Chapter 136: Caught by Professor McGonagall
Before long, the two of them had arrived at the factory Griphook had mentioned.
The exterior decoration was indeed grand, a testament to the former owner's ambition.
Unfortunately, the Wizarding World market didn't recognize his factory.
Once inside, the production lines had basically come to a standstill.
The size was decent, the location was good, and the decor was nice.
"So, are there no workers here?"
Griphook gave an awkward smile.
"Well, since everything has stopped, it's normal that there are no workers."
"The regular Wizard workers here have mostly left because they couldn't make any money."
"What remains are just a few House-elves."
"It's worth mentioning that these House-elves belong to the factory and are being sold as a package deal."
"These House-elves don't need a salary; they only need to be fed and watered."
"After all, you know, they take pride in their work."
After inspecting the place, Xiao Deng was basically satisfied.
"Go and discuss it with the owner; I want this factory."
"However, the price he's asking is a bit high."
"You're in the business, so you should know."
Griphook bowed slightly.
"Yes, sir, I will secure the most suitable price for you."
"Sir, if you think that's acceptable, we can sign the commission agreement."
Saying this, Griphook pulled out a magic agreement.
Heh, what a money-grubbing little thing!
He was already so impatient!
Xiao Deng didn't say much else; he scanned the contents of the agreement, and after seeing there were no traps, he took out his wand and stamped it with his magic mark.
"Thank you for choosing Gringotts; we will serve you with all our heart and responsibility."
Given Gringotts' efficiency, it shouldn't take more than two weeks to finalize the factory deal and get it running.
After giving some instructions, Xiao Deng was about to leave Gringotts when his eyes shifted.
"I've brought a ton of gold; help me deposit it into my account."
"What!"
Griphook was shocked. Who could just deposit a ton of pure gold these days!
"Is there a problem?"
"No, no, I'll handle it for you."
Griphook's attitude became even more humble.
After finishing the business, Xiao Deng stretched and walked out of Gringotts.
The day was still early, and since he was already at Diagon Alley, he naturally had to go check on the shop.
Before he even got close, Xiao Deng's eyes widened.
The entrance to the Hehuan Sect specialty store was packed with people, all there to buy things.
Although Dabai and Xiaobai were busy, they handled the customers' requests in an orderly manner.
Looking at it, it was unlikely they would be free even by nightfall.
Just as Xiao Deng was about to leave, Dabai suddenly came out of the shop and hung up a sign.
"Sold Out!"
Those who didn't get to buy anything slapped their thighs in frustration.
"If only I had come earlier!"
"Their parchment is incredibly good!"
"Yes, yes! It's a perfect match with their ink!"
...
As the sign was hung, the people loitering at the entrance gradually decreased.
The two of them were visibly relieved.
It seems he couldn't just upgrade the industrial chain part of the factory.
If there weren't enough people to look after the shop, he felt a bit reluctant to let them be this busy.
What if they got exhausted!
Xiao Deng slowly walked up, the two of them still tidying up.
Dabai didn't even look up as her voice was heard:
"Dear customer, we are sold out, we are about to close..."
Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly straightened up and saw Xiao Deng looking at them with a smile.
Dabai rushed over and hugged Xiao Deng, patting him.
"I thought you had dumped us mother and daughter here and forgotten all about us!"
Xiao Deng stroked Dabai's hair, petting her just like before.
"How could that be?"
"I couldn't cherish you enough!"
The two snuggled together, and a sour voice came from the side.
"Shameless, hugging like that!"
"Why don't you two go spend ten days or half a month in the Forbidden Forest alone."
Hearing Xiaobai's words, Dabai blushed, quickly pulling away from Xiao Deng's embrace and glaring at Xiaobai.
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Xiao Deng wasn't embarrassed; his skin was thick anyway, so he opened his arms toward Xiaobai.
"Xiaobai!"
Xiaobai hopped and skipped happily into Xiao Deng's arms.
Dabai's counterattack came immediately.
"Why don't you go and spend ten days or half a month in the Forbidden Forest with Xiao Deng instead."
"Okay, okay!" Xiaobai replied happily.
Dabai had black lines all over her forehead.
"Shameless!"
The door slowly closed, and Xiao Deng carried Xiaobai into the shop.
"In a little while, you will be liberated; I'll hire people to manage the shop then."
Xiaobai immediately agreed, though a trace of worry flashed in Dabai's eyes.
Xiao Deng knew that a Unicorn wouldn't like such a busy life; looking at Xiaobai's reaction was enough to tell.
"You don't need to worry about the shop; the industry will expand later, and you won't be able to handle it anyway."
"It's better to just hire a few shop assistants."
"That said, Dabai has a question."
"You didn't see me just now, and I didn't speak either; how did you know it was me?"
Dabai burst out laughing.
"In this bustling Diagon Alley, the richness of people's hearts is comparable to the stars."
"There are quite a few who have designs on us mother and daughter."
"But in terms of purity, no one's inner color is purer than yours!"
Xiao Deng didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Are you scolding me or complimenting me?"
Dabai pulled her snow-white hair back and tied it with a hair tie, then pulled Xiao Deng, who was carrying Xiaobai, upstairs.
"What do you think?"
As time passed, Xiao Deng had to casually cast a barrier to block out the rising and falling sounds.
This time it wasn't the forest that was shaking; it was Gringotts that was shaking.
...
Finally, both of them were so tired they fell asleep.
Xiao Deng used a Levitation Charm to lift Xiaobai, who was sleeping on his shoulders.
After Xiao Deng had completely left the bed, he slowly lowered Xiaobai down.
Leaving a note on the table, Xiao Deng silently left the Hehuan Sect specialty store.
Passing by the pet shop on his way out, Xiao Deng paused and stepped inside.
"Boss, give me two pounds of your best catnip."
The boss was overjoyed to see business.
"Alright!"
"Sir, let me tell you, my goods are top quality."
After paying, Xiao Deng left Diagon Alley.
Xiao Deng went to the pub and ordered a Butterbeer.
He was also considering letting Dabai and Xiaobai help here for a while longer, then letting them come back.
The factory equipment, the Weasley Brothers' preparations, the recruitment of shop assistants...
At most in a month, he could let them come back.
After finishing the Butterbeer, he strode out of the Leaky Cauldron.
When Xiao Deng returned to Hogwarts, he was afraid of being seen by anyone.
He tiptoed to open the door to Professor McGonagall's office, looked up, and froze in place.
"Mr. Hehuan, where have you been?"
"Or do you think that a Professor has no skill at all and cannot see through your tricks?"
Chapter 137: Lockhart's Chosen Opponent Again
Xiao Deng beat his chest and stomped his feet in frustration; if he had known, he should have used his divine sense to take a peek and see if she was there.
Well, now he had been caught red-handed.
"Disillusionment: Disillusionment Charm."
Xiao Deng vanished before Professor McGonagall, who did not stop him, merely wanting to see what trick he was up to.
Xiao Deng walked to his seat before dispelling the Disillusionment Charm.
"Good afternoon, Professor McGonagall, you're back from class!"
"Thank you for your hard work! To repay your efforts, I have prepared a token of appreciation for you."
In a flash, as if performing Magic, Xiao Deng conjured a handful of catnip, emitting a fragrance alluring to cats, and held it out before Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened, and her hand trembled slightly as she took the catnip from Xiao Deng.
She then glanced at Xiao Deng and burst into laughter.
Professor McGonagall promised herself that she was absolutely not being nice to Xiao Deng just because of the catnip.
