What's with Lockhart, anyway?

[Goddlefrood]

No: HPFGUIDX 168452

> Bart:

> The JKR rule of scarily apropriate names should have clued 
> us that he was phony (as in Gilded) and a sociopath (as in 
> Locked Heart). But what puts him in a class outside of 
> psychopathic The Mad Riddler is his being convinced that he 
> can do what he claims he can do; he doesn't even TRY to hide 
> his incompetence.

Goddlefrood:

This would suggest otherwise:

"My dear boy," said Lockhart, straightening up and frowning 
at Harry. "Do use your common sense. My books wouldn't have 
sold half as well if people didn't think Id done all those 
things. No one wants to read about some ugly old Armenian 
warlock, even if he did save a village from werewolves. He'd 
look dreadful on the front cover. No dress sense at all. And 
the witch who banished the Bandon Banshee had a harelip. I mean, 
come on -"

"So you've just been taking credit for what a load of other 
people have done?" said Harry incredulously.

"Harry, Harry," said Lockhart, shaking his head impatiently, 
"it's not nearly as simple as that. There was work involved. 
I had to track these people down. Ask them exactly how they 
managed to do what they did. Then I had to put a Memory Charm 
on them so they wouldn't remember doing it. If there's one 
thing I pride myself on, it's my Memory Charms. No, it's been 
a lot of work, Harry. It's not all book signings and publicity 
photos, you know. You want fame, you have to be prepared for a 
long hard slog."

CoS - Chapter 16

I have receivced communication from Auguste Comte that tells me
he is turning in his grave.

With all due respect

Goddlefrood, not going into the psychology of the matter too 
much, but there it is. Gilderoy has had his day.