"Harry Potter- Ravenclaw"Chapter 2: I Am Gilderoy Snape
Harry chimed in, "Yeah! Just think—when we first met, you tried to transfigure Scabbers and nothing happened at all. This time, you actually managed half the spell!"
Ron nodded, then suddenly brightened. "If only Professor McGonagall had given us a few points just now…"
He cleared his throat and, putting on his best stern voice, declared, "Going to the library to study—very studious! Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Hermione grinned encouragingly. "If you keep it up, Professor McGonagall is bound to give you points in Transfiguration soon!"
Harry turned to study Hermione, lips pressed together, as if pondering something.
Hermione frowned. "What's up?"
Harry gestured awkwardly. "I just… I feel like you've changed a lot. The way you talk… and you're always leading us into trouble these days. You took us to the girls' bathroom to brew Polyjuice Potion…"
"I remember last year, back with the three-headed dog—you were so different then!" He glanced at Ron. "Ron, don't you think so?"
Hermione arched an eyebrow. "Is that a problem? Want me to go back to how I used to be?"
"Of course not!" Harry and Ron shook their heads in unison.
Ron grinned. "No, it's great! Really! That's what being a Gryffindor's all about!"
…
"Professor McGonagall…" Lockhart hurriedly scrambled to tidy up, shoving his bottle of Amortentia-scented cologne into a drawer and stuffing a pile of messy envelopes into a cabinet.
"Professor Lockhart, is something the matter?" Professor McGonagall watched his flustered efforts, eyebrow raised. "Have you run into some trouble?"
"Just a minor hiccup, nothing to worry about! All sorted now!" Lockhart wiped sweat from his brow. "Did you need something?"
"I have good news." Professor McGonagall produced a roll of parchment. "Your application for the Dueling Club has been approved. It'll take place—as you suggested—next Thursday evening."
"So soon?" Lockhart's eyes widened. He saw the parchment offered, but didn't reach for it.
"Yes. It's an excellent idea." Professor McGonagall placed the parchment on his desk. "Headmaster Dumbledore agrees—teaching students to duel is very important."
"Ha… ha ha…" Lockhart's laugh was strained. "Well, I am the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor! Adventure and dueling are my bread and butter. No one knows dueling better than I do!"
He slowly unrolled the parchment, eyes scanning the lines numbly. His voice trembled as he read the name of his assistant: "Severus… Snape?"
Professor McGonagall nodded. "Yes, he's a young professor. I thought you two would get along—being of a similar age."
"I remember you telling us in the Great Hall how well you get on with younger colleagues, and you shared quite a few insights. You said you could build a good relationship with Professor Snape."
Lockhart's smile faltered further—he couldn't even muster his trademark toothy grin. "Ha… yes… young professors are easier to get along with…"
If today hadn't happened, he might have actually tried to reach out and chat with Snape.
Even if Snape wasn't the friendliest, as a Potions professor—even a Potions Master—his abilities shouldn't be too outlandish. He'd make a decent Dueling Club assistant.
He still had plenty of knowledge from others stored in his head—enough to know just how formidable Snape really was.
Just the speed and force of that silent Stunning Spell—there were few wizards in his memories who could match that…
"It's good for young people to communicate." Professor McGonagall nodded. "Need any help tidying your office?"
"Oh, I couldn't possibly trouble you, Professor…" Lockhart waved her off. "I can handle it myself."
"Very well. I'll leave you to it, then." Professor McGonagall turned and left the office.
Once he was sure she'd gone, Lockhart slammed the door shut—so hard it rattled the frame.
Bang!
The draft made him shiver.
But it wasn't just the wind that was cold—his heart felt even colder.
I'm finished!
Everything's out in the open!
That was all Lockhart could think.
Harry and the others had seen him at his lowest…
Snape knew his secret…
And next Thursday was the Dueling Club…
Lockhart's eyes darted anxiously as he tried to figure out his next move. "There are still a few days… What should I do?"
"That's it! Leave Hogwarts! Leave England! Disappear into the Muggle world… I know perfectly well how to get by among Muggles…"
He pocketed his wand, glanced at the self-portrait on the wall, then at the clutter around him, and started to pack—
Trophies, clothes, portraits, book after book of his own works…
As the trunk filled, sweat soaked through his robes, and even his perfectly styled hair drooped.
"What's this?" Lockhart picked up a pitch-black notebook. "T.M. Riddle? Looks like a perfectly ordinary diary… Is this even mine?"
For some reason, a strange calm washed over him. He felt a sudden urge—a desire to open the diary and write something inside.
The urge was so strong, it drowned out his thoughts of running away.
He wiped his brow, sat at his desk, and rummaged through his trunk for ink and a quill, pondering what to write.
A droplet of ink fell from his quill onto the diary's page—and vanished instantly.
"It disappeared?" Lockhart frowned and examined the notebook. "No strange tingling… Doesn't seem like a Dark magic artifact…"
He searched his stored memories for clues, but found none.
"Doesn't feel like Dark magic… so it probably isn't, right?" he muttered, setting the diary back on the desk.
At that moment, words began to appear on the page.
Could you tell me your name, esteemed sir… or madam?
"Words appeared?" Lockhart gaped, then glanced at his quill and wrote: "I am Gild…"
He hesitated, then continued: "I am Gilderoy Snape."
Mr. Snape, it's a pleasure to meet you… I can sense your hesitation and anxiety in your handwriting. Has something happened? Would you like to share it? Perhaps I can help.
Lockhart scribbled back, "Who are you?"
My name is Tom Riddle—a witness and a recorder. I have chronicled Hogwarts' darkest secrets and the truths long hidden.
Lockhart raised an eyebrow. "Hogwarts' darkest secrets? Hidden truths? What exactly have you recorded?"
Mr. Snape, did you know… the Chamber was opened fifty years ago? And only I… know what truly happened back then!
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