Xiao Deng was indeed a good boy, as he always managed to do things that touched her heart.
At this moment, Xiao Deng tugged at Professor McGonagall's Wizard robes, shaking them back and forth.
"Professor McGonagall, you're the best. Won't you let me off the hook?"
"Please? I'm begging you, pretty please, can you?"
Professor McGonagall smiled and carefully tucked the catnip away.
She was an expert, so she could naturally tell that this was high-quality catnip and had to be treated with care.
"You really are something, child!"
"Don't let it happen again, okay~"
Xiao Deng chuckled and suddenly conjured a huge pile of catnip, bringing out the entire two pounds.
"Oh, by Merlin's beard and flowered socks!"
"So much! How long will it take for... my cat to eat all this!"
Xiao Deng shoved all the catnip into Professor McGonagall's arms in one go.
"No, no, no, Xiao Deng, this is far too much."
"It will go to waste if the cat can't finish it."
Xiao Deng spoke his mind.
"If the cat can't finish it, you can eat it too!"
Professor McGonagall blushed for the first time in her life and rolled her eyes at Xiao Deng.
"You brat, what are you saying! Why would I eat catnip!"
She said this while taking half of it and handing it back to Xiao Deng, who looked completely bewildered.
"Professor McGonagall, why are you giving this back to me? I'm not a cat, and I don't keep cats."
Professor McGonagall's eyelid twitched, but she held back for the sake of the catnip.
"Even half is likely more than the cat can finish. To avoid waste, I'll need to share it with other Professors who keep cats."
"I hope you don't mind?"
Xiao Deng shook his head quickly.
"Of course not. Once I've given it to you, it's yours. Why don't you just give all of this away too?"
Professor McGonagall listened to Xiao Deng finish speaking before looking at him with a smile.
"Very well, as long as it doesn't pain you."
"Alright, go off and play. Your detention is lifted early."
"Oh yeah, thank you, Professor McGonagall! Long live Professor McGonagall!"
Watching Xiao Deng about to dash out, Professor McGonagall called him back.
"I have no further issues with you, but you might need to head over to Professor Snape's."
Xiao Deng stiffly turned his neck to look at Professor McGonagall.
"Don't look at me. These punishments were separate from the start. Good luck!"
"Giggle, giggle, giggle~"
Xiao Deng walked out of the office with his head drooping; that meant he still had to brew three hundred Potions for Snape.
The life of a beast of burden is not easy!
Stepping out of Professor McGonagall's office, the afterglow of the setting sun had already drifted in.
However, Xiao Deng noticed a large number of young Wizards rushing in one direction.
He stopped a senior student from Hufflepuff and asked:
"Senior, where are you all going?"
After seeing that the person stopping her was Xiao Deng, her initially reluctant expression immediately turned into a beaming smile.
"Junior, you don't know?"
"Professor Lockhart has set up a dueling arena again, claiming that he will establish a club once he finishes reading."
Xiao Deng looked surprised; this Lockhart really was thick-skinned!
"You go ahead, Senior."
"Junior, aren't you coming?"
"I have some things to take care of, I'll be there in a bit."
The senior student reluctantly ended her conversation with Xiao Deng.
He wondered if those little brats knew about it, but never mind that for now; he would go take a look.
Xiao Deng followed the crowd to the Great Hall where Lockhart had set up the dueling arena.
He saw Lockhart's signature smile once again.
It was quite something to have internalized performance into one's very bones as an instinct.
One had to admit, Lockhart was truly unmatched in this regard.
He was giving a passionate speech on the stage, and many people below were cheering for him.
Amidst the crowd, he was surprised to see Hermione.
Lockhart never learned his lesson, and these young Wizards had no memory either.
Lockhart had better be sensible and not pick him.
Otherwise, if he didn't beat the crap out of him, he'd consider him lucky!
"Xiao Deng, you're here to watch too!"
Seamus squeezed over to Xiao Deng's side and greeted him.
"I used to admire him quite a bit, but ever since I defeated him, I've always felt something was off."
"He always tells everyone that he was careless and that he didn't dare to strike back against students for fear of hurting them."
"But I don't think that's the case."
Xiao Deng put his arm around Seamus's shoulder and said:
"Your intuition is spot on; he's just incompetent."
Seamus breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since you say so, then it must be his problem!"
"If that's the case, doesn't that mean he's just fishing for fame?"
Xiao Deng sneered.
"Who knows? He might just be a fraud."
What Dumbledore said was very vague, and Xiao Deng couldn't immediately judge what the issue was.
In Xiao Deng's perception, the Professors, led by Dumbledore, had also arrived at the scene.
It seemed they wanted to watch the spectacle too.
Lockhart was still giving his speech on the stage.
However, one had to admit that Lockhart put a lot of effort into his superficial performance.
He rephrased the history of dueling and gave the speech all over again.
A few young Wizards below were still listening with great interest.
"Albus, who do you think Lockhart will choose as his dueling opponent this time?"
Dumbledore shook his head.
"I don't know."
"But since he dares to hold this duel again, he has probably already chosen his target."
"As long as he doesn't run into a freak like Xiao Deng, he should be able to handle a first-year student, right?"
"After all, the first-years don't know about his past embarrassing incidents yet."
Lockhart was truly Lockhart; his thought process was different from everyone else's.
He spotted Xiao Deng standing in the crowd at a glance.
He believed that Xiao Deng only knew one trick, the Fire-Thunder Blast.
Its power wasn't even as strong as Seamus's, who had gone up second.
As long as he cast a shield on himself in advance, Xiao Deng's attack power from last time wouldn't be able to break his shield.
At that moment, if he sent Xiao Deng off the stage, he would win this duel.
This way, he could demonstrate his elegance as an excellent Wizard while gaining both fame and fortune.
Killing two birds with one stone!
Thinking this, Lockhart amused himself, and a trace of a smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.
"I have already chosen my opponent. Do you want to know who it is?"
The young Wizards below shouted loudly:
"Yes!"
Lockhart had performed enough, full of gentlemanly flair.
"Please give a warm welcome to my chosen opponent!"
"Mr. Xiao Deng Hehuan Sect!"
Chapter 138: Hermione Discovered
Xiao Deng stared blankly at the man on the stage who was smiling at him.
Was he really sorted into Gryffindor when he went to school?
Seamus tugged at Xiao Deng from the side.
"Xiao Deng, he picked you again. He really doesn't learn his lesson!"
"Go on up there and teach him another lesson."
Even Professor McGonagall behind them covered her face.
Why challenge someone else? He had to keep picking on the same person, someone he couldn't even beat.
Does he have no self-awareness at all?
Dumbledore's mouth twitched as well; speak of the devil.
It seemed this duel would likely have no suspense either.
However, the three of them—Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and Snape—did not leave, watching as Xiao Deng slowly walked onto the stage.
As soon as Xiao Deng stepped onto the stage, cheers even more enthusiastic than those for Lockhart resounded throughout the Great Hall.
Whether anyone liked it or not, Xiao Deng had fans too.
The smile on Lockhart's face was forced.
These cheers should be for him! They should be his! His!
How could this little Wizard deserve this!
He swore to himself that he would reclaim his glory.
This time, Lockhart put much more force into flicking his wand.
Xiao Deng just went through the motions lazily to fool around.
A voice suddenly came from the audience.
"Lockhart will win!"
Xiao Deng's hand, which was flicking his wand, paused.
He recognized it; the voice just now was Hermione, shouting while pinching her nose.
Was there any sound of Hermione's that he hadn't heard? Could she really get away with it just by pinching her nose?
