Chapter 181: Special Agent for Secret Operations
Crabbe was left by Lockhart at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, to help more patients.
He would spend the rest of the summer there, watched over by Healer Madam Strout and Healer Naomi, ensuring no issues arose in the hospital.
And to guard against any potential fallout from Voldemort, Lockhart deliberately left the Red Cloak and the Boggart with him, just in case any additional situations occurred.
Hearts are made of flesh and blood. Setting aside the utilitarian notion that Crabbe could be useful in the future, just the bond of mentorship forged during this time made Lockhart want to protect his apprentice.
Having lost his parents and resolved not to follow their path as Malfoy's stooge, he truly had no one close to him now but his teacher, Lockhart, whom he treated with the respect and obedience one would give a father figure.
The wizarding world didn't have a word like 'sensei,' but Crabbe truly regarded Lockhart as his master.
This simple boy had both a good side and an evil side; it all depended on how he was guided.
Lockhart sometimes asked himself, among the many excellent students, why it was Vincent Crabbe and Percy Weasley who ultimately stayed by his side after a year. Was it because he, too, was a person interwoven with good and evil?
He didn't know; perhaps it was fate.
Lockhart only knew that his desire to help Snape was genuine, his desire to help the Longbottoms was genuine, and his desire to torment Tom Riddle was also genuine.
Tom.
Your little mouse is here.
Fairy tales, Hogwarts, the Chamber of Secrets.
"Tom, this is as far as I can help you." Lockhart, looking dusty from travel, handed the book, The Ever-Burning Flame of Life, to his favorite student.
"Professor, what is this?" Tom looked puzzled.
"That mysterious man..." Lockhart's expression was complex as he looked down at the magical book. "Though he seemed to care nothing for human life, he, too, explored the path of life. I hadn't expected that."
He looked up at Tom. "I know you also like this area of magic, so I went to great lengths to find it for you."
Tom looked incredibly excited, staring at the magical notebook in his hands in disbelief.
This was his future work!
How incredible. He had only just begun to conceive some ideas, and now he had directly received a magical treatise written by his future self, with the abundant fruits of his labor laid out before him. What could be more wondrous than this?
"Professor, I..." He looked apologetically at the professor who cared so deeply for him, finding it truly difficult to deceive him. He intended to confess that he was the dark wizard the professor spoke of.
But he didn't know how to begin. The professor loathed Voldemort so intensely because his future self had ruined countless lives, destroyed so many families, and killed so many mothers.
He gripped the magical notebook tightly, looking earnestly at Lockhart. "Professor, I promise you, although we are both on the magical path of exploring the realm of life, I will never be like that dark wizard!"
A gentle smile appeared on Lockhart's face. He ruffled Tom's hair. "Yes, child, that's right. People can never exist in isolation. I know that humanities in this world always talk about and search for the self, but I want to tell you, the 'self' exists between me and society, me and nature, me and all things."
Ancient philosophies were often challenging for Most Pepoleand wizards to understand. Yet, the Way was never distant from human nature. it was in everyday life, not a distant, unreachable god. Whether one obeyed God or rebelled against God, the underlying logic was different. Therefore, the "self" could never exist in isolation. To pursue the self too much without exploring everything beyond the self would ultimately lead to losing the self.
"The self is always the most special, yes, the self is always the protagonist of one's own life. We must affirm the meaning of our existence. But, Tom, the self is a boat, and the world is an ocean. Even if the self is so special, the boat cannot leave the ocean. The boat benefits from the ocean, and is also destroyed by the ocean."
"When exploring bloodlines, souls, the physical body, and all other things, never forget everything beyond 'me'."
Lockhart shared his insights with Tom, telling him to grasp them but also not to believe everything he said was absolutely true, and then to read the Dark Lord's magical notebook.
"I must gravely warn you."
When discussing this, Lockhart's expression became exceptionally serious. He tapped the book in Tom's hand, The Ever-Burning Flame of Life. "It has a great flaw, yes, a flaw, but I won't tell you what it is."
He looked at Tom so earnestly, trying to confirm that his words were being heard, his gaze deep. "I need you to study this book and tell me the answer."
