Chapter 122: Dealing with the Devil
Lockhart was never willing to let his research remain superficial. While discovering "the marvelous mechanism of the wizarding world" indeed led him into a wondrous realm, knowing what but not why was unacceptable. He yearned to feel the profound subtleties within it more meticulously.
Exploring magic was simply too interesting; he never tired of it.
Corban Yaxley's matter could be set aside for now. The improvement in his companions' abilities, which was to say, his research into the cultivation of Dark magical creatures within his own field, was his top priority.
He had already found a relatively clear starting point.
When he performed the "Mind cleansing Charm," that interaction between his own mind and nature immediately reminded him of the interaction between the Vengeance Fairy and the earth. This was definitely a point worth exploring.
At this point, the materials on Basilisk breeding from Slytherin's heir, Tom Riddle, became very important.
Of course, there was also his main job: the new chapter of the fairy tale, "The Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts." As the chief planner, he also needed to invest a significant amount of energy and time to get this project on track before slowly disengaging from it.
For the next half-month or so, Lockhart was extremely busy.
He seemed to have entered a very pure rhythm of life, his mind completely consumed by magic.
Until this day.
His senior, Rita Skeeter, came calling again.
She brought news of Lockhart once again achieving the top spot in book sales—and this time, it was a global sales champion.
"I'm sorry, your news won't make the front page of the Daily Prophet!" Rita said this with a hint of smugness, waving the newspaper. "I have my own things to do."
Lockhart's expression shifted. Looking at the person who had come to deliver good tidings, he suddenly realized it was probably time to pay his debts.
Rita needed his help, and she likely intended to leverage his current soaring influence.
He didn't bring it up proactively, just chuckled as he took the newspaper and casually opened it. "Oh, really? There's even more important news than my bestselling book? You know, fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting my reports. The Daily Prophet will miss out on too many sales that way."
This was clearly a correct judgment.
Rita's face fell. She pouted unhappily. "Yes, damn it, now your fans are frantically buying The Quibbler. Lovegood, of course, puts your news on the front page. He's had your photo on the cover for two issues in a row!"
The Quibbler magazine often published conspiracy theories, news of sightings of creatures that didn't exist, and other unconventional news.
In many people's eyes, it was akin to those tabloid magazines that Muggles read about aliens and unsolved mysteries.
Lockhart chuckled. "You can't blame me for that. I still retain your exclusive interview rights; I haven't written any articles for Lovegood. You should reflect on why someone else picked the most delicious fruit."
"I just have bad luck." Rita shook her head and shrugged, then reached out and patted the newspaper Lockhart had taken. "So I need to make a big splash, to reclaim my honor!"
Her "big news"...
Lockhart finally looked down at the newspaper and gasped.
The front-page headline: CORBAN YAXLEY: WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO REGISTER AT THE BEAST OFFICE, YOU WEREWOLF?!
Good heavens!
Rita was truly despicable!
Corban Yaxley was clearly the victim of the Ministry of Magic werewolf attack. Yet, while the incident was still hot, and Corban Yaxley was reportedly still receiving treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, Rita had already pointed her spear at this victim.
She didn't care about the judgment of the werewolf who caused such chaos and attacked so many people, nor did she care if the Ministry of Magic had made any changes. She just targeted the most prominent victim.
Lockhart quickly scanned the emotionally charged sentences in the newspaper, and couldn't help but snort.
Mr. Corban Yaxley!
You are now a werewolf!
Yes, a WEREWOLF!
Why haven't you registered at the "Werewolf Registration Office" in the "Beast Office" yet?
As a senior Ministry of Magic official, are you also going to violate Ministry regulations and choose to lead by breaking the rules?
No wonder no werewolves are willing to register at the Werewolf Registration Office!
Rita knew how to stir up trouble. Minister Fudge had paid an unknown price to quell the public's attacks on Ministry of Magic regulations during the werewolf attack incident, and now she immediately brought it up again.
It involved a series of sensitive topics such as Ministry of Magic regulations, high-ranking Ministry officials, the Sacred Twenty-Eight pure-blood families, and werewolves, with a particularly devious angle.
She was forcing Minister Fudge to pressure Corban Yaxley into registering at the Werewolf Registration Office, otherwise the previous issues would likely resurface.
And if Corban actually registered, she could then publish another article, praising herself, the famous journalist, for promoting the improvement of Ministry of Magic regulations and so on.
Brilliant!
Lockhart looked through the entire report in amazement, then looked up at the triumphant Rita. "Are you really not afraid that Corban Yaxley will kill you?"
"I must remind you, he is a Death Eater, and a Death Eater with news of the Dark Lord's renewed activity. He really might come after you."
Rita showed no fear. She pulled out a small mirror and lipstick from her handbag to touch up her makeup, appearing quite nonchalant. "Me, afraid?"
As a standard Ravenclaw "dregs," she had means and magic, and truly had confidence.
Leaving everything else aside, she was an unregistered Animagus and could transform into an inconspicuous beetle. This form was even more effective than Sirius's transformation into a large black dog.
After disappearing from the enemy's sight, she could instantly find a crack in the ground or wall and slip in. No matter how powerful the enemy, they couldn't hope to find her.
Moreover, she already had enough means to cope; it wouldn't even come to using magic.
"I plan to give a speech at the International Confederation of Wizards tomorrow, denouncing this matter and making a huge fuss. If he actually dares to attack me, I can make the front page under my own name."
After speaking, Rita gazed at Lockhart. "Hey, buddy, I need you to write an article for me. Anything you say publicly now will be reprinted by newspapers worldwide. I need that influence."
Lockhart put on a solemn expression, frowning as he looked at her. "You want me to completely offend Corban Yaxley to death? Make me his enemy?"
