Chapter 148: Hello, Gilderoy Malfoy!

"Rita Skeeter, the contract has been signed, and you should know the consequences of breaking it," Lockhart said indifferently, watching Rita Skeeter descend from the cross.

"Sir, I... I know, I know," Rita stammered, recalling the pain she had just endured. Her whole body trembled as she nodded quickly.

"Okay. Later, you'll sneak into the pure-blood family camp," Lockhart instructed calmly. "You will not be short on benefits." As he spoke, he stretched out his hand, and a space-extension bag flew into Rita Skeeter's hand.

"There are 100 gold Galleons in it, including your initial funds. My house elf, Coffy, will notify you of what happens next," Lockhart continued. "Similarly, if there is anything important, you can also contact Coffy directly. Do not contact me directly."

Rita Skeeter nodded heavily. Lockhart's previous instructions replayed in her mind, and a wry smile appeared on her face. She often walked by the river without getting her shoes wet, but this time she had really failed. Recalling the pale golden magic contract that floated into her soul, Rita Skeeter felt a little weak. Lockhart was definitely a dark wizard. How could an ordinary wizard keep a basilisk?

Thinking of the rumored dark wizard's attitude and Lockhart's cold aura, combined with his oppressive words, Rita Skeeter felt a little desperate inside. But upon opening the space-extension bag and seeing the familiar golden light inside, Rita felt a little better. Knowing how to reward her and not spending her own money, Lockhart should be better than the rumored dark wizards, right?

Rita Skeeter was thinking when she suddenly saw Lockhart waving his wand to draw a circle. In an instant, a portal with sparks opened. She was surprised to see this completely unfamiliar and unknown magic. Then, looking at the familiar alley scene opposite, tears filled her eyes. It was finally time to leave and go home.

"Rita, go back and practice Occlumency. It will be good for you to lurk in the pure-blood family camp in the future," Lockhart said calmly, while gently waving a book that floated into Rita Skeeter's hands.

"Okay, sir," Rita nodded very obediently, taking the book. Espionage was dangerous and had to be taken seriously. It would be a problem if the pureblood family didn't kill her if she was discovered.

Following Lockhart's instructions, Rita stepped out of the portal and returned to the alley. Buzz! Lockhart waved his hand, and the portal closed instantly. For people like Rita Skeeter, who fear threats rather than virtues, coercion and inducement are the most effective methods. Of course, it also needs to be struck from time to time, like Voldemort's Horcrux.

Hopefully, Rita Skeeter could bring him some good news. Thoughts flashed through his mind, and Lockhart took another look at the tidied-up underground palace. Because the location of the underground palace in Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets is very secret, for thousands of years, only a few people have discovered it. The last one was discovered by Voldemort thirty or forty years ago. Therefore, it is a good choice to use it as a temporary secret base.

Later, he could use Coffy to feed the basilisk with food, which could be done here. While thinking, Lockhart once again set his sights on the location of the stone chamber. He did not forget that there was also a Slytherin Horcrux there. The wand gently drew a beautiful arc in mid-air, and sparkling lines quietly emerged. A portal leading to the Slytherin Stone Chamber slowly opened.

Lockhart took a step forward, and a footstep sounded in the originally quiet stone room. Huh! Is someone coming again? The Salazar Slytherin portrait sensed the breath of life and quietly woke up. When he opened his eyes, he saw a familiar figure.

"Hello, Gilderoy Malfoy," the Slytherin portrait greeted him with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, as if he knew it was a fake name. Hearing the address of Slytherin's portrait, Lockhart's eyes twitched. After thinking about it, he softly said, "Mr. Salazar, you should call me Lockhart. It's more pleasing to the ears."

"Okay, Lockhart," the Slytherin portrait said calmly. When he woke up this time, he didn't expect to meet such interesting people and interesting magic. For an old wizard like Salazar who had survived for thousands of years, and for Lockhart's previous performance, just using "interesting" to sum it up was enough to prove that Salazar was curious about Lockhart.

"Lockhart, do you have any questions to ask that you come to the Stone Chamber this time?" Slytherin asked with a smile. "Of course, according to the previous rules."

"One question for one question."

"Okay," Lockhart thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Mr. Salazar, I went back to look up information about Horcruxes before and got a general understanding. I would like to ask, is Salazar still alive in this world now?"

Hearing Lockhart's question, Slytherin thought for a moment and said, "I don't know either. I'm just a clone created by Salazar's split soul, possessing most of his knowledge as Salazar's legacy to Hogwarts."

Hearing this, Lockhart thought thoughtfully and continued to ask, "By the way, Mr. Salazar. It is said that Salazar hates Muggle-borns. There are rumors in Hogwarts that when the number of pure-bloods in Hogwarts decreases one day, the Chamber of Secrets will be opened and all Muggle-borns will be cleaned out. Is this rumor true?"

"Correct," Salazar nodded without hesitation. Then, looking at the surprised Lockhart, he explained, "This was a decision made by Salazar at that time. During his time, Muggle-born wizards basically belonged to various Muggle kingdoms, and few were trustworthy. At that time, Salazar only trusted pure-bloods, and only children born from wizards were worthy of trust. Although Gryffindor and the others later asked Hogwarts to also recruit mixed-bloods and Muggle-borns, Salazar still believed they were unreliable, so they left it as a last resort as a measure to protect the last legacy of Hogwarts."

The Salazar portrait looked at Lockhart, who was lost in thought, and continued, "Of course, after these years of development, I also know some changes in the wizarding world, and this method will not be easily activated."

Hearing this, Lockhart felt something was wrong and quickly asked, "Mr. Salazar, wasn't the method you left behind a basilisk? Or are there other methods?"

"Lockhart, this is your third question," Slytherin said with a smile. "After answering this question, it's your turn to answer my question. The basilisk is just a means left behind, but you have to know that the basilisk will die one day. So Salazar left other means. Don't forget, Hogwarts is a magical castle, and Salazar is its founder."

"Okay, it's your turn to answer my questions," Salazar interrupted Lockhart, who was lost in thought, and asked three questions directly. "Tell me, who is the current Headmaster of Hogwarts? What is the new magic system you are talking about? What has happened in the wizarding world in recent years?"

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