bioinnovel Chapter 124 Lockhart, get out!
Chapter 124 Lockhart, get out!
Chapter 124 Lockhart, get out!
There was no deafening gongs and drums or the sound of firecrackers, but the fluttering red flags were still quite fitting.
The petitioning students gathered at the entrance of the auditorium. They neither shouted slogans nor went into the auditorium, but they held up their banners and flags very high.
The lower-grade students who had been dozing off in the auditorium were now wide awake, staring in shock at the upperclassmen outside the door.
Some people are confused and don't understand what they are doing; some are hesitant and don't know whether they should join them; and some are indifferent and enjoy their breakfast.
The professors, who had been stunned, quickly recovered from their daze. The four deans hurriedly got up and left their seats, running towards the door.
This was quite a challenge for Professor Flitwick, who had to fumble around on his short legs to keep up with the other three.
Dumbledore, on the other hand, remained calm. The headmaster, who had seen many storms, was not intimidated by this little difficulty. He walked steadily toward the petitioning students with firm steps and a composed expression.
The remaining professors in the faculty section felt embarrassed to continue sitting there, and all the faculty members except for Gilderoy Lockhart, who was completely limp, left their seats.
Belvina walked to the Slytherin table and gestured with her eyes and gestures to everyone to calm down; Bassheda went to the Hufflepuff table and told everyone not to panic; Paul Bernard stood on the Ravenclaw side.
At least one faculty member was stationed at each of the four long tables in the auditorium. Their task was to calm and control the students around the tables and prevent the situation from becoming more chaotic.
The four heads of the house were the first to arrive at the main entrance. Professor McGonagall looked serious, Professor Snape's face was grim, Professor Sprout looked anxiously at everyone, and Professor Flitwick was panting heavily—
As the deans of various institutions arrived, the petitioning group became restless. Some people began to feel timid and wanted to retreat; some remained steadfast in their beliefs and would not waver; and some hesitated, unsure whether to retreat or advance.
With a hundred people, there are all sorts of people. The students inside and outside the auditorium each had their own distinct contrasting groups, reflecting different choices.
Belvina's feelings were conflicted. It was a good thing that the students knew how to protect their own rights, but they also caused trouble for the school, especially posing a problem for Dumbledore.
The reopened Chamber of Secrets has not yet been properly dealt with, and students have begun to gather and petition again. For some, this is an excellent opportunity to outmaneuver Dumbledore, and if handled properly, it could lead to his expulsion from the school.
Dumbledore finally reached the vicinity of the door, his slow, leisurely steps making one want to give him a pair of strong feet.
As Dumbledore drew closer, the students who had gathered to petition became even more agitated. They broke their silence, and voices gradually rose from the crowd.
Surprisingly, the first person to step forward was a Slytherin prefect. Belvina couldn't quite remember her name; was it Gemma or Farley?
The Slytherin prefect shouted, "The school must expel Gilderoy Lockhart and give us a reasonable explanation! Professor Dumbledore!" She was quite polite, not addressing the headmaster by his first name.
"That's right!"
"That's right!"
"Lockhart, get out!"
A chorus of agreement erupted from the crowd. The students, like boiling water, no longer concealed their anger, and chants demanding Lockhart be kicked out rose and fell.
Gilderoy Lockhart, slumped in the faculty section, was deathly pale and drenched in sweat, as if he had collapsed from exhaustion. Every protest coming from outside the auditorium struck him like a hammer blow to the heart.
"Get Lockhart out of here!"
"We need capable professors!"
The students' shouts surged like waves, one higher than the next, as they vented their anger and grievances. Starting with Quirrell and then Lockhart, they didn't want to see another useless professor.
Dumbledore didn't put on airs as the headmaster; he stood there listening carefully to every voice, including those who said he was old and blind.
Only after the students had vented their emotions and the noisy chatter gradually subsided did Dumbledore press down his hands to signal everyone to quiet down.
Dumbledore then spoke, his attitude serious and unpretentious, his tone gentle yet stern.
He said, "I have heard your voices and sensed your dissatisfaction. The school will seriously consider your suggestions."
Regarding Mr. Gilderoy Lockhart's personal matters, the school will also request the Ministry of Magic to conduct an investigation—"
Gilderoy Lockhart, limp and dejected, knew he couldn't withstand any investigation and that a ticket to Azkaban awaited him.
"Furthermore, I must express my apologies to everyone present," Dumbledore said, bowing slightly to those inside and outside the Great Hall. "It was my oversight that caused you trouble."
The Great Hall became extremely quiet. Putting aside Dumbledore's status and position, his age alone made everyone hesitant to accept his bow.
Some students dodged to the side, while others scattered about, none daring to look at Dumbledore with his silver hair and beard.
