blueteamnovel Chapter 210 Lockhart's Alibi
Chapter 210 Lockhart's Alibi
Chapter 210 Lockhart's Alibi
However, their subsequent investigation made no progress.
Lynch dismantled the corridor but found no secret passage, proving it was just an ordinary corridor. Behind the walls was solid rock, and beneath the floor were even older foundation stones, with no sign of any hidden space. The only conclusion was that the attackers did not enter or leave through a physical passage.
Snape spent the entire morning holed up in his private storeroom, trying to find any clues left by the thieves. But even after trying several different tracking and revealing spells, he found nothing. The thieves' methods were infuriatingly clean. Ultimately, he could only use magic to recall and reveal a handful of faint magical traces that didn't belong to him in the recent past: a few Slytherin students,
Lynch and ————
"Lockhart?" Lynch raised an eyebrow as Snape grimly announced the brief list.
How did he end up in your private storage room?
Snape's face was as cold as ice in a cellar, and his voice was almost squeezed out between clenched teeth: "He claims—that his ridiculous line of hair care products—needs some exclusive and potent ingredients to enhance their effects, and that I have an obligation to support my colleague's 'personal image career.'"
He paused, as if saying those words had polluted his mouth, "I kicked him out as a matter of course, but the nauseating scent of cologne lingered there like cockroaches."
Just then, Professor McGonagall found them hurrying along, her expression more serious than usual, her gaze sharp behind her square glasses.
“I’ve found out,” she said, cutting straight to the point without any pleasantries. “I asked Justin-Finley’s roommate and other friends. They all confirmed that about half an hour before curfew last night, Justin received a note, and then he seemed very excited, telling his friends that Professor Lockhart had invited him to his office to help with some important matters related to the fan club.”
"Lockhart?" Snape's voice was deep and dangerous. His dark eyes immediately turned to Lynch, and the two exchanged a meaningful glance.
Gilderoy Lockhart's name appeared a second time in that short period of time, instantly raising the level of suspicion.
"Yes, Professor Lockhart," Professor McGonagall affirmed, oblivious to the silent exchange between the two, and continued, "Justin left the Hufflepuff common room at approximately 6:45 p.m.
This is the last known clear location of his before the attack that we can trace back to so far.
"It seems we must pay a visit to Professor Lockhart," Snape said in a chillingly pleasant tone.
Professor McGonagall nodded gravely. "I agree. We must find out exactly what happened last night."
Without the slightest hesitation, the three immediately set off for Lockhart's office. The door with the constantly blinking self-portrait hanging on it stood out starkly in the dim corridor light.
Professor McGonagall knocked on the door, her voice echoing in the quiet corridor.
The door was pulled open almost immediately, and Gilderoy Lockhart appeared in the doorway, wearing a dazzling gold-purple robe and sporting the standard smile of someone ready to greet an admirer.
"Ah! Professor McGonagall! Professor Snape! And—Professor Lynch!" he greeted warmly, but a fleeting hint of panic crossed his eyes as he swept over Snape's somber face and Lynch's scrutinizing gaze. "What rare guests! Please come in, please come in! What brings some of Hogwarts' most distinguished colleagues here? Are you here to consult on how to effectively defend—"
“Professor Lockhart,” Professor McGonagall interrupted him, “we’re here about Justin Finley. There’s evidence that you summoned him to your office before curfew last night. We need to know all the details of that meeting.”
Lockhart's smile froze for a moment, then quickly returned to normal, like overly elastic clay, though it was a little more restrained than before.
He stepped aside to let the three of them into his office, which was covered with self-portraits and piled high with autographed photos.
"Oh! Poor, poor child!" A sorrowful expression appeared on his face as he placed his hand on his chest. "Yes, I heard that terrible news, it's heartbreaking! Merlin's Beard! I simply can't believe that one of my most passionate and promising young fans has suffered such misfortune!"
He sighed dramatically and continued, “He did come over last night. You know, he's a huge fan of mine, an honorary member of my Hogwarts fan club. I asked him over that night just to do me a small favor, to pack some autographed photos I'm preparing to send to supporters all over the world. The kid worked really hard, and we had a pleasant chat about some useful spells I mentioned in Gilderoy Lockhart's Guide to Getting Rid of Household Pests —”
"When did the meeting end? When and where was the last time you saw Justin?" Professor McGonagall remained unmoved and calmly pressed on.
“Oh, I remember it very well!” Lockhart puffed out his chest, trying to show his responsibility. “After finishing the work, it was getting late, so I personally escorted him back to the Hufflepuff common room. A professor has a responsibility to ensure the safety of his students, doesn’t he? Just like I wrote in *Walking with the Trolls*, I always take responsibility—”
"You watched him go in?" Lynch suddenly asked, interrupting Lockhart's endless self-praise.
This question clearly stumped Lockhart.
His smile became forced, his eyes began to dart around, and he dared not meet Lin Qi's gaze.
"Well—I, I took him to the vicinity of the Hufflepuff lounge entrance, very close! Right in that corridor with those—well—big wooden barrels." He stammered, "and then, the boy, Justin, he was very considerate, and he said, 'Professor, you're busy enough, you don't need to take me anymore, I can go in myself.' You know, I always respect my students' wishes and cultivate their independence—"
Seemingly realizing his account sounded somewhat irresponsible, he immediately switched to a tone a mix of regret and self-praise, his voice rising an octave: "Oh! If only I had held on a little longer! If only I had escorted him through that door and watched him safely sit by the fireplace in the common room! Perhaps, with my experience, I could have sensed the lurking danger beforehand and apprehended the attacker on the spot! Just like I did in 'Wandering with Werewolves,' swift and decisive! That way, this tragedy would never have happened—"
Lockhart shook his head, as if regretting that he had missed an opportunity to become a hero again.