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This time, the efficiency of the Ministry of Magic's Aurors was surprisingly high.
The news reached the Minister's office directly through emergency channels. In less than half a day, a team of solemn-looking wizards with Auror badges pinned to their collars arrived at Hogwarts via the Floo Network.
The interrogation process was also exceptionally "smooth."
Under the weight of irrefutable evidence and Dumbledore's gaze, Lockhart's fragile mental defenses quickly crumbled.
Without much questioning, he spilled everything like beans: how he "collected" those adventure stories, how he used Memory Charms to tamper with the memories of true heroes, how he glossed over those experiences as his own glorious achievements, and even how he relied on packaging and lies to finagle an Order of Merlin, Third Class, and become a bestselling author—he confessed it all.
He tearfully claimed he was just "too desperate for fame" and "too eager to be loved," trying to evoke a shred of sympathy.
When Dumbledore asked about the Chamber of Secrets and what Lockhart had specifically been doing lately, the situation changed abruptly.
Lockhart's eyes grew vacant; he clutched his hair desperately, his face showing genuine pain and confusion.
"The... the Chamber? I... I don't know... Headmaster, I really can't remember... It feels like there was something, but it's all a blur..."
Dumbledore watched Lockhart for a moment before withdrawing his gaze, his expression becoming even more solemn.
Dumbledore used Legilimency, but he saw only chaos.
Memories of his recent actions had been erased, or... only vague emotional residues remained.
It didn't seem like a simple Memory Charm; it was more like... the aftereffects of being parasitized and having the relevant memories devoured.
"Then, Gilderoy," Dumbledore asked in a different way, "who is this 'Tom' you keep mentioning?"
"Tom... Tom..." Lockhart murmured repeatedly, his eyes wandering as his mind entered a "devotion zone." "Who... who is he? That's right! The diary! A black... old diary I found... He would answer me, understand me... Only he understood me..."
A brief flicker of twisted attachment appeared on his face, only to be replaced by a greater fear. "But he... he's gone! He's angry! He took my... my..."
Lockhart instinctively clutched his chest, unable to provide any more useful information.
Dumbledore did not press any further.
Lockhart would now face multiple charges, including fraud and the illegal acquisition of honors through the misuse of magic, along with further investigations into the source of the Dark Arts item.
But the mystery surrounding "Tom" in Dumbledore's heart grew heavier.
Could it be the "Tom" he knew?
---
The news of Lockhart's arrest spread and fermented at an astonishing speed in every corner of Hogwarts Castle.
That evening in the Great Hall, the noisy discussions almost drowned out the popping sounds of the food appearing.
At the Gryffindor table, a third-year student said confidently, "It's absolutely true! My dad's colleague's nephew works at the Ministry! Lockhart is the heir of Slytherin; he secretly opened the Chamber of Secrets and attacked those people! No wonder he was always bragging about dealing with various dark creatures—it was all a cover!"
Over at Hufflepuff, people were whispering, "That's not all! I heard the stories in his books were all stolen from others! He used Memory Charms to make the real heroes go senile and then took the credit himself! His Order of Merlin medal will definitely be revoked!"
At the Ravenclaw table: "According to reliable analysis, he relied on a powerful Dark Arts item for his crimes. It might have been a... textbook? Or a class schedule? Anyway, it was very well hidden, but it's missing now—he probably destroyed or moved it."
The atmosphere at the Slytherin table was somewhat subtle; many ate in silence, occasionally offering low-voiced rebuttals.
"The glory of pure-bloods would never be pinned on such a fraud," but some also breathed a secret sigh of relief—at least some of the suspicion weighing on their house could be shifted.
"So, does that mean Harry Potter isn't the heir?" a Muggle-born first-year asked timidly.
"Who knows... maybe Lockhart had an accomplice?" the person next to them shrugged; rumors always found a way to justify themselves.
Lynn sliced his roasted ribs while pricking up his ears to gather fragments of information from all directions.
His brain filtered, spliced, and reorganized the keywords:
Textbook/class schedule/diary → Lockhart suddenly stops being a "useless hack" → The "thing" Salazar Slytherin left to "purify" the school → Petrification → The giant snake William saw → Tom!
Clack! Lynn set down his fork, his eyes lighting up.
The puzzle of the truth was complete!
It wasn't some awakening of the heir's bloodline at all; it was that "Tom" in the diary causing trouble!
And Lockhart was very likely the one who had stolen the diary from his dormitory!
He should have realized it sooner—how could a useless hack suddenly become so sharp?
The mystery was instantly cleared up. Now that he knew the "root of the grudge," the next step was to find a way to get "revenge."
Lynn suddenly felt his appetite return; taking down the culprit to avenge his roommate was a clear and exciting goal.
He fiercely stabbed a large piece of steak, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed with extra vigor.
Wait!
Lynn's chewing suddenly paused. Hadn't someone just said... the Ministry Aurors took Lockhart away? Then where was he supposed to find Tom?
Lynn poked William, who was also eating silently beside him.
He casually cast a Muffliato Charm around them.
"William," Lynn lowered his voice, but his tone carried a sense of eager incitement, "do you want revenge or not?"
William was pulled back from his thoughts. He looked up, pushed up his glasses, his face still showing lingering fear. "Revenge against whom? That snake?"
William shook his head, being honest. "I don't dare. Last time was just luck; next time I might lose my life."
"Who told you to look for the snake?"
Lynn rolled his eyes and gestured with his fork toward the now-empty seat at the staff table.
"Lockhart! The idiot who opened the Chamber of Secrets! The bastard who put you in the hospital wing! The Ministry is probably interrogating him right now. Let's find a way to... well, 'pay him a visit.' It's safer than looking for the Basilisk, isn't it?"
William fell silent. "So how are we going to get to the Ministry? We're at Hogwarts right now."
"Did you forget? Levi!" Lynn provided the solution.
"What about the interrogation room at the Ministry?" William pressed further.
Lynn pointed his finger at Edgar, who was listening while gnawing on a chicken leg. "Isn't the map right there?"
Lynn provided the solution once more.
"Let's do it," William decided.
Almost simultaneously, Edgar spoke up, "Count me in!"
Ollie nodded and gave a soft "Mm-hmm."
"Hurry up, finish eating, and let's go back to the dorm to discuss the specifics. Sneaking into the Ministry of Magic is no joke," Lynn urged them to eat faster.
"You know it's no joke? Sometimes I really feel like we're not Hufflepuffs, but more like Gryffindors," William couldn't help but remark.
"Just say whether you're in or not!"
"I'm in!"