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"I'm sorry, Headmaster Dumbledore… I misunderstood you."
Harry scratched the back of his head, embarrassed.
He really had been too prejudiced.
Because of everything Dumbledore had done to Darren, he had been wary of him all the ti.
Even though he believed Dumbledore was the greatest white wizard alive…
That trust wasn't the sa as before.
"Well, Harry, I don't need your apology. What I do need is for you to stay behind later. We're going to have a proper talk."
Dumbledore smiled as he spoke.
Harry froze.
He had thought he might escape the conversation.
But of course not.
His expression turned miserable.
"Brother… please don't be upset. Headmaster Dumbledore really didn't an anything bad."
[Ding, Father 50]
[Ding, Father 40]
[Ding, Father 30]
…Ah.
Dumbledore really needed to reflect on how he treated people.
Because not a single person in the room was actually moved by what Darren said.
"Darren, thank you for your trust. And yes, I am very sorry for how things turned out…"
Dumbledore held up a hand.
"But don't tell you accept my apology—I don't need that."
"Now, apart from Darren's urgent situation, we have the matter of Tom Riddle."
Harry opened his mouth, but Dumbledore stopped him before he could speak.
"No, no, Harry. Not here. This is not the place to discuss it."
"And I believe Miss Weasley is awake as well. We'll take Ginny and Ron with us to my office."
"But… haven't you been fired?"
Harry blurted reflexively.
Darren imdiately noticed the helpless twitch in Dumbledore's expression.
But Dumbledore had clearly grown used to Gryffindors speaking without thinking.
"Oh Harry, I think you've misunderstood. If I did not wish it, no one could remove from this school."
"This ti, I simply had so matters that required my attention."
What matters?
Darren wondered.
Did he go to see Grindelwald?
But Dumbledore didn't explain.
He simply glanced at Fawkes, then grabbed the phoenix's tail.
"All right, let's go first. Then Fawkes can bring Ginny and Ron to the wall at the center of the Chamber of Secrets. I think it's better to have him stay there for now."
"Oh—and Darren, hold on to ."
Darren quickly grabbed Dumbledore's sleeve.
Harry grabbed Darren's hand.
The next mont, they rushed upward in a breeze-like current.
A feeling like flying twisted through their chests.
Then—solid ground.
Dumbledore's office.
Darren looked at Fawkes with envy.
When would Carol be able to carry him like that?
No…
Carol probably could have before.
But now…
Darren touched the tiny phoenix curled in his pocket and sighed helplessly.
After a phoenix goes through rebirth… it really is hideous for a while.
"Darren?"
Harry asked nervously.
Darren blinked, confused.
Then he noticed Fawkes had brought back Lockhart, Ron, and Ginny as well.
They all seed worried he might still be frightened of that ss with Lockhart.
"I'm okay. I was just thinking."
He turned to Dumbledore.
"Professor Lockhart hinted to earlier that all the stories in his books… were based on mories he stole from other people…"
"Headmaster, I don't know if I understood him correctly. But if that's true, we should find his victims."
"I don't know how they are now… but Professor Lockhart should compensate them. And apologize to all of them."
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding, Father 100]
[Ding…]
"Oh, child, you're too kind."
"If Lockhart truly did all that, he would deserve Azkaban. As for his victims, we will take care of them properly."
"And believe , he deceived as well. Otherwise, I would never have hired soone like him to teach here."
Dumbledore's tone turned bitter.
His finger pointed vaguely toward Lockhart, trembling slightly—like he didn't even rember threatening Lockhart earlier to keep him at Hogwarts.
Lockhart stared at him, stunned.
He never imagined Dumbledore would be so shaless.
Hadn't they agreed before?
As long as he served as a professor, Dumbledore wouldn't expose him.
Why was he suddenly changing his stance?
Dumbledore was a two-faced traitor!
Lockhart seethed internally.
Once he recovered, he was absolutely going to scold Dumbledore publicly.
Then he would buy off Fudge.
As long as the Daily Prophet didn't print anything, who would ever know he was a fraud?
He could just sell all his future book profits to the Ministry if needed.
…Though the thought stabbed him like a knife.
The Ministry's vultures would never let him keep a Knut afterward.
And as long as he was alive, they'd always threaten him.
That was exactly what he tried to avoid in the first place—he wanted to write books in peace, without blackmail hanging over him.
Yet here he was.
Threatened by Dumbledore.
Forced to teach.
Living as a walking embarrassnt for an entire sester.
He had even tried threatening Darren, of all people, just to stay useful.
Then got dragged into finding the Chamber of Secrets.
And now that it was found and he was injured…
He thought he could spin the entire thing into a heroic story later.
Who knew Dumbledore would betray him and expose everything?
Unbelievable.
He should have forced Dumbledore into an Unbreakable Vow of loyalty…
If only he'd had the guts.
Lockhart's rage simred.
If looks could kill, Darren and Dumbledore would both be full of holes by now.
But no one cared about his feelings at the mont.
"By the way, where should we put this guy?"
Ron yanked Lockhart forward, panting.
Dragging Lockhart really was exhausting.
"Oh, child, if possible, we'll leave your Professor Lockhart here in my office. Once we finish discussing this matter, we'll decide what to do with him."
Dumbledore clasped his hands together, eyes twinkling.
"After all, you all know this involved that individual… Well, Ron doesn't, so Harry can explain it to him."
He smiled pleasantly—like he had no idea what had been happening inside Hogwarts.
Darren sighed internally.
Dumbledore followed them around every day.
How could he not know?
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