Chapter 44: CHAPTER 44: THE LIAR

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WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH YOU PROFESSOR?

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Ed was practising duelling with Professor Flitwick, ever since Valentine’s Day, The two have restarted their training, and it is now march, so the training have been going on for about a month or so.

“Stupefy!” shouted Flitwick, Ed blocked it with a Protego charm, although he had to try hard on the charm, Flitwick’s stunning spell was quite powerful. Then Ed counterattacked using a disarming spell.

“Expelliarmus!” he chanted, a stream of red light suddenly burst from Ed’s wand, the Professor dodged, then attacked Ed with a silent spell, Ed dodged it as well, and shot another spell at the half goblin professor.

“Levicorpus.” He whispered, the spell was blocked by Ed, but it was only a distraction, Ed then summoned a tiny ice needle, and shot it towards the ground that Flitwick was standing, the needle was cursed, so it quickly spread, enveloping the Professor’s legs, making Flitwick unable to move.

“Surrender Professor.” Ed advised the Professor, his wand pointing at him with the tip glowing red.

The professor sighed heavily while giving up, “You’re too good at this Aldrich…” commented Flitwick, “You even beat me.”

Ed shook his head while undoing the ice, “I’m just lucky sir.”

“Don’t sell yourself short, Aldrich.” Flitwick said softly while fixing his attire, “Your knowledge in ice magic is profound, there is no one I know that is able to control the cursed ice, a dark charm that is famous for its unstable spreading and uncontrollable.”

“Well, I admit, I’m quite gifted at ice magic, but other than that, I achieved it through rigorous training, anyone can do it.” Continued Ed.

“Perseverance is also a talent Mr. Aldrich, you practised the spells a lot it seems.”

Ed nodded, “Yes, I practised it a lot with my friends.”

Flitwick raised his eyebrow while walking to his desk, “May you tell me these friends of yours? Maybe I can recommend them to join the tournament also…”

“Really?” asked Ed in surprise, “It’s Richard Neil from your house Professor, and Daphne Greengrass from Slytherin, I also practised with Hermione Granger too, but not too often, she usually hangs out with Harry and Ron.”

“Well, that’s good news,” The Professor squealed, “A student at my house huh, yeah, maybe I’ll recommend them to join the tournament.”

Ed smiled with a little bit of joy, “Then thank you sir, they won’t disappoint you, I promise.”

Professor Flitwick nodded, “Oh, and Mr. Aldrich, it seems we won’t need to do a weekly training anymore, but I will still be checking on your sharpness every month, if it dulled a little, the weekly training would start again.”

“Very well Professor, thank you for the lesson, can I leave sir?”

Flitwick hummed, “Yes, you may leave Mr. Aldrich, but be sure to tell your two friends to come to me.”

Ed nodded to the professor and went out of the room, Ed then walked to the common room, looked at the time and thought, ‘I think I’ll submit the schoolwork today.’

He then said the password to the fat lady, and entered his dorm, where he saw his roommates were playing some wizard game that he didn’t recognize.

“Hello boys, can you help me a bit?” asked Ed to the group.

Seamus looked at Ed curiously, “What is it Ed?”

“Help me bring my schoolwork to McGonagall’s office will you?” said Ed, which the group just nodded, all of them took the stacks of papers and roll down the staircase, after that, they slowly walked to McGonagall’s office, Ed knocked the door, and a stern feminine voice sounded,

“Come in.” said the voice.

Ed entered the room and said to McGonagall, “I’m here to submit the schoolwork Professor.”

McGonagall nodded and pointed at the corner of the room, “Just put it there.”

Ed and the others walked to the corner, and dropped the papers, but when Ed was about to say goodbye to the Professor, she stopped him.

“We are not done yet Mr. Aldrich.” Said McGonagall, making Ed and the others stop, “The others can go, but Mr. Aldrich stays.”

The others sighed in relief and shot a ‘good luck’ look at Ed cheekily, making him quite annoyed. Ed then closed the door and sat in front of McGonagall,

“Something wrong Professor? I did all my schoolwork though…” questioned Ed.

McGonagall shook her head, “There’s nothing wrong Mr. Aldrich, but have you noticed that there’s a lack of Defence of the Dark Arts assignment?”

Ed’s face instantly fell and sighed, “What did that fraud want me to do now?” asked Ed in annoyance.

“It’s bold of you to insult a teacher in front of me Mr. Aldrich.” Warned McGonagall sternly.

“I’m not insulting anyone Professor, I’m just stating facts.” Ed countered, “You know it as well, it’s just your code as a Professional forbid you from saying it outright.”

McGonagall sighed in annoyance, “Don’t change the subject Mr. Aldrich, the reason I’m talking to you is because Professor Lockhart gave you tasks, to be his assistant for the rest of the term.” Informed McGonagall.

