For the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the new semester, Lockhart seemed to have learned his lesson from yesterday's failure, as he didn't bring any creatures he couldn't handle himself.
He gave everyone half an hour to take a quiz, spending the rest of the time critiquing, occasionally having students open his books and read aloud captivating passages.
Specifically—sections that highlighted his strength, bravery, indomitable spirit, and other such qualities.
Thus, he easily coasted through a class.
Even so, when class ended, a few students still surrounded Lockhart, asking for his autograph.
"If next class is like this again, I might try to get a sick note," Michael grumbled to Wade, then asked, "By the way, I thought you wouldn't bother seriously answering that quiz!"
"I have some books I want to borrow from the Restricted Section," Wade said.
"What's so hard about that? I've never met anyone more vain than this guy."
Michael said, pulling out a few pieces of parchment and using a Duplicating Charm to copy Lockhart's photo from the textbook cover. Then he called out to Padma.
"Padma, Wade wants a few of Lockhart's autographs, can you help him get them?" Michael asked.
Padma tossed her braid behind her, confidently saying, "Leave it to me!"
Today, she also wore a phoenix-shaped badge on her collar. The tiny blemishes on her skin were invisible; she looked radiant and dazzling.
Padma joined the other girls, and soon returned with a few "signed photos."
"Just let me know when you need them," she said, passing the parchment sheets to Wade with a flourish. "I just have to giggle, and he'll sign a hundred of them without even looking closely!"
Michael gave a thumbs up: "Thanks to you, it wouldn't be as easy for us."
Wade tapped his wand, and all the copied photos vanished, leaving only Lockhart's flamboyant signature.
He couldn't help but smile.
He felt good, but not because he had obtained blank signed slips.
As they left, Michael nudged him with his shoulder, whispering, "Easier than you thought, right?"
"Wade, don't always try to solve everything yourself. You can rely on us too."
"Sometimes what's difficult for one person might be simple for another, right?"
Wade awoke from a surreal dream, pushed open the window, and fresh, damp air rushed in, clearing the stuffiness from the room.
It seemed to have rained last night; the windowsill was wet.
He recalled the blurry figures in his dream, whose faces he couldn't discern...
He thought of his father in his previous life, who had once lost everything after vouching for a "brother."
He thought of his "friend" in university who had stolen his research results and published them first, then deleted the data from his computer, accused him of plagiarism, and even incited online mobs to attack him.
Some things Wade thought he had long forgotten were actually etched deeply in his heart.
But Michael's and Theo's words also echoed in his mind.
Friends...
It's always easy for children to trust; the older you get, the harder it becomes.
But doubting everything and trusting everything are equally wrong... Without trust, loyalty and friendship will eventually fade away.
He took a deep breath, expelling the long-held impurities from his heart.
After classes that afternoon, Wade and Michael went to the area near the one-eyed humpbacked witch on the fourth floor. They leaned by the window, and after a few students in the corridor left, Wade said, "I'm leaving."
Michael nodded: "If anyone looks for you, I'll cover for you."
He pretended to admire the view, watching for anyone approaching, while Wade tapped the stone witch with his wand and whispered, "Dissendium."
The statue's hump immediately opened, revealing a narrow passage.
Wade waved to Michael and quickly stepped inside.
Michael watched the secret passage close, then, with his hands in his pockets, leisurely walked downstairs, just brushing past Filch.
The grim caretaker stared at him. Michael nodded at him, and out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a few Slytherin students. His eyes lit up, and he immediately walked towards them.
Wade first slid a long way down a sloping stone slide, then walked forward along the damp, cold secret passage. The ground was rugged and uneven, not appearing to be man-made.
It was dark and quiet all around, with only the tip of his wand emitting a bright light.
The passage was very long; after more than an hour of walking, Wade finally saw a long flight of stairs. These stairs extended far upwards, appearing to be hundreds of steps.
Luckily, he only had to climb it this once.
Wade grumbled to himself, resignedly climbing the stairs. After an unknown period, he finally saw a trapdoor above his head.
Wade pushed open the trapdoor, and a hand reached down from above, grabbing Wade's arm and pulling him out.
Lupin cast a Scourgify charm, removing the dirt from him, and asked with a smile, "It wasn't an easy journey, was it?"
Wade regulated his breathing, and after a while, said, "It was much longer than I expected."
He felt like his legs were no longer his own.
Fortunately, he was young... or perhaps it was a bonus from being a wizard, as Wade recovered considerably after a moment's rest.
"This secret passage is indeed long and difficult to traverse."
Lupin said, "Actually, there's also a secret passage under the Whomping Willow that leads to the Shrieking Shack. Just press the knot on the tree, and it will stop attacking."
"If the Vanishing Cabinet is repaired, I won't need secret passages," Wade said.
"Why insist on repairing the Vanishing Cabinet?" Lupin said. "You know, compared to secret passages, the Vanishing Cabinet is always a bit dangerous."
"But secret passages only get me around Hogwarts. If I want to go somewhere farther, I won't have enough time," Wade explained. "And even for regular classes, I don't want to spend too much time traveling."
Lupin didn't ask him where he wanted to go; he was a person with a good sense of propriety.
"Pay attention," Lupin said. "I'll cast a Disillusionment Charm on you."
He tapped Wade's head with his wand. Wade closed his eyes and felt a cold sensation flow from his head into his body.
Wade looked at his palms; no matter how he moved, his body's color would become identical to its surroundings.
It was as if he were invisible.
Perhaps only those with very sharp vision could detect the subtle distortion.
"Let's go," Wade said. "After fixing the Vanishing Cabinet, I hope to learn this charm before returning to school on Sunday."
"It won't be easy; it involves advanced applications of Transfiguration. But if it's you... perhaps you can do it."
Lupin closed the trapdoor, walked behind Wade, and said gently.
The two ascended the stairs, arriving behind the counter of Honeydukes. Lupin flicked his wand, and a bottle on the shelf suddenly toppled over.
The shop owner, a bald middle-aged man, went to pick up the bottle, and Lupin and Wade seized the opportunity to slip out from behind the counter.