[HP] Being a problem student at Hogwarts

After a brief period of chaos, the school gradually returned to calm.

The appearance of the basilisk indirectly proved Hagrid's innocence - after all, the pure-blood wizards in the Inquisition were unwilling to admit that a hybrid giant could command the basilisk. Coupled with Dumbledore's running and hard work, Hagrid He was soon released.

Coupled with the fact that a basilisk appeared on campus and openly attacked students, this incident finally awakened the long-lost sense of panic among the parents. They had selective amnesia and they had complained angrily about Dumbledore's inaction as the principal. They jointly expressed the danger. Only the greatest white wizard can give them a sense of security at a time of survival. Dumbledore must be allowed to return to school as soon as possible to protect the future of the wizarding world - and by the way, he scolded the officials of the Ministry of Magic for their blind dismissal and random actions.

Ministry of Magic Fudge: I was wronged! I am innocent!

In short, both Principal Dumbledore and Hagrid returned to campus as quickly as possible.

The basilisk was secretly transported away by the professors, and Professor Snape rarely maintained a good mood. The astronomy class was suspended, the Charms class was halved, and Professor McGonagall took over the remaining part. Professor Sprout and the senior students of Hufflepuff urgently produced some soothing herbs and made sachets to hang at the door of each dormitory. Professor Kettleburn directed the petite magical animals to crawl around in the pipes, trying to find the basilisk's lair - unfortunately to no avail, maybe Salazar Slytherin's magic still protected his secret room.

When Dumbledore came back, he also brought several people with him, including reporters, Lockhart's attorney, agents, etc. It is said that they were all contacted by Lockhart before his death and agreed to help him handle his funeral affairs and promote his new book. .

When Tom was called to sign the document, his mood was still very complicated.

"He just said he was going to do something big," his agent said with tears in his eyes. "He also said his new book would be a big hit!"

...Okay, very Lockhart.

No one in the principal's office looked like they were going to answer the call.

"Would you mind taking a photo, Mr. Locke?" the agent asked in a tearful voice, "and put it in the newspaper and do a report... Then I can make a plan for you to travel around the world to promote books in memory of a respected professor - —" He blew his nose loudly, his mind still very calculating, "You can also publish a biography to see Gilderoy from other people's perspective... If you can't write it, you can dictate it, and I will find someone to do it. Ghostwritten and polished.”

Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly.

"No, sir." Tom declined. "I am still a student, and my main focus is still on study. I think this is what Professor Lockhart expects."

"Okay, okay," the agent replied disappointedly.

After all these people had left, Tom hesitated and asked Dumbledore: "Lockhart -" he still added the title, "about Professor Lockhart..."

"I'm sorry, son," Dumbledore said heavily, "that you have to face this."

Tom sat opposite Dumbledore, looked into Dumbledore's eyes, and said slowly: "I think there is something you should know."

His attitude was very serious, and Dumbledore also knew that Tom was not a noisy child, so he sat up straight and nodded at him: "Please tell me."

Tom looked around the principal's office and his eyes fell on the wall of principal's photos.

"Hey, you kid! Don't you still believe it?" A black-haired principal yelled angrily.

"Calm down, Phineas," Dumbledore said, and with a wide wave of his wand, a hazy mist enveloped them both, and the movement from the outside world immediately disappeared.

"Okay." Dumbledore folded his fingers, "I'm listening."

So Tom started from the day when he became suspicious of Lockhart and Dumbledore suggested that he ask Lockhart directly, talking about Lockhart's secret talent, and then went on to talk about the quarrel between the two after the Quidditch match that day, Mentioning Lockhart's crazy performance in the Dueling Club, followed by Lockhart's hints when asking for Christmas gifts, and finally the ending of Valentine's Day...

But he did not mention that Lockhart had taught him the memory magic, and he also inexplicably failed to mention the strange gem that Lockhart gave him.

Dumbledore listened calmly, never interrupting him, and only rubbed his fingers when Tom described Lockhart leaping down like a big golden bird.

After Tom finished speaking, he pushed a cup of tea to him.

"I have to say, there are indeed some things that I didn't expect." Dumbledore said, "Assuming what Gilderoy said is true, then the clues we have now are-"

He waved his wand and flashing letters appeared in mid-air.

"Harry was supposed to kill the basilisk." There was a thin dash between Harry Potter's name and the word basilisk.

"Severus may have been bitten by a snake because he said 'How would Professor Snape respond to a snake's kiss?'" Professor Snape's name appeared with the word snake flashing next to it.

"I might fall off the astronomy tower - to be honest, this is a bit unimaginable," Dumbledore smiled. "I thought I learned the Transfiguration Spell pretty well, but it seems I didn't get the wings in time." . But it sounds like that funeral was too serious, which reminds me that at my age, I should write a will and ask for some cheerful music to be played at my funeral. It is best for everyone to be happy - "

"headmaster!"

