A certain Hogwarts professor of runes.

"Is this based on your experience?"

“Everyone has a youthful phase.” Dumbledore didn’t answer directly, but Felix understood the underlying meaning—young people are always prone to making mistakes.

So he said, “I am still very young, Headmaster Dumbledore. Besides, I have only sensed a little of his true emotions, which helps to understand him better, doesn’t it?”

Dumbledore didn't press the matter; instead, he asked with interest, "What did you perceive?"

"Are you interested in the Minister of Magic's ideas?" Felix countered.

“No, Felix, I can see through him without Legilimency at all. This is perhaps the only thing I have mastered in my hundred years of life without having to actively learn it.”

Felix was somewhat surprised. Shouldn't Dumbledore be telling him these things? When did their relationship become so close?

The two then fell silent.

When they reached the courtyard, Professor McGonagall had already led Fudge and the others to stand in front of the Basilisk. Neither Felix nor Dumbledore pushed forward; they stood on the periphery of the crowd.

Hagrid stood awkwardly in the corner, and Felix, after overhearing a few words from the young wizards' conversation, understood what had happened.

Hagrid had just been pleading with Professor Flitwick to undo the magic surrounding the basilisk, wanting to experience its allure up close...

Do wizards who study magical creatures all think like this?

So, how many seconds until Professor Kettleburn arrives on the battlefield? Felix wondered absentmindedly.

Chapter 85 Accident

Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived sometime later. Hermione was still wearing that huge mask and knit hat, but her eyes had returned to their brown color.

This means she has become more skilled at light-weight transformations—or, of course, it could be due to the effects of Madam Pomfrey's potion.

Ron pulled Harry and Hermione aside, and they hid behind a pillar. He peeked out and said, "Cornely Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, and Rita Skeeter! What a day it is, all three of those nasty devils showing up at the same time!"

Harry asked, "Who is Cornelius Fudge?"

“He’s the Minister for Magic, and my dad’s boss. But he’s a big shot. He looks down on my father’s job, you know, it’s dealing with Muggle items and such, and he’s always been looked down upon…” Ron muttered.

Hermione's eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter, carefully observing her back.

“That woman is Rita Skeeter? She looks like she has terrible taste,” Hermione remarked, criticizing her outfit.

“I agree with you. If you ask me, Lockhart is better than her in this respect. It’s not like she’s short of money… Oh, Merlin!” Ron suddenly wailed.

"what happened?"

“Look over there,” Ron pointed in another direction, “Lockhart’s here too, the four rascals are all together!”

Sure enough, Harry looked up and saw Gilderoy Lockhart, dressed in a magnificent robe, with a charming smile on his face, walking past the young wizards to greet Fudge and Lucius.

“He’s like a peacock with its tail feathers spread.” Ron’s expression was full of resistance—he was supposed to report to Lockhart’s office tonight.

Lockhart gave a graceful bow, his smile radiant. “Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy, it’s an honor to meet you.”

Fudge paused for a moment, then smiled broadly and extended both hands. "Mr. Lockhart, hello! I've read all your books, and I must admit, I've learned a great deal..."

Lockhart said modestly, "I just did what I was supposed to do, Minister. I can't just turn a blind eye to poor people in trouble."

Fudge said with a sigh, "There aren't many adventurers as responsible as you anymore."

Lockhart wanted to say something more, but Dumbledore stepped forward and said with a smile, "Fudge, let's take a look at the monster in the Chamber of Secrets first." He waved his wand, causing the invisible protective barrier around the basilisk to disappear.

“Oh, Dumbledore, yes, that’s right.” Fudge fiddled with the top hat in his hand, turned around and ordered the tall, dark-skinned man next to him, “Kingsley, go check on him.”

The man named Kingsley stepped over the railing and walked up to the basilisk. Wearing a pair of dragon-skin gloves, he carefully examined the basilisk's remains.

Felix didn't go forward. He saw a familiar figure—it was Luna, the Ravenclaw witch.

He walked over and stood beside her. "Luna."

“I really like the gift you gave me, Professor Hyp.” Her eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter’s jeweled glasses, and she said in a singing voice, “I think she has a bad memory.”

"Why do you say that?"

“She regretted leaving some important things at home,” Luna said.

Felix watched Rita Skeeter constantly directing her assistants to take photos, and he disagreed.

"Have you become friends with that little girl with the fiery hair?"

Luna looked at him in surprise. "We're friends now." She said thoughtfully, "I think the rooster doll I gave her played a significant role."

“Really!” Felix clicked his tongue.

Not long after, Kingsley reported to Fudge: "Minister, it has been confirmed that it is a basilisk, and there is no danger now."

“Very good, Kingsley.” Fudge was about to take a closer look at the basilisk when he was stopped by Rita Skeeter’s voice before he could take a step.

“Minister Fudge, I think we should take a picture together for tomorrow’s front page,” Skeeter said with a smile.

"Oh, of course, no problem."

The adults present stood in a row, and Rita Skeeter rushed over and pulled Lockhart, who had taken the center position, aside, saying, "This is your place!"

Lockhart stood reluctantly on the edge.

"Professor Flitwick?"

