In Lockhart's office,
The professor, who had been ignored by students recently, had lost his usual smug look and instead showed a certain madness.
He rapidly searched the bookshelves, flipping through each book. His eyes were bloodshot. "Heir of Slytherin. Chamber of Secrets."
"
"Aha! Found it!"
"
Salazar Slytherin left Hogwarts after disagreeing with the other founders. Upon his departure, he left behind the Chamber of Secrets.
The entrance to the Chamber of Secrets is hidden in an ancient place, and only those who truly possess Slytherin blood can open it!"
"
The Chamber of Secrets' secret! Solving it will be big news. This involves the famous Harry Potter, who can resist?
But from beginning to end, it was me, the great hero Lockhart who discovered everything and saw through everything. Although I am not the heir of Slytherin, I must be the best candidate that everyone thinks of!"
"Yes, they will definitely think so, hahahahaha!"
"Potter! You are here!"
In the common room, Harry, who had just finished Quidditch training and was covered in mud, had no time to wash his body and was directly captured by Professor Lockhart.
"Professor, what's wrong?"
"I need your help."
"Bang!" Lockhart pulled out a large sack of letters. "I've received so many letters from fans, and it's impossible for me not to respond to their fervour. I'd like you to help me read and process some of them. I'll tell you how to reply, and you just need to read them to me."
"Um, Professor, are you sure I can?"
Harry didn't want to help.
He was incredibly busy, but if he had time, he'd prefer to shower to recover from Quidditch practice.
.
He then avoided being seen and went to the Room of Requirement to practice spells. He had to catch up; Ron must be working hard there.
"Of course you can, Harry. There's no one better than you. After all, you're a savior. Ever since my fans heard I was coming to Hogwarts, many of them have been asking me about you.
Oh, and then we can pick a few lucky people and write some letters that you think are truly heartfelt. We can both write a joint reply, how about that?
Haha, the little one will be moved to tears! That's what a hero should do!"
"Hahaha!"
Harry said, sadly realizing he couldn't escape.
He was forced to spend four hours helping Lockhart process the incoming mail, reading aloud the smeared words—fans of all ages and backgrounds, in various humble and fervent ways, expressing their admiration for him.
Surrounded by such sweet nothings every day, even a normal person would gradually come to believe that the world revolves around them, right? Harry couldn't help but think.
He thought again of Damon. Hermione's love letter delivery had been increasing in frequency. It used to be once a month, then it slowly became once every two weeks, and then once a week.
Damon looked at these letters every day. Wasn't he planning on falling in love?
Harry dared to say, if it were him... well, let's not talk about it.
He'd probably just drown in a pool of honey, never to wake up again, never to think about trying again.
He'd give up everything except Quidditch practice.
"By the way, Harry—can I call you that?"
"Sure."
"Well, I've heard some bad things recently, about Parseltongue."
Harry's expression darkened. The gossip lingered, difficult to ignore.
He was learning to endure it, but his heart wasn't strong enough yet.
"Ah, yes, what's the matter?"
"You know what? This actually involves a secret—a secret about one of the Big Four, Slytherin. Do you want to know?
" "If you're willing to tell me?"
"Of course, I'll share it with you. We'll be the discoverers! And I don't think you'll have all the glory then."
Harry was a little confused.
"Professor, what exactly do you mean? If Slytherin can speak Parseltongue, I already know that."
"No—of course not, it's not that simple."
Lockhart smiled mysteriously, gesticulating as if he were singing opera.
"He was one of the greatest of the four, but his ideals were not recognized by the other three. His pride made him unable to endure it, and he eventually left the school in anger!
Leaving doesn't mean surrender. He hid a secret somewhere in Hogwarts, waiting for a successor to reveal it. When that day comes, glory will return to Slytherin!
"Chamber of Secrets?" Harry was a little interested, but after hearing about Slytherin over and over again, his interest faded.
He didn't want anything to do with Slytherin.
Not at all.
"Oh - it seems that you have no interest in inheriting Slytherin's legacy and knowledge? But don't you want to clear the grievances against you?
Is it fair to deem our savior evil simply for speaking Parseltongue?
Harry paused. He turned his head and looked at Lockhart who was confident of victory. He hesitated and said:
"Professor, can you be more specific?"
"Of course! Harry! I still say that we are on the same side - but I can't guarantee that others think so. No third person can know about this matter except the two of us. Can you promise?"
"Can I tell Damon?"
Lockhart recalled Damon and Snape's duel, his expression calming slightly. "I'm afraid that's not possible."
"
If you tell Master White this secret, he'll take over. Lockhart and Harry Potter will be irrelevant. Can you accept that?
"I think I can..."
"No! I can't accept it!"
Lockhart's expression was a little ferocious at this time.
Harry was shocked to see him like this for the first time. "What do you mean?"
"Just the two of us, solve everything."
He pointed at Harry and himself, "Are you willing to accept this? Harry, as far as I know, you used to be the center of students' discussion, the limelight was unparalleled, and the students regarded you as a great being, loved you, and respected you.
But after Master White came to prominence, you are now second to none, right?"
"I--"
"
It's worse than that. No one discusses Harry Potter anymore. The name is only mentioned when questioning why the savior is Harry Potter, not Damon White. Have you considered this, Harry?
Didn't all this happen because you backed down too much?"
"Prove to everyone that even if it's just you alone, you can do it well, or are you afraid?"
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(End of this chapter)