Immediately, a hint of hostility appeared in Xiao Deng's eyes toward Lockhart.
Professor McGonagall saw at a glance that Xiao Deng's state was off.
She covered her forehead; this brat was probably about to cause trouble again.
"Albus, get the medical staff ready to stand by."
"Xiao Deng is jealous."
Albus looked at Professor McGonagall, bewildered.
"Xiao Deng should show some mercy, right?"
At this moment, Snape, who had been silent, spoke up.
"Hermione shouted that just now."
Albus understood instantly; after all, all three of them had experienced the little interactions between Xiao Deng and Hermione.
Dumbledore looked at Snape with deep meaning.
"Severus is still so sensitive. To be able to tell he's jealous at a glance, you must have been jealous quite often yourself."
Snape glanced at the instigator, Professor McGonagall.
"Professor McGonagall!"
"When you were young..."
"Have you ever been jealous?"
Seeing how the fire was being directed at her, Professor McGonagall immediately fired back at Dumbledore.
"Albus, where is the person who could make you jealous when you were young now?"
None of the three would give an inch, and they all let out a cold snort as they looked toward the dueling stage.
Xiao Deng and Lockhart turned together, facing each other.
Lockhart waved his robes first and shouted loudly.
"Protego!"
This time, Xiao Deng had no intention of playing with him at all.
His spiritual sense had already covered the entire Great Hall, and the moment Lockhart started his move, Xiao Deng moved as well.
"Finite Incantatem."
The armor on Lockhart's body shattered instantly.
While Lockhart was still stunned, a thick, yellow-glowing spell blasted toward him.
"Expelliarmus!"
Lockhart had no time to dodge and was hit directly.
His wand snapped in two the moment he was hit.
Lockhart himself was blasted over twenty meters away and slammed into the wall behind him.
The previous cheering stopped, and it was so quiet one could hear the wand falling to the ground.
Professor McGonagall covered her forehead; how was she supposed to explain this damage to the Professor, even if it was on a dueling stage?
Snape's voice squeezed through his teeth.
"Xiao Deng held back."
After saying that, he left the farce-filled Great Hall.
Because Dumbledore had arranged for the medical staff in advance, they immediately stepped forward to treat Lockhart the moment he fell.
Professor McGonagall stepped forward to the medical staff.
"Professor McGonagall, please rest assured, he is fine."
"That person still showed mercy; most of them are impact injuries, and the injuries left by the magic are not serious."
Professor McGonagall breathed a sigh of relief. In the Wizarding World, external injuries were the easiest to treat, taking at most a few days to recover.
Healing Spells could restore things to their original state; it would only be troublesome if the Spells left lasting damage.
It seemed Snape was right; although angry, Xiao Deng still had a sense of proportion.
It was a pity he wouldn't be Principal with that kind of temperament.
Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore exchanged a look, and as old friends of many years, they could immediately understand what the other was thinking.
Hermione wanted to go forward to check on Lockhart, but stopped after taking two steps.
When she turned her head back, she saw Xiao Deng looking at her.
Before Hermione could explain, Xiao Deng stepped off the dueling stage.
Hermione wanted to chase after Xiao Deng, but there were too many Lockhart fans surrounding them, and she couldn't squeeze out for a moment.
Harry and the others naturally saw the situation.
"Do you think these two will have a falling out?"
Ron, who didn't like Lockhart to begin with, patted Harry on the shoulder and said:
"Harry, isn't that inevitable given what you're asking!"
"We all know Hermione likes Lockhart; she's a loyal fan."
"But Lockhart just had to choose Xiao Deng as his opponent."
Neville joined their discussion.
"But Xiao Deng puts so much effort into helping us; Hermione shouldn't have cheered for Professor Lockhart."
Ron glanced at Malfoy beside him.
"Creeper, say something. Don't you usually talk a lot?"
"Poor wretch, shut up!"
"Not a gentleman at all!"
"To be honest, I want to stand with Xiao Deng on this one; after all, he's helped us too much."
"Especially Harry and me; he directly saved us from being judged by the Ministry of Magic."
"If we support Hermione, wouldn't that be biting the hand that feeds us?"
Harry and Ron nodded in unison, both thinking Malfoy made sense.
Neville added quietly from the side.
"Xiao Deng can give us extra training, which we can handle, but Hermione really beats people up!"
The expressions of the three changed simultaneously, and they all fell silent. Finally, Harry spoke up.
"How about we wait and see?"
The other three companions said in unison:
"Good idea!"
Xiao Deng left the dueling Great Hall and wandered around Hogwarts alone.
Before he knew it, he had arrived at the second-floor bathroom.
As soon as Xiao Deng arrived, Myrtle came out immediately, screaming as she sat on Xiao Deng's head.
"Did you miss me, my lord?"
"Ahahaha!"
Watching Myrtle's manic energy, Xiao Deng couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth upward.
"Of course, when would I not miss you?"
"If you missed me, why didn't you come find me?"
"Don't even mention it. I made a mistake and have been in detention for the past few days."
"I was only let out today, and tomorrow I have to go to Snape's to make Potions."
"Three hundred batches!"
"Three hundred full batches!"
Myrtle covered Xiao Deng's head with her transparent skirt.
"My lord, although I feel very sorry for you."
"But, it's so funny!"
Xiao Deng's face darkened. This Myrtle wasn't obedient at all and was even mocking him.
He sighed deeply and continued:
"The main thing is that Hermione actually didn't cheer for me."
"She didn't even cheer for me after the duel was over."
Chapter 139 Taking Ginny to the Forbidden Forest
"Master, are you jealous?"
Myrtle shrieked and flew up to the ceiling.
Xiao Deng's face darkened. What was up with this little Myrtle? She sounded like she was gloating.
"Whose side are you on, anyway?"
"Heehee, of course I'm on your side, Master~"
"But, Master, you have to understand, it's normal for little girls to chase after stars."
Xiao Deng found a spot and sat down.
"But that Lockhart guy is a fraud."
Myrtle landed on Xiao Deng's head again.
"That's why, Master, you have a long and arduous road ahead."
"A long road? Her road isn't long, I think..."
"Master, shut up! Listen to me!"
"You have to find a way to let her know she's fanning the wrong person."
"And she has to discover it herself; you can't be the one to tell her."
Xiao Deng was silent for a moment, then looked up with a smile.
"Little Myrtle, how long is your road?"
Myrtle shrieked and flew up into mid-air.
"Shut up!"
"I'm talking about serious business here!"
Xiao Deng waved his hand.
"I know what you said."
"But you haven't said..."
Before Xiao Deng could finish, Myrtle hid inside the faucet.
Xiao Deng shrugged; it seemed unlikely he would be able to call Myrtle out again today.
Xiao Deng dusted off his backside, stood up, and left the bathroom.
Better go to the lakeside for some peace and quiet!
Who knows when Snape might grab him to go brew potions.
He hadn't even left Hogwarts before he ran into Ginny.
"Brother Xiao Deng, where are you going to play?"
Seeing it was Ginny, a gentle smile appeared on Xiao Deng's face.
"The place I'm going is somewhere you can't go."
"I certainly don't want your brothers coming to hunt me down."
Ginny said stubbornly, "What place can you go to that I can't?"
"I insist on going with you!"
Xiao Deng ruffled Ginny's hair.
"Alright then."
"But you have to listen to me!"
Ginny nodded heavily.
Not long after, Ginny tugged on Xiao Deng's sleeve.