"Ah, well, okay." Dumbledore said, "Actually, when you reach my age, you will know that you are not so shy about death, child."

"There is also someone who cuts off the head of a snake and I don't know who he refers to..." Dumbledore brought the topic back and looked thoughtfully at the words related to "snake" floating in the air, "It's not me. There is no academic discrimination, but it is true that 'snake' appears so many times that I have to make some associations..."

"You mean the person who can't tell?" Tom asked, staring at the word "snake" flashing next to "Severus Snape", "Then Professor Snape's situation is indeed very dangerous... I think the old It was written in the newspaper that that person kept a snake called 'Nagini', do you think there is a connection?"

"It's very possible." Dumbledore replied, "You recalled Gilderoy's novel manuscript before, saying that he wielded a sword to cut off the snake's head? This reminds me of one thing..." He stood up and picked up the Sorting House. cap.

"Hey! Hey!" The Sorting Hat was suddenly caught in the shielding fog and shouted in protest, "That's so rude, Albus! This is not the right way to treat the elderly."

"Ah, I'm sorry," said Dumbledore, dusting off the Sorting Hat. "Have you ever heard of the Sword of Gryffindor, Tom?"

Tom nodded and said: "But no one has seen any trace of it for many years." 7

"Watch it, kid." Dumbledore put his hand into the Sorting Hat - the Sorting Hat grunted in protest - and then slowly pulled out a shining silver sword!

"Gryffindor's sword." Dumbledore handed the silver sword to Tom. Tom took it and saw that the ruby ​​​​on the sword's hilt shone dazzlingly in the firelight, and the name was engraved on the sword near the hilt: Godric Gryffindor.

"Legend has it that only a true Gryffindor can pull it out of the hat." Dumbledore simply introduced, "I think this is the one he mentioned."

"Then who will pull out Gryffindor's sword?" Dumbledore stared at him quietly.

"You mean...me?" Tom pointed at himself with a dumbfounded expression.

"Why not?"

Tom thought about it seriously and said honestly: "I don't think it's possible. I mean, when facing a snake, my solution probably doesn't include hoping that I can suddenly pull a sword out of my hat. It has to be A very magical solution, you understand, right?"

"If you ask me," Tom said casually, "people like Ron and Neville who come from wizarding families are more likely than me."

"Hmm..." Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully, "Think about it this way, Mr. Neville Longbottom is very possible."

"Huh?" Tom was a little surprised, "Why did you bring up Neville alone?"

"Ah," Dumbledore looked a little embarrassed, "I think it's a little early to tell you something, kid. It relates to a secret from long ago-"

"A long time ago? It sounds like the beginning of some fairy tale. A witch made a prophecy about the destined savior and the Dark Lord-"

Tom was originally joking, but when he saw Dumbledore's expression, he couldn't help but sit up straight and asked dryly: "So I guessed it right again? The prophecy was very vague, and then you thought the savior was Harry, but in fact... Wei also meets the conditions?"

Dumbledore sighed softly: "I think we have gone too far on this subject at the moment, my boy. Let us return to the sword of Gryffindor."

"Okay. Under what circumstances would a student need to use a magic sword to solve a problem?" Tom asked, "In my opinion, the teachers' magic skills are much more powerful than this equipment."

"This is about the one that worries me the most among the clues Gilderoy revealed." Dumbledore sat down again and said worriedly, "He said he saw a field of ruins and corpses... …”

"Perhaps he was referring to Valentine's Day," Tom shrugged. "The castle was indeed partially damaged that day."

"It's not that simple, Tom." Dumbledore looked at him under his thick silver eyebrows. "What I'm worried about is that Hogwarts will become the final battlefield."

"The person who started the war simply wants to extirpate himself from the British wizarding world." Tom said, "This is the only magic school in the UK! The cradle of the British wizarding community!"

"We will try our best to prevent things from getting to this point." Dumbledore said, "Well, my child, if you have nothing to add, I think it is time for you to go back to class."

"Professor Lockhart's funeral..." Tom mentioned hesitantly. Since Lockhart wants it himself, and judging from Harry's case, it seems that he can avoid this fate line after being replaced... Then it is better to hold the funeral for him, and maybe it can also get rid of Principal Dumbledore. A little cloud of death?

"Ah, we will try our best to arrange it as he expected. His brave behavior is worthy of the condolences of the entire school's teachers and students." Dumbledore said solemnly, "The clues he revealed are also very helpful to us."

So Tom stood up and bade him farewell.

Dumbledore nodded kindly and watched him leave the Headmaster's office.

====================

After Tom walked out, Dumbledore looked at the blank frame on the corner of the table.

After a long time, he said softly: "You are dead too."

He reached out and placed the photo frame face down on the table, waving his hand to disperse the fog.