“You can’t be serious Professor! Why didn’t he give me a paper assignment or something!? And why now?!”

“Calm down Mr. Aldrich.” McGonagall massaged her forehead tiredly, “I too denied the request, but the headmaster accepted it, so there’s nothing I can do…”

“Dumbledore allowed it?” questioned Ed, he seriously didn’t want to deal with Lockhart, he has this desire to jinx him every time he sees his face.

“Unfortunately…”

Ed scowled in annoyance, ‘That old man, what the fuck is he planning now…’, Ed sighed and relented, “Very well Professor, shall I meet him now?”

“Yes, I believe he’s expecting you in his office.” Answered McGonagall.

“All right, I’ll excuse myself then Professor, good afternoon to you.” Ed said goodbye to the Professor and walked out of the office, then he went to the DADA classroom, making sure to walk as slow as possible, after half an hour of slow walking, Ed arrived at the DADA class, the class was full, he saw first years sitting on the tables, but they noticed Ed’s existence in the room and looked at him.

“Looking for me Professor?” asked Ed lazily, looking at the Professor who was standing in front of the class.

“Ah! Mr. Aldrich, wait for a minute will you? I was just explaining to the first years here about my adven-”

Ed didn’t listen anymore and just sat in the corner of the room, then he saw Astoria waving at him with a wide smile, he smiled at her back and waved, making her smile even wider. The class then went by and the students exited the room quickly, especially the boys as they hated the Professor.

“Mr. Aldrich, sorry for the wait, come to my office please.” Beamed Lockhart, then the two entered the office. When Ed entered the room, he instantly grimaced, as the room was full of Lockhart’s portrait, it even makes him wonder how one person can be this self-centred.

“Please sit Mr. Aldrich.” Offered Lockhart, the two then sat opposite to each other and Lockhart started to talk again.

“I was informed that I should be giving you assignments so that you can cover your grades from the last term, as I’m aware that you weren’t here last year, but in France, am I correct?”

Ed nodded, “Yes Professor, I was in Beauxbatons, studying with Nicolas Flamel…”

“Nicolas Flamel?” Lockhart perked up, “I didn’t know you’re an apprentice of the famous Nicolas Flamel…”

“Yes,” Ed smiled weakly, “I was his last apprentice…”

“I see, I see.” Lockhart acted sad, then he took out a stack of paper, “All right Mr. Aldrich let’s start your assignments, you will be helping me mark your juniors’ grade.” Explained the fraud.

Ed just nodded and took one of the papers, he instantly frowned, ‘The questions have no correlation with DADA whatsoever! It only has Lockhart’s book content in it!’

“Here, the right answers for the questions.” Said Lockhart while giving him a piece of paper, “Now, while we’re doing the marks, let’s talk about your adventures while you’re studying with Flamel, you must have a lot of it right? It’s Nicolas Flamel after all…”

Ed froze for a bit, ‘So that’s why Dumbledore wanted me to be Lockhart’s assistant… he wanted me to expose this fraud.’ He thought, then he smirked in his mind because he got a chance to get rid of this liar. “Oh yeah Professor! I was told to hunt beasts to get their ingredients, it was exhilarating!” said Ed, acting enthusiastic.

Lockhart’s eyes shined with greed instantly, he looked like he took the bait, “Then, could you tell me? I’m a bit curious what kind of adventure you went through? I’m an adventurer myself after all.” Asked Lockhart excitedly.

“Oh, sure Professor, there was one time-”, Ed told made up stories of adventure, he told it in ‘detail’, so Lockhart would be more interested in it. He told stories about dragons, thunderbirds, zouwus, and many more creatures, Ed looked at the professor who was beaming, and knew that he took the bait, he used passive Legilimency to read his mind, and lo and behold, he would obliviate Ed when he finished all his stories. Then, the bell rang, interrupting the story, “Well, I should go Professor, I got class, I’ve got more stories to tell you next time.” Said Ed.

“Oh, pity, I’ll see you next time Ed, bring more stories for me!” said Lockhart excitedly while Ed got out of the room, he then went to the class normally, there were no disturbance there, but then on the evening, he called his two friends, Richard and Daphne to tell them about his plans. He was standing on the great hall’s door, and looked at the two, and they noticed it. They stood up and walked to him, leaving the great hall and talking in an empty corridor.

“Everything alright Ed?” asked Richard to Ed, who was looking as if he was thinking something.

“Listen, I think we might be able to catch Lockhart while he was doing the deed.” Informed Ed, which surprised the two.

“Who is he going to obliviate?” asked Daphne curiously.

“Me of course,” said Ed, which made Daphne gasp in surprised, “I was made Lockhart’s assistant by Dumbledore, and I told him fake stories about my trip in France, and I can just see that he will obliviate me once I’ve told all my stories to him.”

