Hogwarts: What are the four great masters doing?

"..."

Hermione's lips parted as if she wanted to say something.

But in the end she just sighed worriedly and prayed silently in her heart...

"Not expelling Lockhart?"

In the principal's office, Ryan's exclamation woke up the Sorting Hat that was snoring and the principal's portraits that were enjoying their lunch break.

"He's going to fire the professor!?"

Professor Phineas Black, who had just woken up from a nap, spoke loudly at this time: "Does he already have such power? I knew it! That kid has already sidelined Dumbledore - I told you, this is only a matter of time..."

"boom!"

He was halfway through his words when Dumbledore, looking helpless, casually snapped his fingers and turned the tables.

Then Dumbledore looked at Ryan and the Drustvar that Ryan was holding up.

"Lian, things haven't come to that point yet—Gilderoy..."

"He brought a 4X-level dark creature into the classroom, and he had no idea what it was - he even thought it was a grindylow!"

Ryan shook the gadget in his hand, and its words made the Drusval look confused.

After being hit by Lockhart's forgetfulness spell, it seemed to have forgotten its hunting instincts as a dark creature.

"Oh, okay..."

Dumbledore shrugged helplessly after hearing this: "It seems we have to admit that Gilderoy was indeed inconsiderate in this matter."

"But Ryan, I still don't think he should be fired."

"Even though he nearly caused the death of a young wizard?"

"Oh, Ryan, that won't happen."

Dumbledore smiled and said, "You will always choose the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class, and if you don't choose - then I think Severus would like to sit in on Gilderoy's class."

"You knew that already!?"

Upon hearing this, Ryan immediately understood that Dumbledore had obviously made arrangements for this.

But he also didn't understand it anymore.

"why?"

He was clearly not being polite when speaking to Dumbledore. "I can't even comprehend it now. If you already knew about his problems, why did you choose him as the professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts?!"

"Lion, Gilderoy is unlearned...but his spells are interesting, aren't they?"

Dumbledore did not answer directly, but asked in return.

"Yes... a powerful Oblivion Charm. He probably used this to get the ideas in his book—the victims completely forget that they were murdered."

"Stealing life—this success turned a good-for-nothing loser into a best-selling author."

Ryan could actually roughly guess what Lockhart had done.

"Oh, actually, it can't be said that Gilderoy is completely useless - at least he is a good writer and his skills in the Memory Charm are also very good."

Dumbledore added.

"So, you planned to find out the origin of the Oblivion Charm on him, and that's why you brought him to Hogwarts?"

So, Ryan guessed.

"By the way, it can also prevent more victims from appearing. Ryan, by chance, I know several wizards who have been cursed by Gilderoy. They all have intermittent amnesia problems after being cursed... It's very uncomfortable, and I don't even have a good way to treat them."

Dumbledore said.

Thinking of the level of Oblivion Charm that Lockhart demonstrated in class, Ryan nodded silently.

He did not doubt Dumbledore's words - the subsequent impact of a forgetfulness spell of that level would definitely be significant.

"besides..."

Dumbledore continued to explain: "Battie's character is no secret in the wizarding world - he hates evil and Gilderoy has a secret in his heart. He will definitely pay close attention to Bartie's actions."

"Coincidentally, Gilderoy's level of Occlumency isn't very high..."

Speaking of this, Ryan understood.

Even though it was almost certain that Barty Crouch Sr. had never joined Voldemort's army, the whereabouts of Barty Crouch Jr. remained a mystery.

As a 'life thief', Lockhart must be extremely wary of Barty Crouch Sr., the famous iron-blooded man of the Ministry of Magic who has arrested and tried countless dark wizards.

He would certainly observe old Barty very carefully, and Dumbledore obviously wanted to explore old Barty's secrets through him.

This sounds obvious, but...

"Is that just that?"

Ryan still looked at Dumbledore with some doubt.

The reasons given by Dumbledore were very reasonable, but Ryan still instinctively felt that the old wizard might be lying - this was Ryan's instinctive reaction to Dumbledore's long-standing "reputation"!

"That's it."

Dumbledore smiled and nodded.

The old wizard changed the subject and said, "Speaking of which, Severus has been visiting me quite often lately, and he's been a bit overly enthusiastic. I've noticed that he often chats with the Sorting Hat, but their relationship wasn't very good before... Do you have any ideas?"

"Oh Nope."

Ryan remained calm: "Maybe just a chat, you know - Professor Snape's hair hasn't been washed for a long time, and the Sorting Hat hasn't washed it for a long time... until last year."

"I think they will always have something in common."

Of course, he would not admit that the Sorting Hat was his accomplice and Snape was his sweet thief.

But Dumbledore obviously had doubts about this.

"you..."

But just when he was about to ask something else...

"bake!"

Accompanied by the sound of burning flames.

Ryan saw Fawkes suddenly appear on Dumbledore's bird stand.

But at this moment...

"Ok?"

Ryan saw what Fox looked like.

The phoenix that was once beautiful, proud and majestic.

At this moment, it has become a shocking appearance.

The bright, flame-like red color on its feathers has now become dull.

Between the gaps of the feathers, one could vaguely see black, ominous magical power flowing.

Its beautiful tail feathers look as if they were dyed black by ink.

Even Fox's cry became hoarse and unpleasant at this moment, no longer as crisp as before.

"Principal, Fox, this is..."

So at this moment, Ryan naturally frowned.

After hearing this, Dumbledore also looked at Fawkes deeply.

Guilt seemed to flicker in the old man's eyes.

But he still said: "It's almost nirvana, Ryan... The pain before death is always hard to bear."

"Nirvana?"

After hearing this, Ryan looked at Phoenix.

He hadn't witnessed the Phoenix's rebirth, but...

"But when the phoenix reaches Nirvana, will it really become like this?"

Looking at the shocking dark magic on Fox's body, Ryan frowned.

This looks a bit scary indeed.

"It will probably reach Nirvana in less than a month. If you want to see it then, I'll let you know."

Dumbledore said so.

"of course."

Ryan nodded: "Of course I am willing to witness Fox's rebirth!"

As he said this, his worries were dispelled.

Fawkes is Dumbledore's phoenix - with Dumbledore around, how could anything unexpected happen to it?

Then, Dumbledore talked to Ryan about the Pavatu Club.

"I heard from Minerva that you chose the Forbidden Forest as the location for the test?"

Dumbledore asked curiously.

"Yes."

Ryan nodded. "There, I can make sure everything is under my control."

"I have an appointment with Severus to watch it - I thought maybe you could save me a prime seat?"

"Oh, I'm afraid you'll have to talk to Professor McGonagall about this. She's booked it in advance."

"Ah, this..."

Dumbledore felt a little embarrassed.

He had recently become a hands-off boss again and was rarely seen all day - and many things in the new school year fell on Professor McGonagall's shoulders.

Simply put, the latter has been very angry recently.

But Ryan ignored the principal's embarrassment.