Kael's method proved to be quite effective.
When a thick stack of greeting cards was handed to those goblins, they finally managed to have a somewhat normal morning.
Though there were still a few stray ones popping out from various corners, Kael managed to use the Disillusionment Charm to avoid them in time.
As for during class time... Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick both accepted Kael's suggestion and used magic to block the classroom doors, preventing the goblins from coming in.
Moreover, some students from other grades mentioned that there were two petrified goblins in the Magic Potion Classroom, positioned on either side of the underground classroom entrance, resembling two rather tasteless statues.
At first, everyone thought another attack had occurred, causing some panic, but they later realized it was Professor Snape's doing... his way of warning the remaining goblins to stay away from him.
In the castle, as the two morning classes passed, the frequency of goblin appearances increased, indicating they had completed their tasks.
By the end of the last Charm Class, three goblins were already waiting for Kael in the corridor.
It was roughly the same for Cedric's side.
This forced them to hide in the common room to eat lunch.
"Someone is definitely causing trouble!"
Cedric shoved a piece of toast into his mouth, frowned, and said: "There are so many people at Hogwarts, why are they always targeting us? There must be something wrong here."
"Do you even need to think about it?" Kael glanced at him and pointed towards the ceiling.
Cedric instantly understood, gritting his teeth as he said: "Fred, George!"
No wonder he felt a sense of familiarity with the contents of those greeting cards. It all made sense now; it was clearly the twins' style.
The fact that he had previously felt guilt was regrettable, as those two had already started their mischief. The five goblins he encountered near the hall in the morning were definitely their doing.
Otherwise, how could it have been so coincidental that someone wrote greeting cards right after he walked out the door?
"Looks like our thoughts are quite aligned here." Kael shrugged.
"Should we continue writing in the afternoon?" Cedric asked.
Kael shook his head.
Three against two, their advantage wasn't significant, and Fred and George liked excitement, whether it was theirs or others', they enjoyed it all, which inherently put them in an unbeatable position.
Plus, Hufflepuff's third-year students had Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the afternoon, and Lockhart would never agree to block the classroom door.
They certainly couldn't use the Disillusionment Charm and Invisibility Cloak in the classroom...
"Forget it, let's let them have a pass for now."
After thinking for a while, Kael decided not to engage in such a pointless rivalry with them, focusing their efforts on Lockhart instead.
Furthermore, out of their own pockets, they became avid fans for once, whereby anyone writing a greeting card to Lockhart would get a Knut.
One Knut per card, cumulatively coming to twenty-nine cards.
The money wasn't much, but the task was simple, and the fifty slots were snapped up by the time afternoon classes began.
...
Lockhart was very pleased, exceedingly pleased.
He never imagined that after so many incidents, his admirers at Hogwarts would actually increase... it was proven by those more than a thousand greeting cards.
Even though he didn't have much time for class, what did it matter?
If possible, he wished every day could be like this, each day...
In the evening, Lockhart cheerfully walked to the auditorium, spotting a group of professors gathered around the passageway to the underground classroom, uncertain of what they were doing.
"It's so lively; are you comparing the number of greeting cards received?" He approached, boasting, "Why wasn't I informed?... Oh, I suppose you've all heard, I received over a thousand greeting cards..."
All the professors turned to glare at him.
Lockhart was startled and instinctively said, "Alright, if you think it's unfair to compare with me, I won't participate... Wait a minute, why is there still a goblin here?"
He noticed an unmoving goblin among the professors.
But the thing was, thirty minutes ago, they should have completed their tasks and left the school.
"Ah... the solver of problems is here." Snape said darkly, "As you can see, there's been another attack, now your moment of glory has finally arrived."
Lockhart looked at the petrified goblin on the ground, his breathing growing rapid.
The goblin was lying in front of a suit of armor, stiff all over, just like those previously attacked.
"No... this… how can it be!" Lockhart stammered, "Don't joke... Professor Snape, I can tell at a glance, he's affected by a Petrification Spell, just like those you placed by the underground classroom doors..."
"In fact," Snape glared at Lockhart coldly, "I lifted their Petrification Spells three hours ago, or you could personally try. I thought Curse Breaking should be no trouble for you..."
"Of course... of course, I can do curse breaking." Lockhart forced himself to step forward, waving his wand and muttering nonsensical incantations.
Professor McGonagall's facial muscle twitched; she'd lived many years, and had seen many things in her time, but had never heard such peculiar spellcasting... it seemed completely made up.
She even suspected that if Lockhart were to say it again, it might not match what he just said.
Lockhart performed for almost a minute, unsurprisingly, with no movement from the petrified goblin.
"Oh, to think that the Secret Magic Spell from the Wagga Tribe had no effect either?" Lockhart put away his wand, "I learned it during my travels from an old wizard; it can lift almost any curse."
"Oh?" Snape raised his eyebrows.
"I know what you want to say, Professor Snape." Lockhart sighed, "I was fooled, that guy clearly hadn't seen the world beyond."
"No matter, the Mandrakes are maturing soon; they will recover quickly."
Professor Sprout said, "But Gilderoy, didn't you say on the opening day of school that you knew the heir completely?
Then go find him, that's what's most important."
"Yes... that's right... I know..." Lockhart began to panic.
If he knew who the heir was, he would have spread the news long ago, no need to wait until now.
But wasn't Dumbledore the strongest wizard? How could the Chamber of Secrets not have been solved over such a long holiday?
This was not what he expected!
Lockhart stammered, unable to articulate, and the other professors no longer paid attention to him.
Professor Flitwick took the goblin to the Hospital Wing.
Other professors also stood up and left one by one.
No one cared about Lockhart, as if he had never been there.
"Things are getting more serious." Professor McGonagall looked at the lively auditorium in the distance, "We must find a way to solve this before the students get hurt."
"But the problem is, who!" Snape said, "We've searched the entire castle, but found nothing."
"Just wait, it will be soon."
Professor Sprout whispered, "Just wait for a month... no, with the Mandrakes becoming more active, it won't even take a month for them to want to repot.
Those petrified people must have seen something, and once they wake up, we'll know whether the monster is a person or something else."
"You're right, Pomona." Professor McGonagall said heavily, "But a month is still too long, none of us can ensure what will happen in that time. No matter what, I must speak to the students."