"You should know how much this will affect me. I will be completely opposed to this high-ranking Ministry official and head of a pure-blood family!"
Rita didn't speak, just stared intently at him.
"You know, don't you? After the Ministry of Magic werewolf attack, I finally got a position in the Ministry, but it's a cushy job in a retirement department. If I want to advance further, offending high-ranking Ministry officials isn't a wise move."
"Also, you might not know that I just joined Madam Melas's club. Corban Yaxley has a lot of influence in that club."
Lockhart earnestly explained his difficulties. "Doing this will simultaneously block my path after leaving Hogwarts!"
"You must help me!" Rita grew anxious, squeezing the lipstick in her hand. She had initially thought Lockhart would definitely help with this, as this idiot hadn't thought so much before. "I've done so much for you; I'm only asking you to write one article. You must repay me!"
Saying this, seeing Lockhart still remaining silent, her expression turned sinister. "Gilderoy, you know me. I need this article. If you don't write it, you'll still see your article in the newspaper; I'll write it for you! Don't think I don't know some things about you. You're not a magical master at all, and your fans will definitely be fooled by your pretentious—"
Her words weren't finished when she suddenly felt an intense chill erupt from her heart. An indescribable mix of frantic helplessness and pre-mental collapse tension crawled from her scalp down to her arms, raising goosebumps.
She opened her mouth wide, wanting to continue speaking, but found she couldn't utter a single word. Her whole body was so terrified that her legs even felt like they were trembling.
She seemed to see the wails from an invincible, dark abyss. Rolling black smoke emerged, enveloping Lockhart, making his figure appear eerie and sinister.
No, not just sinister, but even an unspeakable malevolence and ruthlessness, like a monster crawling out of the abyss.
Boom!
Outside the window, thunder suddenly roared. Dazzling lightning crackled and spread in the air beyond the window, its light, combined with the ominous dark sky that had appeared, made Lockhart's face flash on and off.
"Ri~ta Skeeter!"
Lockhart drew out the words, raising his eyelids to look at Rita standing before him, asking coldly, "Are you threatening me?"
Rita swallowed, wanting to speak, but found herself too nervous to say anything.
Her eyes were hollow, staring blankly at the blurry figure of Lockhart beyond the window, where the clouds in the sky rolled like ink.
That ink seemed as if it wanted to devour her soul.
She even felt as if Lockhart's voice was coming from a distant place, carrying the scorching sensation of lightning tearing through the air, carrying the hollow echoes of the abyss, gradually spreading towards her, finally thundering in her ears.
Time seemed to have stopped here. She didn't know how long this terrifying feeling lasted, perhaps a whole day, perhaps only a moment, she didn't know.
She vaguely felt Lockhart seemed to have stood up, walking around the table, step by step, towards her!
Tap, tap, tap...
No!
Don't kill me!
I actually don't know anything!
I just like to collect negative reports about celebrities, I like to gather these reports and then brainstorm some explosive news. I really don't know anything!
Ahhhhhhh—
She screamed frantically in her mind, but her body seemed frozen with fear, unable to move a muscle.
Just then, a knock suddenly came from outside the office door.
Thump, thump, thump... The sound, which had been strangely detached, gradually became real, completely pulling her back to reality.
Rita found she could move. Her rationality told her this was a good chance; she had to run quickly!
But she simply slumped back into the chair, limp, panting desperately like a fish on land.
She looked at Lockhart, who was standing over her, with some despair, sadly realizing that she didn't dare to show even the slightest hint of wanting to escape in front of him.
She was afraid!
She, who had feared nothing and no one, was truly afraid this time!
Only by truly experiencing how terrifying and real fear was did she realize that even she could be afraid.
Thump, thump, thump~
The knocking sounded again outside the door. Vaguely, it seemed someone was asking if Lockhart was in.
Yes, yes, Gilderoy, hurry and open the door for them!
Lockhart gazed deeply at her, then turned and walked towards the office door.
"Gilderoy!" Rita finally mustered the courage to call out softly. Her voice was so hoarse and weak, yet it successfully made this terrifying, utterly unfamiliar man stop in his tracks.
"Tell me, you can make demands of me, as long as you help me with this! I really need this article!"
Yes, she was afraid of death, terrified of it!
But she still couldn't forget her big news.
Everyone has their own obsessions. Oh, that's not quite right. In fact, people rarely find their true interests, let alone being willing to throw themselves into something they're passionate about, regardless of the consequences.
This was a kind of happiness, and also a life conviction, a conviction that didn't even fear death.
Ultimately, Lockhart's use of the weather charm to resonate with the magical environment of the vicious werewolf and the golden retriever was merely a casual attempt, and its effect was still somewhat superficial, not thoroughly branding this terror into her soul.
Her persistence clearly moved this terrifying man.
Lockhart turned back to look at her, remained silent for a moment, then simply said coldly, "Then you must be prepared to pay the price, Rita. I won't refuse you this time, and you must not refuse when I demand payment!"
Rita swallowed, suddenly feeling as if she had just made a deal with the devil.
She briefly wondered if she had made the wrong decision, dealing with someone like Gilderoy. Would it eventually drag her into the abyss?
She wanted to say, maybe not, but under his gaze, she forced a strained, ugly smile and managed to reply, "Of—of course, I will keep my word."
Damn it, what am I even saying?!
Rita was almost in tears. She had never imagined that the Gilderoy Lockhart who always smiled foolishly like an idiot was secretly so terrifying, so powerful.
You're actually a magical master?!!!
Then why do you usually act like you're "pretending to be a magical master" with all that theatrical flair?
You liar!!!
She wailed in her heart.
.....
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