Chapter 68 Save Me, Professor Lockhart, Save Me!!!
The words in the photo of the opened Chamber of Secrets in the Hogwarts news had clearly terrified some people.
The parents of Goyle and Crabbe waited several days before finally coming to the school to visit their children. Accompanying them was Lucius Malfoy, the elder brother of old Goyle and old Crabbe.
Old Goyle and old Crabbe, just like their two sons, seemed to have dull minds.
But they were only dull-witted, not truly stupid.
They were very clear about how to continue their family's glory: steadfastly follow the intelligent Malfoys, no matter what happened.
They were like this, and so were their children.
Their actions proved correct. Unlike other increasingly declining pure-blood families, their families still retained significant influence.
The Malfoys also took good care of the Goyles and Crabbes.
Currently, Narcissa Malfoy, the matriarch of the Malfoy family, doted on young Goyle and young Crabbe, treating them like Draco's own brothers.
"You've come at a bad time. Professor Dumbledore isn't at the school right now." Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, greeted them at the castle's sky bridge.
This was the designated location for authorized external personnel to Apparate into the castle grounds.
Originally, the three Malfoys were supposed to report their arrival to Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, and she should have accompanied these school governors. However, Professor McGonagall was not pleased to see these three.
And Professor Snape, as the Head of Slytherin House where young Goyle and young Crabbe belonged, was currently busy teaching the young wizards and taking the opportunity to humiliate Harry Potter, so he was also unavailable.
Thus, this matter fell to Lockhart, the personal tutor of young Goyle and young Crabbe in the "Dueling Club."
He had had little interaction with Mr. Lucius Malfoy before. The arrogant Malfoy was not very willing to associate with this half-blood family-born writer who mingled in the world of fame and fortune. If he needed such connections, he would contact Rita Skeeter, who was of pure-blood descent.
Lucius didn't want to acknowledge Lockhart's words.
He couldn't very well say that they had actually chosen to come when Dumbledore was away, could he?
After more than a decade, old Dumbledore had recently captured one Death Eater after another (Amycus Carrow, and the unlucky fellow caught in the Gringotts robbery), giving them the impression that he was about to settle old scores. They were now quite apprehensive about seeing old Dumbledore.
Lucius leaned heavily on his snake-headed cane without any politeness, coldly looking at Lockhart with an accusatory air. "We sent our children to Hogwarts because we believed in Hogwarts' safety. Otherwise, they should have been sent to Durmstrang Institute for a better education. But you professors have allowed our children to suffer such great harm?"
The bright smile on Lockhart's face instantly froze, becoming indifferent and drooping. He merely looked at him with a sneer. "But what I heard was that the Dark Lord has returned, and he's beginning to prepare to cleanse those who once betrayed him…"
"Nonsense!" Lucius suddenly couldn't hold back and strode forward, staring intently into Lockhart's eyes, forcefully saying word by word, "He's dead! Dead! And we back then were…"
Were what?
Influenced by the Imperius Curse? Threatened by the Killing Curse? Forced by the Cruciatus Curse?
Heh~
These words had been spoken for over a decade, so smoothly that they had become second nature. But now, the words were on the tip of his tongue, yet he dared not say them again, did he?
Lockhart looked at him with a sneer. "Lucius Malfoy, remember this! It's not just the members of the Order of the Phoenix who are watching you Death Eaters. We in the Anti-Dark Arts League and the Order of Merlin are also watching you!"
The Anti-Dark Arts League was easy to understand, always filled with hostility towards these dark wizards. Lockhart was an honorary member of the Anti-Dark Arts League and actually had some influence in this international organization.
The Order of Merlin was a bit more interesting.
This organization, with a history as long as many ancient pure-blood families, actually had a very bad reputation in the eyes of many pure-blood families—many secretly cursed this organization as "Muggle lapdogs."
Yes, the Order of Merlin was founded by the legendary wizard Merlin, with the aim of pledging allegiance to the Muggle royal family, protecting Muggles, and managing the wizarding community.
The initial reason why the British Ministry of Magic was called the "Ministry of Magic" and not the "Magical Congress" like the one across the ocean was due to the influence of the Order of Merlin.
