Seeing the steam practically rising from Lockhart's head, almost hot enough to outshine the blazing sun outside, Tver quickly cooled him down.
"This isn't the story of you, Lockhart. To be precise, it's a children's adventure story adapted and reworked from the stories you originally stole."
"What?" Lockhart's smile froze on his face. "Then it has absolutely nothing to do with me, does it?!"
"...You're surprisingly self-aware," Tver could not help muttering.
"The only thing you need to do, and the only thing you can do, is help the entire film crew make this movie properly."
"Otherwise..."
Seeing the naked threat in Tver's eyes, Lockhart felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head. In an instant, he remembered exactly what situation he was in.
"My apologies. I was speaking too loudly just now. Please allow me to apologize," he said hurriedly, lowering his voice and his posture at once.
"However," he suddenly looked up again, a trace of earnestness in his eyes, "I don't even know what that story is going to be changed into. Perhaps..."
"No perhaps." Tver decisively crushed the last of his little schemes.
"If you don't want to stay in Azkaban until 2013, then behave yourself, follow the director's instructions, and help them make this film well."
"If the final result of the film satisfies me..."
"Then I'll be free?!" Lockhart guessed in delight.
"Wrong. But I'll consider reducing your sentence as appropriate. For example, to 2010, or even earlier, depending on your performance."
Tver tapped Lockhart on the shoulder. He did not continue threatening him. Instead, his tone became as gentle as a shop assistant making a sale.
As for Lockhart, he had no choice left.
Fortunately, although he was not particularly capable in most areas, Lockhart considered himself first-rate at reading the room and adapting to circumstances.
Otherwise, he never would have chosen to pass on the matter of Karkaroff to Tver back then.
"Rest assured. Even if I have to go on set myself, I'll complete the task you've entrusted to me perfectly!" Lockhart struck an impeccable pose, not forgetting to give Tver a little psychological hint.
Seeing this, Tver gave a soft laugh and nodded.
If it was filming a movie, then he really could look forward to Lockhart's performance. In fact, aside from the Memory Charm, this might well be the thing Lockhart was best at.
"If there are no problems, then start learning how to fit into the crew as soon as possible. I imagine you're rather good at dealing with people."
As for whether Lockhart might take the chance to run away...
Please. With Tver's current influence across the globe, finding one escaped prisoner would be easier than a mosquito finding the author.
"S-sorry, I have a small question."
In front of this Mr. Fawley, Chris Columbus always felt as if he were a student. He did not know why, but he still hesitantly raised his hand.
He had been watching the conversation between the two of them the entire time. Although he did not know what Azkaban was, he had the distinct impression that this very suitable Mr. Lockhart seemed, probably, possibly to be a prisoner.
And a serious criminal with more than fifteen years left on his sentence at that.
"Is something wrong?" Tver turned back and asked curiously.
"Er..."
Looking at the smiling Mr. Fawley, then at Lockhart, who was curiously surveying the studio, Chris swallowed.
He suddenly realized that if he objected, the person removed from the project might not be Lockhart, but him, the director chosen from a global selection.
"I just wanted to ask how the Harry Potter series will be handled..." he asked meekly.
After all, although he had risen to fame a few years earlier with Home Alone, at his core, he was still an ordinary director with less than ten years of experience.
The moment this film was approved, not just Hollywood, but the entire global film industry had erupted with excitement.
Who did not know that magic was the hottest topic in the world right now?
Even those strange old fantasy films had ridden the wave and become popular again, let alone an official, real, existing magical story.
Supposedly, if Mr. Fawley had not chosen him in the end, there was no way he could have beaten out a long line of major directors like Spielberg and become the director of this film.
But people were ambitious. Compared with the Young Kid series, he, or rather everyone, cared far more about the hottest series of all, Harry Potter.
Seeing through Chris's thoughts, or perhaps because Chris had not hidden his ambition at all, Tver smiled mysteriously.
"That will also depend on your performance."
Tver vaguely remembered that the director of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone had once directed the first Home Alone film, which was why he had chosen Chris Columbus.
Even so, the original Harry Potter film had not officially come out until after the new century. It certainly would not be released in 1997.
So, just like with the novels, Tver needed to test the waters first with the Young Kid series.
First, to test the current state of filmmaking and CG technology. Second, of course, to test whether this director could withstand the pressure of global attention.
If the former fell short, Tver could always make up for insufficient technology with magic. If all the magic was real, surely it would not be worse than the original version.
But if the latter failed, then Tver could only say sorry.
After all, the Harry Potter series carried extraordinary significance in this world.
Seeming to realize that this film concerned their future, Chris and Lockhart immediately slung their arms around each other's shoulders, looking as familiar as old friends who had known each other for decades.
"Lockhart, may I call you that?"
"Of course. I'll call you Chris as well. I've been terribly curious about all these things of yours. Why don't we make the most of our time and discuss the filming?"
"Excellent! Since you're so curious, I can't fall behind either. Even if we don't sleep tonight, I'll make sure you join the crew as quickly as possible!"
"Don't worry. Back when I was deceiv. writing books, I often stayed up all night. No matter how novel something is, my ability to adapt can handle it. I could even be an actor!"
"That's perfect. I heard this book was written with you as the model, so adding you in should be very easy..."
...
Tver watched the two of them walk farther and farther away with a helpless expression.
Logically speaking, seeing them so enthusiastic should have made him happy.
But now that he had actually seen it, why did he feel such a strange sense of dissonance?
Perhaps the one truly destined to become an international superstar was Lockhart.