2

On the afternoon of August 31st, the start of the new school year at Hogwarts was just around the corner, and Gilderoy Lockhart was finally about to end his days of solitude.

Lockhart arrived early in the Great Hall, where Professor McGonagall was making the final arrangements. Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly took a seat at the staff table, silently cheering her on.

Above the Great Hall, thousands of candles floated in mid-air, casting a warm glow. The enchanted ceiling reflected the night sky, complete with a shining moon and twinkling stars. Rare phantoms, usually seen only on special occasions, flew around energetically, adding to the magical atmosphere.

The four house tables were arranged in the hall's corners, with Professor McGonagall using Transfiguration to add the corresponding house crests and colors.

The first professor to arrive was Professor Kettleburn. Like Lockhart, he didn't wish to interrupt Professor McGonagall's work. He gave her a thumbs up in appreciation and then joined Lockhart at the staff table. After a brief exchange of greetings, Kettleburn busied himself adjusting his wooden prosthesis.

Next to arrive was Professor Flitwick. He, too, refrained from disturbing Professor McGonagall and instead made his way to the staff table. With some effort, the diminutive professor climbed onto his chair and began chatting with Lockhart.

As a former dueling champion, Professor Flitwick was clearly interested in the rumored duelist Lockhart.

Other professors soon arrived, each respecting Professor McGonagall's concentration. They exchanged pleasantries with Lockhart before seating themselves and engaging in their conversations.

Dumbledore entered the hall, his presence commanding attention. He observed Professor McGonagall's meticulous work, giving her a trusting nod before taking his seat. For a moment, it seemed he was contemplating turning the table into something more entertaining with a flick of his wand.

However, Lockhart noticed one absence—Professor Snape. He suspected Snape had already gone to intercept Harry and Ron, who were likely arriving in their infamous flying car.

Finally, Professor McGonagall completed her preparations. The students, led by the prefects, streamed into the Great Hall, excitedly chattering about their summer adventures.

Soon after, the first-year students entered the hall, escorted by Hagrid. They looked nervous, having heard wild rumors that the sorting ceremony involved battling a giant dragon.

Professor McGonagall gently placed a four-legged stool in front of the first-years and set the ancient Sorting Hat upon it.

The freshmen held their breath as the hat's wide brim opened like a mouth, and it began to sing.

The Sorting Hat's singing might not have been the most melodious, but its lyrics were intriguing. The hat boasted about its own merits while introducing the founders of the four houses and their ideals—Gryffindor for bravery, Ravenclaw for wisdom, Slytherin for ambition, and Hufflepuff for loyalty and hard work.

Relieved that they wouldn't have to fight dragons or trolls, the new students relaxed as Professor McGonagall stepped forward with a roll of parchment in hand.

"Whoever's name I call now will put on the hat, sit on the stool, and await their sorting," she announced. "Hamilton Ayre!"

Just as Professor McGonagall began reading the list, the roar of an old-fashioned car's engine interrupted her. Lockhart immediately knew that Harry and Ron had arrived.

Volunteering to investigate, Lockhart received an approving nod from Professor McGonagall before stepping out. As he walked, he noticed a small, gray-haired boy wearing the Sorting Hat, but he paid little attention as he made his way outside.

Navigating the grounds by memory, Lockhart reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where he spotted the flying car careening out of control. It accelerated sharply as if about to crash, then swerved towards the castle walls.

Thanks to his enhanced eyesight, Lockhart could clearly see Ron's panic in the car, one hand on the steering wheel and the other clutching his wand.

"Sonorous! Lumos!" Lockhart shouted, his wand lighting up like a beacon as he directed them. "Fly towards me!"

Ron and Harry struggled with the car, barely managing to avoid a collision with the castle wall, only to veer dangerously towards the Whomping Willow in the Forbidden Forest.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Lockhart cast the Levitation Charm four times in quick succession, slowing the car's descent and allowing Harry and Ron to float safely out.

Finally, Lockhart used his strength to throw the car into the air, watching as it soared over Hogwarts' Astronomy Tower before splashing down into the Black Lake.

The car bobbed a few times in the water before sinking, leaving Lockhart holding a very shaken Harry and Ron as they floated safely back to the ground.

At that moment, Professor Snape arrived, slightly out of breath, his face a mask of fury. He had anticipated the car's arrival but had not expected it to land so unpredictably.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor!" Snape snapped, his eyes blazing.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor!" Lockhart echoed, then added, "But the school year hasn't started yet, so Gryffindor has no points to lose!"

