After that, I also headed to see Madam Pomfrey, and as we switched places, I passed along a message from Headmaster Dumbledore asking Harry to come to the headmaster's office.
In the hospital wing, not only was Hermione there, but Justin had recovered as well. I saw him repeatedly apologizing to Harry, saying how sorry he was for having doubted him.
That day, together with Saya and the others, we stayed by the rooster cockatrice until it burned through the last flame of its life. The sight of Saya clutching the cold cockatrice's body and crying was so fleeting and fragile. I held her slender shoulders close all the way until morning.
[Here lies the brave warrior who stood against the King of Venomous Serpents]
The cockatrice's remains were buried in a corner of the Hogwarts grounds. I had those words engraved on the gravestone, prayed for the happiness of his soul, and lightly traced a cross with my finger.
＊＊
After finishing the cockatrice's funeral and returning to the Slytherin dormitory, I had fully expected to be welcomed as a hero. Instead, Pansy vigorously hurled a trifle custard straight into my face.
"Fighting a basilisk? Elaina, are you stupid!? You could have died!?"
"…I'm sorry."
With my looks completely smeared in cream, I apologized to my friends for making them worry.
"Elaina disappeared last night, and everyone thought maybe you'd been kidnapped like the Weasley sister. We were all worried, you know?"
"…I have no excuse."
Being told that in a serious voice by usually laid-back Daphne filled me with more guilt than I expected.
"You should be grateful to Daphne. After Professor Snape told us you were safe, Pansy had to keep stopping herself from punching you the whole time."
Millicent snorted and I heard her crack her knuckles. "I agreed with Pansy too." Pansy aside, a punch from solidly built Millicent is no joke, so Daphne, thank you. Truly.
"So, that being the case,"
Millicent said briskly and produced two large plates from somewhere. On them sat a banana cream pie piled high with cream, and a lemon meringue pie.
"Daphne, which one do you like?"
"The pale one."
"Coming right up."
As Daphne firmly grabbed the plate with the banana cream pie, the two of them slammed the bedroom door shut and locked it with a bang. Blocking off my escape, they advanced toward me with wicked grins.
"Uh, w-wait a second! Earlier, Pansy—"
"That one earlier was my share. There are still two servings left."
Hearing Pansy's sharp voice, the clever me sensed what was about to happen and slowly backed away.
"Oooh, why are you running away?"
"Let's have some fun together, Elaina-chan."
"Eek!?"
Facing my fear, Daphne and Millicent held their large cream pies, wore vulgar, leering smiles, and slowly opened their mouths.
"Heh heh. I'll splash your face nice and thick with something white."
"Heh heh heh. You look like you hate it, but deep down you want this extra-large one, don't you?"
"P-please stop… You're going to be rough with me, aren't you? Like one of those thin Muggle books!"
My back finally hit the wall, and seeing the despair on my face as I was completely cornered only seemed to excite them even more.
"I-if we just talk this out—"
"No arguments!!"
In the end, my pleas were not accepted. I was smeared from head to toe by the two of them, and I do not remember much of what happened afterward.
For a hero who had saved Hogwarts from the Slytherin monster, it was an utterly cruel treatment.
＊＊＊
After that, with peace restored to the school, the end-of-term exams were canceled in celebration. For this year's House Cup, even with the points I earned added to those Harry, Ron, and Saya contributed, it was not enough. For the first time in eight years, Slytherin fell from first place, and Gryffindor snatched a last-minute victory.
In addition, thanks to the Hogwarts Special Award for Services to the School, Saya's tuition was waived, and it seems she will be able to attend safely again next year.
And so, the remaining days of the summer term passed peacefully as we studied and practiced Quidditch under the scorching sun.
Before the holidays, the fact that both Draco and I were finally able to run while singing the Slytherin training song without getting out of breath could be called a significant improvement.
And then, inside the compartment of the Hogwarts Express heading home, an owl delivery arrived for me.
Buffeted by the airflow from the speeding locomotive, the owl wobbled unsteadily through the air. I hurriedly opened the window and caught it, and there I saw handwriting I recognized at once.
――――――――――――――――――――――――
Elaina, it's me.
Honorary member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League, recipient of the Third Class Order of Merlin, five-time consecutive winner of Weekly Witch's Charming Smile Award, and most recently bearing the title of former Hogwarts professor as well!
When I left Hogwarts, I did not have much of a chance to speak with you, so please allow me to begin by talking to you through this letter.
Ever since I was a child, I have admired heroes. The adventure stories I read in books when I was young gave me dreams and hope, and comforted me whenever I felt down.
That is why I wished to become one myself, but through our exchanges during the Christmas holidays, you made me realize just how much power "stories" truly have.
Dreams can be cruel things. A child who longs to be a hero is looked upon fondly, but continuing to pursue that dream into adulthood becomes extremely difficult.
A profession that provides a stable life becomes one's "dream," and dreams that are not steady or practical are dismissed as mere fantasies. With good intentions, everyone worries and tells you to "give up."
And unfortunately, with my talents, I was never able to reach the realm of a true hero. As clever as you are, I believe you have already noticed that what I wrote in my books were the real experiences of genuine heroes, which I compiled into stories and released to the world.
Even so, although I could not go on adventures myself, I realized that by delivering the stories of such heroes to people, I could still bring dreams and hope to someone. You helped me understand that this was enough.
That is why I have recently founded a new publishing company!
From now on, not only as a novelist, but also as an editor and as a business owner, I wish to devote myself to the work of delivering someone's story to as many people as possible.
I have already become famous enough, and perhaps it is time to pass the baton to the next generation.
If there is anything I can do to help ensure that stories written by promising young people like you do not end up buried and forgotten, then I would very much like to lend that support.
Now, I have gone on for quite a while, but I truly am grateful to you, Elaina. If you ever need my help, please feel free to write to me anytime!
And of course, if you would like one of my autographed books or any books published by my company, I will give them to you for free as a special favor!
Gilderoy Lockhart
――――――――――――――――――――――――
When I checked inside the envelope, I found that a small pamphlet had been enclosed as well.
"New Releases from Lockhart Publishing! Five original works by promising newcomers, scheduled for release over five consecutive months!"
I did not recognize any of the authors' names, but every book caught my interest just from reading the synopses alone. There was a time-leap story about a homunculus sent from the future who adventures with a boy destined to become a hero in order to change a doomed fate; the final fourteen days of the hot-blooded elf Rik, who led a rebellion; a medieval murder mystery pitting the Knights Templar against an Assassin order; the glory and downfall of a legendary chess player in the wizarding world; and even a tale in which an eccentric protagonist, Newton Salamander, who dearly loves magical creatures, gets swept up in a major incident in New York.
"…He really does have an incredible head for business," I muttered.
Before I realized it, I noticed that my cheeks had relaxed into a smile.
Rejoicing in the addition of another small but new pleasure to my life, I let my thoughts drift toward the coming summer holidays.
(End of chapter)
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