Chapter 110: Dumbledore's Afternoon Tea

The young wizards in the great hall, eating their breakfast and murmured.

Hermione borrowed a newspaper from the person eating next to her and pointed to the text on it, "Look here, 'After tampering with the wizards' memories and obtaining their stories, Lockhart used Obliviate on them. So far only seven victims could be found, and their memories were permanently impaired.'"

The chicken leg in Ron's mouth stopped tasting good, "So, I almost lost my memory forever?"

He felt disbelief, with the level of magic that Lockhart displayed on a regular basis, and he was also repeatedly able to sneak up on him.

Harry also said with palpitations: " or you might not even know that you had lost your memory, who would have thought that he is a master of Obliviate ?"

"It's terrible to think I spent a week in an office with someone like that." Ron took a big gulp of pumpkin juice.

"I wonder who captured Lockhart?"

"Wasn't it Auror from the Ministry of Magic, I heard it from Dean."

"No way, I asked the Fat Lady, and she said no outsiders came that day at all," Hermione said casually.

"How did she know?" Ron looked shocked, " it's just a portrait."

"Ron, the portrait also retains its own character, the Fat Lady is keen on opera and chatting, she often visits other portraits when no one around." Hermione narrowed her eyes, "She'll be happy to share some gossip with you as long as you compliment her a few more times on how well she sings."

"And to be fair, her songs weren't that bad."

...

Later that afternoon, in the Headmaster's office, Felix and Dumbledore sat face to face as they discussed the aftermath of Lockhart's arrest.

On the table lay several plates of cupcakes and cookies, along with two glasses of pumpkin juice.

"Sadly, there may be more people harmed than initially anticipated," Dumbledore said softly.

"More than his adventures?"

"Yes. He can't guarantee that every story he encounters will be engaging enough."

Felix flipped through the few newspaper pages on the table, "How come I didn't see anything from Rita Skeeter?" That isn't like her.

Is she afraid her attack on Lockhart will be exposed? But memories are rarely used as evidence, especially when the perpetrator himself is a master of said magic. Even if Lockhart identified Rita Skeeter in court, it wouldn't matter much.

"She's in the middle of some trouble." Dumbledore used a small fork to stab a piece of cake, "It tastes quite good, Felix, I highly recommend it."

Felix put one piece in his mouth, "Would she put herself in trouble? She's a smart one."

Dumbledore gave him a look, "Smart people will make mistakes as well, and they are more prone to find loopholes in the rules than the average person, so the mistakes they make are probably bigger."

"So the trouble she's in is-"

"According to the information I got, she did everything she could to inquire about the inside story of Lockhart's arrest, and then rushed to register as Animagus the same day at the Ministry of Magic."

"Animagus." Felix swallowed the cake and repeated. "Yeah, Animagus, an illegal Animagus ..."

He finally understood why Rita Skeeter had made a move on Lockhart.

"I guess, her transformation must be some kind of tiny creature." Felix sounded very sure.

"It is a beetle." Dumbledore said calmly, "If the truth is as we think, there is a reason why she has been well-informed all these years. From what we can discern, Lockhart has been hit by an Obliviate, but he has got free from the effects of the spell, which puts her in a very awkward spot."

Memories can be falsified, but magic doesn't lie. If Lockhart did testify that Rita Skeeter is an illegal Animagus, there must be quite a few people in the Ministry of Magic who would be interested in inspecting it.

Rita Skeeter has been acting recklessly these past few years, and I don't know how many people she has pissed off.

"I don't think she'll have it easy as she wants," Felix said.

After a moment of silence, Felix spoke, "Headmaster Dumbledore, there is still five months until the next academic year, what about the school's Defense Against the Dark Arts class?"

Dumbledore also showed a distressed expression, he could not help but smack his lips and sighed and say, "The professor for this course change really fast."

"So, the curse of the Dark Lord is true?"

"I guess so, since I refused Voldemort, no teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts has been able to teach it for more than a year." Dumbledore said, "I think he must be very angry to be rejected twice."

"Twice?" Felix looked at him with a bizarre expression. "You rejected him twice?"

He, himself, got rejected three times, and he's still eating cake in the Headmaster's office.

"No, Felix." Dumbledore blinked and said light-heartedly, "Headmaster Dippet thought he was too young and rejected him. After that, he disappeared for ten years and when he came to apply for a job again, I could hardly recognize him and I rejected him explicitly."

"Professor Snape, however, has always had this class on his mind." Felix banged the side drum for his house head.