Harry and Ron, despite their fear, couldn't help but laugh at this. Snape's face turned from pale to furious, almost blending into the dark night as he glared at Lockhart.

"Hand them over!" Snape growled, his voice low and menacing as he addressed Harry. "Follow me!"

"I believe they belong in Gryffindor, Professor Snape," Lockhart replied firmly, refusing to back down.

Snape finally turned on his heel and stormed off, with Lockhart, Harry, and Ron following close behind.

Lockhart led the boys back to the Great Hall just in time for them to watch the sorting ceremony. Snape, still seething, continued to shoot daggers at Lockhart, who matched his stare, silently critiquing Snape's greasy hair and overly large nose.

The lively atmosphere of the sorting ceremony soon distracted Harry and Ron from their earlier ordeal. When Ginny was sorted into Gryffindor, Ron hugged Harry, their spirits lifted.

After the sorting ceremony, Professor McGonagall escorted the boys away.

Dumbledore rose to speak, his voice carrying over the crowd.

"Welcome!" he said warmly. "Welcome to a new school year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our feast, I would like to say a few words: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!"

"Thank you!" Dumbledore concluded, sitting back down as applause and cheers filled the hall.

Dumbledore's seemingly nonsensical words were, in fact, playful jabs at the four houses: Gryffindor's recklessness, Ravenclaw's tendency to overthink, Slytherin's ambition, and Hufflepuff's steadfastness.

With Dumbledore's speech finished, the golden plates in front of everyone magically filled with food. Alongside the traditional British dishes like roast beef, lamb chops, and sausages.

The Great Hall was soon filled with the sounds of laughter, clinking utensils, and cheerful conversation.

As the main courses were cleared away, desserts and drinks appeared. Lockhart sipped on sour plum soup, listening as Dumbledore began his concluding remarks.

"Oh, now that everyone has eaten and drunk their fill, I have a few reminders before bed," Dumbledore said.

"First-years should note that the Forbidden Forest is off-limits. Some of our older students should also remember this."

His twinkling eyes flicked towards the Weasley twins.

"Also, Mr. Filch has asked me to remind you that no magic should be used in the corridors between classes."

"Quidditch trials will be held in the second week of the term. Anyone interested in joining their house team should contact Madam Hooch."

"And finally, I'm pleased to welcome our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Lockhart!"

The hall erupted in applause and cheers, so much so that Dumbledore had to pause before continuing.

"Now, before we head to bed, let us sing the school song!" Dumbledore declared. Lockhart noticed the other professors' smiles falter slightly.

Dumbledore flicked his wand, and a long golden ribbon unfurled, displaying the lyrics high above the tables.

"Everyone pick their favorite tune," said Dumbledore. "And...begin!"

The hall filled with a cacophony of melodies as students and staff sang the Hogwarts school song to their tunes.

Lockhart, feeling particularly joyful, sang to the tune of "Today Is a Good Day," quickly inspiring a large number of students to join him, even the Weasley twins, who abandoned their usual somber tune.

In this atmosphere of joy, the opening feast concluded. Lockhart returned to his quarters, and the students followed the prefects back to their respective house dormitories.

------

Lockhart's first lesson was with the second-year Gryffindors on the afternoon of the first day of school.

The class bell rang, and the students entered the classroom, chatting animatedly. When all the students had arrived, Lockhart made a dramatic entrance, flying directly into the classroom, hovering in mid-air.

His mastery of the Levitation Charm had improved to the point where he could now perform it silently and without a wand.

This unique entrance immediately captured the students' attention, and under Lockhart's watchful gaze, the group of noisy Gryffindors quickly fell silent.

"Before we begin, I must tell you a story that underscores the importance of this class," Lockhart announced. "Once, there was a young wizard who didn't take Defense Against the Dark Arts seriously."

After a brief pause, Lockhart continued in a low, ominous tone: "And then he died."

The young wizards were initially startled by Lockhart's serious tone, but when they heard the abrupt ending, they couldn't help but laugh.

"You may think I'm joking," Lockhart said, continuing with his lecture. "But I'm not. Just take a look at the Daily Prophet. How many wizards die from various accidents each year?"

"Fenrir Greyback, the notorious werewolf, is still at large. Each year, more than ten wizards are bitten or even killed by him!"

"The banshee in the lake, the ghoul in the mud—there are countless creatures that could end your life!"

"And then there are the dark wizards. Do you know how many wizards were killed by You-Know-Who and his Death Eaters more than ten years ago?"