"You didn't say you were coming to the Forbidden Forest!"
"Didn't the Professor say the Forbidden Forest is very dangerous?"
Xiao Deng looked at Hagrid's hut in the distance.
"That's for other people."
"Among the students at Hogwarts, only I can walk freely in the Forbidden Forest."
Xiao Deng felt his sleeve being tugged again.
"Brother Xiao Deng will protect me, right?"
Xiao Deng smiled and stroked Ginny's hair without saying anything.
The two of them entered the Forbidden Forest just like that; it was impossible for Ginny not to feel nervous.
Following closely behind Xiao Deng, it wasn't long before they saw a large expanse of lake water.
After Xiao Deng arrived, he didn't speak, and the animals by the lake only glanced at them.
Xiao Deng stared quietly at the lake. After a good while, a voice appeared beside him.
"Is Brother Xiao Deng angry with Sister Hermione?"
Xiao Deng chuckled.
"Even you noticed?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Ginny sat down beside Xiao Deng, drawing her legs up.
"I've heard my brothers' opinions of you and how you've helped them."
"To them, you must be a mentor and a friend."
"But Sister Hermione backstabbed you, so you must be feeling uncomfortable."
"And, if I might make a bold guess, your relationship with Sister Hermione must be different."
Xiao Deng smiled, picked up a stone, and threw it into the lake.
"Plop~"
"That guess of yours is very Gryffindor!"
Ginny took Xiao Deng's hand.
"Then, Brother Xiao Deng, tell me, was I right?"
Xiao Deng didn't speak, which was as good as admitting it.
"I only realized the power of your name after I came to Hogwarts."
"So many girls like you!"
"But you and Sister Hermione are so close, so I guessed there was something going on."
"But you two keep it very secret, so few people know."
"According to the grapevine, Brother Xiao Deng, you're quite the heartbreaker."
Xiao Deng's eyes widened.
"What? I don't have that many! Who's spreading rumors about me for no reason?"
A flash of mischief crossed Ginny's eyes.
"Then why did you accept her kiss?"
Xiao Deng:???
Xiao Deng looked at Ginny, who was holding his arm.
"Are you trying to entrap me?"
After hearing Xiao Deng's words, the smile on Ginny's lips became even more pronounced, and she took the opportunity to hug Xiao Deng's arm.
"If that's the case, you should stay away from me even more, not get closer."
Ginny leaned on Xiao Deng's shoulder and said:
"I won't!"
"I like Brother Xiao Deng!"
"I've liked you since the first time I saw you!"
"I want to follow you!"
"Even if you have other women!"
"I spent the whole summer vacation thinking about this."
"I don't care about anything else, I just like Brother Xiao Deng, and I want to follow you!"
Ginny rambled on about a lot of things, some even repetitive and illogical.
However, Xiao Deng didn't interrupt her; he just listened.
"What if you find out I have a lot of girls around me?"
Ginny looked up and gradually embraced Xiao Deng's head.
"As long as there's a place for me in your heart, that's enough!"
Immediately, Ginny kissed the corner of Xiao Deng's mouth.
This girl, who would have thought she'd be so stubborn.
But, in the end, he couldn't let her down!
Xiao Deng reached back to protect the back of Ginny's head and kissed her back.
After a good while, Ginny was panting, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
Ginny licked her lips, a trace of icy coolness entering her mouth.
"So, Brother Xiao Deng, have you accepted me?"
"Then how will you tell Sister Hermione?"
Xiao Deng kissed Ginny on the cheek.
"What is there to explain?"
"She saw through your intentions the first time you came to eat at our table."
Ginny covered her mouth and asked:
"No way?"
"Is it that obvious?"
Xiao Deng looked at the cute Ginny and burst into laughter.
"Let's go back, it'll be curfew soon."
Xiao Deng took Ginny back to Hogwarts.
But Xiao Deng didn't return to his Dormitory; instead, he wandered aimlessly through the corridor.
Turning a corner, he saw a figure staring straight at him.
Xiao Deng didn't say hello and turned to leave.
The figure behind him ran over and hugged Xiao Deng.
The familiar scent of the Potter family's shampoo gradually wafted over.
"Don't go!"
"I didn't mean to, I just..."
Xiao Deng patted Hermione's hand.
He spoke heavily:
"I know, I understand."
Hermione interrupted Xiao Deng and cried out:
"No, you don't understand, you're still angry with me!"
"Xiao Deng, my heart only has you, no one else!"
"I've been looking for you all afternoon in Hogwarts!"
"Everyone said they didn't know where you went!"
"I was afraid, I was afraid you didn't want me anymore!"
The usually strong Hermione's voice was trembling now.
Xiao Deng also sighed deeply, turned around, and embraced Hermione.
"Silly girl!"
"How could I not want you!"
"I told you a long time ago, you are my treasure."
Hermione snuggled into Xiao Deng's arms, feeling a great sense of security.
This special sense of security was even more reassuring and stable than the feeling of fanning Lockhart.
Chapter 140: Ginny's Problem
To chat more conveniently without being caught by Filch, the two came to the Eighth Floor.
"To be honest, Lockhart's injury is indeed your fault."
"That sentence of yours made me very angry at the time."
Hermione lightly punched Xiao Deng's chest.
"And you still say that!"
"I already know I was wrong!"
Xiao Deng stroked Hermione's hair and said softly:
"However, I know you were deceived by someone."
"Just like how most people are fooled by Lockhart."
Hermione glared at Xiao Deng, looking adorably fierce.
"I'm saying I love you, and you're attacking my idol?"
"You seem to understand the concept of reciprocity very well!"
Xiao Deng did not refute, and suddenly a paper document appeared in his hand.
"Take a look!"
Hermione frowned and took the document to read.
"Lockhart graduated from Ravenclaw."
"He won the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and has won the Most Charming Smile Award five times."
"He has also written many books, which I won't introduce too much."
"As a fan, you should be very clear about that."
"But his entire resume is fake."
"There is no such thing as an airtight wall in this world; as long as you investigate, there will definitely be flaws."
Hermione looked at the document, and the more she read, the tighter her brows furrowed.
"This is just too unbelievable!"
"Lockhart is actually this kind of person!"
"You are stubborn, even in bed..."
"Can you talk about serious matters!"
Xiao Deng was digressing and was interrupted by Hermione.
"Alright, alright! Serious matters!"
"I originally wanted you to see Lockhart's true face for yourself."
"But he has already integrated performance into his instincts."
"You are very smart and would have discovered it sooner or later, but if you relied on yourself to find some clues, it would take a long time."
"In that case, the problems between us would exist for a long time."
"That's why I brought this document for you to see at this time."
Feeling Xiao Deng's good intentions, Hermione hugged Xiao Deng again.
"Now I see it clearly!"
"But having said that, how are things developing with you and Ginny?"
Xiao Deng started playing dumb at this moment.
"What do you mean 'how'? She is Ron's sister."
Hermione's small hand had long since slipped into Xiao Deng's waist.
"Hiss~"
"I'll talk, I'll talk!"
Xiao Deng covered the place where he was pinched.
"Pinching people at the drop of a hat!"
"Well..."
"We just kissed."
Hermione glared at Xiao Deng and asked:
"Really just a kiss?"
Xiao Deng immediately launched a counterattack against Hermione.
"Little Hermione, if you like being in the wild, we can also..."
"Shut up!"
Hermione blushed and stopped Xiao Deng from continuing.
Xiao Deng put his arm around Hermione's slim waist and asked:
"How did you know about Ginny's problem?"
