Chapter 99: Dealing with the Situation
Chapter 99: Dealing with the Situation
Felix grew serious. "What happened?"
He even suspected that Ron might have been caught by Lockhart and taken away directly.
After all, Lockhart was an adult Wizard, and an adult Wizard meant he had completed seven years of formal magical education—no matter how weak he currently seemed.
But it was not impossible that he had delved deeply into a specific branch of magic.
Hermione's words reassured him. "Ron is fine and hasn't been discovered. However, during his detention on Friday night, Lockhart behaved very strangely."
"Strangely?"
"Yes. Lockhart suddenly jumped up and started yelling at Rita Skeeter. Ron said he had never seen him like that before, and his expression was terrifying." Hermione repeated Ron's description.
In fact, Ron had nearly been frightened into a hysterical fit.
Lockhart ranted for about ten minutes, warned Ron not to tell anyone about what happened, and then dismissed him.
"Hmm..." Felix thought, piecing together Lockhart's recent strange behavior, his encounter with the flustered Rita Skeeter, and the hatred Lockhart displayed toward Skeeter last night...
On the second day after the Christmas holidays, Minister Fudge was injured while visiting the Basilisk. Felix had accidentally run into a panicked Rita Skeeter as she was coming up from the castle's basement, which was in the direction of Lockhart's office.
He seemed to have connected the dots.
Clearly, she had done something to Lockhart.
It was possible that their meeting had gone badly, and things had turned physical.
Lockhart's recent memory lapses, mood swings, and incoherent speech...
So, was it the aftereffects of a Memory Charm?
Had Lockhart been hit with a Memory Charm?
This would explain why, after more than a week, Rita Skeeter had not mentioned that day's events in the newspaper, even letting her sworn enemy off lightly.
He had only hinted to her not to twist the facts, but that shouldn't have stopped her from causing trouble for Lockhart.
That wasn't her style.
"So, is Weasley going to detention tonight?" Felix focused on the key point.
Judging by Lockhart's behavior, it seemed he had recovered his memory. If Ron showed up, who knew what might happen.
"No, he said he had a stomachache and asked Professor Mcgonagall for a leave of absence", Hermione said.
Felix nodded, acknowledging that this was a smart move.
Whether Lockhart had discovered that Ron had stolen information or thought that Ron had seen too many secrets, he might act impulsively.
"I understand your concern. I'll talk to Professor Mcgonagall and take over Weasley's upcoming detentions."
"Professor, is that permissible?" Hermione asked.
"Of course. Detention isn't strictly regulated. As long as I provide a reasonable reason, such as needing some young wizards to test my new teaching tool", Felix winked.
"Some young wizards?" Hermione was puzzled by the word "some."
Wasn't the goal to resolve Ron's problem?
"Right, but we can't make it too obvious. After all, the investigation will take time. I plan to have all the young wizards who have been assigned detentions recently come over."
Felix looked somewhat frustrated.
"Professor, you don't mean the teaching aid you mentioned?" The young witch stared at him with wide eyes.
"Oh, you mean the one you saw during the Christmas holidays. But if you don't say anything, and I don't say anything, who would know it's already completed?" Felix smiled gently.
Hermione suddenly felt that Professor Hup's smile was rather devious.
After she left, Felix fell into deep thought.
A moment later, he wrote down his theory on a piece of parchment and then waved his wand to summon his Patronus—a Swift.
“Dumbledore, I think you need to see this.”
The small silver Swift, holding a rolled-up Parchment in its beak, flapped its wings and flew out the window.
Felix idly tapped his fingers on the table, "tap, tap." Just a few minutes later, a Phoenix with brilliant golden-red feathers appeared in his room.
Its talons held a small note that read—
"Please hand over the information to Fawkes. The rest is up to me."
After sending Fawkes away, Felix curiously watched the spot where it had disappeared.
Phoenixes truly lived up to their reputation as top-tier magical creatures. Their various wondrous abilities made him very eager to study them further.
The next morning, Felix found Professor Mcgonagall.
When he mentioned that his research on a new teaching tool was at a critical stage and he needed some students to help, Professor Mcgonagall was very supportive.
"Do you need me to arrange for some Gryffindor students to assist you?"
"No, I'd prefer if you could give me all the young wizards who are currently serving detention. It would be a good opportunity for them to learn something while they help out", Felix suggested.
Professor Mcgonagall readily agreed.
She handed Felix a list, "This is the latest list of students serving detention. All their names are on it."
He politely took his leave.
On his way, Felix encountered Percy Weasley in a flower bed. He had a vague recollection of Percy.
"Professor Hup?" Percy looked somewhat uneasy at Felix, with a girl standing beside him.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Clearwater. What are you doing here?"
This place was rather secluded and rarely visited.
"Um, Professor, Penelope and I... we're patrolling, exercising our prefect duties", Percy stammered.
"Can you do me a favor?" Felix looked at the young couple impassively, not wanting to expose them.
"Of course!" Percy responded.
Felix took out the list of students, "Please inform the prefects of the respective houses on this list to redirect the detentions to my office starting tonight and for the following days."
Percy nodded, and the two of them hurried away, looking like they were up to no good.
In the Gryffindor common room.
Yesterday, Ron had hidden in the dormitory, pretending to be sick. To make it more convincing, he volunteered to be a test subject for Fred and George’s enhanced version of the 'Frost Rat.' His face turned a ghastly shade of blue.
He looked as if he had been buried in an icy wasteland for hours.
As a result, he really did fall ill and spent the night in the Hospital Wing, only just returning.
Ron was wrapped up tightly, sitting at a table with Harry and Hermione.
Ron whispered, "Hermione, did Professor Hup really agree?"
Hermione sighed, "You've asked this seven times already. For the last time, yes!"
Ron said, "I just can't figure out what happened that night with Lockhart. He acted so... deranged."
As they were discussing, Percy entered the common room.
He approached the Golden Trio and relayed Professor Hup’s message to Ron.
"Great!"
Ron jumped up, elated. His troubles were finally over.
He was free from both Lockhart himself and his fans!
Percy looked at his youngest brother, confused. Did the twins really freeze his brain? Wasn't detention still detention, no matter where it was served?
It wasn’t like it would be any shorter!
(End of Chapter)
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