The Harry Potter Encyclopedia

The Fraud System

After Hogwarts, Lockhart traveled the wizarding world searching for witches and wizards who'd accomplished impressive magical feats - defeating dangerous creatures, outsmarting Dark wizards, surviving curses. He'd interview them, learn every detail of their achievements, then modify their memories with Obliviate charms. They'd forget what they'd done, and Lockhart would claim the glory.

The Books

Lockhart wrote best-selling books about "his" adventures: "Magical Me," "Break with a Banshee," "Gadding with Ghouls," "Holidays with Hags," "Travels with Trolls," "Voyages with Vampires," "Wanderings with Werewolves," and "Year with the Yeti." Every story was stolen. Every triumph belonged to someone else who could no longer remember it. But the books sold millions of copies.

Celebrity Status

Lockhart became a celebrity - winning Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award five times, appearing at book signings, giving interviews. Witches adored him. He was handsome, charming, and seemingly brave. He cultivated his image obsessively: purple robes, perfectly styled hair, dazzling smile. The persona was all that mattered - the truth was irrelevant.

"Celebrity is as celebrity does."
— Lockhart's shallow philosophy

Accepting the Position

Dumbledore offered Lockhart the Defense Against the Dark Arts position - the cursed job that no one wanted. Lockhart accepted, seeing it as a publicity opportunity. He could teach young minds, sell books, and bask in adoration. He didn't realize Dumbledore suspected him of fraud and wanted to expose him.

Incompetent Teaching

Lockhart's classes were disasters. He couldn't actually teach defensive magic because he'd never performed any. He assigned his own books as textbooks (requiring students to buy them), spent classes reading dramatic passages, and showed off. When he released Cornish Pixies to demonstrate "pest control," they destroyed the classroom. He fled, leaving Harry, Ron, and Hermione to recapture them.

The Dueling Club Fiasco

Lockhart started a Dueling Club after the Chamber of Secrets opened. He dueled Snape to demonstrate - Snape easily disarmed him with a single spell, humiliating Lockhart in front of the entire school. When Harry spoke Parseltongue during student dueling practice, Lockhart took credit for setting up the demonstration. He took credit for everything while accomplishing nothing.

Taking Credit for the Basilisk

When the school learned the Chamber of Secrets had been opened, other teachers expected Lockhart to handle it - he'd claimed to defeat dangerous creatures. Lockhart panicked and tried to flee. McGonagall informed him Harry and Ron knew where the entrance was, and he'd have to go save Ginny. Lockhart reluctantly agreed, already planning to erase the boys' memories and take credit.

"I'm really extremely busy at the moment - packing, you know..."
— Lockhart trying to flee Hogwarts

Caught Packing

Harry and Ron found Lockhart in his office packing to flee Hogwarts. When confronted, he admitted everything - none of his achievements were real. He'd stolen every story from other wizards and erased their memories. He was a fraud, a coward, and a liar. But it didn't matter - he planned to erase Harry and Ron's memories too and escape.

Into the Chamber

Harry and Ron forced Lockhart into the Chamber of Secrets at wandpoint. He was terrified, whining and complaining. When they encountered obstacles, Lockhart was useless - proving he'd never faced actual danger. He'd spent his career pretending to be brave while being utterly cowardly.

The Backfired Memory Charm

When Harry and Ron were distracted, Lockhart grabbed Ron's broken wand and attempted to erase their memories. He aimed and cast Obliviate - but Ron's wand was damaged from the Whomping Willow crash. The spell backfired explosively, hitting Lockhart instead. His entire memory was destroyed instantly - he didn't even remember who he was.

Permanent Damage

Unlike normal Memory Charms that erase specific memories, the backfired spell destroyed Lockhart's entire mind. He couldn't form new memories, couldn't remember his name, couldn't remember anything. He was reduced to a childlike state - still vain and cheerful, but completely empty. The man who'd built his career destroying others' memories had his own destroyed completely.

"My name's Lockhart. Gilderoy Lockhart. I'm famous. I mean, I was famous. I wrote books. I think. Did you know me?"
— Lockhart in St. Mungo's, unable to retain information for more than seconds

The Forgotten Heroes

Every story in Lockhart's books belonged to someone else - witches and wizards who'd genuinely accomplished impressive feats. They defeated the creatures, solved the problems, survived the dangers. Then Lockhart showed up, learned their stories, and erased their memories. They forgot their own bravery while Lockhart became rich and famous.

Permanent Damage

Memory Charms, when repeatedly used or done poorly, can cause permanent damage. Many of Lockhart's victims likely suffered lasting effects - confusion, memory problems, identity issues. He didn't care. Their minds were acceptable collateral damage for his fame. He committed assault hundreds of times and never felt guilty.

Never Acknowledged

When Lockhart's fraud was exposed, his victims couldn't reclaim their stories - they didn't remember them. The true heroes remained forgotten while Lockhart's name became synonymous with fraud. The injustice persisted even after his exposure. Those he hurt never got justice.