The end of the Christmas break meant classes were officially back in session.
But unlike the previous term, once students entered the second half of the year, they had to start thinking about their final exams.
Which meant Lockhart was at it again.
He hadn't rested once over the entire holiday, spending every day studying the outline Tver had given him and drafting test after test—enough to last straight through finals.
His enthusiasm was enough to make Tver feel guilty.
The students, however, saw it very differently.
Gryffindor Common Room.
George and Fred lay face-down on the test papers spread across the table, sighing at each other like dying animals.
"If making exam papers were a crime, Lockhart would get a life sentence in Azkaban."
"No, I think a Dementor's Kiss would be more appropriate."
Just then, Percy climbed through the portrait hole. He had just finished his evening tutoring session, and as usual, he looked a bit pale—his magic reserves nearly drained.
George noticed him immediately and perked up.
"Well, well, look who it is. Percy, captain of the first—and so far only—team to beat the fourth statue. Care to share some wisdom?"
Today, the sixth-years had Professor Fawley's class, and they were still training in statue combat.
But this time Percy had managed to lead his team to defeat the fourth statue.
He didn't feel particularly proud, though—because he'd used a method he definitely wasn't supposed to use.
And Professor Fawley had just finished giving him a very pointed lecture about it.
Thinking of that, Percy forced a weak smile, said nothing, and trudged off toward the dorms with his backpack.
His half-hearted response left the twins dissatisfied.
"Is the professor's tutoring really that rough?" George pouted.
Fred rubbed his chin.
"Considering how intense last year was, Percy really might not be able to handle it alone."
"Hmm~" George's eyes lit up. "As his brothers, I think we should help lighten the load."
"Too bad the professor already plays wizard chess better than we do."
Fred's comment hit George like an arrow to the chest. He deflated instantly, slumping face-down onto the desk and growling, "Ron is useless!"
Just then, Ron and Harry climbed into the common room. They had just handed their notes and homework to Hermione—still hoping she would "help" them finish it.
As soon as they arrived, they heard George's shout.
"?"
Ron felt both insulted and unsurprised. His broken wand had made his schoolwork suffer terribly this year… but George didn't get to say that.
"Give it a rest. Professor Fawley told us your theory grades are getting worse. He's planning to shift your practical classes into theory classes instead."
He smirked at the twins, fully expecting to see their spirits crumble.
Instead, their reactions were… completely backward.
"You're saying our theory grades are terrible?" George lifted his head, deadly serious, seeking confirmation.
"Yeah."
"You're saying the professor is going to personally teach us theory?" Fred's eyes lit up like two lanterns.
"That's right—he told us himself," Ron said, suddenly uneasy. "You two aren't losing your minds, are you? Look, it's just—"
"Losing our minds? No, no, no," George grinned. "We're thrilled! Aren't we, Fred?"
Fred grabbed George's shoulders.
"Absolutely! The professor actually changed the curriculum for the sake of our theory! And that means—"
The twins threw their arms around each other and shouted in unison:
"It means the professor cares about us!"
"…"
The common room fell silent. Everyone stared in stunned disbelief at the twins, who were dramatically pretending to weep in each other's arms.
Ron rolled his eyes—very Hermione-like—and dragged Harry to the farthest corner, as if afraid the twins' foolishness was contagious.
"I really don't get how Professor Fawley puts up with those two idiots."
Harry thought for a moment. "Probably the same way Hermione puts up with us?"
"…Thanks for the reminder."
They pulled out their unfinished homework and continued whispering.
But in just a short while, their conversation drifted right back to Hermione.
"Without Hermione, there's no way we're finishing all this homework!" Ron groaned.
Harry glanced at their hopelessly stagnant progress. They weren't even catching up to Hermione—and she was stuck in the hospital wing.
"Professor Fawley said she won't fully recover for another two weeks. But our homework is due next week."
At that, Ron frowned, glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then lowered his voice.
"To be honest… I feel like the professor doesn't want Hermione to recover."
Harry frowned at first, but then remembered the slightly disappointed look on Professor Fawley's face in the hospital wing. The idea didn't seem as absurd as it should have.
"Maybe the professor just wants to study Hermione's condition?"
Ron leaned in so close his whisper was practically in Harry's ear.
"But researching something like that can't be good, right? And the professor does like studying weird things."
"Remember Neville? Ever since the professor came to Hogwarts, Neville's been getting tutored by him. He goes to the professor's office several times a week now."
"But when you look at Neville's notes, it's like… he's the one being studied."
Harry nodded slowly. "The professor is always especially interested in that sort of stuff."
"But here's the real question," Ron said mysteriously, "what if the professor is the one who opened the Chamber of Secrets?"
Harry jolted so hard his chair screeched across the floor.
He grabbed Ron and dragged him deeper into the corner.
"Why would the professor do something like that?"
"Think about it! Hermione checked every source she could find. The only creature close to fitting the Chamber monster is the Basilisk. But Basilisk eyes kill, they don't petrify."
"And petrification like this would need really powerful dark magic—and the professor did go to Durmstrang!"
"Maybe he's been researching dark magic!"
Ron's voice shook with a mix of excitement and fear. "And if Malfoy wasn't lying, then the professor, who's always on the third floor, is the biggest suspect!"
Harry's expression twisted. The more Ron spoke, the more Harry found himself agreeing—against his better judgment.
"No… no, impossible. The professor isn't the type to hurt students!"
Thinking about the professor's gentle demeanor, Ron wavered too.
"I'm just saying it's a possibility. Maybe I'm wrong?"