"From Lockhart's teaching process, we can see that after he obtained the dark magical artifacts Voldemort left for the Malfoy family, he initially resisted.
But when he discovered that what Voldemort taught him was truly useful, that it could transform him from a fraud with an empty reputation into a genuine Defense Against the Dark Arts professor with real ability, he eventually succumbed.
As time passed, he naturally sank deeper and deeper. The external manifestation was that his performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes became increasingly confident and skillful.
Until... he was completely controlled by Voldemort, becoming his puppet."
"So, the person who's actually been teaching us Defense Against the Dark Arts this year is Voldemort?"
Upon hearing Sherlock's words, Harry couldn't help but cry out in shock.
"The one teaching us is Voldemort, but not entirely Voldemort."
Sherlock looked at the astonished Harry and explained.
"Judging from Professor Lockhart's performance in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, this doesn't seem like something Voldemort would do."
Harry, hearing Sherlock say this, recalled Lockhart's actions in class.
He remembered how Lockhart had students recite long passages from his books and spent most of the time on theatrical performances. Harry suddenly felt Sherlock was right.
Even if last year's Voldemort had indeed acted like a brainless fool, he wouldn't stoop to such behavior.
"This might be Lockhart's final resistance."
Sherlock continued, "If he's truly been affected by Voldemort's dark magical artifacts, then complete control is only a matter of time, I don't believe his mind and abilities could resist the other party."
With that, he looked toward Dumbledore.
After listening to Sherlock's words, Dumbledore let out a long sigh.
"I was already headmaster when Gilderoy was a student, and I share Filius's opinion of him. As for what happened after his graduation, I know even more."
Sherlock showed an expression of "as expected."
Seeing Sherlock's look, Dumbledore felt somewhat embarrassed. But having reached this point, he could only swallow his pride and continue.
"After graduating from Hogwarts, Gilderoy became a somewhat famous writer, traveling to exotic locations around the world. His performance at school was actually passable, but he quickly deteriorated after graduation, with one exception, the Memory Charm.
Few people know that Gilderoy's mastery of the Memory Charm was extremely skilled. Without exaggeration, it was on par with mine and Filius's."
Hearing this, Sherlock raised an eyebrow. He had already deduced what Dumbledore was about to say.
"Later, his books became bestsellers, and he began to bravely and persistently fight dark magic. Even Gilderoy's former teachers began to think they might have misjudged him.
However, the truth was. Gilderoy used his handsome face and sweet-talking mouth to deceive accomplished witches and wizards into revealing their greatest deeds, then used master-level Memory Charms to erase their memories.
Each time he returned to England, he would write a book recounting heroic deeds that belonged to others.
Those whose memories Gilderoy erased included an elderly Armenian wizard and a witch with a hairy chin. Coincidentally, I knew both wizards whose memories Gilderoy had wiped, so I knew what really happened."
"So, you believed that if you put Lockhart in an ordinary school environment, his fraud would be exposed.
To this end, you hinted to him that if he could become the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he would be the teacher of the Boy Who Lived, the savior of the wizarding world, the nemesis of the Dark Lord: Harry Potter.
With Lockhart's self-marketing abilities, he immediately realized that succeeding in this role would bring him higher popularity than anything else.
So, you two hit it off, colluding like wolves in sheep's clothing.
You once again solved the problem of no one daring to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts. He also gained the honor he wanted.
The only ones sacrificed were Hogwarts students and Harry Potter, who was used without knowing it.
Describing you as despicable, cunning, and unscrupulous is quite fitting.
But speaking of Lockhart's actions this year, your move actually had unexpected benefits through sheer coincidence.
Lockhart was controlled by Voldemort and taught us many useful things. Voldemort himself got his wish, finally personally serving as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
If Professor Lockhart ultimately falls victim to Voldemort, he would die without regret, having died a worthy death."
When Sherlock delivered this speech at rapid speed, following Dumbledore's description of Lockhart, Dumbledore, Harry, and even the portraits of former headmasters on the walls were all stunned.
The portraits noticed a pattern, every time Sherlock came to the headmaster's office, they felt this way.
It was only a matter of degree.
"Albus, this student of yours is truly... very special."
After a moment, it was finally Dippet, the former headmaster who had previously interacted with Sherlock, who spoke, looking at Sherlock with a pained expression.
"You continue chatting. I'll go for a walk."
As soon as he finished speaking, the portraits on the wall disappeared completely.
"They ran away again..."
Dumbledore said softly.
Sherlock was unsurprised. "Didn't I tell you last time? They'll get used to running away."
