Mr. Lamp?!
Seeing this na, Lockhart felt his blood freeze instantly. He dropped the letter with a snap and rushed to the window in two quick steps, carefully poking his head out to look around.
Outside the beautifully landscaped manor, only tree shadows and birds were moving. No trace of being watched. But Lockhart beca even more anxious. An invisible opponent was far more terrifying than a visible one.
Under the owl's speechless gaze, he slamd the window shut and quickly drew the curtains. Leaning against the wall, gasping for breath, still shaken.
How had "Mr. Lamp" found him?
So fans knew his residence, and owls had automatic person-finding abilities. But his appointnt as Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was sothing he hadn't told anyone yet!
He had originally wanted it to be a surprise. When Hogwarts announced next term's textbooks, he would leisurely step forward and say, 'Yes, that's right. Hogwarts personally invited , saying I was the best candidate.
But now, this mysterious "Mr. Lamp" had revealed this secret in one sentence! How did he know? Could even the heavily guarded Hogwarts be easily infiltrated?
Lockhart imdiately felt invisible eyes watching him at all tis.
"Damn it! Why pick on specifically? That Ethan Vincent was there too, and he's also from Hogwarts..." Lockhart trembled as he bit his nails.
"I must ask the Aurors for help! Emphasise that he's an incredibly powerful, dangerous existence connected to multiple dark forces... no, he'll know I wrote to the Aurors! Then they'll definitely co to silence ..."
Rembering the carnage he'd seen in that Knockturn Alley tavern when he woke up, Lockhart wanted to cast Obliviate on himself.
The owl watched him quietly having his breakdown, its yellow eyes seeming to mock "foolish human."
After a long while, Lockhart finally cald down and made his decision: "Submit to him."
Lockhart chose to surrender at light speed. "Those who know the tis are wise. Anyway, with Dumbledore around, if asked, I'll say I was coerced. I have plenty of money and fa to avoid investigation. Hogwarts won't shut down just because of so outside 'Mr. Lamp.'"
anwhile, at Malfoy Manor...
"Pfft!" Lucius spat out his tea, spraying it onto the Daily Prophet in front of him.
Today had been busy with affairs. Recently that red-haired pest Weasley had started another contraband inspection. Forcing him to pack away those secret belongings.
When he finally returned to read the newspaper... the sky had fallen.
The completely wiped-out Scabby Toad tavern, wizards suspected of summoning entities... This was clearly where he'd discarded the diary!
Ethan's reign of terror seed to have cleared Lucius's brain. Rather than treasuring Voldemort's items like precious relics and framing others under Dumbledore's nose, it was better to "accidentally" lose them.
If anyone was to bla, it was those wizards in Knockturn Alley for having sticky fingers and stealing his things. A small diary wasn't anything precious anyway.
That's what Lucius had originally thought.
Until he noticed that not a single sentence in the report, nor any photograph, ntioned that diary. Only then did Lucius feel sothing might be wrong.
"Soone from the Ministry told that the one who went with that useless wizard was precisely that Ethan Vincent..." Lucius leaned back on the sofa, pressing his throbbing temples and muttering: "The suddenly appearing mysterious 'Mr. Lamp', the missing diary... what?!"
Lucius suddenly sat up straight like a startled cat! He said in disbelief: "Ethan, 'Mr. Lamp'... could they actually be the sa person?! Why would he do this? It's definitely not just for a catchy title."
"Ethan is actually sent by a large organisation... no, he might BE the leader of this large organisation! Coming to Hogwarts for so unspeakable secret mission..."
To disguise himself as an ordinary young wizard and enrol under Dumbledore's nose... what kind of existence was Ethan Vincent?
Should he transfer Draco to Durmstrang early? With that crazy old man Dumbledore, Hogwarts was dood sooner or later.
"I'm afraid my discarding the diary was also orchestrated by Ethan. If all these actions were for that diary... could it actually be sothing very important?"
After waking up, Lucius discovered he might be the Dark Lord's greatest traitor. Even if Draco suddenly turned into a troll, it wouldn't be more terrifying and confusing than this mont.
He had thought he was investing in a new star of the magical world, but unexpectedly, it was another Dark Lord!
Lucius really wanted to find soone to check his family's luck.
"The only fortunate thing is that we showed a friendly attitude." Lucius thought, then called loudly: "Dobby!"
"Yes, yes, Master!" A house-elf with large eyes appeared with a pop.
Lucius said: "Go call Draco. I have sothing for him to do."
He wondered if eight thousand Galleons would be enough. The only fortunate thing was that his family was wealthy enough.
Lucius worried: "This term will definitely be very dangerous... maybe I should break Draco's legs so he can't go to school..."
Lady Narcissa appeared like a ghost, silent and ethereal: "What did you say you'd do to my son? Lucius Malfoy."
Lucius was in danger! He didn't notice the terrified expression on house-elf Dobby's face. Then, as if making so kind of decision, Dobby disappeared with a pop.
July 31st
To Ethan,
A jumbled ss of greetings
Do you know what's wrong with Harry? Why hasn't he been replying to letters?
Your anxious friend, Ron
Dear Ethan,
So polite, slightly formal greetings
If it's convenient for you, could you help us check on Harry's situation? He hasn't replied to a single letter so far. I suspect his uncle's family is treating him badly.
Your loyal and worried friend, Hermione
Ethan looked at the letters in his hand and frowned in confusion. Had Harry's letters been intercepted by Dobby again?
But he already had the diary, and the Malfoy family had even given him a full eight thousand Galleons as a thank-you fee. There was no danger in second year anymore. Why was Dobby still preventing Harry Potter from attending school?
Ethan was very confused. To prevent the diary's dark magic aura from contaminating others, Ethan had directly thrown it into the seal card: "Universe in the Wardrobe".
The effect was excellent. When he took it out again, little Tom respectfully addressed him as "Lord Vincent".
"What's wrong?" Luna approached carrying Gurdyroot tea, her steps as light as walking on clouds. She sat down on the sofa next to Ethan, curiously leaning over to look at the letters in his hand.
From her pale golden hair, Ethan caught a scent mixed with grass, earth, and elegant floral fragrance. Infinitely better than Lockhart's toxic perfu.
Ethan's eyes curved as he waved the letters: "It seems our saviour is in trouble. As his warm-hearted and kind friend, we need to help him. As the first mber of the club, it's ti for an official ho visit."
"What should we bring... I've got it." Ethan suddenly rembered the business card the old goblin had given him. It was said to release trendous monetary pressure. Automatically making the other party lower their status.
For dealing with social climbers like the Dursleys, you had to use "magic" to defeat "magic".
Reviews
All reviews (0)