"Moreover, you must not utter his name. It has been cursed, and anyone who speaks it will immediately be known to him."

"Too many people who resisted him were found and tortured to death for this reason. I don't want any of you to be next."

"Too many people die from various causes, but if you study Defense Against the Dark Arts diligently, you can avoid such a fate."

"I will teach you how to detect and resist all manner of dark creatures and how to protect yourself when facing dark wizards—provided you are willing to work hard."

"There was once a wizard who didn't take Defense Against the Dark Arts seriously, and then he died. I want you to treat this not as a joke or a story but as a mantra."

Lockhart delivered this admonition in the most serious tone possible as he flew around the classroom.

Seeing the young wizards below, now too nervous to make a sound, Lockhart knew he had achieved his goal.

Professor McGonagall had advised him before the class that the most important thing in the first lesson was to win the students' respect and establish authority. She had even given an example, referencing her own transformation into a cat.

Now, Lockhart was doing the same with his Levitation Charm and foreboding speech.

After finishing, Lockhart scanned the room and continued, "The seriousness of my words was to impress upon you the importance of Defense Against the Dark Arts. It doesn't mean that I'm a naturally serious person.

"If you have any questions about the lesson, I'd be happy to answer them. You may ask now."

Hermione was the first to raise her hand.

"Very well, Miss Granger. Please ask your question—but remember, academic questions only."

"Professor Lockhart, I want to know how you managed to fly. Did you use the Levitation Charm?" Hermione asked, voicing a question that had been on her mind for over a month.

She had tried repeatedly and read numerous books but still couldn't figure out the answer.

"That's an excellent question. First of all, yes, I did use the Levitation Charm to fly. Now, who can tell me the principle behind the Levitation Charm?"

Hermione was the first to raise her hand again. "The essence of the Levitation Charm is to use magic to lift objects, but wizards cannot use it to lift themselves or work together to lift one another."

"A textbook-perfect answer. Five points to Gryffindor!" Lockhart praised Hermione before continuing.

"First, let me correct a common misconception. People say a person cannot lift themselves—that's not entirely accurate."

"Miss Granger, please stand on the podium."

Hermione did as she was instructed.

"Now, Miss Granger, tell me, why can a person stand?"

Hermione appeared thoughtful but wasn't entirely sure.

"Okay, let's try something else." Lockhart floated down from the air, placed both hands on the desk, and flipped himself into a handstand.

"Now, why am I able to stand on my head?"

"Because you're supporting yourself with your hands!" several students called out.

"Exactly! Another way to say this is that I'm lifting myself with my hands!"

Lockhart canceled the handstand, standing back on the podium. "So, when I stand normally, am I also lifting myself with my feet and legs?"

"Yes!" the class chorused.

"So, this suggests there's a loophole in the idea that a person can't lift themselves, right?"

"Yes!" the students echoed again.

"Alright, let's try another experiment. Who wants to help me out?"

This time, Harry was the first to raise his hand.

"Very well, Mr. Potter, come up and give me a hard push."

Harry approached the desk and pushed Lockhart with all his might, but due to the difference in strength and weight between them, Harry couldn't budge Lockhart and instead found himself sliding backward.

"Thank you, Mr. Potter. You may return to your seat."

After adding points for participation, Lockhart addressed the class again: "As you saw, Harry tried to push me, but because of our weight difference, he couldn't move me and ended up sliding backward himself."

"With this in mind, consider how to use the Levitation Charm to make yourself fly. I'll give you a few minutes to discuss it."

After about five minutes, Hermione raised her hand once more.

Lockhart called on her, and instead of answering directly, she performed the Levitation Charm.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Hermione incanted, and she began to rise slowly, her body floating about a meter above the ground. After three or four seconds, she lost her balance and began to fall, but Ron quickly caught her.

"An excellent Levitation Charm, Miss Granger. Now, would you explain to the class how you did it?"

Hermione thought for a few seconds before speaking: "First, I realized from Professor Lockhart's handstand that one can lift oneself by making contact with the ground."

"Then, when Harry tried to push Professor Lockhart but ended up pushing himself, I understood that when you attempt to push something much heavier than yourself, you'll push yourself instead."

"So, I tried using the Levitation Charm downward on the ground, attempting to lift the entire earth with it. Sure enough, the earth lifted me up in return, and I flew!" Hermione finished, looking expectantly at Lockhart.

"An excellent explanation and demonstration! Twenty points to Gryffindor!" Lockhart announced, leading the class in applause for Hermione, which the other students joined enthusiastically.

