The next period found Lockhart quite busy. He was engrossed in studying the magical properties of Kneazles in both their 'magical' and 'non-magical' forms. This led him down two distinct paths: one was the breeding of fantastic beasts, which often saw him taking the young wizards to Hagrid for lessons. The other path involved charms, requiring him to delve into the library for research, occasionally consulting Professor McGonagall and even Grindelwald, though he invariably ended up with his star pupil, Tom, to conduct joint research.
It wasn't just Lockhart; everyone seemed to have pressing matters to attend to. Snape had plunged headfirst into his research on the Wolfsbane Potion, embracing his responsibilities and life's purpose, hoping to heal Neville's parents, who had been so terribly scarred by the war. Professor Kettleburn, meanwhile, was enthusiastically expanding the 'adventure' grounds, hoping to add more thrilling scenarios. Some of his ideas even seemed to resonate with Grindelwald, who, surprisingly, began lending his assistance – he, who had experienced truly grand adventures, was now helping with this 'child's play.' It was rather amusing: Grindelwald, who had initially scoffed at the 'games,' was gradually becoming quite invested in them.
Lupin also had his hands full, assisting Hagrid in the Forbidden Forest, searching for werewolf cubs displaced by the Aragog's offspring. He was utterly dedicated, often so busy that he was nowhere to be found. Of course, Lupin would occasionally teach classes at the Duelling Club, and his knowledge of dark creatures, different from Lockhart's, always offered new perspectives and insights to the young wizards.
Thus, time slipped by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye. The most significant change at Hogwarts during this month was the sudden influx of Dementors. Professor McGonagall was, at one point, quite beside herself, believing it was because the Ministry of Magic had learned of Grindelwald's presence. They were using Sirius Black's capture and student protection as a pretext, but in reality, they were simply there to keep an eye on Grindelwald.
Could they actually keep him contained? Not a chance. Grindelwald's Transfiguration skills were simply preposterous; he'd slipped away for half a day one weekend, and no one even noticed his absence. Only Lockhart observed that Grindelwald had a new hairstyle, was wearing the latest wizarding robes, and was holding a wand, which made him realize the old wizard had snuck out. Thankfully, Grindelwald hadn't done anything out of the ordinary, and life at Hogwarts seemed to glide smoothly as everyone immersed themselves in the beauty of magic.
However, one day, the tranquil yet interesting routine was shattered.
Snape approached Lockhart, his face grim. "A few nights ago was the full moon, and I brewed the Wolfsbane Potion for Professor Lupin…"
Lockhart chuckled, casually flipping through his magical notes. "I know, he's a werewolf, Severus. I know many things about many people." He even knew that Snape had finally taught a few of his long-coveted Defence Against the Dark Arts classes during the full moon, though, alas, his reviews from the students weren't quite glowing. Old Snape's Defence Against the Dark Arts classes were as unpopular as his Potions lessons.
"No, you don't know!" Snape scoffed, placing a ceramic pot on the table, indicating the soil mixed with weeds and pebbles within. "He didn't drink it! He secretly poured it out!"
Lockhart froze, then stood, looking at the soil with a puzzled expression, then incredulously at Snape. "Are you certain?"
Snape's eyes narrowed. "I wouldn't mistake a potion, not even one that's been sitting in the dirt for days!" He picked up some soil and sniffed it. "The scent of a fresh potion is unmistakable, even when it's naturally decaying. This is undoubtedly Wolfsbane Potion brewed very recently. I am absolutely certain no one else at Hogwarts has brewed Wolfsbane Potion in this period."
Wolfsbane Potion was an incredibly effective suppressive agent against lycanthropy. Drinking it a week before the full moon, while not preventing the transformation, allowed the wizard to retain their human mind and rationality, preventing them from being driven by savage animalistic urges to attack others. Such an effective potion was a blessing for the werewolf community, yet few werewolves truly benefited. This was because the ingredients required were far too expensive and difficult to procure. Werewolves, already marginalized, simply couldn't afford such a potion. They typically resorted to locking themselves in cages to prevent harming others or loved ones, enduring a few difficult days until the full moon passed. Therefore, even though the inventor of Wolfsbane Potion, Potions Master Damocles Belby, generously published the formula and brewing instructions, and continually updated and improved his results, obtaining a dose of Wolfsbane Potion remained incredibly difficult. At the very least, it wasn't sold on the open market; it had to be custom-ordered.
At such a tense time, with Dementors, Aurors, and the school authorities closely monitoring everything, anyone attempting to bring Wolfsbane Potion into the school would undoubtedly be caught. Thus, Snape was absolutely certain: the Wolfsbane Potion he found poured into the soil was undoubtedly the one he had brewed for Lupin.
So, the question remained: Why would Lupin not drink the Wolfsbane Potion, and instead pour it out?
"What do you make of it?" Lockhart pondered.
"There's one possibility…" Snape drew out his words, his gaze filled with intense killing intent. After brewing the Regret Potion, he had begun to embrace life and atone for past mistakes, rarely harboring such profound malice. His eyes now flickered with a venomous glint. "That the Remus Lupin we interact with isn't him at all. It's possible someone is using Polyjuice Potion to impersonate him!"
Don't be fooled by Hermione Granger brewing Polyjuice Potion in her second year and assume it's a simple brew. It is not; it's an extremely advanced potion, with incredibly potent magical effects. Lockhart distinctly recalled Barty Crouch Junior impersonating Mad-Eye Moody and teaching at the school for an entire year, successfully deceiving Dumbledore and the other professors, as well as his fellow Aurors at the Ministry who knew Moody well. No one saw through him, not even Dumbledore; otherwise, Cedric would not have died from the resulting crisis, and Harry Potter almost wouldn't have been killed by Voldemort.
