Harry Potter: Why Did Dumbledore Hire Gilderoy Lockhart?

J. K. Rowling once stated that she came across the name ‘Lockhart’ on a war memorial, and thought it to be “dashing” yet “hollow” — which is entirely befitting of the character she named it after in Harry Potter. Gilderoy Lockhart’s false sense of self-importance can be traced back to his childhood: as the only kid in the family who exhibited magical abilities, he was his witch mother’s clear favorite, and was pampered throughout his formative years. When he was accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he believed that everyone would be impressed by his exceptional talent or “naturally wavy hair” — neither of which turned out to be true.