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Chapter 41: They've been discovered!
However, some trouble had still occurred. A few days later, Hermione ran into Lockhart's office, holding a magazine in her hands. Lockhart picked it up and began flipping through it.
"Hermione, are you really toying with Harry and Krum's feelings?" Lockhart asked mischievously, a playful smirk on his face.
"Professor, you're teasing me too!" Hermione said, a little annoyed. "I was just showing you the news about yourself."
Lockhart glanced at the article, reading aloud: "The Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor took his little dance partner into his office after the Christmas Ball and didn't emerge for several hours..."
Lockhart froze. How had they discovered this?
"Professor, who did you bring back to your office?" Hermione asked, her voice tinged with worry. "This isn't good. You finally broke the curse and were reappointed, and now this..."
"That's all nonsense, Hermione. Don't you spend half a day in my office too?" Lockhart said casually, waving a hand.
"I'm helping you reply to your fans' letters!" Hermione shot back.
"Exactly. And I brought the other students in for tutoring," Lockhart quickly added, denying any wrongdoing. "But, Hermione, it's not good for a young lady's reputation to be dragged through the mud. Let's see who wrote this nonsense."
"It's Rita Skeeter. She's always meddling! I wouldn't be surprised if she had an Invisibility Cloak and was hiding at the scene," Hermione reasoned, her deduction surprisingly sharp. Lockhart knew exactly what had happened.
"The most troublesome part is here," Hermione continued, flipping a few pages.
"Hagrid is a half-giant, and he admitted it himself? What was he thinking?" Lockhart groaned, touching his forehead.
"Professor, Hagrid says he might resign this time because the parents think he's unsafe," Hermione said earnestly. "You have to help him—you're his friend, aren't you?"
"Alright, Hermione. Go arrange a meeting with that reporter. Tell her Harry is willing to give an exclusive interview, and I'll show you exactly how to deal with this nasty woman," Lockhart said, already preparing for action on his friend's behalf.
Hermione's eyes lit up. "Excellent, Professor! I knew you had a plan!"
Later, Hermione arranged to meet Rita Skeeter in a quiet alley in Hogsmeade. When Rita spotted Lockhart and Hermione waiting, her expression flickered between surprise and curiosity.
"Good heavens, Miss Granger! Are you and Professor Lockhart having an affair? That's sensational news! I must admit, I'm a little envious of your charm. And Harry Potter—wasn't he supposed to be giving me an interview?"
Lockhart didn't respond to her teasing. Calmly, he drew his wand and instructed her to drink a potion.
"Your harassment of journalists is utterly shameful! I'll report this to the Ministry of Magic—" Rita started to protest, but Lockhart ignored her and forced her to drink a Veritaserum potion.
For a few tense minutes, she confessed everything. She admitted that she was an Animagus and that her press credentials had been obtained through cheating.
Finally, Lockhart muttered, "Now for your final punishment," and turned her into a beetle. He captured the tiny creature in a bottle and handed it to Hermione. "I don't care what you do with her, but I expect she won't write anything damaging about us again. I trust you can handle it."
"Professor… your method is so blunt and simple," Hermione said, her face blank with disbelief. "How did you even know she had a problem?"
"Nothing can stump the amazing Gilderoy Lockhart," he said with a self-satisfied grin, turning on his heel and leaving. Hermione watched him go, stunned by his audacity.
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This translation preserves:
Canon-accurate Harry Potter terms (Veritaserum, Animagus)
All character names and dialogue personalities
The playful yet slightly tense narrative tone
Emotional and comedic beats without over-polishing
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