Because there wasn't anyone else to employ that time.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

She was just at the age where girls usually start to have a crush at someone without being serious about it.

Alright, it looks like JKR isn't going to do a Pottermore feature going into detail on GL's life (she got all the way through COS without it), so I guess I'll have to fill in with my story. :D

Gilderoy Lockhart was a Muggleborn wizard of unexceptional intelligence, physical strength, or magical potential. In fact, his magical potential was so low that he was very nearly missed by Hogwarts altogether, and he entered Hogwarts one full year older than is standard. His social cunning got him sorted into Slytherin, where he nonetheless suffered from routine bullying - not only was he a Muggleborn in Slytherin (while the Dark Lord was in the midst of ascending for the first time, recruiting his forces and sowing the seeds of his ideology in Slytherin), but he wasn't even a very good wizard. He was lucky he wasn't killed; if he had been born earlier, he very likely would have wound up in Myrtle's place. All of this bullying created a vicious cycle, damaging his magical ability further.

Staff could see that he was troubled, so he was soon being sent to regular visits with Hogwarts' resident mentalist (read: counselor/psychiatric healer), Madam Forquette. Gilderoy developed a strong bond with Madam Forquette, even though she never could truly alleviate the damage others did to him. They would pore over his traumatic memories in a Pensieve and analyze them. But Gilderoy soon had grown tired of this - he didn't want to remove the memories from his head so that he could look at them; he wanted to remove the memories from his head so that they would be gone.

Madam Forquette initially acted conflicted. Indeed, what Gilderoy was suggesting was entirely literally possible - memory charms were a specialty of Madam Forquette, and she made a point of shoehorning them into any available situation, bragging that she should have been enlisted by the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad, or some other high-ranking Ministry field position in which memory charms would come in handy. But Gilderoy's suggested use of them would be entirely fruitless - memory charms don't erase the emotional effect of an event, simply the knowledge of its details. That is, you may use a memory charm to erase someone's history in an abusive home, but they will still feel unloved. Furthermore, Gilderoy didn't want Madam Forquette to apply the memory charm herself; he wanted to learn how to employ his own memory charms so that he could erase any unpleasant experiences that come up in the future. It didn't take long for Madam Forquette's pride to get the better of her, though, and she became Gilderoy's secret personal tutor on the subject of memory charms. (Madam Forquette was relieved of her post at the end of the First War, when she attempted to use a memory charm to relieve Neville Longbottom of the experience of seeing his parents tortured. She should have known that this was pointless, so Dumbledore concluded that she must have been trying to show off. She was never replaced.)

Memory charms were the only magic that Gilderoy ever became particularly skilled with. Even then, he was reckless, and though he developed self-control, it was only after he wiped out many of his own memories, including his reasoning for learning memory charms in the first place. Gilderoy decided that he must have learned memory charms as an alternative to learning all other kinds of magic. He could simply make everybody else forget that he was not skilled at anything. He swore to never again allow a memory charm to backfire on himself, and he quickly set about using a combination of memory charms and lies to amass a huge following of students and staff who believed he was brilliant. He even attempted to pull Dumbledore in, and he secretly had plans to do the same to Voldemort, gaining complete control of the Wizarding world. However, when he attempted to obliviate Dumbledore, he was deflected, and informed that he must become an honest man. Dumbledore was quite frightened - he saw a new Tom Riddle in Gilderoy. Gilderoy reached an agreement with his headmaster that he would not continue to lie, but he would not dispel all of the lies he had already made. Consequently, he attained NEWT scores that were substantially lower than his OWLs - a fact explainable because he never legitimately earned his OWLs in the first place. He only passed his Defense Against The Dark Arts NEWT - and that was because he allowed himself to obliviate his instructors, justifying it to himself as not cheating because he saw obliviation as a valuable DADA technique.

Gilderoy's incredibly-shaky agreement broke soon after he left Hogwarts, and consequently was out of his Headmaster's eye. He attained a variety of honors and accomplishments as a direct result of his exploitation of memory charms - he had long ago concluded that this was why he chose to specialize in memory charms in the first place. He kept his opinion of himself high by eliminating any of his own memories that made him feel insecure. This didn't make him any less insecure, but it did push his insecurities to a deeply-repressed, subconscious level.

Gilderoy had heard of the curse that Voldemort had put upon the position of DADA teacher at Hogwarts, and at first he feared it. However, he soon saw that not every year ended in death, so he began to apply for the position on an annual basis, seeing it as a one-year stint that he could add to his "About The Author" section. However, before his application could even reach Dumbledore, it was always rejected by Dumbledore's wiser, wearier, older friend and partner, Nicolas Flamel. After the events surrounding Voldemort, Quirrel, and the Philosopher's Stone led to Flamel choosing to end his life, Lockhart's application could finally make it to the interview stage.

Dumbledore had heard of Gilderoy's accomplishments since leaving school, and strongly suspected that they were forgeries. However, he saw two possibilities: either Gilderoy was an honest hero, in which case he would be a perfect DADA teacher, or Gilderoy was an exceedingly cunning fraud, in which case he was a repeat of Tom Riddle - in which case he had better be kept close to Dumbledore, where he could be watched. Dumbledore passed over Alastor Moody for the position, telling him that he could have it the following year unless something surprising came up. (That something surprising was Sirius Black, whose breakout caused Dumbledore to select Remus Lupin.)