Richard looked at Ed sceptically, “Are you sure though Ed? I mean, if he’s a liar like that, he’s probably a coward too, he won’t dare to obliviate you completely, because Dumbledore would probably notice.”

“No Richard, Lockhart may be a coward and a liar, but one thing he was proud of was his obliviate skill, and I’m one hundred percent sure he would do it, I read his mind for merlin’s sake!”

“You did?!” questioned Daphne, “Wait you can do Legilimency!? So does that mean you’ve been reading our minds this whole time?!”

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Ed shook his head, “No, I won’t read a close person’s mind, I will read strangers and enemies though.” Answered Ed, “Anyway, off topic, I need you tomorrow in the DADA Classroom, once he tries to do the deed, I’ll block it and you’ll rush to the office, so we got more witnesses, and he won’t escape.”

“Fine,” said Richard, and he looked at Daphne, “We’ll use the Disillusionment charm.”

“Are you sure though Ed? What if he succeeded?” asked Daphne, a bit worried.

“Don’t worry, if he succeeds I have you two to fill in the hole.” Answered Ed casually, “All right, I’ll go tomorrow at afternoon, so you’ll have to be ready for that.”

The other two nodded and went to their houses’ long-table to have dinner. Ed sat beside Hermione, who was looking at him curiously as she saw the three of them talking.

“What did you walk about?” Hermione asked.

Ed eyed Hermione a little bit before answering, “I’ll tell you later, it's too crowded here.”

Hermione just nodded, and Ed picked the food on the table, then Ed asked Hermione, “Hermione, Lockhart didn’t do anything to you lately did he?”

The question surprised Hermione a little bit, “No, why?”

Ed shrugged, “No reason.” Said Ed stiffly.

Hermione noticed Ed’s tone, and knew that something was wrong, she frowned and simply said his name, “Ed….”

Ed sighed, “I can’t hide anything from you Granger, fine, I’ll tell you later.” He said in surrender. But Hermione frowned even more, “Why did you call me using my last name?” she questioned.

“Hm? Oh, no reason.” Answered Ed nonchalantly, the two then didn’t speak again , and Ed ate his food peacefully, after he was full, Ed stood up and went to the Gryffindor common room, with Hermione beside him, following.

“So, want to tell me now?” asked Hermione while the two were walking through the corridor.

Ed hummed, “I have a plan to catch Lockhart.” Said Ed, then he explained the plan to the bushy haired girl, earning a gasp from her.

“But what if you failed to protect yourself!?” she shrieked silently.

“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing, and you’re not allowed to go there.” Said Ed sharply.

“Why?” asked Hermione, furrowing her brows, “I want to help.”

“No, too dangerous.” Said Ed simply, “Besides, you need to help Harry search for the diary right?”

Hermione once again was surprised, “How do you know?”

Ed shrugged, “You keep your secrets, I keep mine.”

The bushy haired girl sighed in surrender, “Fine…” she mumbled, the two then entered the room, doing meaningless things to pass time, until they finally ended the day.

The next afternoon, Ed was eating lunch in the Great Hall, he kept eyeing Richard and Daphne, and they also did the same, Ed then nodded, and the three instantly stood up in unison, the three exited the great hall and discussed the plan.

“All right, you use the Disillusionment charm while waiting outside the office, while I entered it, once you hear some shouting inside, just slammed the door open and point you wand at Lockhart, understand?” explained Ed.

The two nodded, “Be careful Ed.”

Ed hummed, the eagle and the serpent then used the charm, making them invisible, the two kept following Ed until he was in front of Lockhart’s office. Ed knocked the door for confirmation of entry.

“Come in,” Lockhart said from the inside. Ed opened the door, signalling a thumbs up to the other two, then he walked to Lockhart’s desk and sat on the chair.

“Ah! Mr. Aldrich, here, the assignments.” Said Lockhart while handing the papers, “Now, let’s continue your stories shall we?” he said rather enthusiastically.

Ed nodded, ‘Impatient…’ he thought, Ed then took the papers and started marking it, while doing it, he continued his fake stories, making Lockhart beaming with impatience, he couldn't wait to write all those stories that Ed told him. Ed read his mind, and saw that he was thinking that Ed’s stories will be an award winning book, he’s quite sure about it too.

Ed sighed in his mind, hours have gone by, he saw the clock and saw that it’s almost time for the bell, so he decided to stop the charades, “I think that’s it Professor, that’s all my stories I’ve got from France.”

“Really? Well, that’s a pity, your stories are quite interesting…” said Lockhart, he then stood up, “Wait in here a moment Mr. Aldrich, I need to take something from the classroom.” Ed just nodded, ‘He’ll use it on me once he’s behind my back.’ Thought Ed, he clenched his wand tightly and prepared. Lockhart then walked to the door, slowly he might add, and was pretending to continue grading the papers, but then Ed sensed with his space magic that Lockhart suddenly turned around.

