After dealing with the Chamber of Secrets, Lewis still had one final loose end to tie up.
Gilderoy Lockhart.
The fraudulent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor had already exposed his greatest secret during their trip to the Chamber. Under Lewis's deliberate prodding and subtle psychic influence, Lockhart had blurted out the truth himself:
The adventures described in his autobiographies had never happened to him.
They belonged to other witches and wizards.
He had stolen their stories, erased their memories, and claimed all the glory for himself.
What Lockhart didn't know was that among the students who had witnessed his confession was Lewis Green—a wizard with access to a few "simple" illusion spells.
Silent Image, a first-circle illusion, allowed the caster to create visual illusions of objects, creatures, or force effects.
Its more advanced forms, Minor Image and Major Image, could add sound, scent, texture, and even temperature.
Using these spells, Lewis could reproduce his memories without needing a Pensieve.
Which made sharing evidence very easy.
For example, with Rita Skeeter.
The notorious journalist had a reputation for sensationalism and controversy, but during Lewis's Merlin First Class award ceremony, she had unexpectedly written a fair and balanced report.
That did not earn her Lewis's gratitude—accurate reporting should have been the bare minimum.
But it did convince him that she was someone worth working with.
So Lewis packaged a small enchanted badge containing an illusion of Lockhart's confession and mailed it to Skeeter.
He included a letter detailing numerous supporting facts:
Victims Lockhart had Obliviated, both from Lewis's previous-life knowledge and his own investigation.
Examples of Lockhart's dreadful classroom performance at Hogwarts.
And a variety of corroborating evidence.
Lewis soon discovered why Rita Skeeter had become one of the most famous reporters in magical Britain.
Putting aside her illegal Animagus methods, her instincts for a story were extraordinary.
And once she had a target, she moved with frightening speed.
The very next day, Lewis received a reply.
The tone was so warm and effusive that he briefly wondered if this was truly the same woman from the books.
Apparently, even Rita Skeeter knew there were certain people she should not antagonize.
In her letter, she thanked Lewis sincerely for the material and promised to ruin Lockhart completely.
Lewis chuckled.
"What you really mean is that you'll use Lockhart's downfall to make yourself even more famous."
Which was exactly why he had chosen her.
Nothing motivated Rita Skeeter more effectively than the promise of a career-defining scandal.
And then Lewis witnessed her second remarkable talent.
Her writing speed was monstrous.
Lewis had sent the information on Tuesday.
By Thursday evening, he received another letter.
Her exposé would appear on the front page of the next morning's edition of the Daily Prophet.
Even the most prolific web-novel authors would have been impressed.
As for why the Daily Prophet agreed to publish such an explosive story, Skeeter had explained it bluntly:
"The Daily Prophet exists to sell newspapers. To sell newspapers, you need headlines. Whether those headlines are true—or whether they destroy someone's life—is of secondary importance."
And besides, Lockhart was a star created by Witch Weekly.
His five "Most Charming Smile" awards had all come from Witch Weekly.
If the Daily Prophet had a chance to bring down a celebrity nurtured by a rival publication, they would seize it eagerly.
Friday arrived.
It had been three days since Lockhart left the hospital wing.
Those three days had been agony.
Every waking moment, he feared Lewis might expose his confession.
Yet he also clung to hope.
Maybe the boy had taken pity on him.
Maybe no one would believe such accusations.
After all, only four students had heard the confession.
Without evidence, it would be his word against theirs.
And now five days had passed.
No rumors had spread.
Perhaps he had escaped.
With cautious optimism, Lockhart entered the Great Hall for breakfast.
Breakfast was, as always, owl post time.
Normally, dozens of owls delivered letters, parcels, and newspapers.
Today, however, there were hundreds.
They poured into the Great Hall like a feathery storm cloud.
Wings beat overhead.
Feathers drifted.
Droppings splattered.
And hundreds upon hundreds of copies of the Daily Prophet landed before students and staff alike.
The moment readers saw the front page, the Great Hall fell silent.
Then, just as suddenly, erupted into uproar.
Everyone stared first at the newspaper.
Then at Lockhart.
The headline blazed across the front page above a photograph of Lockhart cowering in the Chamber of Secrets.
Hero or Fraud? The True Face of Gilderoy Lockhart
The article began:
"Special report by Rita Skeeter."
"Last summer, Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore appointed the internationally celebrated dark creature expert, best-selling author, and Order of Merlin recipient Gilderoy Lockhart as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
"Upon taking office, Professor Lockhart required students to purchase seven expensive books—all authored by himself—placing a significant financial burden on many families."
"Reliable evidence obtained by this reporter indicates that the adventures recounted in these books were not experienced by Lockhart himself."
"During his travels, Lockhart allegedly stole the accomplishments of others and erased their memories using the Memory Charm."
"In fact, aside from Memory Charms, Lockhart appears to possess little magical competence whatsoever. His performance as a teacher has been especially disastrous."
"He is, in short, a complete fraud."
Naturally, Lockhart had his own copy.
As he read the article, his hands began to tremble.
"Lies!" he shouted.
"Outrageous lies!"
He tore the newspaper to shreds.
"That woman Skeeter—I'll send her a howler!"
He was furious and terrified.
This was far worse than rumors.
The article was detailed.
Documented.
Illustrated.
Lewis and the others had not remained silent out of mercy.
They had simply chosen the perfect moment to strike.
Faced with black-and-white evidence, Lockhart had no response.
In desperation, he began snatching newspapers from the professors and ripping them apart.
Severus Snape handed over his own copy with a smug expression.
"By all means, Lockhart," Snape said silkily. "You'll want to save the clippings."
The students immediately remembered the scrapbook in Lockhart's office filled with articles about himself.
The Great Hall exploded with laughter.
At that moment, the doors burst open.
Two wizards in Ministry robes entered, led by Dumbledore.
The laughter quieted.
Every eye turned toward the newcomers.
One of the officials, a lean and stern-faced wizard, strode directly to Lockhart.
"Gilderoy Lockhart."
Lockhart turned ghostly pale.
The wizard announced in a voice that carried through the entire hall:
"We are investigators from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."
"Based on credible evidence, you are suspected of violating statutes concerning magical assault, fraudulent misrepresentation, theft, and unauthorized memory modification."
"You are required to accompany us for questioning."
The words echoed across the Great Hall.
Many of Lockhart's most devoted admirers, especially the younger girls who had defended him passionately all year, stared in disbelief.
Professor Lockhart was really a fraud?
His adventures were stolen?
He truly knew almost nothing except Memory Charms?
They did not want to believe it.
But the evidence stood before them.
Under the gaze of the Ministry, Lockhart had no choice but to descend from the staff table.
His lips quivered.
He seemed about to speak.
But no words came.
At last, he cast one final trembling look toward Lewis.
Then he lowered his head and followed the Ministry officials out of the castle.
Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles.
"Well," he said cheerfully, "it seems we shall need to find yet another Defense Against the Dark Arts professor for next year."
Then he departed the Great Hall.
"Serves him right," Ron Weasley declared loudly from the Gryffindor table. "For once, Rita Skeeter actually did something useful."
At the Ravenclaw table, Penelope Clearwater narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"I suspect the person who exposed Lockhart is a Hogwarts student," she said, sounding uncannily like a detective.
"After all, only the informant would think to pre-order this many copies of the Daily Prophet."
She turned to Cirilla Fiona Elen Riannon.
"Don't you think so, Ciri?"
Ciri said nothing.
Instead, she looked across the table at Lewis.
Their eyes met.
And both of them smiled without a word.
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