Looking at the people before him, some youthful and some mature, Dumbledore was filled with emotion. He realized how hasty his decision had been.
Before deciding to hire Gilderoy Lockhart, Dumbledore already knew his background: he deceived accomplished wizards and witches, then erased their memories, thus packaging other people's heroic deeds as his own.
At that time, Dumbledore believed that as long as Lockhart was placed in Hogwarts and allowed to live among everyone, his true colors would be revealed and his deceptions would be exposed.
Just as Dumbledore had predicted, Lockhart's mask was soon torn off, his lies were no longer believed, and he was not far from being ruined.
However, there was one thing Dumbledore hadn't anticipated: he hadn't expected the students' reaction to be so intense, even resorting to such a radical method as a petition to express their anger.
They only think about telling students what kind of things to do and what kind of people to be, but they neglect the importance of teaching and answering questions, and they also ignore the students' feelings.
Moreover, the Defense Against the Dark Arts course has been plagued by problems for a long time. Last year's Quirrell and this year's Lockhart Rome were not built in a day. The students' dissatisfaction has been brewing for a long time, but it just happened to erupt today in a way that no one wanted to see.
With the promise from Headmaster Dumbledore, the anger in the students' hearts gradually dissipated. They believed that Dumbledore would definitely deal with the fraudster Lockhart and give everyone an explanation.
The students at the auditorium entrance relaxed somewhat and began to disperse; they had achieved their goal, and Lockhart would no longer be their professor.
However, the somewhat relaxed atmosphere did not last long. Everyone's expressions quickly became serious, and the lingering fear that followed their impulsive actions gradually took over. They began to feel apprehensive and panicked.
"But!" Dumbledore suddenly said, keenly sensing the change in atmosphere, "given that you did not apply to the professors in advance as required and gathered in groups without permission, I have to deduct ten points from your houses as punishment."
The students outside the auditorium immediately breathed a sigh of relief. The principal raised the paddle high and then let it fall lightly. Ten points were deducted from each college, which was roughly equivalent to no points being deducted.
Dumbledore waved his hand and said, "That's all. Those who are going to eat, eat. Those who are going back to their common room, go back to your common room. Everyone, that's all."
After saying this, Dumbledore walked out first, and the petitioning students automatically parted to make way for the headmaster.
Dumbledore had only taken a few steps outside when he suddenly stopped. The students at the door held their breath, fearing that the headmaster might change his mind and worsen their punishment.
The impulsive and young students were undoubtedly overthinking things; Dumbledore was not that kind of person, and his status and position did not allow him to do such a thing.
Dumbledore turned to Belvina at the Slytherin table and said loudly, "Belvina, please take Lockhart to the school hospital. He needs to be in good health until the truth comes out."
This time, Dumbledore is truly gone. The mess he and his students created together needs to be cleaned up, and the Ministry of Magic needs to intervene in the investigation of Lockhart.
Cornelius Fudge would be more than happy to both find fault with Dumbledore and get involved in Hogwarts affairs, and might even come over in person.
Under the watchful eyes of the four deans, the students silently entered the auditorium and returned to their respective colleges to have breakfast.
The entire auditorium was quiet, with only the crisp sound of cutlery clinking together. Pride was written on the faces of every student who participated in the petition.
Belvina and Bassheda returned to the faculty seating area together, both giving each other disgusted looks. Lockhart, slumped over, had already collapsed onto the floor and almost crawled under the table.
"Stand up and walk by yourself," Belvina said disdainfully. "Don't make me drag you around like a dead dog." Her disgust was palpable to everyone present.
"No, this can't be—I am Gilderoy Lockhart," Lockhart muttered to himself from under the chair, "I am Lockhart—"
Clearly, the heavy blow had taken a toll on Lockhart's mental state, and he now appeared somewhat erratic.
Gilderoy Lockhart sat up shakily, his right hand trembling as he reached for his robes, and surprisingly, he pulled out his wand.
"Oh, right, I also have a spell I'm good at: the Oblivion Spell. As long as you forget all of this, there won't be any problems—" Lockhart said, babbling incoherently as he raised his wand with trembling hands.
At this moment, Belvina was very puzzled. How dare Lockhart? Had he gone mad?
Belvina didn't even bother to take out her wand; with a casual wave of her hand, Lockhart's cherry wood wand immediately fell into her grasp.
Immediately afterwards, Belvina pointed her long-buried cherry wood wand at Lockhart. A flash of white light appeared, and a shiny metal hand appeared on Lockhart's wrist, followed by a foot on his ankle.
"Since you're unwilling to preserve your dignity, I'll have no choice but to reluctantly drag you to the school hospital," Belvina said.
To the astonishment of the students, Belvina actually dragged Lockhart out of the auditorium like a dead dog.