The Silent Witch of Hogwarts

Chapter 72: The Strange Lockhart

Lockhart has been acting a bit strange lately.

This was not just the opinion of a young wizard, but gradually became a consensus among the teachers and students of Hogwarts.

He usually seems to be the same as always, with an exaggerated smile, wearing gorgeous clothes that look like peacock feathers, talking about his fans and his books.

But for some reason, he would occasionally look into a certain place in a slightly absent-minded way, or he would be a little startled... and sometimes he would appear in strange places as if he were secretly watching something.

"Lockhart's been checking who he's replying to several times lately, even when he's writing to fans," Ron said, leaning back in his chair with a smirk. "Is he afraid his autographs will be sold for money?"

"I don't think so," Harry said with a smile, shaking his head. "He has more autographs than Dumbledore cards in Chocolate Frog."

“That’s true.” Ron nodded in agreement. “I only have seven Dumbledore cards, but his handwritten letters… I’ve probably written dozens of them.”

"Oh, right, Hermione." He suddenly looked at Hermione as if remembering something, "Have you been going to his office to ask him any questions lately?"

"No." Hermione looked up at Ron with a sullen expression.

Harry, watching all this, gave a sly smile.

"Is it because you're afraid of scaring him?"

"Of course not!" Hermione looked up and glared at Harry and Ron. "Why would I go to his office?"

"Ah..." Ron shrugged. "Aren't you a fan of his?"

"Then why are you asking all this?" Hermione rolled her eyes, closed the book, and left.

Harry and Ron were left looking at each other.

"Anyway, I'm much happier now." Ron said with a smile, glancing at Lockhart, who was sitting in the auditorium eating bread and seemed a little dazed.

"I wonder what's wrong with him," Harry muttered curiously, shaking his head. "Maybe something happened?"

As for what it is?

Miss Loila Hamilton felt she had something to say.

Two weeks have passed since Mr. Lockhart's unexpected visit... Since then, Loira feels she has never seen Mr. Lockhart again.

Or rather, I haven't spoken to him.

Although Royla is a socially awkward person... Mr. Lockhart is not... Every time he saw Royla, he would tell her stories about his past for more than ten minutes.

For example, traveling with a female demon... or taming a fire dragon or something...

But now, Loila feels that Mr. Lockhart seems to be avoiding her.

This must be because I accidentally saw Mr. Lockhart's embarrassing memory... and it must also be related to Dumbledore.

Not long after that day, Dumbledore came to see Loira again and casually asked about Lockhart.

Loila pursed her lips and of course didn't tell Dumbledore what it was, but Dumbledore reacted quickly by using the headband to see Mr. Lockhart's memory.

"..."

He blinked silently, then gave a meaningful smile.

He definitely told someone else, didn't he?

Professor McGonagall might already know... Ah, she already knows, but if Hagrid knows... Loira subconsciously pursed her lips, feeling sad for Mr. Lockhart.

If Hagrid finds out, he'll definitely let everyone he knows know...

Loila knows Hagrid...

"Cough cough cough... cough cough cough!" Loila coughed violently, and after a series of coughs, she looked at Luna with some embarrassment.

"I...I'm sorry..." she said softly, "I think I'm...I'm getting a bit of a cold."

"Does the wizard have a cold?" Luna tilted her head and said, "That's not common..." As she spoke, she reached out and touched Loila's forehead.

"Huh?" Loila shuddered instinctively after being touched, but she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination... she felt that her body was no longer so resistant to Luna's touch.

Maybe it's because of the ears...

This absolutely does not mean that Loila is willing to be touched by Luna at will!

"It's not a harassing fly, and it has nothing to do with fire spirits either..." Luna muttered, shaking her head. "What have you been doing lately?"

"No...nothing..." Loila thought back on her work over the past few weeks...it seemed like nothing had changed.

Researching new magic circles, chatting with Luna, replying to students' letters, helping to complete Professor McGonagall's memories... making potions for Mr. Lupin...

This seems to be something I did during my first month at Hogwarts... and now Halloween is almost here...

Could it be because I was too close to that person?

To be honest... Loila really felt that her body hadn't been very good lately. She was always a little tired and occasionally dizzy... Even when she had to sleep in the attic in Durmstrang because of some classmates, Loila had never been this tired.

Maybe I should go to the school hospital to get checked out?

But it seems she's the first professor to faint... Thinking about this, Loila felt it was better to tough it out.

Anyway, she's already used to it.

Thinking this, she forced a smile: "I'm fine... nothing's wrong."

"You don't need to... Ugh!"

Luna grabbed her ear again, pinching out the pointed ears hidden under her red hair: "I told you, Loila, don't lie to me."

"Especially with something like this," Luna whispered softly into Loila's pointed ear, "You should probably go and get some rest."

"You don't have class this afternoon, do you?"

"Lying in a stretchy book... quietly watching the starry sky might be quite comforting," Luna said, pursing her lips. "My mother often does that."

But Miss Lovegood's mother was already... Loila said apologetically, "I'm... sorry."

"That made you think of all this..."

"You shouldn't apologize for something like this." Luna slowly stood up and hopped over to Loira's back. "You should apologize for not teaching me how to dye my hair."

"Ah... there should also be why they always lie to me... and why they always..." Luna suddenly paused, her thoughts jumping around as she said, "Why didn't they throw away the diary that attracts harassing horseflies?"

The diary that attracts harassing fly... Is it Mr. Riddle?

Loila couldn't help but explain, "That diary... has very important information on it..."

"About...about the magic circle." She pursed her lips as she spoke, "Until we have a thorough understanding of it...we can't...we can't lose it."

"Maybe the research is what turned you into this." Luna blinked, then left.

She seemed to be going back to her dorm for a nap... Loila watched her departing figure and couldn't help but nod slightly.

Have I been overthinking things lately?

That person's matter... the magic circle's matter... the memories' matter... and Mr. Lockhart's matter...

Ah, Lord Grindelwald's affairs and Mr. Lupin's affairs can't be included... Loila was very happy when she was doing things for them.

Of course, after careful consideration, Loila realized that she hadn't done anything for Lord Grindelwald.

Never mind... I'll just go back to the office and rest for a bit.