By this era, the Order of Merlin had begun to change. Internally, it was also filled with various messy factions. Compared to the "pure-blood supremacy" and "pro-Muggle" factions that had developed in recent decades, "wizard supremacy" was the most powerful voice.
Of course, these factional struggles were all undercurrents in private. Publicly, everyone still had to adhere to the "Statute of Secrecy" as the bottom line to express their views.
This was undeniably ironic.
Lucius Malfoy's face was full of anger, and beneath that anger was even a deep-seated fear. The Dark Lord… had he really returned? Was he really going to cleanse them, these traitors?
I didn't really betray him!
I was really helpless back then!
Dark Lord, give me a chance to explain!
His face was cloudy and uncertain. Old Goyle and old Crabbe were not happy to see their leader being mocked like this, and they both drew their wands and pointed them at Lockhart, shouting angrily.
Lockhart, however, simply placed his hands casually in front of him, too lazy to even draw his wand, merely looking at them with a sneer. "Very good. While the Dark Lord is preparing to cleanse you, you are preparing to attack a professor personally invited by Dumbledore to Hogwarts?"
Lucius's expression changed. He raised his hand, signaling his two little brothers to step back, his gaze remaining icy as he looked at Lockhart. "Don't change the subject. I only ask you, what exactly happened to these two children, young Goyle and young Crabbe?"
This was a way to offer a way out, full of bluster and cowardice.
Lockhart was silent for a moment, then sighed with some pity. "Of course, those who are injured are treated. After all, I am their personal tutor. No matter which side they stand on, I will save them."
"You?" Lucius looked as if to say, "Who do you think you are?"
"Mandrake Restorative Draught," Lockhart rolled his eyes. "Lucius, if you had studied properly when you were at Hogwarts, you should know that the N.E.W.T. Potions class in the seventh year teaches how to brew this potion. It can solve the problem."
Old Goyle and old Crabbe quickly turned to look at Lucius. The two of them were busy retaking their Ordinary Wizarding Level exams in their sixth and seventh years and were not qualified to attend the N.E.W.T. classes.
Lucius nodded, looking at the two followers who were concerned about their sons' situation, and explained, "This potion can restore changes in appearance caused by curses or transfiguration, returning people to their original state."
He immediately grasped the key point, questioning Lockhart, "Are you sure this potion can cure them?"
Lockhart shrugged. "Professor Dumbledore's judgment. You can consult him yourself."
Brewing this potion was not difficult, and even collecting the potion ingredients would not be difficult for these pure-blood families. The only difficult part was knowing that young Goyle and young Crabbe's current state could be treated with this potion.
"!!!"
Lucius was silent.
On the contrary, old Goyle and old Crabbe both breathed a sigh of relief.
Although they had followed Lucius in pledging allegiance to the Dark Lord and standing against Dumbledore, they highly recognized Dumbledore's character and powerful abilities. If Dumbledore said so, then it must be so.
Great, their children were saved.
"Follow me!" Lockhart turned directly and led them towards the castle, looking as if he had nothing more to say to them.
Lucius glared fiercely at Lockhart's back, but in the end, he still beckoned his two followers to come along.
No one had ever…
No one had ever dared to be so rude to him!
Or even dared to mention the Dark Lord and them, the Death Eaters, so easily!
This Lockhart must pay the price!
He plotted some malicious ideas in his mind, following Lockhart around a corridor, when he suddenly felt his feet go soft, as if he had stepped into empty air and was falling.
All he saw before him were dazzling, colorful lights. Looking up, Professor Lockhart had a look of anxious surprise, as if he had rushed forward to grab them and pull them up but had failed.
He heard the exclamations of old Goyle and old Crabbe in his ears, "The Dark Lord is going to cleanse us! He's going to cleanse us! Lucius, what should we do?!!!"
"Waaah, I told you not to come to Hogwarts! He's here! He's here! Waaah, I don't want to die!"
"!!!"
Lucius's already pale face instantly lost all color. Looking at the panicked Lockhart above, he quickly shouted.
"Save me, Professor Lockhart, save me!!!"
You were personally invited by Dumbledore to teach at the school, right? You must be very capable, right? Actually, I also believe in Dumbledore's judgment!
Save me!!!
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