In the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, Kael and Lockhart were engaged in a back-and-forth conversation, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious.
Lockhart even earnestly noted down Kael's responses. Anyone watching might have thought he was moonlighting as a journalist.
After about half an hour, a thick stack of parchment had accumulated on the table.
"Truly amazing..." Lockhart remarked, "It's the first time I've met such an exceptional young wizard like you. So young, yet you've experienced such incredible adventures. You must have a lot of interesting stories to tell."
Before coming to Hogwarts, Lockhart only knew that Kael had driven a werewolf out of St Mungo's and had received a second-class medal from the Merlin Order because of it.
To be honest, Lockhart was quite displeased back then, feeling the Merlin Order was unfair.
He had worked hard to steal so many stories, helping an entire village get rid of werewolf threats, banishing vicious vampires... and ended up with just a third-class medal.
Why should Kael getting rid of one werewolf earn him a second class? Was it because he had connections?
So Lockhart's first impression of Kael was of a lucky boy...If he also knew Dumbledore and Professor Cecily from St Mungo's, he would definitely get that second-class medal from the Merlin Order.
However, ever since becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Lockhart's understanding of Kael became more comprehensive.
He learned from several senior students that two years ago, a sensational Fantastic Beasts incident, which rocked the whole British Magical Realm, was related to Kael.
He, just a first-year student at the time, had been caught in the Forbidden Forest by the notorious Dark Wizard, Oren, but miraculously escaped.
Lockhart was also very interested in that event, wanting to know what exactly happened in the Forbidden Forest...perhaps if there's time later, he could chat about it.
"It's not really stories, just some troubles that others usually wouldn't encounter." Kael waved his hand, appearing not too keen on discussing it.
"I've just discovered another of your qualities, humility."
Lockhart smiled, "Now let's go back to the Chamber of Secrets,"
"Where were we...Oh, the four founders of Hogwarts... I dare say, they must have taught you many powerful spells, or ways to become stronger."
Lockhart casually asked Kael, "Would you be willing to share with me... I know, this request might be a bit much. But just a name would do... just to satisfy my curiosity."
"Sorry to disappoint you, Professor."
Kael shook his head, "They didn't teach me any powerful spells, not even a Lighting Spell."
"I see...looks like you don't want to share this with me." Lockhart sighed, "I understand."
"I really don't have any." Kael looked him in the eye.
"Learning any spells requires gradual progress. Usually, only those fraudulent wizards would pull out a secret manual and trick you into thinking you could become invincible after learning it."
Lockhart flipped through the parchment on the table.
"Yes, you're right."
He glanced out the window, then suddenly stood up, "I've asked everything I needed, oh, and there's one more small thing."
He pulled out his wand, aiming it at Kael.
"I'm truly sorry, child, but I must cast a Forgetfulness Spell on you. My books cannot allow others to steal the spotlight..."
At the same time, Kael also had his wand ready.
"So, Professor, is this how your previous stories were made?"
"You don't seem surprised at all," Lockhart asked.
"Nothing to be surprised about." Kael shrugged, "Your performance in class...you don't seem like someone who can banish werewolves."
"Yes, you're right, I'm just that fraudulent...idiot...fool...that's what you call me behind my back, I know."
Lockhart was straightforward in admitting it.
"But my work is also quite a lot, following these people, asking how they managed...Oh, just like I asked you earlier, and then I have to cast a Forgetfulness Spell on them, so they completely forget about it.
If I have one thing to be proud of, it's my Forgetfulness Spell."
He said, pulling out an exquisite notebook.
"This contains my understanding and experiences with the Forgetfulness Spell..."
He tossed the notebook to Kael, "Consider it a little compensation for you, I have nothing else to offer."
Kael tightly gripped his wand, keeping his eyes fixed on Lockhart.
"Alright then..."
"Professor," Kael suddenly spoke, "I have one last question for you.
What I said just now, all the professors know it, including Dumbledore... You can't erase all their memories, can you?"
"I have my ways," Lockhart seemed unwilling to continue, "Say goodbye to your memories.
"Obliviate..."
Kael's wand moved slightly, causing the floor beneath Lockhart to rise suddenly, making him lose his balance and causing the Forgetfulness Spell to hit the ceiling.
"Professor, you..."
Unexpectedly, another Forgetfulness Spell shot over.
Kael quickly raised his wand,
"Protego Totalum!"
The spell rebounded, hitting Lockhart directly.
With a heavy thud, Lockhart crashed to the floor.
"Ouch!" he cried out, clutching his stomach and curling up there.
"Silent Spell, perhaps also Wandless Spellcasting...you are something else, Professor Lockhart."
Kael shook his head, picking up the notebook, "If you had attacked by surprise, it might have been troublesome...though I never intended to give you that chance from the beginning..."
"Bang!"
Just as Kael picked up the notebook, the office door suddenly burst open.
Professor McGonagall rushed in, followed by... a group of Beaters?
The leader, who Kael had seen before, was Hard, the one who had been in charge of dealing with Oren... It's said he's now the head of the Beater office.
"Gilderoy Lockhart, we've discovered you've been altering others' memories, faking your own experiences. We need to take you to the Ministry of Magic for investigation..."
Hard pulled out his wand as soon as he entered,
But he quickly noticed something seemed off in the office.
There seemed to be signs of a battle here.
A young wizard holding a wand...was the child from two years ago, likely named Kael.
The Lockhart they were looking for was lying on the ground, looking at everyone with a bewildered expression...
"Who are you? Who is Lockhart...and why am I on the floor?"
This...Hard was somewhat baffled.
"What happened here?"
"He tried to cast the Forgetfulness Spell on me, sir," Kael explained, "But the spell rebounded."
"Yet another despicable trick."
Professor McGonagall was both shocked and furious. She first asked Kael if he was okay, then glared angrily at Lockhart, "To think you'd use it on a student, serves you right..."
"Serves me right, is it?" Lockhart asked, blinking.
However, he seemed much more naive now than before.
"Looks like there's been a little accident here."
Hard waved his hand, and immediately someone went to check on Lockhart.
A few minutes later, the Beater stood up and nodded to Hard, "Memory damage, severely impaired...no mistake, it's definitely caused by a Forgetfulness Spell."
They then examined both wands.
"Sorry, kid, just routine." Hard explained to Kael, "It's just a simple little spell, I promise it won't affect your wand."
"Of course, I understand." Kael nodded, raising his wand hand.
Hard also raised his wand.
"Priori Incantatem!"
Between their wands, a translucent shadow emerged, looking like a wall constructed of gray mist.
"Indeed, it's a Protego Totalum."
Meanwhile, the results from Lockhart's side came in too.
A Beater handed Lockhart's wand to Hard, whispering, "Forgetfulness Spell!"
"It seems our Mr. Smile tripped over the wrong person this time." Hard sneered, not at all surprised that Kael could counter Lockhart.
One is the youngest member of the Merlin Order, the other is a fraud who only knows the Forgetfulness Spell, this result is only natural.
"Do we still need to take him back to the Ministry of Magic for trial?" someone asked, "His memory is almost completely gone, it wouldn't be possible to conduct a trial..."
"How troublesome, why did it have to be the Forgetfulness Spell?"
Considering, Hard said, "Send him to St Mungo's first, let him recover his memory there."