Seeing the professor's demeanor, Tom also became serious, nodding vigorously and solemnly. "Professor, I won't disappoint you."
"Excellent!"
"If you have any questions, you can always write to me. I'm willing to come and discuss any magical problems with you during my teaching breaks!"
Discussing magic with Tom was a difficult task.
Because Tom was simply too much of a genius.
Lockhart was always astonished by Tom's talent; it was the kind of surprise one felt when an answer he had pondered for a long time was casually stated by the other person, and also an admiration for how the other person effortlessly came up with perspectives he would never have considered.
His talent was so extraordinary, no wonder he was called "the most terrible Dark wizard of all time."
In comparison, while Grindelwald had more gravitas, it was mostly in politics. In terms of magic, Tom would probably genuinely surpass him.
So Lockhart had to think more deeply about the questions Tom posed, or seek discussions with other magical luminaries, or look for various magical books and resources, or...
...experiment and draw real conclusions.
Experimenting on himself was out of the question; unknown magical experiments were always dangerous.
So Lockhart approached Fudge, setting his sights on the prisoners in Azkaban.
Like Bellatrix and other Death Eaters.
"You're actually researching bloodlines?" Fudge was stunned when he heard Lockhart's request, looking at him in disbelief. "You're not even 30, are you?"
What was he doing in his twenties?
Oh, circulating among a few powerful wizards' clubs, accumulating political connections, working as a junior official in the Ministry of Magic to gain experience, and romantically dallying between a witch and a Muggle woman.
Ambition, practicality, desire – he craved everything.
But this young man before him?
Oh, he seemed to have quietly climbed to positions many wizards could never reach in a lifetime: internationally renowned author, powerful magical master, Hogwarts professor, Ministry of Magic Unspeakable and Chief Wizard of the Department of Bloodline Research...
And even with all that, he was still not satisfied, continuing to advance along the magical path?
Fudge had always thought he was giving Lockhart the abundant fruits suitable for his status, but he hadn't realized it was merely a step up to a higher level.
A Chief Wizard of the Department of Bloodline Research studying bloodlines made perfect sense, but looking at the young wizard's face before him, it was genuinely hard to compare Lockhart to people like Dumbledore, Nicolas Flamel, or Merwyn.
"I don't know if it's appropriate for me to request a few prisoners for research, given that it does violate..."
Lockhart hadn't even finished speaking when Fudge directly interrupted him. "It's fine!"
"Hmm?"
"I mean, I can make it happen for you." Fudge looked at Lockhart with a complex expression, then suddenly laughed, a hearty laugh. "Excellent top-tier wizards striving for higher peaks, that's good for the entire wizarding world. The Ministry of Magic naturally has to help, especially since you're one of our own!"
Prisoners from Azkaban?
Ha, for anyone else, this would be incredibly difficult. Even Scrimgeour, the Head Auror in charge of Azkaban prison, couldn't do it. Only he could easily facilitate this for Lockhart.
"I will launch a top-secret operation. No one will be allowed to access any information about it. Of course, if the International Confederation of Wizards initiates a formal inquiry, our Ministry of Magic would have to provide some information about this operation."
"For you, yes, to provide all legal support for what you're about to do!"
Fudge drew his wand and cast a spell at a wall in the Minister's office. Soon, a cabinet covering the entire wall appeared. He quickly opened one of the compartments, pulling out a blank file. From another compartment, he retrieved special ink and a quill.
Then, in front of Lockhart, he began writing the information for this operational file.
—"Secret Investigation into the Truth of the Dark Lord's Resurrection"
The composition of such classified files was extremely complex. Fudge summoned Undersecretary Umbridge to help him draft the document, writing one after another, until finally pulling out two documents signed by both the Minister for Magic and the Undersecretary.
"The identity verification of Special Agent Gilderoy Lockhart for Secret Operations." Fudge handed one to Lockhart to read. "Soon, I'll take you to the Wizengamot to get you a special agent's magical badge."
He handed another to Umbridge. "You take this directly to Scrimgeour later, then have him wait for me and Gilderoy to discuss cooperation matters regarding Auror support for special agent operations."
