Chapter 99: Handling

Chapter 99: Handling

Felix Harp became serious. "What's happened?"

He even suspected whether Ron had been discovered by Lockhart and taken away directly.

Lockhart was, after all, an adult wizard, and being an adult wizard meant he had undergone a full seven years of magical education – even if his current performance was ridiculously weak.

But it couldn't be ruled out that he had delved deeply into a certain branch of magic.

Hermione's words put him at ease. "Ron is fine for now and hasn't been found out. But during Friday night's detention, Lockhart acted very strangely."

"Strangely?"

"Yes, Lockhart suddenly jumped up and cursed Rita Skeeter in the evening. Ron said that the way he looked was something he had never seen before, and his expression was terrifying." Hermione repeated Ron's description.

In fact, Ron was almost scared out of his wits at that moment.

Lockhart vented for over ten minutes, warned Ron not to talk about today's events, and then sent him away.

"Hmm..." Felix Harp pondered, connecting Lockhart's recent odd behavior, his encounter with the flustered Rita Skeeter, and Lockhart's intense hatred towards Skeeter displayed the previous night...

On the second day after the Christmas holiday ended, Minister Fudge was injured during his visit to the serpent creature. He accidentally came across the frantic Rita Skeeter, who happened to be walking from the castle's underground upwards, and that direction coincidentally led to Lockhart's office.

He seemed to have connected the dots.

It was clear that she had done something to Lockhart.

It was possible that their conversation had gone sour and then turned physical.

Lockhart's memory had been failing lately, he was irritable, and his speech was incoherent...

So, could this be the aftermath of the Obliviation curse?

Lockhart was hit with Obliviation?

This would explain why over a week had passed and Rita Skeeter had not mentioned a single word about that day's incident in the newspaper, even letting Lockhart, her arch-nemesis, off lightly.

He had only hinted for her not to create a rhythm, distort the facts, but that didn't prevent her from causing trouble for Lockhart.

This wasn't characteristic of that woman.

"So, tonight, Weasley is going to the detention?" Felix Harp grasped the key point.

Judging from Lockhart's behavior, he had clearly regained his memory. If Ron rushed to confront him, it was hard to guarantee that something wouldn't happen.

"No, he said he had a stomachache and asked Professor McGonagall for leave." Hermione said.

Felix Harp nodded; that was quite clever.

Whether it was Lockhart discovering Ron stealing information or thinking that Ron had seen too many secrets, either scenario could lead to extreme actions.The inaugural upload of this chapter took place via N0v3l-B1n.

"I understand your point. I will talk to Professor McGonagall and take charge of Weasley's upcoming detention."

"Professor Harp?" Percy looked somewhat guilty as he looked at Felix Harp, with a girl standing beside him.

"Mr. Weasley, Miss Crevette. What are you doing here?"

This place was rather remote and not commonly visited.

"Uh, Professor, Percy... I mean, Mr. Weasley, and I were patrolling. We were exercising our prefect authority." Percy stammered.

"You two wouldn't mind helping me out, would you?" Felix Harp looked at the young couple without giving away his suspicions.

"Of course!" Percy answered.

Felix Harp took out the list of students. "Could you inform the heads of houses for the corresponding houses about the names on this list? Ask them to change the detentions for tonight and afterward to my office."

Percy nodded, and the two of them swiftly departed like co-conspirators.

Gryffindor Common Room.

Yesterday, Ron had stayed in the dormitory the whole time, pretending to be sick. To make the effect more convincing, he had boldly taken the enhanced version of 'Ice Mice,' and his face turned a deep shade of blue.

He looked as if he had been buried in icy snow for hours.

In the end, he had indeed fallen ill and had spent the night in the infirmary. He had just returned.

Ron was wrapped up tightly, sitting with Harry and Hermione at a table.

Ron asked in a low voice, "Hermione, did Professor Harp really agree?"

Hermione sighed in exasperation, "You've asked seven times already. To answer one last time: yes!"

Ron said, "I really can't figure it out – what happened with Lockhart that night? He acted so... " He thought for a moment before uttering a word, "mad."

Just as they were discussing, Percy walked in.

Approaching the trio, he handed Ron a message from Professor Harp.

"That's great!"

Ron jumped up excitedly, his troubles were finally over.

Whether it was Lockhart himself or Lockhart's supporters, he had finally rid himself of them all!

Percy looked at his youngest brother in confusion, wondering if the twins had frozen Ron's brain – being in detention was all the same anyway!

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