"And how did you guess Ginny's thoughts?"
Hermione lifted her chin with a look of triumph.
"Does this need guessing?"
"When I first met Ginny, I really wasn't sure."
"But I don't know Ginny, but I know you!"
"I know the tricks in your heart all too well."
"Just as clearly as Dabai does not doubt the colors of your heart."
"Ginny has come to our table to eat many times."
"And you, you came back with Ginny again today, isn't that obvious enough?"
"However, buddy, isn't your progress too slow?"
"Just a kiss?"
"Are you capable or not?"
Xiao Deng's face darkened; who could endure such provocation?
"Don't you know if I'm capable or not?"
Hermione blushed and pressed down on the hand that had already reached her thigh.
"No!"
"You don't have class tomorrow, but I do!"
"I don't want to... be unable to get out of bed!"
Xiao Deng hooked Hermione's chin.
"When you were lighting the fire, you weren't thinking about having class tomorrow."
"Call me Daddy, call me Daddy and I'll let you go back."
Hermione pointed her index finger at Xiao Deng's nose bridge.
"Don't go too far!"
Xiao Deng didn't accept the threat at all, stuck out his tongue and licked her index finger.
Hermione retracted her hand with a swoosh.
Hermione took a deep breath and let it out.
When it comes to being shameless, she is still far behind Xiao Deng.
Finally, clutching her little fist, she spoke under self-consolation.
"Daddy!"
A smile immediately hung on Xiao Deng's face.
"Hehe, I'm very satisfied, go back."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Xiao Deng, who was sitting on the bed looking smug, turned around, and left the Eighth Floor.
Xiao Deng was not in a hurry to return to the Dormitory, but instead lay down on the bed.
However, Xiao Deng's divine sense surged out, covering the entire Girls' Dormitory.
To see if he could catch a fish tonight.
About an hour passed, and Xiao Deng suddenly opened his eyes.
In his divine sense, Ginny slowly walked out of the Girls' Dormitory.
Xiao Deng followed quietly.
Ginny seemed very familiar with Hogwarts, not hesitating at every turn.
Not at all like what a new student should be like.
As Ginny walked, she saw someone appear in front of her.
Ginny ran over and asked in surprise:
"Xiao Deng, you're out for a night stroll too!"
"You can't tell the Professors that I came out too."
Xiao Deng smiled and asked: "What are you doing out here?"
Ginny replied: "I was tired from my night stroll and a bit hungry, so I wanted to find something to eat."
Xiao Deng narrowed his eyes; the aura of the person mixed on Ginny seemed a bit familiar.
"Didn't I give you two chicken legs earlier? Hungry again?"
Ginny's behavior was very natural, and she scratched her head embarrassedly.
"I ate them all, hehe, I might have a big appetite today!"
Xiao Deng silently took out his wand and pointed it at Ginny.
"Xiao Deng, what do you mean by this?"
Xiao Deng snorted coldly and asked:
"You are not Ginny, who exactly are you?"
Hearing this, "Ginny's" face changed drastically, and she immediately turned and ran.
Xiao Deng immediately chased after her.
Originally, Xiao Deng could have easily caught up to Ginny, but fearing to hurt Ginny, he gave the thing inside her a chance.
It controlled Ginny to run, while it immediately withdrew from Ginny's body and ran in the opposite direction.
Just as Ginny was about to fall to the ground, Xiao Deng caught her.
Looking back, the black mist had already disappeared.
Just at the moment that black mist left Ginny's body, Xiao Deng recognized it.
Isn't this the remnant soul that had been on the back of Quirrell's head all this time?
Why did he come back? What unforgettable thing at Hogwarts makes him so obsessed?
He's back, does this mean Quirrell is already dead?
This question probably needs to be discussed with Dumbledore.
Looking down at the unconscious Ginny, he shook his head.
It's too late to chase now, better take care of Ginny first.
Xiao Deng cannot go to the Girls' Dormitory, so he can only arrange for Ginny to be on the Eighth Floor.
As an excellent disciple of the Hehuan Sect, Xiao Deng naturally would not do anything to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state, at most just a couple of kisses.
After settling Ginny down, he closed his eyes and sat cross-legged by the bed.
He won't sleep tonight, just watch over Ginny.
He doesn't intend to notify the Weasleys, let's see Ginny's condition tomorrow.
If there are any aftereffects, he will have to ask for leave for her first.
Chapter 141: Clearing the Air
Early in the morning, Ginny woke up dazed.
She opened her eyes and got a fright; this was not her Dormitory!
Immediately, she saw Xiao Deng sitting nearby, which made her heave a sigh of relief.
Ginny did not call out to Xiao Deng, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Are you awake?"
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
Ginny:???
What happened last night?
Ginny immediately lifted the blanket to look inside.
Eh? Her clothes were perfectly neat!
Seeing Ginny's actions, Xiao Deng's face darkened, and he covered his forehead!
What on earth was this girl thinking?
When he looked up, he happened to catch Ginny's somewhat suspicious gaze lingering on his face before moving downward.
"Brother Xiao Deng, is the conflict between you and Sister Hermione really just because of Lockhart?"
Only then did Xiao Deng realize that when people are speechless, they really do laugh.
He gently tapped Ginny's smooth forehead.
"What are you blindly thinking about all day!"
"You should not be looking at me with that suspicious gaze."
"And definitely do not look down!"
"Think about it, do you remember anything after I walked you back to the Dormitory?"
When Xiao Deng brought this up, Ginny frowned, thought for a moment, and shook her head.
She could not remember anything after returning to the Dormitory.
"Then have you come into contact with any strange people recently?"
Facing Xiao Deng, Ginny did not hide anything.
"People, no, but there is an object."
"A black diary."
"I often talk to it, including the matter of me liking you and confessing to you; it was the one that guided me to be brave."
After hearing this, Xiao Deng's pupils constricted. Isn't this just bewitchment that amplifies inner thoughts?
By following this method, one could invade Ginny's mind and thus control her.
But last night, he encountered himself, which forced the plan to be broken.
He probably did not have the ability to stand under the sun yet, so he could only sneak into Hogwarts.
In order not to cause widespread panic and lead to stricter management at Hogwarts, he had to give up on Ginny.
If a student were to have an accident, Dumbledore would most likely step in to investigate the matter strictly.
Looking at it this way, he was still somewhat wary of Dumbledore.
Seeing that Ginny was fine, Xiao Deng stepped forward and patted her head.
"If you are fine, go to class."
"But before class, go back to the Dormitory and give me that diary."
Ginny nodded, glanced at Xiao Deng, and looked downward, feeling a bit disappointed.
"Ginny!"
Xiao Deng was at his wit's end; what was wrong with this girl?
Could it be a side effect of being bewitched by the diary?
Yes, yes, yes! It must be!
Ginny came back to her senses, her face flushing red.
"Brother Xiao Deng, please walk me back."
Xiao Deng had walked Ginny back early.
But not long after, Ginny came out in a panic.
"Brother Xiao Deng, it is bad!"
"That diary is gone!"
Xiao Deng's heart skipped a beat, but on the surface, he remained calm and collected.
"It is fine, I will handle it."
"You go to class first."
Ginny went to her class, looking back every few steps.
This matter still needed to be communicated to Dumbledore, to let him be mentally prepared.
He would not act alone; making full preparations was the vision and demeanor of a God-Transformation expert.
He was not the Child of Destiny; he could not be reckless, everything relied on caution.
After sending Ginny off, Xiao Deng went to find Dumbledore.
