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"Professor!"
Even when threatened, Darren looked at Lockhart with open disapproval.
He seed stunned, as if he hadn't expected a Hogwarts professor to speak to a girl—ghost or not—like that.
"Professor, I hope you apologize to Myrtle."
Darren looked pale, but his gaze remained steady.
He could accept threats aid at himself.
He would not accept insults aid at Myrtle.
"Even if you are a professor, you can't treat her like this. She's already a ghost, not your student. Please apologize to her."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
The Father's Value notifications only made Darren's expression look even more righteous.
Lockhart sneered.
Why couldn't he force this ghost to tell the truth?
And she wasn't even telling the full story.
What exactly was inside that sink?
A secret chamber?
How could she have died there?
"Darren Potter, stop pretending to be so saint. You're not a good person. Do you think I don't know what you're doing?"
His tone sharpened.
"The last ti you went around saying I threatened you, others might not know—but I know you made it up. And now you want to play the kind one again? Don't act in front of ."
He scoffed.
Darren only sighed quietly.
Lockhart's eyes had that sa cunning he recognized—soone clearly thinking about image, about recordings, about proof.
If they were alone, Darren would have called him out directly.
But with so many people present, he could not.
As the little Holy Father, he simply frowned and said softly, "I thought you apologized because you knew you were wrong. But it seems I was naïve."
He looked ready to explain more, but Lockhart's smug face made him sigh and drop the topic.
"Forget it. If I wronged you, then can you apologize to Myrtle now?
She isn't your student. When you question her, please be polite. It's basic respect. I—"
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
His words did nothing to move Lockhart.
Instead, Lockhart suddenly pulled out a shimring silver sphere.
"Ha! Do you think I'm unprepared?" he said proudly. "Look—this is a photo ball. I recorded everything you just said. I'll show everyone what Harry Potter's dear brother dared to accuse a professor of."
He waved the photo ball like a trophy.
Darren's face tightened with helpless bitterness.
He wanted to argue, but in the end only sighed.
"What do you want? I don't care about that recording. I only ask you not to reveal the thing about using the Fiendfyre spell.
If you agree, I will personally tell others I wronged you.
I'll even kneel and apologize at the Ministry of Magic if you want.
Just don't let my brother's reputation be ruined."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
His voice trembled, and his expression was miserable.
Lockhart, however, only looked more triumphant as he pocketed the photo ball.
Then he jabbed a finger toward Myrtle.
"Go on. Ask that ghost how she died. Ask where the Chamber of Secrets is. Or maybe she opened it herself?"
Darren turned toward Myrtle.
She looked at him anxiously.
"Darren… are you being threatened?"
Even timid as she was, she couldn't ignore the way he looked—more pitiful than herself.
"Yes… I'm sorry, Sister Myrtle."
He bowed his head.
"I apologize on behalf of Professor Lockhart. I'm sorry."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
"Oh, I don't care about his attitude," Myrtle said quickly. "Many students treat like that. Very few are polite like you.
I'm just worried… If he's threatening you, tell . I can go call a professor!"
She looked sincere, almost protective.
But Lockhart leaned toward Darren and whispered:
"Fiendfyre. Rember."
Darren secretly rolled his eyes.
He let his face go pale and shook his head.
"No, Sister Myrtle. I'm not threatened. Professor Lockhart is… very good. I angered him earlier, that's all."
Then, gently:
"I ca to ask sothing important. When you died, did you see a snake co out of anywhere?
If the question makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to answer."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
"Oh, dear little Darren," Myrtle said at once. "If anyone else asked, I'd refuse. Even Ministry wizards ca, but I didn't want to talk to them. I was already dead—what use was it?"
She hugged her arms as she floated upward.
"In truth… the creature ca from under the sink. I was crying after Olive Hornby laughed at my glasses again, and then I heard a boy speaking in a very strange voice.
I turned around and saw a snake coming out of the sink.
I looked straight into its eyes—and died."
Darren and Lockhart both froze.
"So I think the Chamber of Secrets is under that sink," Myrtle said seriously.
"If you really must go down there, bring a professor.
Well… not Lockhart. He's a waste!"
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