Hogwarts Study Panel.

Chapter 425, Section 423: Lockhart's Arrest

"Looks like one of us has taken a big tumble?"

Dumbledore entered with a smile, blocking the bright light in the corridor, and the room returned to its dim state, illuminated only by torches.

"Of course! I shouldn't have come here. The famous Harry, the Grimm who the entire wizarding world is looking for, hiding in Hogwarts—I thought this would be a great opportunity to enhance my reputation..."

Lockhart, having taken the truth serum, became increasingly talkative.

He covered his mouth in terror, but the thing still made a mumbling sound.

"Oh, Gilderoy, your lying mouth can't tell lies anymore?"

Dumbledore said, his long, silvery-white beard trembling slightly.

"I wanted to lie. A fanatical worshipper with ulterior motives, committing terrible acts; or a young wizard who has learned several dark spells, which is not allowed at Hogwarts... I had so many reasons, but now I have nothing... umm..."

Lockhart looked as if he wanted to tear his own mouth off.

"You've revealed your true colors, Gilderoy. If you have any ulterior motives, go tell the Ministry of Magic, or perhaps the Dementors?"

Dumbledore acted as if dealing with something insignificant; with a flick of his finger, Lockhart was bound tightly.

He looked up, and Hagrid appeared in his line of sight.

Hagrid first winked at Sheen, then took Lockhart away.

"Professor Dumbledore, I will now give him to the Aurors outside Hogwarts Castle."

Hagrid said in a deep, muffled voice.

He then grabbed Lockhart, turned and left as if he were carrying a chick.

"The Ministry of Magic has retried Hagrid's sentence; that's no easy feat."

Dumbledore smiled at them and said he seemed to be in a good mood.

"Hagrid's verdict has been overturned?!"

Hermione gasped.

Overturning a long-standing case is always a thankless and arduous task.

Hermione knew that this was a pipe dream, whether in the non-magical world or the magical world.

"Yes, Miss Granger, you will soon receive more good news."

But for now, please allow me to keep you in suspense.

Dumbledore said.

"It's always like this... Adults always think that keeping things from us is for our own good."

Hermione whispered to Sheehan.

"Um."

Justin seemed to be thinking about something, but after hearing Hermione's words, he immediately agreed.

But Sheen remained unexpectedly silent.

"All right,"

Dumbledore noticed their subtle movements but pretended to be oblivious. He strode to the door and opened it.

"Now you can rest in bed, and perhaps you should also have a big glass of hot chocolate milk, which I always find very helpful in improving my mood."

He said, bowing his head and winking kindly at them.

"I'm writing a letter to Azkaban here—our Professor Lockhart should be sent where he belongs."

I also need to draft a job posting for the Daily Prophet.

He said thoughtfully,

"We need a new teacher for Defense Against the Dark Arts again. Good heavens, this subject goes through a teacher shortage so quickly, doesn't it?"

The young wizards nodded vigorously.

This is exactly what they want to see.

"Headmaster Dumbledore, may I ask you what a Dementor is?"

Justin was still pondering what Dumbledore had inadvertently revealed earlier.

"Dementors,"

Dumbledore paused,

"Perhaps the most evil and terrifying thing in the magical world."

He then turned and left.

Hermione was stunned by Dumbledore's words before she could even process Justin's question.

She pursed her lips and moved a little closer to Sheehan.

"Sheen, do you know what a Dementor is?"

Justin was clearly not expected to get this answer, and he was somewhat taken aback.

"The Guardians of Azkaban, a type of dark magic creature that feeds on the pleasure of wizards."

Dementors are perhaps the only known creatures that can render wizards unable to use magic.

It cannot be killed physically, only temporarily driven away…

Sheen explained it simply yet profoundly.

"Unable to kill..."

Even though the Room of Requirement is completely enclosed, Hermione always felt like she was being blown by a cold wind.

"How can we get rid of it?"

Justin asked cautiously.

"The Patronus Charm is the preferred method of treatment. Sometimes, eating chocolate is also a way for people to provide first aid after being attacked by Dementors."

Sheen said.

"chocolate?!"

Justin instinctively believed Sheehan, but was still surprised.

"Eating some chocolate or drinking a large cup of hot chocolate milk is very good for improving a wizard's mood."

Sheen explained.

"You really are..."

Hermione seemed to remember something, and she said to Justin,

"That's what Headmaster Dumbledore just said... Have you noticed? Sheehan has always resembled someone... that is Headmaster Dumbledore. Now he resembles him even more."

Justin nodded, somewhat taken aback, and they soon walked out of the Room of Requirement together.

In the distance, you could see fires rising in the Forbidden Forest, then disappearing from view.

It's like there was a fire dragon causing trouble inside, and it was eventually caught by the zookeeper.

Sheen gazed at the distance before disappearing from the spot.

Hermione and Justin didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to him.

"They look more and more alike..."

Hermione frowned as she looked around the corridor.

"They come and go without a trace..."

……

When Sheen arrived at the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid was staring at Pukch, the butler.

"This is my little house, sir."

Hagrid said gruffly, looking like he had just finished escorting Lockhart.

It's easy to imagine that tomorrow's news will be full of stories about Lockhart's arrest.

Hermione and Justin had already rushed off to contact Luna and Rita—they had asked Sheen for their contact information before the plan even began.

The students of Hogwarts, and all the wizards in the wizarding world, will know that Lockhart is a fraud.

But Sheen didn't care about any of that.

Will didn't care.

"No one is allowed to enter before the arrival of the esteemed Lord Grin."

Will held up his bow and arrow, looking ready to shoot at the slightest provocation.

The Pucketts were exceptionally skilled archers. William, Will's most admired Puckett, once shot and killed a descendant of Slytherin to save Lady Aesop.

"But I am the owner here!"

Hagrid was furious.

"I'm also the housekeeper here!"

Will refused to budge an inch.

"Sheen didn't tell you..."

Hagrid softened up a bit. He was very curious about the magical creature in front of him, but now he wanted to go back to the cabin more.

(End of this chapter)