Why Lockhart Was The Worst Defense Against The Dark Arts Teacher In Harry Potter

Starting from infancy, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) has faced some difficult challenges. From suffering at the hands of his abusive Muggle family to saving the world every school year, he has rarely had a moment to catch his breath. And while saving the world is certainly a difficult task, there's another that is perhaps more difficult than that: surviving formal education. Harry went through some intense hazing in his day, but what is even worse than the students are the teachers. Every year, Hogwarts has a new curveball to throw at him because of the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position.

Though Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) has employed one of the best — Professor Lupin (David Thewlis) — he has also forced students to endure the torment of some of the worst. Professor Umbridge (Imelda Staunton) used physical abuse as a punishment, while Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) doled out his usual dose of everyday emotional torment. Even so, neither of them was the worst teacher to ever walk the halls of Hogwarts. Professor Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh) outshines them all for a significant reason.

Some teachers at Hogwarts definitely had violent aims. No one can forget Lockhart's predecessor, Quirrell (Ian Hart), whose bid to kill Harry culminated in the unexpected reveal of Voldemort's (Richard Bremmer) face on the back of his head. But in many ways, Lockhart's plan at the end of "Chamber of Secrets" was more insidious. After realizing that the Heir of Slytherin had taken Ginny (Bonnie Wright) to the Chamber as a final sacrifice, Harry and Ron (Rupert Grint) rush to Lockhart's office, hoping he will help save her. Lockhart has written many books about his daring deeds, so he seemed like the obvious choice.

They are shocked to discover that Lockhart had fabricated all his past deeds and is ultimately useless. What Lockhart is really talented with is Memory Charms. Instead of saving Ginny, Lockhart decides to wipe Harry's and Ron's minds and tell the rest of the world that they lost their sanity when seeing her body. This reveals their teacher's true nature. Not only is Lockhart content with leaving an 11-year-old girl in the hands of the Dark Lord, but his final act toward Harry and Ron is also truly disturbing. Lockhart's only concern was writing a tell-all book about the event with no care for the two children who would be brain-damaged forever. Although Lockhart is not in line with Voldemort and his minions, he is an opportunist who clearly pays no mind to the suffering of three children.