The "exceedingly cunning fraud" theory was thoroughly proven, as Gilderoy hadn't considered that the position of DADA teacher would require him to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of the subject, and, indeed, of magic in general. He didn't have any such knowledge; he had simply found one trick and exploited it. And exploit it he did. Gilderoy took an interest in the young girls who had taken an interest in him; dozens of reports from teenage and even preteen girls indicated an inability to remember anything at all of his "detentions", nor of his "private lessons". Gilderoy's magical incompetence was enough to make the staff and the smarter students detest him, but once that began to leak out, he was looked on with abject hatred by his fellow teachers. He had committed similar acts before, but he never had access to such a large pool of victims, and he was never in an environment so antithetical to allowing them.

It was nearly the end of the year, and they were in the midst of filing paperwork (without his knowledge) to have him sacked and sent to Azkaban. When Ginny was taken into the Chamber Of Secrets, it distracted them. They ultimately decided that the perfect touch of irony would be to send him in as the "hero" that they had long ago concluded he wasn't - actually, a simple distraction for the Monster of Slytherin, to buy a little time for some other solution to come along (such as Harry and Ron). Gilderoy had enough brains to know he was walking to his death, though he didn't know he was being intentionally condemned to that death, so he fought it at every step. If his memory charm on Harry and Ron had succeeded, he would have been sent to Azkaban regardless. However, when the charm backfired, he bought himself a one-way ticket to Saint Mungo's - now bereft of all of his adult experiences, with a distinct sensation that he should be famous, but with no idea for what. He was the child he had always been.

Gilderoy Lockhart was the father of many Grudges, several of which were born during his year as DADA teacher at Hogwarts. A Grudge is the product of a very Dark spell - a magical abortion. It's an uncontrollable, extremely powerful inferi fetus. A Grudge will always seek out and attempt to destroy all of its half-brothers and sisters. Gilderoy Lockhart's only surviving Grudge, nineteen years later, is the child of himself and Hermione Granger. Rose and Hugo Weasley have reason to be afraid.

Nice biography LeviathanMammal, but in this part of the forum we discuss the characters based on canon information. If you want to have your biography discussed you can post it in our fanfic section (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10) and create a feedback thread for it.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

To sell more books and gain new readers amongst the students.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

I doubt it, although I'd not rule out a fan of his specializing in the field of memory recovery in the hopes of healing him. I guess the chances are better if the brain cells aren't communicating, as opposed to them having been wiped out.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

Probably not. I think his function in the story has come to an end. Perhaps, however, if his memory is restored, he'll publish a book about how so many lives would have been saved, if only he'd been there.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I think the wizarding world by this time suspected there was something wrong with the DADA position since none of them seemed to last beyond 1 year, and DD was a little desperate. Plus, even poor teachers have lessons to teach. Lockhart was there to teach that appearances can be deceiving, and just because something looks beautiful and appealing on the outside, it's the heart that matters, I think.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

Hermione was young and hadn't yet learn to look beyond appearances, i think. It was a phase many young people go through (and some of us older folks). I think she outgrew it very quickly, and it was one of the qualities which attracted Krum to her.

I see Lockhart as classic CoS, with CoS being a foreshadowing of the rest of the books. People are not always as they appear on the surface is what I think the character represents, and we learn this with other characters the further on we go with the books and characters, such as Regulus, DD, Snape, etc.

All my own opinion :agree:

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?
He wanted to promote his books, garner some more fame. He didn't really care about teaching the students or their own welfare, it was all about saving his own skin.


2. Will Lockhart ever recover?
Might somewhat, but I don't think he'll ever be the same again, which in a way would be a good thing. He was willing to put students lives at risk (Rons's life, iirc, in the Chamber of Secrets) and it wouldn't be good to ever be back to his own self again.


3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?
Most likely no.


4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?
He probably hired him to show the students how NOT to act. He was a bad example, and Dumbledore was trying to let others know about it, imo. That it's not worth putting others at risk in order to save your own skin and that no one is more important than any other person.


5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.
She was young, and hadn't learned that there's more to people than meets the eye. That even if someone looks like they're nice, doesn't mean they are. For all they know, the person could be a snake oil salesman in disguise.

It was good that she learned about his true self as fast as she did though. It was a big help to both herself and her friends.

1. Why did Lockhart apply for the DaDA job in the first place?

I think he liked adding a new career to his list of careers and he probably thought it would also give him more fame.

2. Will Lockhart ever recover?

No, I don't think so. There doesn't seem to be any solution to his memory wiping but maybe in the future if they find a solution for it than he might have hope.

But even so, I'm thinking he might eventually be allowed out of St. Mungo's. At least once they decide that he will be able to look after himself and adapt to life even without a memory.

3. Is Lockhart going to make an appearance in DH?

No he did not make an appearance although I would have liked to see him again like maybe at the Battle of Hogwarts for some reason or something. I don't know, it could have been funny though.

4. Basically all of the other teachers treated Lockhart with disdain because they knew that he was a fraud. Being incompetent and narcissistic as he was, Lockhart was a threat to the students. Why did Dumbledore employ Lockhart?

I'm guessing many people wouldn't want the DADA job since the rumor of its curse was getting out (plus, the last teacher died!). So Lockhart was probably the only willing person to take the job and Dumbledore was like 'why not?'.

5. Why was Hermione so blinded by Lockhart's appearance? After all, he did very little to fortify his reputation.

I think it happens to both young and old people so it's not very surprising, even for a young Hermione because she hasn't yet matured the way we know she does. When Hermione gets older she shows that she is not as blinded by appearances which I think is impressive because most older people still don't get that.

Nice biography LeviathanMammal, but in this part of the forum we discuss the characters based on canon information. If you want to have your biography discussed you can post it in our fanfic section (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=10) and create a feedback thread for it.

Hmm, I checked the rules, and I'm not sure if it'd be allowed there... :scared: