And so, time passed, and the Chamber of Secrets incident was concluded.
After rescuing Harry and Malfoy, we announced that we had defeated the Heir of Slytherin, and Hogwarts, which had been on the verge of closure, returned to normal.
The potion using Mandrakes was completed thanks to the efforts of the faculty, led by Snape, and those who had been attacked were able to wake up without any issues.
As for Ron, I wasn't sure what spell he'd been hit with, but his condition stabilized once the Horcrux was destroyed. After a dose of Snape's Mandrake Draught, he made a full recovery just like the others.
The Board of Governors, who had been discussing Dumbledore's dismissal, found their efforts fizzling out with the unexpected normalization of the school. In fact, they were met with a political counteroffensive from Dumbledore and were summarily dismantled.
Of course, since the figure who had been the lynchpin holding them together was now here, it was a simple matter.
"Ho ho, Lucius. You've done well."
"Yes, Professor. Thank you once again."
The man bowing so low before a cheerfully smiling Dumbledore in the Headmaster's office was none other than the central figure himself, Lucius Malfoy.
At first glance, it looked as though Dumbledore had subjugated Lucius, but the situation was a bit different from how it appeared.
To be more precise, it was closer to Lucius having come to submit himself.
The faint tears welling in Lucius's eyes were proof of that.
His voice trembling, perhaps more overcome with emotion than usual, Lucius said, "Thank you for saving Draco."
Lucius addressed Dumbledore with the utmost honorifics, a far cry from his usual formal but detached manner. (TN: The text specifies Lucius is using "geukjonching," a level of extreme honorific speech, showing deep deference.)
"The Malfoy family vows to never forget this grace and to repay this debt."
Behind his half-moon spectacles, Dumbledore smiled pleasantly.
*Ah, love.*
The love between a parent and child was like a brightly shining star, even in a family of dark wizards.
Dumbledore, who loved love above all else, was more than happy to accept this vow.
"Of course, Lucius. Has the Malfoy family not always been our ally?"
Of course, such love did not guarantee absolute peace. Even if that tearful vow was genuine, the emotion of this moment was fleeting. It was nothing more than words that could change at any time.
Behind his kind-hearted mask, Dumbledore always had the face of a cold tactician, and he had no intention of making the mistake of blindly trusting such a vow.
That was why they could exchange such empty pleasantries that neither the speaker nor the listener truly believed.
…So, what must one do to gather livestock into a pen? It goes without saying that you must first provide feed.
And at this particular time, even a small carrot would be very effective for the Malfoy family.
Knowing this better than anyone, Dumbledore said, "By the way, this isn't the place to discuss it, but there was recently a proposal to increase the number of seats on the Wizengamot. What are your thoughts on the matter?"
*Yes, for starters… let's try taming him by offering him a stake in some power.*
Dumbledore quietly rested his chin on his clasped hands, his blue eyes gleaming behind his spectacles.
***
Watching Albus's antics through magic, I muttered to myself, "Look at that shameless bastard, Albus."
He had done absolutely nothing in this whole affair. I did all the work, and he's taking all the delicious fruit for himself. What an utterly shameless fellow.
Of course, it was Albus's skill that allowed him to put a leash on the Malfoy family by leveraging Draco's rescue, and even if that leash were handed to me, it would be utterly useless.
Still, watching him sit idly in the Headmaster's office reaping all the benefits, I couldn't help but feel my stomach churn…!
It only made me more determined.
"I'm going to work Harry and Albus like crazy this holiday."
Harry, who was eating in front of me, heard my muttering and flinched. "Setting aside Professor Dumbledore, why is my name coming up?"
"Do you really have to ask, Harry?"
"No, honestly, how is a twelve-year-old supposed to beat Voldemort?"
"I defeated a foe incomparable to Voldemort when I was fifteen."
"Don't you think the comparison is a bit flawed?"
As I listened to Harry grumble, Ron came over with a plate of food and sat down.
"Harry, why the long face! Everything worked out fine!"
Ron, ever positive, chuckled as he teased Harry. He had been all smiles ever since waking up from the attack.
Of course, part of the reason Ron was laughing so heartily was that the final exams had all finished while he was unconscious.
No sooner had Ron sat down than the red-headed twins followed, sitting on either side of me and speaking in turns.
"Aisen!"
"So, about that perfect prank item?"
"When are you going to tell us!"
"Letting something like that go to waste is a sin!"
Fred and George clinging to me like this had become a recent routine.
It was only natural; the reason for their obsession was, of course, the Laughter Bell.
Having made its grand debut by making all the Slytherin students and others burst into laughter on the first day, the twins had apparently imagined the endless pranks they could pull with it. They were now at the point of trying to skip classes just to pester me.
A simple ring of the bell would have sent them away cackling happily, but unfortunately, I had left the Laughter Bell in my bag today.
Of course, whether the twins believed me was another matter, so they continued to pester me to hand it over.
Their obsession, however, came to an end a moment later when Hermione arrived.
Naturally shooing Fred out of the way to sit next to me, Hermione shook her head. "If you keep this up, Percy's going to come and get you."
As if on cue, Percy's shout echoed from afar, and Fred and George vanished in a flash with mischievous grins.
"Fred! George! How many times have I told you to behave at the Leaving Feast!"
"Oops. As if that would stop us."
"From pulling a prank."
Percy rushed in and then dashed off again after the fleeing Fred and George.
Since this was a common occurrence, none of us paid any attention to the chase.
As we silently worked our way through the feast before us, the sound of a spoon tapping against a glass rang out.
It was Albus's signal for attention.
Looking around the quickly silenced hall, Albus stood up and spoke. "Well, this has been another eventful year. From the incident with the Chamber of Secrets, some may have learned a lesson, and others, an understanding."
I could see Albus look specifically at Malfoy when he said 'lesson.'
Malfoy seemed to be bothered by the gaze and quickly looked away.
*Does that mean the brat actually learned something from this?*
Albus was clearly a better educator than I was, so perhaps he could see something that I couldn't.
After talking for a while longer, Albus smiled. "Well, in any case, the important thing is that we are all here together enjoying the Leaving Feast, is it not? Speaking of which, the atmosphere is a bit lacking for a feast. I believe we need some decorations for the victors!"
And with a clap of his hands, the banners were covered with the red lion crest.
"Now, enjoy yourselves!"
With Albus's words, the feast began in earnest. Harry and even Albus, forgetting about the holidays for a moment, were busy enjoying the party. Ron, needless to say, was in his element, and even Percy was smiling and clapping.
Hermione, who was eating a piece of grilled squid she'd ordered, suddenly whispered to me, as if a thought had just occurred to her, "Eating this reminds me of Ardeura, doesn't it?"
"Ardeura?"
"Yeah, she really likes dried squid, right?"
"She does. I should get her some later."
Hermione watched me give a normal reply, her eyes filled with mischief, and she kept smirking.
*What is it? Why is she acting like this?*
As I pondered, Hermione whispered in my ear, "During the break, you have to introduce me to Ardeura the phoenix, right?"
"?!?!"
*—Keuk!*
For the first time since returning to Hogwarts, I was so genuinely surprised that I choked.
*No, she could just be fishing. But how could she possibly be fishing for a phoenix? It doesn't make any sense.*
Seeing my flustered expression, Hermione giggled, even more amused.
It seemed this holiday break was not going to be a peaceful one either.
*Right… let's set that aside and start planning Harry and Albus's training regimen.*
*Harry is one thing, but I need to work Albus to the point where he'll want to turn Hogwarts into an impregnable fortress.*
As if instinctively sensing something even while happily eating and drinking, Albus's butterbeer mug began to tremble in his hand. Professor McGonagall gave him a strange look.
***
Meanwhile, deep beneath Hogwarts, in the place once called the Chamber of Secrets.
With a faint groan, a blond-haired wizard awoke.
"Uuuungh. Where… am I?"
He was a mess, one could say his handsome face was all he had left.
The wizard, who clutched his head for a long time, was named Gilderoy Lockhart.
Of course, he didn't remember that. He didn't even remember why he couldn't remember.
"Hello! Is anyone there! Haha?"
Flashing the signature smile that was perhaps ingrained in his very being, he wandered through the empty cavern, but there was, of course, no one in the Chamber of Secrets.
With no memory, Lockhart wandered aimlessly, but finding a way out of the ruins, collapsed from the battle, was not easy.
It was the very end that Aisen had wanted for Lockhart.
To steal the lives of others with memory magic, only to have his own life stolen in the end.
Of course, if he wandered long enough, he would have been rescued by someone sent by Dumbledore after a day or so and admitted to St. Mungo's Hospital. That was as far as Aisen had planned.
"Ugh, I feel like I'm about to remember something…"
However, there had been a miscalculation. Lockhart had absorbed far too much through Aisen's 'eyes.'
So much so that even after Obliviate had erased Lockhart's entire life, a trace of it remained in his mind.
"Mmm, I remember now. Memories of striking down Dark Wizards. But, it's strange. No matter how I think about it, it's not my memory. It feels like I was watching someone else…"
*It's not my memory, but I remember someone else hunting Dark Wizards?*
There were many possible explanations, but Lockhart's conclusion was simple and crude.
"I see! This must be the memory of the master who taught me magic!"
And so, unexpectedly creating a disciple-brother for Harry without Aisen even knowing, Lockhart swished his cloak and exclaimed, "If that's the case, perhaps if I go around striking down Dark Wizards like my master, my memory will return!"
And with that, Lockhart managed to escape the ruins before anyone else arrived in the Chamber of Secrets.
The story of a vigilante who was strangely skilled with memory magic would spread, but that would be a tale for a much later day—.
***