Lockhart watched in amazement as Fudge seamlessly arranged one thing after another. He had actually managed to conjure up a so-called legality for Lockhart to experiment with dangerous magic on a few prisoners, a legality that most people couldn't even investigate.
Ask about it, and the answer was always: it's legal.
Ask again, and you'd be told you're not authorized to receive more information.
Incredible!
Even Dumbledore couldn't officially investigate the truth of this matter, unless he intended to use his authority in the International Confederation of Wizards to formally demand an explanation from the British Ministry of Magic.
But this would inevitably provoke hostility and resentment from a large number of Ministry employees, who would see it as an infringement on the Ministry's authority by the International Confederation of Wizards.
Fudge...
He had a heart that didn't want to be bound.
Lockhart observed Fudge with interest, suddenly curious. "Minister, did you ever try the Bubble-Head Charm when you were at school?"
Fudge was engrossed in writing the documents, paused, and looked up with a puzzled expression. "Why do you ask?"
"I suspect you might be very suited to that charm," Lockhart explained with a smile. "Every charm taught in Charms class at Hogwarts is a starting point. By delving deep into the path of the Bubble-Head Charm, one can explore the magical realm of anti-binding and anti-confinement."
Fudge chuckled, finding the young man before him so unique and interesting. Even at a time like this, his mind was filled with magic. He shook his head dismissively. "My dormitory mates at school once organized a swim in the Black Lake. I didn't find it interesting and didn't participate, so I never really got to grips with that charm."
Saying that, he didn't intend to continue the discussion and looked back down at his documents.
Umbridge, however, her eyes lit up. She nudged Fudge with her elbow. "Cornelius, I think you should take Professor Lockhart's guidance seriously!"
Fudge looked at Umbridge with a puzzled frown, but Umbridge was visibly excited. "I've looked into some of Professor Lockhart's excellent teaching history at Hogwarts. Many say he's extremely skilled at uncovering a person's potential!"
"Perhaps you're suited to this magic? Perhaps you too can become a magical master?"
Umbridge actually had a clear understanding of her chances of becoming Minister for Magic herself—zero probability.
She even knew that if a different Minister took office, even if she tried every means to maintain her own authority, she would inevitably be gradually marginalized.
So, Fudge becoming more powerful was beneficial to her.
"Bubble-Head Charm?" Fudge looked at Lockhart with some confusion.
"Yes, the Bubble-Head Charm. When facing the seemingly endless pressure of suffocation from your surroundings, you wave your wand, and then finally breathe freely and easily, no longer influenced by anything outside yourself." Lockhart looked at him with a smile.
"Is that so?" Fudge mused.
Umbridge, standing nearby, looked at Lockhart with some anticipation, also hoping to receive some guidance on her magical path. To be honest, neither she nor Fudge had purely magical intentions, but their magical abilities were actually still at an excellent level.
Umbridge believed her strength was not inferior to some experienced Aurors.
She could easily cast a Patronus Charm, had a full-bodied Patronus. Her offensive spells were also extremely potent; she was incredibly proficient with Stunning Spells, Blasting Curses, and the like. She even knew Occlumency and the Unforgivable Curses. Most importantly, she actually pursued an academic magical path, possessing a very high understanding of magical theory.
But unfortunately...
Very unfortunately...
Lockhart didn't even seriously look at her.
Yes, she was always like this, wasn't she? Considered unsavoury by important figures. Even after painstakingly climbing to the position of Undersecretary of the Ministry of Magic, she was still not truly acknowledged by many powerful individuals.
Well, this was actually quite normal, she knew. A pure political creature like herself was naturally not on the same path as great wizards exploring the mysteries of magic.
But precisely because they weren't on the same path, she would be even more useful to Lockhart.
Fudge couldn't possibly be willing to help Lockhart with everything. He had to first consider Dumbledore's thoughts in everything he did. Only she, yes, only she could prioritize Lockhart without any reservations.
No rush.
She told herself.
No need to rush. There would be opportunities in the future for Lockhart to see her value.
....
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