Lockhart was employing a teaching method inspired by Socratic questioning, guiding students to think critically and arrive at answers on their own instead of simply providing them. So far, it seemed to be working well.

--------

Lockhart had allowed about twenty minutes for the eager young wizards to practice levitating themselves with the Levitation Charm. Both Harry Potter and Cormac McLaggen managed to lift off the ground for a few seconds, earning Gryffindor five points each for their efforts.

Meanwhile, Seamus Finnigan caused a minor explosion on the floor, though fortunately, Hogwarts Castle's protective enchantments absorbed the impact. Neville Longbottom, struggling to control his spell, shot himself into the ceiling, shattering a chandelier. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Lockhart had to pause the lesson briefly to repair the chandelier with a quick Reparo.

After the Levitation Charm practice, Lockhart handed out a parchment to each student, enchanted with a Minotaur Magic Labyrinth.

"Let's try a little test," Lockhart announced. "Each parchment contains a Minotaur magic labyrinth, with different scenarios depicted. You'll need to choose the appropriate spells for each situation and cast them on the parchment. If your spell is correct, a corresponding magic runestone will appear, fitting neatly into the parchment's grooves, allowing you to turn the page."

Since the second-year students were the test subjects, the scenarios Lockhart designed weren't overly complex. They dealt with everyday situations a young wizard might face, such as retrieving lost items, putting out small fires, surviving a fall, or navigating in the dark.

The task was straightforward, provided the students remembered the basic spells they learned in their first year, like Unlocking Charms, Levitation Charms, Aguamenti, and Lumos, along with some basic problem-solving skills.

However, whether it was due to the limited time or the students' youth, many found it difficult to think logically or had trouble with the spells due to their limited magical power. In the end, only Hermione and Harry managed to complete all three labyrinth challenges.

Interestingly, Seamus Finnigan caused another small explosion, burning the first page of his parchment. When the second page revealed an acromantula, Seamus recalled that these creatures feared light and fire. He promptly used an Explosion Spell, thereby clearing two levels in a row.

Neville Longbottom, faced with a locked door, didn't think to use Alohomora to open it. Instead, he attempted to levitate himself over the obstacle using the Levitation Charm. Though a clever idea, he forgot that he was actually locked inside the room, making the attempt futile. Even so, Neville forced a mismatched runestone into the parchment's groove with sheer strength—a testament to his physical prowess. Perhaps he had a future as a formidable magical duelist.

After the test, Lockhart walked the students through each scenario, explaining how best to handle them and emphasizing the key points for casting certain basic spells. He then assigned their homework: an essay on how the Levitation Charm allows wizards to fly. Lockhart also informed them that any student who managed to fly into the classroom from outside in the next lesson would earn thirty extra points for their house.

To encourage independent practice, Lockhart advised the young wizards to work on exercises like running, rolling, and stepping backward to improve their balance, which would aid in their attempts to levitate themselves.

Finally, he announced the start of a Dueling Club, to be held every Saturday night in the Great Hall. All students were welcome to join, and Lockhart promised to personally teach them dueling techniques.

The class ended to enthusiastic applause—the students were thrilled by what was possibly the most exciting Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson they had ever attended.

After class, Lockhart took notes on the students' characteristics:

Hermione Granger: Excellent foundational knowledge, broad learning, and a curious mind—qualities that marked her as truly talented.Harry Potter: Quick reflexes and instinctive responses to unfamiliar situations, befitting his role as Gryffindor's youngest Seeker. His instantaneous reactions and decision-making were outstanding.Ron Weasley: Actively participated in discussions, often the first to speak when encouraged to share thoughts.Neville Longbottom: Remarkably strong, with an intriguing backstory—apparently, he fell from the second floor as a child and wasn't hurt. I could almost picture Neville, wand in one hand and sword in the other, defeating dark wizards in the future.Seamus Finnigan: Displayed a natural talent for Explosion Spells, with a magical power is high, despite being only twelve years old. He was a promising candidate for specialized offensive magic.

As for the other students, Lockhart hadn't yet identified any outstanding traits, though he was confident that time would reveal their potential.

After the second-year class ended, and following a brief break, Lockhart moved on to teaching the sixth-year students.

As usual, he began by establishing respect and authority through a display of flying and delivered a similar introduction on the mysteries of the Levitation Charm.