"If you have suspicions, is there a way to verify it?" Lockhart wasn't well-versed in this area.
"Yes, the Anti-Theft Waterfall widely used in Gringotts vaults is the most common method to counter Polyjuice Potion," Snape explained. "Passing through the waterfall removes the Transfiguration brought on by the Polyjuice Potion." However, this was Goblin magic, and no one even knew whether it was the goblins' magic itself or a magical creation of theirs. This information was top secret for most wizards; there was simply no way to learn about it.
"I can brew a potion specifically designed to detect Polyjuice Potion…" Snape felt a bit vexed. "But it would take at least a month."
"A month?" Lockhart clicked his tongue. "Wouldn't it be better to just observe him directly during the next full moon?"
"By the way, do you think the Human-Revealing Charm would be effective in this situation?" He didn't understand the underlying mechanics of Polyjuice Potion, making it difficult for him to accurately judge whether this method would be effective.
Snape let out a cold laugh. "If you intend to cast a spell directly on Lupin, you might as well go all the way and use your unique Memory Charm to peek into his memories and ascertain if he's truly Lupin."
That would be far too presumptuous. Lockhart stroked his chin. "I need a suitable opportunity!"
To be honest, he wasn't keen on harming Lupin. He couldn't help but feel a lingering sympathy and fondness for the poor man, tormented by a tragic fate. Of course, more importantly, ever since he had released Grindelwald from Nurmengard prison, he had subtly sensed a shift in Dumbledore's relationship with him. Perhaps it was even earlier, after that night he encountered Voldemort, when Kurban was transferred to the Aurors and then broken out of prison. Old Dumbledore's gaze held a new scrutiny. Lockhart strongly suspected whether he was watching Grindelwald, or if Grindelwald was watching him; some things were better left unsaid. It was best for everyone to maintain the veneer of peace. And for Lupin, the most sensitive member of the Order of the Phoenix, unauthorized spell-casting would undoubtedly lead to unfavorable consequences.
Clearly, Severus, that cunning old bat, shared these concerns. Headmaster Dumbledore, he was different now, becoming increasingly inscrutable. No one could ignore the will of a wizard who was currently at the pinnacle of power and influence in the world. So, it was best not to take matters into his own hands.
Lockhart quickly set his sights on someone who might be willing to act.
"Hiding right under my nose?" Grindelwald narrowed his eyes, feeling deeply offended by such a display of 'showing off before an expert.' But he wasn't easily manipulated. He looked at Lockhart with suspicion, chuckling coldly. "Young man, if you were to hide that look of expectation in your eyes, perhaps I wouldn't mind being used as a pawn for once."
"How can you accuse me!" Lockhart protested indignantly. "I am simply informing you of a problem that has arisen in the school during Professor Dumbledore's absence!"
Grindelwald wasn't buying it. "Even if he is an imposter, I couldn't care less." He kicked the ball back.
However, Grindelwald did tell Lockhart about a charm that could counter the physical alterations caused by Polyjuice Potion: the Soul-Mirroring Charm. He wasn't inclined to teach it hand-in-hand, preferring Lockhart to borrow books on the charm from the library and learn it himself. Once Lockhart had grasped some of the basics, he would then offer crucial, advanced guidance. This charm was a war magic, and a dark one at that, a charm even Durmstrang wouldn't teach. The very title of the book containing the charm was telling enough: Flaying the Chest: Let Me See Properly.
Lockhart flipped through a few pages and realized that Grindelwald's recommendation of this book was absolutely intentional. It was an ancient magical text that explored the relationship between a wizard's soul, bloodline, and body. In more primitive wizarding societies, during a certain period, wizards were deeply fascinated by a particularly alluring subject: immortality. This book was one of the achievements of that pursuit. Of course, it wasn't as famous as Horcruxes, because it hadn't actually yielded any truly effective results, only a collection of theories and derivative charms.
The content of the book wasn't difficult for Lockhart. After Tom had contributed all his memories and many ideas about the exploration of life, Lockhart was already quite advanced in this area. The book explored the nature of existence, starting from the perspective of the body as a practical manifestation of life. It posited that 'a person's appearance, physique, and physical details change in relation to their experiences, thoughts, and will.' In Lockhart's words, 'the heart determines the appearance.'
So, could one glimpse the state of a wizard's soul by observing subtle external features? The answer was no; people could never truly perceive another's true soul through their outward appearance. At best, they could only discern the mind's state in motion. Thus, the book devised a highly intriguing charm: forcing the soul to express itself physically. In simple terms, it made the true appearance of the soul manifest on the body. This was an ancient charm very similar to modern Transfiguration, classified as dark magic not only due to the scarcity of those who understood it, which made it easier to categorize, but also because of its deeply offensive nature. Casting a spell to strip someone of their clothes was already a great humiliation, let alone stripping away their mind and exposing their soul in its naked truth.
Lockhart practically scowled as he finished the book, thinking it would be better to just use a Memory Charm. But Grindelwald, that devil, was like this: the magic he recommended was perfectly suited to Lockhart's magical path, making his hands itch to try it.
Should he give it a go? Lockhart was tempted.
So… Bellatrix, it's time to work! Let's see what fascinating effects this charm holds that Grindelwald so enthusiastically recommended. Of course, Tom could also be of some assistance. Lockhart knew perfectly well that young Tom would undoubtedly have his own insights into this type of magic. Therefore, he needed to consult Tom first on how to better understand this magic before trying it on Bellatrix.
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