Chapter 221: The Photo and the Crustacean Helper
Chapter 221: The Photo and the Crustacean Helper
When Monday came around, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at HOGWARTS Castle did something unprecedented and took a two-day leave, even refusing to allow students to visit him.
PROFESSOR LOCKHART's admirers gathered outside his office, anxiously inquiring about his condition and offering various medicines and homemade treats.
HERMIONE was among them, and after being turned away by the professor, she brought the latest news to the others.
"PROFESSOR LOCKHART injured himself while researching a werewolf curse," she said with a frown, her expression filled with concern. "It's incredible! How many people are there like him, who care so much about minorities that they're willing to sacrifice their own health for their well-being?"
She borrowed several books on Potions, hoping to find a way to help the professor recover sooner.
HARRY's mouth twitched silently as if he wanted to say something but held back.
HARRY had already dismissed LOCKHART as a fool, but HERMIONE had a different opinion.
MICHAEL raised an eyebrow at Vold.
In private, he incredulously asked, "Didn't LOCKHART report to DUMBLEDORE?"
"I guess he didn't want people to know that he couldn't even handle a second-year student?" Vold replied casually.
MICHAEL nodded and added, "You were smart to take that photo. A man as image-conscious as PROFESSOR LOCKHART wouldn't want that photo in the newspaper, right?"
Despite these words, MICHAEL was still nervous about having offended the professor.
After LOCKHART recovered and returned, MICHAEL quietly observed him, always on edge during class, fearing trouble.
Although Vold was certain that the professor would ask for "magic guidance" again if such a situation arose, he knew that if he beat the professor up in public again, there would be consequences.
Unexpectedly, LOCKHART seemed to have no intention of retaliating. Instead, he avoided direct eye contact with the two of them but occasionally seemed to want to say something but held back.
MICHAEL remained highly vigilant.
This was a man who would use the Obliviate Charm on students behind their backs, and even if his spellcasting skills weren't impressive, he was still dangerous.
"Why did DUMBLEDORE hire him as a professor?"
MICHAEL couldn't help but complain to Vold, "Our Defense Against the Dark Arts classes are basically self-study. A professor like this might as well not exist!"
"You won't have to endure this for long," Vold shook his head. "He'll be leaving soon, and he might even end up in Azkaban."
MICHAEL's eyes lit up. "What did you do?"
"What can I do while I'm at school?" Vold replied.
"It was Sirius..." Vold explained, "Remember when LOCKHART removed the bone from HARRY's arm? Sirius was furious and has been wanting to get back at him ever since!"
This was something Lupin had mentioned to Vold a couple of days ago.
The joint operation to capture the dark wizard had proven ineffective, and Sirius was feeling down about Regulus's situation.
To cheer his friend up, Lupin brought up the topic of LOCKHART, and Sirius was indeed burning with anger.
"He messed up even a simple Healing Charm, there's definitely something fishy about his reputation! Once I get my hands on some evidence, I'll let him taste the life in Azkaban too!"
Sirius rushed off to investigate LOCKHART, and Lupin temporarily withdrew from the joint operation to join Sirius in the investigation.
"Won't this affect your other work?" MICHAEL couldn't help but ask.
"No," Vold shook his head. "After more than ten days without any useful leads, Lupin said that most of the elite wizards gathered from various countries have dispersed, and those still involved in the operation are mostly newbies and slackers."
Of course, there were also politicians looking to gain some political mileage.
Almost every day, when they opened the Daily Prophet, they would see a couple of familiar faces posing with foreign Ministry officials, flashing a formulaic smile at the readers.
Vold even started to feel sympathy for DUMBLEDORE, wondering if dealing with such people made him feel like time was crawling by.
Compared to the increasingly sluggish and inefficient "joint operation" on the other side, the investigation by the Wolf and Dog duo was exceptionally smooth.
Most of the evidence was found in LOCKHART's own books, and DUMBLEDORE seemed to unintentionally provide some useful information. Vold even granted Lupin a substantial "investigation fund."
"I beat up LOCKHART," Vold told Lupin.
"For certain reasons, LOCKHART has to endure this for now, but he'll definitely seek revenge later. It's better to have him leave the school before he comes up with any nasty ideas," Vold explained his reasoning for taking action.
Lupin agreed with Vold's proactive approach but subtly criticized his violent behavior towards the professor.
Nevertheless, they quickly gathered enough evidence to prove that LOCKHART had never engaged in battles with dangerous creatures like werewolves, yetis, hags, or ghouls, as he boasted in his books.