But coincidentally, Snape was also there.
"Is the genius student playing hide-and-seek again recently?"
"If you are in a bad mood, go help me brew some Potion to relax."
Xiao Deng's face stiffened. Who in their right mind would go to you to brew Potion to relax?
He really knows how to seize every opportunity!
Wait? Even Snape could tell my state at that time?
What else do these old guys know?
Xiao Deng did not speak; with a wave of his hand, a shielding spell covered the entire office.
Dumbledore and Snape exchanged glances; they also did not say anything and each cast a spell, putting up a shielding spell.
Only then did Dumbledore look at Xiao Deng.
"What happened that requires shielding?"
Xiao Deng sat down, not beating around the bush.
"Lord Voldemort has returned."
As the words fell, the expressions of both men were shocked as they looked at Xiao Deng.
"Why are you so shocked?"
"You know that Lord Voldemort escaped."
"You are also clear that that prophecy was not fulfilled."
"You also know that neither Harry nor Lord Voldemort died."
"Why are you making such expressions?"
Snape's expression did not change, but Dumbledore looked a bit embarrassed.
"It is just... just a bit surprised."
"You tell us first, what exactly happened?"
The attention of both Snape and Dumbledore was focused on Xiao Deng.
Xiao Deng nodded.
"When I met Ginny yesterday, it was a bit strange; there was a familiar feeling about her."
"Oh, Ginny is the youngest daughter of Weasley Family."
Snape snorted coldly.
"Mr. Genius is really popular with girls."
Xiao Deng was stunned; logically, Snape should not be interested in this.
"Oh, Merlin's beard!"
"Is Professor Snape envious?"
Dumbledore, seeing Xiao Deng starting to tease again, immediately interrupted him, otherwise Snape would go crazy again in a moment.
"Shut up, can you talk about business!"
Xiao Deng knew when to stop.
"Then I staked out at night."
"Sure enough, Ginny came out for a night stroll last night."
"After I pointed out that it was not Ginny herself, he ran away."
Dumbledore was silent for a while and asked:
"Did he appear out of thin air?"
Xiao Deng shook his head.
"I asked Ginny about this."
"Ginny knew nothing about the experience of coming out for a night stroll; she had no memory of it."
"But she mentioned a black diary."
"This notebook would chat with her and, in the process of chatting, bewitch her to do some things."
"I feel that the control over the host was completed bit by bit through this bewitchment."
"I suspect it is highly likely a Dark Arts object."
Dumbledore rubbed his temples; he had not had a few days of peace before this came again.
"This is bad!"
"If he escaped, we do not know who the next bewitched person will be."
Xiao Deng took over Dumbledore's words.
"So we need to be relaxed on the outside but tense on the inside, and night patrols need to be strengthened."
"We must keep an eye on every little Wizard who comes out for a night stroll."
"But even if we discover them, we cannot expose them, lest he escapes again."
Xiao Deng spoke very comprehensively; there was basically nothing to add.
For now, in order not to alert the enemy, this is the only way.
It will just be hard on the Professors patrolling at night.
Xiao Deng actually did not need these Professors to patrol; once his spiritual sense was activated, no one who came out at night could escape his monitoring.
But Xiao Deng still felt it was better not to say it out loud.
After all, it related to his identity, and exposing too much would make it hard to explain.
If he were treated as a Dark Wizard, it would be even more counterproductive.
If absolutely necessary, he would secretly tell them which little Wizard was suspicious and let them pay more attention.
Chapter 142: Lockhart Finds a Diary
Lockhart finally stood up from his hospital bed.
He couldn't figure it out; he really couldn't understand how this young Wizard previously didn't have such terrifying magic intensity.
Before, catching him off guard and blasting him two meters away was probably his limit.
Now, this young Wizard named Xiao Deng had blasted him directly off the stage!
This was no longer just about losing a duel.
It was face, face—let me repeat—this was a matter of face!
He was a Professor, yet a young Wizard had actually used such great force.
How preposterous!
The more Lockhart thought about it, the greater the resentment in his heart grew.
His physical issues had been completely healed, but the scars on his soul would not heal for a long time.
Lockhart walked through the deserted corners of Hogwarts, thinking of Xiao Deng.
Xiao Deng was bestowing tenderness in a room on the Eighth Floor.
Was the grace he could offer to simply let go silently?
No! Impossible!
He had to win back his face!
Suddenly, the corner of Lockhart's eye caught a glimpse of black.
Lockhart walked over curiously and picked it up.
It turned out to be a black diary.
Others might find a diary useless.
But he was Lockhart, and he immediately thought of finding the owner of this diary.
That way, his reputation could improve again, and he could gain some presence in front of the young Wizards.
He was a warm-hearted, good Professor!
He could even write another book, writing about how he went to great lengths, through all kinds of hardships, and with integrity, to find the owner of the diary.
If he released another best-selling book, he could make a name for himself in the Wizarding World once again.
His reputation would remain active before the public.
He was simply a genius!
Lockhart opened the diary, wanting to see if there was a name written inside.
But upon opening it, he found it was empty.
This time, Lockhart was not disappointed; instead, he was even more pleasantly surprised.
This way, he could use the Hogwarts notification system to make an announcement.
He would tell everyone about his noble character and that he would personally return the intact diary to the owner.
Just as Lockhart was reveling in his own world, an event occurred that made his pupils shrink.
He saw that a polite greeting had appeared on the notebook.
"Hello, I am very happy to meet you."
Lockhart sat down on the floor with a thud, so scared that he reflexively threw the diary away.
Tom: "Fuck! You just wait; when I get out, you'll be the first one I deal with!"
Lockhart stared, still shaken, at the black diary lying quietly on the ground.
What on earth is this? How can it produce words?
Lockhart racked his brain and finally, from his mediocre mind, a guess popped out.
Could this be an item of Dark Arts?
Lockhart was a bit scared, but also a bit curious.
Does this diary really have its own consciousness?
It won't hurt me, will it?
No, if it could actively hurt people, would it be left lying casually on the ground?
At this moment, Lockhart felt he had suddenly become smart.
The most critical thing was that he could grasp the key to the problem, and by grasping the key to the problem, he could figure out the critical issue.
Is this a side effect caused by Xiao Deng? Did he release poison as well?
If your feet leave the ground, there's no pressure on your legs, and the virus can't travel up.
His brilliant IQ had occupied the high ground again!
Yes, yes, yes, it must be like that!
Lockhart crawled over, brushed the dust off the black diary, and slowly opened it.
As the king of pretentiousness, how could he not carry a quill with him?
Lockhart stood up and adjusted his clothes, reaching his hand up to his head, his sleeves falling slightly.
His right hand reached out to the side again; after this whole grand gesture, he slowly reached toward his chest pocket.
He took out an exquisite quill and planned his writing on the diary.
Tom: "Does this guy have some serious mental illness?"
After finding the right position and angle to write, Lockhart began to write.
"Hello, same here."
Tom was speechless. "You went through all that grand motion just to write these few words?"
"You have met me, so you must be my fan."
Tom: "The hell I'm your fan!"
"Since that is the case, you should know my identity."
Tom: "Merlin's mother knows your identity! Tell me, what is your identity? Say it and see if you can scare me to death."
"Oh, my dear sir, I do not know your identity."
"Please forgive my offense; if you may, please introduce yourself."
Lockhart took a minute to find the angle before writing again.
Tom: "Write already! If you can scare me to death, I'll be impressed!"
"I am in the corridor, the environment is not suitable. I will tell you formally when I return to my office."
