Unlike Lucius, who could weasel his way out of trouble with a few well-placed Galleons, Lockhart didn't have that luxury. No matter how much he donated, no one would bail him out.
Attacking wizards, stealing their memories, and profiting off their experiences—by any measure, it was despicable.
He'd probably have to burn through his entire fortune just to have a shot at freedom.
Even if he managed to escape, the scandal would ruin him.
What would his readers think? What would other wizards think?
How could he go on living?
"Let me go! I'm innocent!" Lockhart shouted, seizing a moment when the nearby Auror wasn't paying attention. He shoved the man aside and snatched his wand.
Gawain hadn't expected Lockhart to fight back. Neither had the other Aurors.
And just like that, Lockhart broke free using pure physical force.
Is this really the quality of Aurors? Kinda pathetic, Dudley thought, shaking his head.
They didn't even use a binding spell right away—just went straight for a grab.
And they didn't bother clearing the crowd either.
If Lockhart was actually competent, he could've hurt someone, and the young witches and wizards in the classroom would've been in danger.
"Drop the wand! What are you doing?" Gawain barked, tensing up as Lockhart brandished the stolen wand. The other Aurors scrambled for cover.
It was almost comical.
But it made sense when you thought about it. Lockhart's fame in the wizarding world was unmatched. His books painted him as a powerful wizard with a laundry list of heroic feats.
"Stay back! Don't make me do this! I'm very powerful!" Lockhart warned, clearly emboldened by the Aurors' hesitation.
He was looking for a chance to bolt. Getting caught would be the end of him.
If he escaped, he could spin the narrative, rally public opinion, maybe even turn things around.
"I took down—"
A flash of red light cut him off. The wand flew from his hand, landing neatly in Dudley's grasp, while Lockhart himself was sent tumbling backward.
"Looks like Professor Lockhart just added 'attempted assault on an Auror' to his rap sheet," Dudley quipped.
In the end, the Aurors dragged Lockhart away, leaving the young witches and wizards—who'd been tearfully bidding him farewell moments earlier—utterly baffled. One minute he was playing the emotional goodbye card, and the next, he was a criminal?
For the Hogwarts students, though, it was just a minor drama.
Soon enough, the day arrived when exam results were posted.
No surprise—Dudley took first place, with Hermione right behind him. Harry, Malfoy, Ron, and Neville followed, the Discipline Committee sweeping the top six spots in their year.
Cedric, the Hufflepuff newcomer to the Committee, also snagged first in the fourth year.
The Discipline Committee proved their mettle once again.
"You guys have to come to my place this summer," Ron said on the Hogwarts Express back to King's Cross. Last year, they'd visited Neville's place, and only Harry had gone to the Burrow. This time, it was Ron's turn, right?
Malfoy looked a bit sour. He'd love to invite everyone to the Malfoy Manor, but with his father's… situation, it'd only stir up trouble.
Unless he became the head of the Malfoy family.
"I was thinking maybe you all should come to my place this summer," Dudley said, opening a small pink suitcase and stuffing box after box of items inside. Hermione's luggage was getting bigger—and heavier—by the day, mostly because it was packed with books.
Books, once they piled up, were insanely heavy.
No wonder they say knowledge is power.
Carrying that load around Hogwarts for a few laps every day? Stick with it, and you'd be brimming with strength in no time.
Thankfully, the Extension Charm existed, or Hermione's luggage would've rivaled Dudley's stash of workout gear.
"Live like Muggles?" Ron's eyes lit up. "Sounds fun! I've never stayed at a Muggle house. Fred told me they've got this box called a… telly-vision? Moves like a portrait. I gotta see that."
"My gran would definitely be okay with it," Neville chimed in.
As long as he mentioned Dudley, Augusta Longbottom would be all for it.
Malfoy frowned slightly. He really wanted to go, but Lucius… ugh, what a hassle.
Stuffy old traditionalist.
"No, I mean my place as a wizard," Dudley clarified, shaking his head. "I bought a property in Godric's Hollow, right next to the old Potter house."
Ron, Neville, and Malfoy stared at him, dumbstruck.
"Dude, you're saying you bought a house?" Ron asked, as if he needed to confirm it.
"Yup. This summer, I'm fixing up the Potter house and my new place," Dudley said. "Wanna help?"
The materials were already delivered. All that was left was the actual work.
A home needed to be as secure as possible.
Truth be told, it wasn't just two houses—he'd bought up everything within a few kilometers.
But a regular renovation wasn't enough for Dudley. He planned to use his magical crafting skills to overhaul the place completely, turning it into an impregnable fortress.
Otherwise, it just didn't feel safe enough.
"Wicked," even Malfoy couldn't help but say.
Even for someone as rich as a Malfoy, casually buying a house was unthinkable.
There's only so much gold in the family vault.
As for Ron, whose entire family squeezed into one house, he was at a loss for words.
Swallowing hard, Ron asked, "D, just how rich are you?"
Dudley thought for a moment. "Let's just say I've lost count."
If someone asked him what his superpower was, he'd answer without hesitation: being filthy rich.
He wasn't even sure of the exact amount himself. All he knew was that his Gringotts account had filled up several vaults.
The goblins treated him like… well, not to be crude, but like a dung beetle spotting a prize. Scratch that—let's say they treated him like their long-lost father, with the utmost care and respect, practically falling over themselves to serve him.
Even a real dad might not get that kind of treatment.
After all, goblins only cared about gold.
"Oh, by the way, there's a side hustle if you guys want in," Dudley added.
The first Wizarding Card Tournament had been a massive hit, and Caro was already planning to take it Europe-wide. The next tournament was sure to cause a stir.
They were prepping a new card pack, this time featuring modern famous wizards.
Since it involved likeness rights, they needed the wizards' consent.
Hogwarts professors and other notable—or notorious—wizards were all part of the card pack plan.
"Count me in!" the three said in unison, exchanging glances.
Nobody ever said no to extra Galleons.