Lockhart's incompetence

[quigonginger]

No: HPFGUIDX 143210

> > >>Hickengruendler:
> > > But I really think they were just sarcastic here. They 
obviously 
> > > knew that Lockhart did not know, where the Chamber was, and 
just 
> > > wanted to get rid of him. 
> > > <snip>
> 
> > >>Alla:
> > Well, I do agree with you -  they were sarcastic and definitely 
> > wanted to get rid of Lockhart as I said in my previous post. BUT 
I 
> > submit that we cannot  be sure what teachers knew about 
Lockhart   
> > and what they did not. Now, sure they saw his striking            
> > incompetence in some areas, but he admits at th end to 
memory      
> > charming many people and passing on their achievements as his 
own, 
> > so I think it is reasonable to speculate that teachers may 
think   
> > that something of what he wrote in his books was true, no?
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> Honestly, no. Not by the end of CoS.  Lockhart's hubris was such 
> that he'd act the expert in front of *actual experts*.  He didn't 
> brag on his horticulture skills in front of McGonagall, who might 
> not know enough to call him on it.  He bragged in front of Prof. 
> Sprout, who would know *immediately* that he was completely wrong.  
(snip)
> So I do think it's a bit past reason to think any teacher in the 
> staff room thought Lockhart competent at anything besides curling 
> his hair.  (You can speculate, of course, that there was any 
respect 
> left for Lockhart.  But I think you've got an uphill battle on your 
> hands <g>.)

> > >>Alla: 
> > My point is I don't think  they knew with certainty that Lockhart 
> > has no clue where Entrance to the Chamber was. JMO of course.
> 
> Betsy Hp:
> I'd bet that pretty much everyone on staff would have sworn on the 
> heads of their sainted mothers that Lockhart knew nothing about the 
> Chamber or Slytherin's monster.  Especially after his "deer in the 
> headlights" performance that Harry and Ron witnessed.

Ginger, who probably should have snipped more:

I'm going to throw in some text that I think shows that the teachers 
did have a pretty good idea that they were just getting Lockhart out 
of the way, rather than expecting him to solve anything.  All quotes 
are from ch. 16 of CoS, American paperback.

When Lockhart enters the staffroom, "the other teachers were looking 
at him with something remarkably like hatred.
"Snape stepped forward.  
"'Just the man,' he said.  'The very man.' (snip) 'Your moment has 
come.'
(snip)
"'That's right, Gilderoy,' chipped in Professor Sprout. 'Weren't you 
saying just last night that you've known all along where the entrance 
to the Chamber of Secrets is?'
"'-well, I-' sputtered Lockhart.
"'Yes, didn't you tell me you were sure you knew that was inside it?' 
piped up Professor Flitwick.
"'D-did I?  I don't recall-'
(snip)
Lockhart lookes around at his stony-faced colleagues.
"'I- I really never-you may have misunderstood'
(snip more dialogue and Lockhart leaves)
"'Right,' said Professor McGonagall, whose nostrils were 
flared, 'that's got *him* (emphasis JKR) out from under our feet."

End quotes.  

I snipped conversation that was more of the same, but it seems to me 
that Snape took the lead and the others followed.  I don't think that 
any of them had any hope save that he would leave the room and leave 
them in peace.  As a matter of conscience, I'd think that if they had 
any inkling that he would succeed, they would have offered some sort 
of backup.

It doesn't say it in the text, but I think it's implied well enough 
that we can pretty safely assume it, especially since Lockhart was 
doing some serious backpeddling throughout as the others pressed him 
further.

Back to Alla's original question about the adults in the series, I 
wonder what would have happened had Harry and Ron approached the 
other teachers.  For some reason, and none that I can pinpoint, my 
gut feeling is that they'd have had the best chance with Flitwick.

Ginger, who thinks it wouldn't have been as good of a story with any 
other adult in the chamber.