Saying this, Lockhart closed the notebook, tucked it under his arm, and walked toward his office.
Tom: "I want to kill you! Kill you!"
Ugh!
Only saying half of what you mean, and you have body odor too!
Ugh!
After returning to his office, Lockhart locked the door.
He knew that although this thing seemed to have no danger, there was a great risk if someone saw him hiding an item of Dark Arts.
Thinking of this, a flash of inspiration struck Lockhart.
That's it! He could write another book specifically about items of Dark Arts.
The title would be "The Daily Life of Dark Arts Items Being Reprimanded by Lockhart."
Lockhart nodded with satisfaction, already imagining fans all over the world exclaiming in awe.
Lockhart placed the diary on his desk.
"I am the famous Gilderoy Lockhart."
"Order of Merlin, Third Class; Honorary Member of the Dark Arts Defense League; five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award."
Tom: "That's it?"
"If you can't state any other achievements, when I return, the first thing I'll do is give you a Killing Curse!"
"Items of Dark Arts of your type—if I haven't encountered a hundred, I've encountered eighty."
"So, what I mean is, you had better behave yourself."
At first, Tom was startled—eighty items?
Then he realized, this bastard is just bragging!
Hogwarts Professors are getting worse and worse.
How can such a loser become a Professor?
Tom suppressed the anger and disdain in his heart.
"Then you are truly successful!"
"To be a Wizard, one should be like you."
Tom felt nauseous; when had he ever said such things in all these years?
Everywhere he went, wasn't he the one being flattered?
Now he had fallen to the point of flattering others.
Lockhart, is it? You just wait.
After the Basilisk is awakened, you'll be the first one it eats!
"However, what is the meaning of your existence? To chat with others?"
Tom: "Chatting, my ass! The first purpose of me summoning the Basilisk is to kill you!"
"Yes and no."
"I can take you to witness history."
"I can feel a resentment in your heart."
"Take you to see ancient history, and learn the best Spells from history."
"To soothe the anger in your heart!"
Chapter 143: Lockhart Learns Spells
Seeing such a reply from the diary, Lockhart felt a bit excited.
However, reviewing history—in other words, isn't that just entering someone else's memory?
Lockhart's other abilities were pathetic, but when it came to memory, if he claimed to be a master, others would surely agree he was a master, even if he was just a small-time nobody.
Lockhart pondered for a moment. Looking throughout history, there was likely no one else with such extraordinary talent as himself. Even if there were a problem, he could still preserve his own consciousness. Lockhart thought to himself arrogantly.
"What magic can you teach me?"
"Any attack Spells you can think of will do."
"Then give me a simple one first, let's see what you've got."
Tom: A rookie is just a rookie; if you're incompetent, you still have to find an excuse. Would it kill you not to show off?
Immediately, the entire diary began to glow. The light enveloped Lockhart.
Lockhart felt a momentary trance, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a corridor.
"This looks a bit familiar."
"Hmm? Isn't this Hogwarts?"
"Hmm, a Hogwarts diary recording Hogwarts—very reasonable!"
Lockhart hadn't quite figured out what was going on when footsteps appeared in the corridor. Lockhart hurriedly looked up.
He saw a handsome young man wearing a Hogwarts uniform. The snake emblem on his chest indicated he was a Slytherin student.
The young man's expression was somewhat gloomy as he turned into a room on his own. Lockhart followed the young man inside.
However, what he saw before him made him somewhat incredulous.
Such a large build was easy to identify; this was Hagrid when he was young.
In other words, this was a piece of Hogwarts history.
Young Hagrid—didn't that mean going back forty or fifty years?
Hagrid looked somewhat flustered when he saw the young man enter.
"Tom, why are you here?"
The young man named Tom did not answer Hagrid's question.
From Lockhart's perspective, this person named Tom pulled out his wand from his crotch and pointed it at Hagrid.
"Hand over the monster!"
Hagrid shielded the box with his whole body.
"No!"
"Aragog won't hurt anyone, there must be a mistake!"
A cold sneer curled the corners of Tom's mouth.
"Your word doesn't count, Hagrid!"
"I am doing this for the sake of Hogwarts."
"You'd better hand it over obediently; don't make me take action."
"No! It is my friend; I cannot let you hurt it!"
Seeing that Hagrid was still unwilling, Tom directly waved his wand.
"Reducto: Reducto."
The box Hagrid was protecting exploded instantly.
"Aragog, run!"
A giant spider crawled out from a pile of debris. Hearing Hagrid's words, it rushed out in an instant.
The young man named Tom had a cold sneer on his lips.
"Hagrid."
"It's best that no one gets hurt again after this."
"Otherwise, you will be held responsible!"
A burst of light once again engulfed Lockhart, and by the time he reacted, he was still sitting on the stool.
That spell just now was amazing!
"Can you teach me the spell that made the box explode just now?"
Tom: Does this guy have something wrong with his brain? With such an obvious secret here, he isn't curious at all? Can you even learn it with your aptitude?
"Of course."
"I can teach you, but I can't guarantee you can learn it; I know nothing about your magic talent."
Lockhart picked up his pen and scribbled on the notebook again, making Tom so angry he wanted to shove that pen up his nose!
"Of course I can learn it, I am Lockhart!"
"It seems you didn't pay attention to my self-introduction just now."
"I can give you one of my books!"
"Oh, I forgot, you are just a notebook."
"I can write my book on this notebook so you can fully understand me."
"After all, I am a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, an honorary member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League, and a five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award."
"My reputation in the Wizarding World is world-renowned."
Tom: Do the people at the Ministry of Magic have their eyes in their noses? Can such a mediocre person be the center of attention?
"Do you still want to learn that spell?"
Lockhart's pen paused.
"Yes!"
"But you are too ungentlemanly; how can you interrupt so casually..."
Before Lockhart could finish writing, he was enveloped by a burst of light. He once again arrived in the memory from before, seeing Tom cast it again.
"Reducto: Reducto."
Lockhart couldn't spare the time to complain about the diary's rude behavior and followed Tom's movements to cast it.
The giant spider ran away, and Lockhart felt a trance as he returned to reality.
Lockhart looked at his own hands and took out his wand.
"Red..."
"R..."
"What was it again?"
Tom: If the Basilisk is awakened by him, won't it really become an idiot?
"Let me see it one more time."
"Alright."
A burst of light flashed... Two bursts of light flashed... Eight bursts of light flashed...
As soon as Lockhart came out, he waved his wand.
"Reducto: Reducto."
The ink bottle on the table exploded instantly, and the ink inside sprayed out, splashing onto the black diary.
Tom: Besides getting ink all over me, what else can you do?
"Success! I succeeded!"
"Hahaha!"
"I can go take my revenge now!"
After laughing, Lockhart gradually calmed down. He had watched that memory of the spider a full eight times. Even the slowest person could see that there must be a secret inside.
"This piece of history seems to have a secret; do you know it?"
Tom: Oh heavens, oh earth! Which angel sister helped me out! Finally, he's enlightened enough to ask!
"I know."
"Fifty years ago, a Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts was opened."
"After it was opened, someone died."
"The killer was the heir of the Chamber of Secrets."
"But this murderer was never caught and has lived until now."
Lockhart looked at his legs, currently sitting on the stool. Fifty years ago, he was still a single-celled organism!
According to the scene recreated in the memory and the diary's description. Could it be...
"You don't mean to say that Hagrid is the heir of the Chamber of Secrets?"
"Did Hagrid kill someone?"
The diary did not reply to his question.