“Obliviate!”

“Protego!” Ed protected himself using the shield charm, and it worked, the Obliviate charm didn’t hit Ed, and his memories are safe. Ed then instantly stood up from the chair and continued to point his wand at Lockhart, who was now scared as the Obliviate charm didn’t work.

“Oh, Professor… you think I didn’t know?” said Ed coldly. “Daphne! Richard!” he shouted to the outside, and the two instantly barged into the room, “You got him?” Richard asked.

Ed nodded and chanted a spell, “Expelliarmus!” he chanted, Lockhart’s wand then took off, and Ed grabbed it. “Here’s the evidence, can one of you call a professor here? Dumbledore would be nice.”

“I’ll go.” Said Daphne, “I don’t know the headmaster’s password though, so I’ll just call Snape.”

Ed hummed, and Daphne rushed to Snape’s office. Then Ed grinned mischievously at Lockhart, which made the professor scared even further, “Now, what shall I do with you ‘Professor’?”

“Wait!” shrieked Lockhart in fear, “Mr. Aldrich, t-this is a misunderstanding, yes, a misunderstanding…”

Ed raised his eyebrow, “Attempting to use an Obliviate spell is a misunderstanding?”

“Y-Yes, I-I was just-”

“Cut the bullshit liar, we know what you are.” Said Richard coldly, making Lockhart shut up instantly.

Ed sighed and the two waited for Daphne in silence, their wands pointing at Lockhart menacingly.

“B-Boys, w-we can talk about this…”

“Shut the fuck up Lockhart.” Interrupted Ed. “There’s no way you would escape this, if you did, I’ll finish you myself.”

Lockhart gulped, a bit scared at the threat, then Snape and Daphne suddenly came in, they both stared at Lockhart, who was lying on the floor.

“What’s going on here Mr. Aldrich?” asked Snape sternly.

“You see Professor Snape, this so-called Professor right here, tried to use an obliviate spell on me to take my ‘stories’ for himself, so he can write a book about it.” Said Ed with venom laced on his words.

Snape narrowed his eyes, but smirking in his mind, “Do you have any evidence?”

Ed nodded and handed the wand, “Here, can you check the previous spell?”

“Yes,” said Snape, then he pointed his wand at Lockhart’s wand, then he casted a spell silently, and lo and behold, the Obliviate spell was used before.

“Well, well, well, Lockhart, looks like you are going straight into Azkaban for this.” Snape sneered at Lockhart.

“No! wait, Severus, please, he’s lying, I’m the victim here! He’s the one who used the obliviate spell on his friend Mr. Neil here using my wand!”

“Seriously?” Ed chuckled, “You know Daphne saw you also right?” questioned Ed, which makes the liar paled even further.

“Mr. Aldrich, take the criminal here to the headmaster's office, we will take care of everything.” Said Snape coldly while still looking at Lockhart, “Make sure to not let him escape.”

Ed nodded, “All right Professor.” He answered, then Snape went out of the room, leaving the four inside. “Walk closer to me.” Commanded Ed to the two friends, Ed also walked closer to Lockhart. The four then blinked to the headmaster’s office, startling Lockhart.

“W-What was that!?” he shrieked, but everyone ignored him, Ed just walked to Dumbledore, who was sitting on his desk, looking at the group curiously, “Headmaster, I brought him, he tried to obliviate me in his office, the evidence is with Snape.” Informed Ed.

Dumbledore sighed, “You work too fast Ed…” he commented tiredly.

“You’re the one who set this up right? So, I can catch him doing the deed?” asked Ed, looking at Dumbledore strangely.

Dumbledore nodded, “Yes I did, but I didn’t expect you to finish the job the next day…”

“Well, I did it anyway.” Said Ed while walking away to Daphne and Richard. “Make sure you’ll deal with this liar Professor, I don’t want to do the same thing I did a month ago to him…”

Dumbledore frowned at the statement, “Ed…”

Ed ignored, “All right Professor, I need to go, I have to bring these two to Flitwick,” informed Ed, which surprised the two, “Wait, what for?” asked Richard.

“You’ll see.” Said Ed mysteriously, then the three vanished from the office, leaving Dumbledore and Lockhart alone.

Dumbledore sighed tiredly and said to the liar, “Gilderoy, you know what is coming for you, I can’t save you anymore…”

“Wait! Professor, the boy lied! I’m innocent!” Lochart desperately defended.

“Gilderoy, you think I didn’t know your deeds when I hired you as a professor? That is just my way to make sure you won’t escape your crimes anymore…” said Dumbledore calmly.

Lockhart gulped loudly, and just waited for his eventual downfall.

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