Flitwick waved his hand and stepped aside.

"Click!" The shutter sounded, and the photo was captured.

Fudge, Dumbledore, Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, and Kingsley stand together against the backdrop of the giant basilisk.

Having completed today's task, the group stood beside the basilisk. Fudge stepped forward, his belly protruding, and carefully observed the basilisk. "This is the thing that has been in Hogwarts for over a thousand years. How did it manage to hide itself without being discovered?"

Professor McGonagall explained, "Through the pipes that run throughout Hogwarts—the school has undergone several renovations, and the internal pipes are so numerous that few people can see the whole picture, and they have never been thoroughly investigated."

Fudge didn't speak, but whispered to Lucius beside him.

Lockhart joined in, examining the basilisk. "It doesn't seem too difficult to deal with. I once encountered a water monster that could fill half a lake." He tapped the basilisk's fangs with his wand, about to make a witty remark, when his wand suddenly emitted a "sizzling" sound. "Oh my god!" he exclaimed, frantically swinging his wand.

The young wizards watching from the sidelines, with remarkable foresight, quickly retreated more than ten meters, as if fleeing a famine.

But the Minister of Magic, who was looking down at the basilisk's head, was in trouble. A drop of something mixed with saliva and venom was splattered onto Fudge's face, causing him to let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Lucius Malfoy quickly erected a magical barrier, coldly observing the farce. He maintained the magic and retreated, but after only two steps, he was blocked by a ring of golden light.

Felix had raised his wand without anyone noticing. "Young wizards, back off!"

Several professors were doing the same thing, and the protective magic of Flitwick, McGonagall, and Dumbledore made the center of the courtyard colorful.

Hagrid stretched out his large, fan-like hands, picked up the fallen wizards with one hand each, and pushed them far away.

But Lucius was closest to Fudge and Lockhart, and he was surrounded by layers of magic. A drop of venom mixed with saliva, trailing a string, was flicked onto his armor charm, making a sizzling sound.

He shouted, his face pale, "Stop, you idiot!"

Lockhart flicked his wand a few times before realizing what he had done. He stood flustered in front of Fudge, at a loss for what to do. "Oh, Minister Fudge, I'm sorry!"

But Fudge's screams grew louder and louder, his face turned completely black, and the blackening spread visibly.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore shouted, dispelling the magic blocking his path. He stepped forward, pressed his wand against Fudge's face, and layers of golden light emanated from the tip of the wand, stopping the expanding black marks.

Dumbledore examined him closely. "You need further treatment, Fudge. I need to take you to the university hospital."

“No, send me to St. Mungo! My face is ruined! Gilderoy Lockhart, I’m going to lock you up in Azkaban! #￥%&……#&……#” Fudge spewed out a string of profanities.

“Oh, my God.” Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, glaring at the frenzied Fudge, barely managing to suppress a stunning spell. Finally, the Transfiguration professor yelled at the surrounding young wizards, “You, all of you young wizards! Get out of here and go to class!”

The young wizards scattered like birds and beasts.

Rita Skeeter excitedly grabbed the camera and frantically pressed the shutter button, her mouth agape, her two huge gold teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

“Look at that woman, I can see her back teeth!” Ron said, pointing at Rita Skeeter from behind a pillar in the yard. “She’s got some big news today!”

Chapter 86 Is Everything a Curse?

"This is so exciting! I never dreamed there would be a plot like this." Fred and George whispered to each other as they took a detour and hid in the bushes, peering through the gaps to observe what was happening.

Dumbledore held Fudge's hand: "Don't worry, Fudge, you'll be alright."

"You guarantee it? Dumbledore?" Half of his face turned black.

“I assure you, Fudge.”

Fudge's expression calmed down, and he fell asleep.

Dumbledore withdrew his gleaming fingers and turned to Kingsley: "We need to get him to the university hospital."

“But Minister Fouché said…”

"The basilisk's venom needs to be dealt with as soon as possible," Dumbledore said.

The man named Kingsley quickly gave in, "I'll do whatever you say."

Dumbledore turned to Flitwick and McGonagall and said, "Felius, Minerva, you stay here, maintain order, and get rid of the Basilisk." The two professors nodded.

Hagrid volunteered to pick up Fudge, and together with Dumbledore and Kingsley, they strode toward the university hospital.

Lucius escaped amidst the chaos and found his son, Draco Malfoy.

"What is the truth behind the locked room?" Lucius asked him.

"It was Potter and his gang who did it! Dad, Potter is a Parseltongue, that's why he discovered the Chamber of Secrets!" Draco said, looking annoyed.

"Parsley!" Lucius was genuinely surprised; he had thought that the diary he had given to the Weasleys' youngest daughter had been discovered.

"Have you found out who opened the secret room?" Lucius asked vaguely.

"No, not yet," Draco stammered, glancing fearfully at his father. He didn't mention that he had been briefly controlled by a dark magical object.

"Is that so?" Lucius didn't notice the subtle movement, and his expression became inscrutable.

……

Rita Skeeter wanted to follow and film the Minister of Magic's miserable state, but after glancing at Lockhart on the scene, she quickly determined her true target.

Rivals are enemies, we have to get rid of him!

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"