Lockhart was also somewhat conflicted in his heart. If that were the case, did Dumbledore know Hagrid's identity? Was he shielding the murderer? Lockhart scribbled on the notebook again.
Tom:...
"If Hagrid killed someone, why wasn't he sanctioned?"
Lockhart thought the diary wouldn't reply to him, but unexpectedly, words slowly appeared.
"That is something you would have to ask Dumbledore."
"If there is one person in this world who can protect a murderer, it would only be Dumbledore."
"Of course, it might have been in collusion with the Principal at the time."
The former Principal—Lockhart, being a poor student, was also unclear about history. What was it, Di-something-something-te? Ultraman Tiga?
Chapter 144: Celebrating Hermione's Birthday
Unable to recall, Lockhart did not continue to trouble himself.
Gesticulating!
Tom:...
"Is there any other information? Since you are my fan, I can help you analyze it."
Tom: You bastard!
"The Chamber of Secrets was closed, and Hogwarts did not want this matter to spread; after all, it had a bad influence."
"Therefore, it was announced to the outside world that the girl died in an accident."
"Everyone thought that the matter was over."
"But that monster had escaped."
"Hagrid is still alive, and that monster is still alive as well."
"I don't know when they will make a comeback."
"As for whether what I said is true, you don't need to doubt it; the Ministry of Magic has records."
Lockhart's brain, which was already insufficient, was now even less adequate.
There was too much information, and he couldn't digest it all at once.
Tom: Let's put aside whether the Basilisk is smart or not; if I control it, will I get infected?
Lockhart naturally did not know what the diary was thinking.
He had only one thing on his mind: could he use this matter to become famous?
If the truth of that year was really like this, it would be equivalent to holding Dumbledore's weakness in his hands.
Who was Dumbledore? Who in the entire Wizarding World didn't know him?
If he took down Dumbledore and wrote it into a book, couldn't he also go down in history?
Then what would be published in the newspapers is that the great Dumbledore is someone who covers up crimes.
Not fearing authority and bravely exposing this powerful person, he would be the embodiment of justice, a hero acting on the dangerous front line.
Lockhart's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and the corners of Tom's mouth—oh, the corners of the diary—smiled even more happily.
Every word he said was the truth, and every memory was real.
But after being scrambled and reorganized, it was a brand-new story.
As long as Lockhart cared about this matter and was obsessed with it.
Then he could gradually invade Lockhart and thereby achieve the goal of controlling him.
The Basilisk was not far from him!
...
While Lockhart had a headache practicing Spells, Xiao Deng had just come out of the Eighth Floor.
"The timing is just right; it's almost time to eat."
Afterwards, Xiao Deng rushed to the dining hall.
Hermione saw Xiao Deng come in immediately, but she didn't greet him.
Xiao Deng sat down slowly and unhurriedly beside Hermione.
"What did you go do today? I didn't see you all day."
"Did you study, or do you only know how to play?"
Xiao Deng was not an ordinary person; he immediately heard the meaning behind Hermione's words.
"It's not like I don't have things to do!"
"I've been too busy."
"Tomorrow will be even busier; I still have to go to Professor Snape for detention."
Harry and the others all looked at Xiao Deng sympathetically.
Ron took a bite of a chicken leg and said:
"You're just asking for it."
"What are you trying to gain?"
"Do you really have to go perform a show?"
"If it were me, I would be afraid to go in front of the Professors."
"Especially Professor Snape, who deducts points if he's unhappy."
"Who could stand that!"
Xiao Deng spread his hands.
"There's no help for it; who knew they couldn't take a joke."
"But the punishment has already been issued, and I can only follow the rules."
Hermione rolled her eyes at Xiao Deng.
"Are you going there to perform and make them happy?"
"You are offending people one by one."
Once Hermione spoke, the four boys at the table stopped talking.
When they were almost finished eating, Xiao Deng finally spoke.
"Let's stop the training for these two days."
"We'll make a plan after I finish my detention."
"If you go alone, I won't be at ease."
"The Professors probably won't let you go either."
Xiao Deng had his reasons for making this decision.
On one hand, without Xiao Deng's protection, it is indeed dangerous for them to go to the Forbidden Forest.
And it is a danger that cannot be ignored; without Xiao Deng present, they are no different from other young Wizards.
Any random magical creature could potentially wipe them all out.
The risks outweigh the rewards!
The person happiest about not training was Ron.
"Let's celebrate; I'll eat another chicken leg."
Hermione glanced at Ron.
"You look like a starving ghost reincarnated."
Ron looked innocent; did eating a chicken leg get in her way?
Ron exchanged glances with Harry and Neville.
Hmm! Very tacit understanding!
Hermione is really hard to deal with!
This was the consensus in their little circle.
After Xiao Deng announced his decision, he gently kicked Hermione under the table.
Hermione looked at Xiao Deng and took the opportunity to roll her eyes at him, but she didn't refute him.
Xiao Deng smiled and reached for Hermione's cup, but Hermione was quick and directly slapped Xiao Deng's hand away.
Xiao Deng sighed and had to get a cup for himself.
Time passed quickly, and the sunset slowly went down.
Those who should return to the Dormitory had already returned.
After returning to the Dormitory, Xiao Deng didn't chat much.
His roommates all thought he was tired from detention, so they didn't bother him and went to sleep quietly.
After Xiao Deng's spiritual sense detected that everyone was asleep, he went out silently.
Arriving at the Eighth Floor, Hermione hadn't arrived yet, so Xiao Deng waited for Hermione at the entrance of the Eighth Floor.
Not long after, Hermione arrived.
"Shouldn't you be waiting in bed? Why don't you go in?"
Xiao Deng took a strip of cloth from inside his robe.
"I have a surprise I want to give you, so you have to close your eyes."
Hermione took the black cloth strip from Xiao Deng's hand and looked at Xiao Deng suspiciously.
Unable to figure out what was going on, she had no choice but to obediently cover her eyes.
"Good, take my hand, and I'll take you in."
"Come on, watch the steps."
"Bang!"
As a door-closing sound rang out, Hermione knew that the two of them had already arrived inside the room.
"You can take off the cloth strip now."
The moment Hermione pulled down the cloth strip.
"Bang~"
Party poppers went off.
"Happy birthday!"
Looking at the room filled with birthday decorations, Hermione felt full of joy.
So he had been spending the whole day setting up her birthday scene.
The warm candlelight shone on Hermione's slightly surprised face, and Hermione hugged Xiao Deng tightly.
"Thank you!"
"I love it!"
"I was still being snarky to you during the day."
"I wronged you."
Xiao Deng gently wiped away the tears that fell uncontrollably from Hermione's face.
"Alright, alright, it's all in the past; come and insert the candles."
"Should I insert the candles or should you?"
Hermione nodded heavily.
"You insert them; I'll be responsible for lighting them."
After fumbling for a long time, she looked blankly at Xiao Deng.
"I don't have any matches."
Xiao Deng tapped Hermione on the nose.
"Little dummy, is it possible that you are a Wizard?"
Hermione suddenly realized, blushing as she took out her wand.
Xiao Deng counted the candles in his hand and asked:
"So how many should we insert?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at Xiao Deng.
"Just insert one to represent it; that's enough."
"Otherwise, how many are you going to insert? Should we fill it up until it's ruined?"
"And what are we going to eat then?"
Xiao Deng had black lines on his forehead; why did Hermione's words sound so strange?
Xiao Deng inserted the candle, and Hermione used Spells to light it.
Putting her hands together, she began to make a wish!