Sixth-year classes were elective, meaning students from all four houses were present, making the environment more competitive. The older students, now the equivalent of high school juniors, had sharper logical abilities, better development, and stronger balance. Many quickly grasped the concept of using the Levitation Charm to hover in the air, with several managing to do so for over a minute.

Percy Weasley even managed to fly from outside the classroom directly to the podium using the Levitation Charm, earning Gryffindor twenty points on the spot.

Lockhart then administered a more challenging test for the sixth-years. They were required to choose and successfully cast spells in response to high-risk magical creatures such as werewolves, Dementors, and ghosts.

Despite their higher level of experience, the sixth-years struggled with the test. Even Percy Weasley, the top performer, failed to complete the labyrinth.

While the difficulty of the test played a role, Lockhart knew the bigger issue was the years of subpar Defense Against the Dark Arts education they had received. The younger students had only missed a year of proper instruction, but the sixth-years had missed five.

Though disappointed, Lockhart remained patient, explaining the test content, assigning homework, and reminding the students about the upcoming Dueling Club.

Overall, the classroom atmosphere was promising.

----

After class, Lockhart returned to his office's rest area as usual.

Ever since Lockhart discovered a house-elf in the Hogwarts kitchen who could cook any type of food if provided recipe , his appetite had been especially good.

Tonight, he planned to start studying Tom Riddle's diary. After all, it was only the first day of school, and it was unlikely that Dumbledore would leave the school. However, to be cautious, Lockhart made a trip to the headmaster's office under the pretext of discussing Riddle's curse, confirming that Dumbledore was still on the premises.

When researching dangerous Dark Arts or cursed objects at Hogwarts, it's best not to hide too deeply or avoid Dumbledore deliberately. Doing so would mean losing the last line of defense.

Hiding in the Room of Requirement, where no one knows, might seem private but could be the most dangerous move.

Lockhart eventually went to sleep, not out of laziness but waiting for the right opportunity.

At precisely 11:59 PM on the night of September 1st, Lockhart, who had been sleeping soundly, was awakened by a mechanical voice. However, he remained composed.

"The system? Just an alarm clock," he thought to himself, yet still listened carefully to the system's prompt.

"Main Task Phase Two: 27,149 out of 10,000 steps completed.

Reward: Advanced versions of the Tri-Body Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Beast Transformation Technique, and Substitution Technique.

Main Task Phase Three: You've gained enough recognition. Try to earn some loyal followers.

Task Reward: Chakra Seal—Plant a Chakra Seal in others, allowing them to use the same kind of Chakra as you.

Current Progress: 1/100. Time Limit: None."

Today marked the last day for completing the second phase of the main task. Lockhart had been waiting for the system's notification. It seemed this system was prone to procrastination, delaying until the very end.

Still, the reward was quite good. Lockhart began testing his new abilities in the waiting room.

In addition to creating normal clones, the Shadow Clone Technique could divide his own chakra into several physical shadow clones. These clones would inherit all the abilities of the main body and could share thoughts over short distances.

After experimenting, Lockhart found that the shadow clones could also use spells, but since they didn't have wands, the power was relatively weak. It seemed they couldn't replace him in class just yet.

Shadow clones would dissipate after receiving significant damage or when the main body actively canceled them. During this time, the memories and fatigue of the shadow clones would return to the main body.

The Beast Transformation Technique, aside from normal transformation, allowed him to inherit the abilities of magical creatures when he turned into one. Lockhart tested this by transforming into a fire crab, and sure enough, his tail breathed fire.

The Substitution Technique enabled one to swap places with pre-prepared materials, or even abandon a part of the body to avoid fatal injuries.

Upon further testing, Lockhart found that a shadow clone could also be used as a substitute material to switch places or resist fatal damage.

In the third phase of the main task, Lockhart felt that after completing this task, he should be able to grant others the ability to use Chakra.

So far, he had only one loyal follower, likely Pavlovsky.

The tasks issued by this system were becoming increasingly strange, and Lockhart couldn't help but wonder what its final purpose was.

Lockhart created two shadow clones. Shadow Clone One was stationed in the innermost laboratory, ready to start studying Riddle's diary.

The main body walked out of the office, tiptoeing to the headmaster's office door, skillfully avoiding ghosts and Filch with physical techniques, ready to knock for help if Shadow Clone One encountered any issues.

Shadow Clone Two moved to the fireplace in the outer office, grabbing a handful of Floo Powder. Should Lockhart's main body need to wake Dumbledore, he would immediately switch places with Shadow Clone Two and escape via Floo Powder.