Dumbledore: (°□°)
"Let's return to the main topic."
Sherlock's expression became serious.
"Headmaster, my current deduction is that all three times the Chamber was opened were done by Lockhart under Voldemort's control, and during this process, Professor Lockhart was likely in an unconscious state.
However, he did struggle, which can be seen from the fact that he didn't personally write those words on the wall the first time."
"Someone else was involved in this matter?"
Hearing Sherlock say this, Dumbledore also became serious.
"Pansy, the Slytherin girl who always likes to follow behind Malfoy."
Sherlock, unlike Dumbledore who always kept things hidden, directly explained his deduction process.
"I initially thought it was Ginny Weasley, but later discovered the handwriting on the wall was different from hers.
From Halloween until now, I've been looking for the person who wrote those words. I found quite a few people who fit the criteria, but later ruled them out one by one.
I've already asked Gemma for Pansy's handwriting sample. I believe there shouldn't be any more twists."
"So that's why you had Ron find the Prefect!" Harry suddenly understood.
Dumbledore looked at Sherlock with a satisfied smile. "Sherlock, just when I think you've done enough, you always bring me new surprises. I'll remind Severus to pay attention to Miss Parkinson."
"Thank you for the praise, Headmaster. If you had told me these things from the beginning, what you'd get would only be joy, not surprise."
"In fact, even if you hadn't come to find me today, I was going to ask you to come over."
Dumbledore looked seriously at both Sherlock and Harry.
"Please allow me to explain those seemingly 'permissive' moments in the most honest way possible.
Sherlock, you're accustomed to piecing together truth from details. Harry, you once faced darkness as an infant.
Perhaps... we should start talking from the double-sided mirror of restriction and trust."
Harry nodded, and Sherlock leaned back slightly. "I'm all ears."
Dumbledore's half-moon glasses began reflecting light.
"Fifty years ago, during that turmoil, I truly didn't know about the basilisk's existence.
Though I suspected Tom at the time, I had no evidence to prove it. Only when Harry demonstrated Parseltongue did those fragments blurred by time reassemble.
I won't avoid responsibility, as headmaster, when students are harmed under my protection, it's my failure.
When the petrification incidents recurred, I was still caught in uncertainty about whether the legend was true, failing to immediately include the basilisk in my investigation.
This is the arrogance of pragmatism. I once thought I knew all of Tom's secrets in the castle, that ancient evil would erode with time, forgetting that darkness always patiently waits for cracks."
Dumbledore lightly tapped the desktop with his fingertips, his voice low.
"Sherlock, you once said that when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
And I precisely missed the most dangerous possibility when eliminating the impossible, that Slytherin's monster would actually tear at Hogwarts' throat in peacetime.
All excuses about trusting the younger generation cannot cover one fact.
When danger comes, an adult's primary duty is to stand before children, not hope they'll raise their swords themselves.
I will repay this mistake with all my strength, so, what do you need me to do?"
This time, Sherlock didn't mock Dumbledore again.
However, his first words still startled Dumbledore. "I need you to disappear."
"..."
Dumbledore paused, then smiled bitterly. "Sherlock, I admit I was wrong, but surely it's not that serious!"
Harry also said urgently. "Sherlock..."
"You misunderstand."
Sherlock waved his hand. "It's not time for you to apologize to all the teachers and students yet.
What I mean is, you need to disappear from Hogwarts for a while."
"You mean I have to leave here?"
"Just like last year. Although we still don't know exactly how he controlled Lockhart, your departure can make Voldemort lower his guard.
Besides, if you leave now, the Board of Governors would probably applaud and see you off, wouldn't they?"
"I understand what you mean, but I must tell you that the Malfoy family's influence on the Board of Governors isn't as great as you imagine. There are actually quite a few people who support me..."
"Isn't that even better? You can take this opportunity to drive out those who don't support you!"
"Strategic retreat?"
"Exactly."
Sherlock nodded. "I'll find the Chamber soon, and then we can catch them in the trap. However, Headmaster, this time I hope you can act promptly and not stand aside and watch like last year.
After all, this time we no longer need to verify the effect of that ancient spell."
"Don't worry."
Seeing Dumbledore make this promise, Sherlock felt he should reciprocate and comforted him.
"You can rest assured too. Even if you leave the school, Hogwarts' daily operations won't be affected in any way.
Professor McGonagall can perfectly fulfill the headmaster's duties. Whether you're here or not doesn't really make much difference."
Dumbledore: (￣▽￣)
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