"It seems you do not want to meet Professor Albus Dumbledore with me."
"I do not really want to see him right now, but maybe later, if I leave Hogwarts and have a chance to return, I would not mind visiting him."
Spells clashed between them as flashes of colored light filled the narrow space while both sides dodged and countered.
Gilderoy Lockhart was not as limited as he had first appeared.
Aside from Expelliarmus and defensive magic, he demonstrated mastery of several other spells, especially mental magic.
Among them, the most dangerous was Obliviate.
He mixed it unpredictably into his attacks.
If it struck Tom Riddle, the outcome would be uncertain.
Tom remained cautious.
His footwork far surpassed ordinary Wizards.
Even while restricted by his current body, he relied on movement and positioning, using the environment to block and evade Lockhart's spells.
"Give me a chance, Professor Lockhart."
"How can I give you a chance."
"I had no choice before, but now I want to leave Hogwarts."
"Then come with me to see Dumbledore and let him decide."
"So you want to keep me here forever."
"I am sorry, I am a professor."
Lockhart pressed forward, his expression tense yet complicated.
During this exchange, he had already realized how dangerous Tom was.
Even in a weakened state, he was still extremely difficult to deal with.
Lockhart's breathing grew heavier.
His robes were already damp with sweat.
His methods were simple.
His spellcasting was straightforward but extremely solid.
And it was precisely this simplicity that allowed him to maintain the stalemate.
Fast reactions.
Precise timing.
Expelliarmus for offense.
Defensive magic for protection.
In such close combat, dealing with someone like Lockhart was extremely difficult.
There were only a few options.
One was to use overwhelming power to collapse the entire underground structure.
But that would lead to mutual destruction.
Lockhart believed Tom would not choose that.
That belief gave him confidence to advance steadily.
Another option was to use powerful Dark Magic, even the Unforgivable Curses.
If Tom chose that path, Lockhart would retreat immediately and wait for help from Dumbledore and the other professors.
But after what he had witnessed before, he made a decision.
He chose to take the risk.
And so far, it had paid off.
Right now, his goal was simple.
Rescue Harry Potter and Hermione Granger.
Whether Tom escaped afterward was secondary.
But to do that, he needed to force Tom away from the passage entrance and into the Chamber of Secrets.
Only then could he safely retrieve them.
But would Tom allow that?
Tom deflected another incoming spell with perfect timing.
If he were even slightly slower, his wand would have been knocked away.
Using magic to intercept spells directly with a wand was extremely risky.
It required complete control and familiarity.
Sweat ran down Tom's face.
This battle did not rely on complex magic.
But to an experienced duelist, it was a demonstration of near-perfect control.
Every movement was precise.
Every spell was deliberate.
If Tom was limited by his body, then Lockhart's strength came from repetition.
Through countless repetitions, his core spells had become instinctive.
That was why he could cast them with such precision.
"It seems you do not intend to let me leave Hogwarts."
"I never said that, sir."
"Then what do you mean."
"I believe you understand, sir, so please put down your wand and come with me to see Dumbledore."
Again and again, Lockhart repeated the same request.
If meeting Dumbledore were truly simple, perhaps Tom might have considered it.
But not now.
Not in his current state.
He would never face his former teacher while weakened.
Only when he had regained power would he consider returning.
So his answer remained the same.
Refusal.
As Tom retreated toward the passage entrance, Lockhart stayed within sight of the chamber while maintaining his position.
He felt a small sense of relief.
The situation was stable.
All he needed now was the right moment.
If he succeeded, he could not only save the students but also bring Tom to Dumbledore.
A perfect outcome.
But first, he had to win.
"Professor Lockhart."
Tom suddenly stopped.
The exchange of spells paused.
Both stood facing each other, breathing heavily but remaining composed.
"Yes, sir."
Lockhart responded calmly.
No matter what Tom called him, he always added "sir" in return.
It was both respect and caution.
After all, Tom Gaunt was closely tied to someone far more dangerous.
"I just thought of something interesting."
Tom leaned against the wall, a faint and unusual smile appearing on his face.
A dim glow formed at the tip of his wand, casting a weak light around them.
"What is it."
Lockhart frowned slightly, a sense of unease rising within him.
"Look at the ground, Professor."
...
📢 Author's Note
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