Once the professors declared everything back to normal, the attacks suddenly ceased. Students slowly pushed the incidents to the back of their minds, though two still-lying figures in the Hospital Wing continued to serve as a stark reminder of the attacker's presence.
Halloween was drawing near.
Harry was starting to suspect Fred was just messing with him. Ever since the Quidditch match ended, whenever Harry asked Fred about tracking Lockhart, Fred always claimed Lockhart was constantly surrounded.
"Harry, you've got to believe me, I want to expose Lockhart even more than you do," Fred said, sporting two enormous dark circles under his eyes. After all, Lockhart clearly didn't care for Hermione, and Angelina had already received an invitation for afternoon tea with Lockhart.
Having discovered the "improper relationship" between Louise and Lockhart (in Chapter 44), Fred had guessed what Lockhart's tea invitations implied. To stop Angelina from accepting, Fred even told her about Louise.
"Angelina, you absolutely mustn't accept Lockhart's afternoon tea invitation, he's just a—" Fred said, agitated.
However, Angelina replied, "Parvati got an invitation from Professor Lockhart too. She went, and nothing happened." Seeing Fred about to say something more, Angelina added, "I believe you, Fred, I really do, but I've noticed you're quite biased against Professor Lockhart. And Louise, well, everyone knows she's a bit of a… you know. So, perhaps the truth isn't what you think."
Fred absolutely refused to believe that Louise had enticed Lockhart. He stubbornly insisted that Angelina had been fooled by Lockhart's books. After Fred pestered her for several days, Angelina finally lost her temper.
"Fred, what right do you have to lecture me? You're not even my boyfriend!" Angelina shouted.
Hearing Angelina say that, Fred fell silent. Fred knew Angelina had feelings for him too, but he was afraid to confess. He was still broke, and he wanted to wait until he had some money before asking her out. Fred knew Angelina didn't care about his money, but he did.
Seeing Fred offer no response to her clear hint, Angelina stormed off in a huff. Fred stood there, watching her go, and thought with a bitter smile, Looks like I'm not so different from Percy in some ways after all, and here I was, making fun of him for not going public earlier...
(From Rowling's descriptions, Angelina is not an introverted girl. Hogwarts students are generally quite open, and many start dating in their fourth year. Angelina, however, hadn't dated anyone by her sixth year, so in this story, I've set it up that she's waiting for someone to confess to her.)
That day, Fred saw Angelina leave the common room alone. He quickly chased after her, cornering her at a bend in the corridor.
"Angie, listen to me—"
"Shut up." Angelina cut off whatever Fred was about to say.
But seeing Fred's anxious expression, her heart softened. "I haven't accepted Lockhart's afternoon tea invitation yet. I was just going to the Owlery to send a letter home."
Hearing Angelina say that, Fred breathed a sigh of relief.
From that day on, Fred was utterly fixated on Lockhart. He'd snatch moments to work on experiments with George, all while using the Marauder's Map to keep Lockhart under round-the-clock surveillance. George even thought Fred had gone a bit mad, seeing as he clung to the Marauder's Map even when going to the loo. That's why Fred was so exasperated when Harry questioned his lack of progress.
"Harry, I've been watching Lockhart day and night, but his life is incredibly disciplined. During the day, he puts on his show in class and occasionally invites a few students for tea. At night, he just stays in his office writing letters to fans."
"It's not a complete waste, though. I've noticed that whenever he has fans around, Lockhart always acts extremely proper." Fred finished, stifling a yawn.
"So, he only shows his true colors when he's alone?" Harry summarized.
Fred nodded, letting out another yawn. Harry looked at Fred's tired face, a bit worried he'd end up in the Hospital Wing himself.
"Hermione's going to the library this weekend. I can track Lockhart. You should go back to the dormitory and get some sleep," Harry offered.
But Fred shook his head at Harry's suggestion. "Harry, since you lent George and me the golden skull, tracking Lockhart is my—" Fred's words dissolved into another yawn.
In the end, Fred agreed.
That weekend, Harry leaned idly against a wall, draped in his Invisibility Cloak. Not far off, Lockhart was enthusiastically recounting tales from his books, surrounded by a circle of girls who showered him with compliments. Another rubbish day, Harry thought, grumbling as he returned to Gryffindor Tower.
Suddenly, a ghost stopped Harry. "Harry, do you remember me?"
"Of course, you're Nearly Headless Nick."
Nick seemed thrilled that Harry remembered him. "It's like this, I'd like to invite you to my Deathday Party... on Halloween... in the dungeon." Nick looked at Harry expectantly.
Harry, however, was thinking of something else entirely. Everyone will be in the Great Hall on Halloween. If I time it right and invite Lockhart to the Deathday Party, those annoying girls definitely won't follow...
Nick, seeing Harry stand there silently, thought he was unwilling. "Harry, if you don't want to, it's fine."
"No, I'd love to come! Do you mind if I bring a few friends?" Harry snapped back to attention, smiling.
"Of course not! I must tell the other ghosts about this..." Nick excitedly floated through the wall and disappeared.
Harry, equally excited, returned to the Gryffindor common room. He burst into Fred's dormitory and roughly woke him up.
"What?" Fred was still half-asleep.
"I said, you can take some Polyjuice Potion, turn into a girl, and go to the Deathday Party to lure Lockhart. Without his fans around, he'll definitely lose his composure."
Hearing Harry's plan, Fred instantly sobered up.
"Let George take the Polyjuice Potion. I need to invite Angelina to the Deathday Party so she can see Lockhart's true colors for herself," Fred said after thinking for a moment.
"Will George agree?" Harry asked, skeptical.
"I'll convince him, but the Polyjuice Potion—" Fred started, a bit embarrassed.
"I'll sort out the Polyjuice Potion," Harry said without hesitation.
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