"Severus ...," Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, "I will not give him this class."

"Why? In the years I attended, no one died, only one or two suffered minor injuries, and it doesn't look like the curse had much effect."

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"That's because no one has ever been in this course for more than a year." Dumbledore sighed softly. "That's the only solution I've come up with, but after thirty years, this course doesn't have a good reputation anymore, and it's getting harder and harder to find qualified teachers."

This is indeed true.

Felix rejected the Defense Against Dark Arts class because, on the one hand, the default term of appointment for the course is one year, which has never been an exception and does not suit his purpose; on the other hand, it is a really nefarious position, and every professor more or less had an accident by the end of the term.

But in his opinion, this time there is not much risk. Snape can totally substitute six months of classes, a big deal, handed it over to the new professor the next year.

Felix voiced his suggestion.

"But Severus will be staying and teaching at Hogwarts next year, won't he?" Dumbledore looked at him meaningfully.

"You mean the curse won't stop as long as the person remains in the school?" Felix asked keenly.

"That's what I've observed. I have also invited a few outgoing professors for the Defense Against the Dark Arts course to change to other positions, resulting in serious mishaps ..." Dumbledore fell into reminiscence, "but it doesn't matter if they take a class or two in temporary."

He revealed very alarming information, which is almost saying that once tainted with the curse, you must flee Hogwarts in a year at most, otherwise, even if you step down from the position of the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, you will not be safe.

Dumbledore seeking anyone, except Snape.

Felix completely dismissed the idea of helping him to secure a teaching position in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and the two began to discuss the curse itself.

"How did he do it?" Felix asked.

It seemed unbelievable to him because Voldemort's curse is linked a little too closely to Hogwarts.

Hogwarts itself, in fact, has a very good defense ward, it is difficult to be affected by external influence.

"What follows are all speculation on my part, and is considered to be tea-time banter."

"Of course."

"I think Voldemort cleverly used the identity of the Slytherin heir, plus he himself is very good at curses ... In short, when the two are combined, result in phenomenal results." Dumbledore said.

"Voldemort can influence the operation of Hogwarts?" Felix asked as he felt chills. This claim is amazing ...

"No, Felix. The Hogwarts order has existed for a thousand years, and even if Salazar Slytherin ever returned, he would not be able to reclaim the Hogwarts."

"Then--"

"Voldemort paid a huge price, and from all the indications, he gave up Hogwarts' protection forever - a privilege that belongs exclusively to the descendants of the four founders - he used the authority and shelter that he was given, and with his own hatred to cast this curse."

After a long silence -

"And the way to lift this curse is?"

"Voldemort's death." Dumbledore lowered his gaze.

"So you knew he wasn't dead for a long time?"

"Yes, I always knew." Dumbledore murmured, "The existence of the curse suggests it."

The two discussed the curse for quite a long time next, and Felix knew a lot of information about Hogwarts.

When Felix excused himself and left, Dumbledore sat quietly in his chair, on the table with the long thin legs, there placed a set of rare and odd silverware, whirling and emitting small puffs of smoke.

Portraits of the old Headmaster on the wall, they whispered and murmured about what the pair had just talked about.

On the cabinet shelf opposite to the table lays a tattered and crumpled wizard's hat. At the moment, a crack near the rim of the sorting hat opened up like a mouth: "Dumbledore, this is not like you."

Dumbledore slender fingers joined together, "Do you have any insight, the sorting hat of the House? I'm all ears."

"You've said a lot today, and I thought ... you'd keep it all buried deep inside."

"Maybe I simply got hooked on the conversation, and Felix is a good listener."

"Maybe ... but you're revealing a bit of the Hogwarts hidden secrets, which is exclusively for the Headmasters. Dumbledore ..."

The portraits on the wall all stared at Dumbledore.

"... I guess, you are trying to groom that boy?"

Dumbledore gave a little smile, his beard twitching gently: "sorting hat, how do you see him, from your own point of view?"

"He wants to research me, I can see that, though he hides that idea deeply. What a fine wizard. He reminds me of Lady Ravenclaw, and I am very much looking forward towards his growth."

Dumbledore showed an astonished expression, he and the Sorting Hat spent nearly half a century together, he naturally knew that although the Sorting Hat respects all four founders, it has the most special feelings for two of them, one is Gryffindor, the other is Ravenclaw.

This is very high praise from the Sorting Hat.

The old man regained his composure and said: "Voldemort's presence is getting stronger and stronger, and I have a feeling it will not be very far from his return. I also have to make some preparations, although it may not always be useful."

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