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Chapter 44: The Final Match
Lockhart and Pandora's relationship had become public knowledge, disappointing many girls—including Hermione. She now sat dejectedly in the library, reading quietly, while Lockhart perused The Witcher Weekly, raising his eyebrows every so often. Rita Skeeter now only dared publish tame content. Lockhart chuckled and continued reading but soon set the magazine aside after a few lines.
Looking up, Lockhart noticed something missing in the library—Krum wasn't in his usual spot, and without the usual crowd of girls chattering behind him, the place felt unusually quiet.
"Why isn't Krum sticking close to you anymore, Hermione?" Lockhart asked curiously, glancing at the magazine. "Did he really invite you to visit Bulgaria?"
Hermione blushed faintly. "No, Professor. He said that Professor Karkaroff had grounded them, and they were eating on the ship except for attending classes… He invited me after the second task."
Are you planning to go? Lockhart thought.
"In no mood…" Hermione replied softly.
"He would be very sad," Lockhart said, flipping to another magazine to change the subject. "What did you do with Rita Skeeter?"
"She's an excellent journalist. It seems nothing in the wizarding world can escape her notice. And her Animagus transformations are a huge advantage. I put her in a bottle and starved her for a few days, and then she surrendered. She promised to write whatever I asked as long as I didn't reveal her secrets."
"Oh, good. Let's keep in touch. We might need her sometime in the future."
"Yes, Professor."
"How's your LKE project going?"
Hermione finally brightened. "It's going very well! Especially with Rita Skeeter's help, I published some things in the newspaper, and many readers wrote in saying they would treat their house-elves better. It's all thanks to you, Professor!"
Hermione's face flushed with excitement, as if she were imagining the future: "On the day the elves are freed, the whole world will remember that the great Gilderoy Lockhart supported Hermione Granger in founding this organization!"
"Oh, really? Not bad," Lockhart said lightly. He could only tweak this little plot point. "Keep up the good work, and you might even win the Wizarding World's Peace Prize someday."
Finally, the last task began. From the moment the last champion entered the arena, Aurors and Hogwarts professors stood guard in pairs. Besides fixed sentries at the four corners, another group patrolled fifty feet ahead and behind—the previous attack remained unsolved, and Rita Skeeter's exaggerated reports meant the Ministry had no choice but to continuously add security.
"This is the day. We can't let our guard down!" Lockhart flew above the maze on his broomstick. He had already verified that the trophy wasn't affected by any Confundus Charm—it was a Portkey, designed to teleport someone from the maze to the podium. Lockhart suspected that Barty Jr. had added a magical Confundus effect so that the first touch—or only Harry's touch—would trigger a teleportation to Voldemort before reverting to the normal Portkey function.
Lockhart examined the trophy carefully, even placing it himself in its designated spot. But Barty Jr. was clever—he could tamper with it, and Lockhart was certain of that.
Sitting on his broom, wand in hand, he kept his eyes fixed on the maze.
Soon after the task began, red distress flames shot up across the field. Aurors, following the sentries' instructions, flew on broomsticks to assist champions who had been eliminated.
Lockhart spotted Cedric—he was nearing the finish line.
Harry appeared at the same moment, and the sequence of events remained unchanged. But Lockhart wasn't going to wait any longer. He needed to prevent Harry from touching the trophy. Wand at the ready, he aimed at Harry Potter.
Just then, a hand holding a wand appeared beside the trophy.
A strange spell hit the trophy, which Lockhart observed, but it didn't affect his plan.
"Petrify them all!" Lockhart cast his most perfect Petrificus Totalus yet, and Cedric and Harry, not far apart, were frozen in place.
From that same spot, a figure removed his Invisibility Cloak and emerged on a broomstick—Filch?!
Lockhart immediately understood everything, and a wave of humiliation washed over him. Barty Jr. had disguised himself as Filch! Using the Squib identity to avoid suspicion, he had tampered with the Goblet of Fire, confiscated Harry's Invisibility Cloak, and snuck into the arena unnoticed!
How many times had Lockhart walked with his head down, wondering who Barty was? Who could have imagined that the old man quietly sweeping the floor beside him was actually Barty Jr.!
Now he wants to run? Lockhart urged his broom forward, giving chase. He didn't intend to kill Barty Jr. now. Even though Barty Jr. had tricked him for a whole year, Lockhart still had the upper hand—Harry couldn't move, and he couldn't touch the trophy!
Lockhart wasn't a broom-flying expert, but Barty was clearly worse; he couldn't even maintain a straight line.
"Hahaha," Lockhart laughed with exhilaration, even deliberately imitating a villain's voice. "Little Barty, you are a fine wizard, clever too, but—I win!"
"Expelliarmus!" A flash of light swept across Barty's broom.
A year of disguise had clearly dulled Barty's magical ability; his broom was struck, and he fell straight down. Lockhart landed nearby, drew his wand, and ran over.
Barty rolled on the ground in pain. Lockhart pointed his wand at him and searched him—he only had one wand with him, far less than Barty usually carried.
"Why aren't you fighting back? Do you really think you can escape me?" Lockhart kicked him and added viciously, Cruciatus!
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