He had simply stolen stories from elderly figures and erased their memories using powerful Obliviating Charms.
LOCKHART was clueless about the underground trends, and after having his pet dolphin guard the library for several days, he finally found an opportunity to confront Vold, who was leaving the library alone.
"Professor?" Vold asked politely, lifting his eyes to meet his gaze.
Lockhart immediately felt a tingling sensation all over his body as he looked into those eyes, his scalp going numb as if he had returned to the moment when he witnessed the powerful No-Magic Spell.
Such a powerful spell, cast out of thin air...
Lockhart had only seen himself perform this in his dreams.
A shiver ran through him, and the words he was about to say became more humble—
"Mr. Gray, I...er...I think I should apologize...for my rash behavior before..."
Lockhart stammered, "I thought you wouldn't mind a photo together...of course, I should have asked for your opinion first...I...I'm sorry..."
He rarely apologized, and his face turned bright red before he could finish his sentence.
Vold sighed.
"Alright, I accept your apology. Is there anything else, Professor?"
Hearing his polite tone, Lockhart felt an urge to flee.
That day, Vold had also called him "Professor" repeatedly while slamming him against the wall like a pinball.
But as Lockhart's toes twitched, he remembered his purpose and forced himself to stand his ground, stuttering,
"That...about the photo you took the other day..."
"It was just a joke, I thought you wouldn't mind a photo..."
Vold's words sounded eerily familiar.
"Of course— "
The boy spoke slowly, "If you have a problem with it, I can give it back to you."
Lockhart saw hope, and his voice rose slightly, "Really? I mean—what do you need in exchange? A Galleon? Or I can arrange for you to have a prominent role in my next book..."
"No, thank you. You may continue, Professor."
Vold withdrew a prepared envelope and handed it to Lockhart.
The blond professor seemed incredulous that the matter could be resolved so easily. He opened the envelope and looked inside, relaxing completely.
"Great, I thought you might try to extort something...cough, cough..."
Lockhart coughed twice, almost choking on his own saliva.
"Professor Lockhart."
A sinister voice came from behind the blond professor, startling him. He turned to see Filch, hunched over, standing in the shadows with a sour expression.
"A few girls have been looking for you..."
Filch's tone remained as lifeless as ever, but Lockhart was delighted.
"Is that so? Thank you for letting me know, Mr. Filch. Well...being famous makes one as busy as me..."
Lockhart complained with apparent annoyance, clutching the envelope and hurrying away. Even long after he left, he still felt a chill down his spine.
"Strange students, strange caretaker... After all these years, Hogwarts is still so unlikable, unable to understand my greatness..."
Lockhart muttered, rubbing the goosebumps on his arms.
Feeling the envelope in his pocket, he immediately felt more at ease, as if he had endured a major crisis in his life.
"Well...I've been keeping a low profile lately, and life has become less interesting...I need applause, attention, and the adoring gaze of young girls...wait, isn't Valentine's Day coming up soon?"
Lockhart's mind suddenly sparked with some brilliant "great ideas," and his steps became lighter.
...
In the corridor, Vold looked at Filch before him.
Filch spent his days engaging in a battle of wits with the Gryffindors and Peeves, but he rarely interacted with the Ravenclaws.
However, every day, the students could see him standing like a vulture, staring at everyone with dangerous, disdainful eyes.
He seemed to equally despise all students and was hated by them in return.
But at this moment, Filch had surprisingly made an effort to clean himself up a bit. He looked slightly uncomfortable, tightly clutching an old lizard skin bag.
"Were you intentionally helping me out just now, Mr. Filch?" Vold asked.
"Ah, yes!" Filch rubbed his cane, saying, "Professor Lockhart has been inquiring about your whereabouts these past few days...I saw him blocking your path, so I came to...um...help..."
Showing goodwill seemed to embarrass him, and Filch almost closed his eyes as he spoke.
"Thank you for your help," Vold said, understandingly.
"It's...it's nothing."
Filch quickly glanced at Vold, relaxing a little due to his friendly attitude, and said,
"I heard from some students...they said you invented a Cleaning Crab to help with cleaning...I went to Diagon Alley, but they weren't for sale...I mean, if possible, could you...sell me a few? Of course, if there's only one...one would be fine too..."
He slightly raised the lizard skin bag in his hand, and the sound of metal clinking could be heard from within.
The old man looked at Vold with yearning eyes.
Only one chapter today.
(End of Chapter)
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