Chapter 317: A Futile Understanding
Chapter 317: A Futile Understanding
Kyle's strategy proved to be highly effective.
With a thick stack of greeting cards delivered to the gnomes, they managed to have a somewhat normal morning.
Though a few stray gnomes continued to pop out from nooks and crannies, Kyle skillfully evaded them using the Disillusion Charm.
During class time, Professors McGonagall and Flitwick heeded Kyle's suggestion and sealed the classroom doors with spells, preventing the gnomes from entering.
Moreover, according to students from other grades, there were two petrified gnomes in the Potions classroom, positioned on either side of the entrance to the basement like two tasteless statues.
Initially, everyone thought it was another attack, causing a brief moment of panic. However, they soon realized that it was Snape's handiwork, intended as a warning to the remaining gnomes to stay away from him.
As the morning's classes concluded, the frequency of gnome appearances in the castle increased significantly, indicating that they had largely accomplished their task.
By the end of the last Charms class, three gnomes were waiting for Kyle in the corridor.
Cedric was in a similar situation.
This compelled them to take refuge in the common room for lunch.
"Someone's definitely stirring up trouble!"
Cedric stuffed a piece of toasted bread into his mouth and frowned. "With so many people in Hogwarts, why are they always targeting us? There's definitely something fishy going on."
"Any guesses who?" Kyle glanced at him and pointed upward toward the ceiling.
Cedric instantly understood, gritting his teeth. "Fred and George!"
No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity with the content of those greeting cards. It all made sense now—they were unmistakably in the twins' style.
He had even felt guilty earlier, not knowing that the duo had already embarked on their mischief. Most likely, the five gnomes he encountered near the entrance hall that morning were their doing.
Otherwise, how coincidental that he stumbled upon greeting card writers as soon as he stepped out.
"Looks like we're on the same wavelength," Kyle shrugged.
"So, are we continuing this afternoon?" Cedric asked.
Kyle shook his head.
With three against two, their advantage wasn't significant. Moreover, Fred and George thrived on chaos, whether it was their own or others', placing them at an inherent advantage.
Additionally, Hufflepuff third-years had Defense Against the Dark Arts class that afternoon, and there was no way Professor Lockhart would agree to seal the classroom door.
Using the Disillusion Charm and Invisibility Cloak during class was out of the question...
"Forget it, let's not bother with this pointless competition for now," Kyle decided, choosing to redirect their efforts toward Professor Lockhart instead.
Furthermore, they even dipped into their own pockets, offering a Knut to anyone who wrote a greeting card to Professor Lockhart.
One Knut per card, twenty-nine cards for a Sickle.
It wasn't a large sum, but the task was simple, and by the time afternoon classes began, all fifty slots had been snapped up.
...
Professor Lockhart was overjoyed, exceedingly so.
He had never imagined that after all the events that had transpired, his fan base within Hogwarts would continue to grow... The overwhelming stack of over a thousand greeting cards was testament to that.
Even if it left him with no time for teaching, he didn't mind in the slightest.
If he had his way, he'd gladly spend every day like this, basking in the adoration of his fans.
In the evening, as Professor Lockhart strolled cheerfully toward the Great Hall, he spotted a group of professors gathered near the entrance to the basement classroom. They seemed to be up to something.
"What's all the fuss about? Are you comparing the number of greeting cards you received?" he asked, approaching them with a smug smile. "Why wasn't I informed... Oh, I presume you've heard about my thousand-plus greeting cards as well?"
All the professors turned and glared at him.
Professor Lockhart was taken aback, and he instinctively backtracked. "Well, if you think it's unfair to include me, I won't participate... Wait, what's that gnome doing here?"
"It's not... This... Impossible!" Lockhart stuttered. "Don't joke about this... Professor Snape, it's obvious to me that this is the work of the Petrification Curse... Just like the one you placed at the entrance of the basement classroom."
"In fact," Snape said, giving Lockhart a cold glance, "I lifted their petrification curse three hours ago. Or you can try to lift the curse yourself if you'd like. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem for you..."
"Of course... I will," Lockhart said, mustering his courage and waving his wand while muttering an incoherent spell.
Professor McGonagall's cheek twitched as she heard the bizarre spell, unlike anything she had heard in her long life. She doubted Lockhart could recite the same spell again if asked.
As expected, the gnome remained unmoved after Lockhart's minute-long performance.
"Oh, so the secret spell from the Woga Tribe didn't work?" Lockhart said, putting away his wand. "I learned that from an old wizard during my travels. It's supposed to lift almost any curse."
"Oh?" Snape raised an eyebrow.
"I know what you're thinking, Professor Snape," Lockhart sighed. "I've been deceived. That old man clearly hasn't ventured beyond these walls."
"It's fine. The mandrakes are almost mature, and they'll be back to normal soon," Sprout said. "But, Gilderoy, didn't you say on the first day of school that you knew who the heir was? Go and find him then. That's the most important thing."
"Yes... yes... I know..." Lockhart started to panic. If he had known who the heir was, he would have publicized it long ago. Why hadn't Dumbledore, the most powerful wizard, solved the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets during the long holiday? This was not what he had expected!
Lockhart stammered, unable to form a coherent response, and the other professors ignored him.
Professor Flitwick took the gnome to the hospital wing, and the other professors stood up and left one by one.
No one paid attention to Lockhart, as if he had never existed.
"The situation is getting more and more serious," Professor McGonagall said, looking at the bustling Great Hall in the distance. "We must find a way to resolve this before any students get hurt."
"But the question is, who is it?" Snape said. "We've searched the entire castle with no leads."
"Let's wait a little longer. It will be soon," Sprout said quietly. "Wait another month... No, the mandrakes are getting restless. They'll need to be repotted before a month is up.
The petrified victims must have seen something. Once they wake up, we'll know if the monster is human or something else."
"You're right, Pomona," Professor McGonagall said heavily. "But a month is too long. We can't guarantee what might happen in that time. Regardless, I'm going to address the students."
(End of Chapter)
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