No precaution is too great when dealing with Voldemort's Horcruxes. Even Dumbledore, a wizard of immense power, fell victim to such objects twice—first, when cursed by the ring's magic, leading to his inevitable death, and again when forced to drink venom for a fake Horcrux, weakening him and ultimately contributing to his demise.

Although Lockhart possessed ninjutsu, he was better equipped to deal with physical threats rather than peculiar curses and soul manipulations.

With these preparations in place, Lockhart took an extra step, using the Beast Transformation Technique to disguise himself as a first-year student. At the same time, he altered the room's layout to resemble the Room of Requirement a few days prior.

Applying Occlumency to himself, Lockhart cautiously opened Riddle's diary.

He filled the quill with ink, then opened the diary, pretending to be careless as he let a few large drops of ink fall onto it.

Soon, the ink was absorbed by the diary without leaving a trace, and then a line of text appeared on the page.

[Hello, I am Tom Riddle. Who are you?]

[I'm Hamilton Ayre. Are you human?] Lockhart wrote once the previous line faded.

The ink Lockhart wrote was shuffled and reformed into new lines:

[I am not human. I am a magical item.]

[So you're not human! What exactly are you?] Lockhart's question followed, his tone deliberately childish.

[I am just a diary. The one who made me, Tom Riddle, left behind some memories, so I can communicate with you.] The diary's cliché response was far less sophisticated than a certain ancient ring.

[That's amazing! Can you teach me some magic? A few idiots have been annoying me, and I want to teach them a lesson.] Lockhart took the initiative, adopting a grandfatherly tone.

[Please don't do that. It's against school rules, and Dumbledore will expel you.]

This time, the diary's reply came much faster, and Lockhart guessed it was afraid that the little wizard might attract Dumbledore's attention, leading to its exposure.

[No way, no way—does anyone really think that old guy Dumbledore would expel someone?]

[Don't worry, I've read the school history. Since You-Know-Who's death, no student has left Hogwarts before graduating.]

Lockhart deliberately revealed some information to test the diary.

This time, the diary didn't reply directly but instead asked a question: [You're very brave. You must be a Gryffindor!]

[Don't confuse me with those fools—I'm a noble Slytherin!] Lockhart replied quickly, with a hint of anger in his words.

[Oh... Slytherin. You-Know-Who also graduated from Slytherin. How did he die? Was it Dumbledore who defeated him?] The diary steered the conversation back to You-Know-Who.

[No, You-Know-Who was defeated by a baby 12 years ago.] Sensing the diary's feigned curiosity, Lockhart provided more information.

[It's time for class. I have to go now.] After writing this, Lockhart closed the diary and locked it in a sealed iron box.

Lockhart didn't choose to act like a fool, which would only make the diary try to control him rather than cooperate. Instead, he pretended to be a cunning but inexperienced young Slytherin wizard, so the diary would try to influence rather than dominate him. After all, how many wizards had Voldemort deceived?

Only when Voldemort believed Lockhart had been brainwashed would he have the chance to learn the true purpose of Voldemort's soul in the diary.

Additionally, Lockhart confirmed that while this Horcrux was created when Riddle was 16, the memories within it did not end at that age. The soul inside seemed aware of the current situation.

However, its understanding likely stopped before the diary was handed over to Lucius Malfoy. It seemed Lucius hadn't dared to write anything in it.

Of course, there was another possibility—the diary knew everything and was hiding a greater conspiracy. In that case, Lockhart would need to escalate the situation.

If necessary, he would use Gryffindor's sword to end the task triggered by the diary. If that didn't work, he'd just destroy the diary itself.

To be on the safe side, Lockhart decided to keep a shadow clone in contact with the diary while avoiding it personally. At the same time, he made sure the shadow clone was ready to call for help at the headmaster's office.

Lockhart's main body switched places with the shadow clone at the headmaster's office, allowing the clone to guard the office door while he dismissed the shadow clone that had been communicating with the diary.

The first encounter with Riddle's diary was finally over. Lockhart wasn't sure whether he had been battling wits with Voldemort or just playing mind games with an empty diary. The mental exhaustion from this encounter filled him with unease.

After summoning two more shadow clones to keep watch, Lockhart moved his bed closer to the fireplace, clutching a handful of Floo Powder as he went to sleep.

Had he not been so vain and worried that his good looks might overwhelm Dumbledore, Lockhart might have simply laid out a bedroll in the headmaster's office and gone to sleep there.

Unfortunately, this idea seemed a bit too outrageous, so Lockhart could only wait for the day when he became the headmaster himself.