Just as Easter ended, before the young wizards had recovered from the intensive homework, Hogwarts issued a notice to all faculty and students.
Recently, the Hogwarts Board of Governors convened a special meeting to study the malicious attacks on non-pure-blood wizards within the school.
The meeting noted that since last Halloween, multiple malicious attacks had occurred at the school, resulting in the petrification of three students, one ghost, and one cat.
This fully exposed the paralyzed thinking and lax safety consciousness of Hogwarts leadership, with inadequate implementation of safety responsibilities. Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, as Hogwarts' primary responsible person, bore leadership responsibility for this.
The meeting emphasized that for many years, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had taken educating and guiding the country's underage wizards as its mission, long ranking among the world's premier magical schools and European exemplary magical schools, treating mixed-blood and Muggle-born wizards equally without differential treatment.
The attacks on mixed-blood and Muggle-born wizards this academic year had severely damaged Hogwarts' reputation and caused enormous losses to the school.
The meeting decided that, given the headmaster's serious dereliction of duty, all twelve governors unanimously decided to issue a suspension order to Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, temporarily relieving him of his duties.
The position of Hogwarts Headmaster would be temporarily assumed by Deputy Headmistress and Gryffindor Head of House Professor McGonagall, presiding over daily operations.
This notice had been copied to the British Ministry of Magic, which raised no objections to this matter.
Thus, Headmaster Dumbledore temporarily left Hogwarts.
This incident immediately caused an uproar.
Although Dumbledore as headmaster didn't appear much at school normally, only showing up during major events.
Including previously, when he had left the school for a long time, the entire student body hadn't felt much impact.
Classes continued, songs were still sung, horses still ran, dances went on.
Even under the rooster's protection, students had gradually forgotten about the Chamber and the Basilisk.
But when Dumbledore's impeachment by twelve board members and temporary dismissal was announced in formal notice form, the situation immediately changed.
Only then did students realize how important that usually ignored, smiling white-bearded old man was.
Although the wise and capable Deputy Headmistress McGonagall presided over affairs, keeping school operations completely normal without any disruption from Dumbledore's departure.
But only now did the young wizards realize that no one could replace Dumbledore's position.
Fear spread in an unprecedented form.
Warm sunlight could only shine through windows into the castle, but couldn't illuminate people's hearts.
Every face in the school appeared anxious and uneasy, every laugh in the corridors sounded harsh and strange, and was often quickly suppressed after starting.
Of course, there were exceptions.
Besides Sherlock and a few others who knew the inside story, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor Gilderoy Lockhart appeared extraordinarily calm.
"Everyone, there's no need for this!
Although Albus's departure is regrettable, as long as I—Order of Merlin, Third Class recipient, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, five-time winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile Award, Gilderoy Lockhart remain at the school, the real culprit won't dare act up.
Before long, I'll write a book about the Basilisk, teaching everyone how to deal with it.
I've already thought of the title. 'Hogwarts Chamber Secrets Revealed. How Lockhart Broke the Basilisk's Deadly Curse.'
So everyone can rest assured, during this time, I'll be the one protecting everyone!"
Lockhart's Valentine's Day performance had made all the teachers detest him even more.
Regarding his boastful remarks, all staff couldn't be bothered to respond.
As long as you're not talking to me, say whatever you want!
But students were different.
After all, Lockhart had demonstrated his abilities this year, so quite a few people believed his claims.
Especially the young witches. They found Lockhart handsome.
In a second-year Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Lockhart once again used Neville to demonstrate the Basilisk he had supposedly killed, then made a special preview for the next class's content.
He was going to bring a spirit-class magical creature to the classroom.
That would be a Boggart.
Even in the entire wizarding world, this was a very magical creature.
No one knew a Boggart's true form, because whenever this thing appeared, it would always transform into whatever the person seeing it feared most.
Due to this magical characteristic, everyone was full of interest in Lockhart's next class.
When class ended, Lockhart suddenly called out to Harry.
"Harry, I hear your next match is against Hufflepuff?"
"Yes, Professor."
"Do you need me to give you private tutoring again?"
"No need, Professor, really no need!"
Harry was startled and quickly said. "Your teachings last time benefited me greatly—they're enough for me to perform well in this match."
In his urgency, Harry exceeded his normal abilities, even saying things that made Lockhart laugh heartily.
"Haha, you little rascal, you're getting better at talking!
But no matter, whenever you change your mind, you can always come find me."
Watching Lockhart leave gracefully, Harry thought this matter was over.
Little did he expect that in just half a day, a rumor spread throughout the school.
Before the last match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, Professor Lockhart had given private tutoring to Gryffindor Seeker Harry.
With his help, Harry performed brilliantly and quickly caught the Golden Snitch.
Because Lockhart's instruction was so hardcore, it was enough to benefit Harry for life, so this time Harry didn't seek out Lockhart again.
Meanwhile, Lockhart made another announcement that his book about Quidditch would soon be completed.
By this summer, "Dancing with Brooms. Lockhart's Flying Legend and Exclusive Ball Control Techniques" would be published together with "Hogwarts Chamber Secrets Revealed. How Lockhart Broke the Basilisk's Deadly Curse."
All Hogwarts students could get his personally signed works at half price.
Harry's expression regarding this was. =_=
Sherlock was absolutely right—perhaps it was precisely this kind of persistence that kept Lockhart from being completely controlled by Voldemort's dark magical objects.
If Lockhart was merely unpopular among teachers, another person was quite the opposite.
He was particularly hateful among students.
Draco Malfoy.
Since Dumbledore's departure, he had become arrogant.
Head held high, strutting proudly, looking smug—these phrases weren't even enough to describe his demeanor and posture.
"I really don't understand why he's so pleased," Harry said with confusion, "as if he's already become a prefect."
"No, it's more exaggerated than that," Ron said with disgust. "I bet people who don't know would think he'd been elected Head Boy."
"First, he believes that as a pure-blood wizard, he won't be attacked by Slytherin's heir.
Second, he believes Dumbledore's departure from school was due to his father's great efforts.
Finally, he's stupid enough to actually believe in blood purity theory—in this regard, he's not even as good as his father."
Hearing Sherlock's words, Harry and Ron nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, no one else knew that Dumbledore had deliberately left the school, just like last term.
The main thing was that Dumbledore had made much more of a scene this time than last.
Twelve board members signing jointly, plus Ministry of Magic backing.
Even they, who knew the inside story in advance, had momentarily thought Dumbledore had gone too far and was truly expelled.
Fortunately, Sherlock's expression hadn't changed from beginning to end, which put their minds at ease.
However, in one Potions class, their disgust for Malfoy reached its peak.
"I always knew Father would drive Dumbledore away."
When Malfoy was bragging to his cronies Crabbe and Goyle, he didn't lower his voice. Or rather, he was doing this deliberately.
"He believes Dumbledore was the worst headmaster the school has ever had.
But now it's good—we'll probably get a decent headmaster, one who won't want the Chamber closed.
Don't worry, McGonagall won't last long either. She's just a temporary replacement..."
Harry, Hermione, and Ron looked at Malfoy as if he were a clown.
As for Sherlock, he didn't even glance at Malfoy.
The day before the board notice was posted, he had already received a letter from Dumbledore delivered by Watson.
Now all preparations were complete. They just needed to wait for Harry to finish this battle, and this matter could be resolved.
But even without looking at Malfoy, Malfoy's voice still reached his ears.
"Sir!"
When Professor Snape passed by Malfoy, Malfoy seized the opportunity to say loudly, "Sir, why don't you apply for the headmaster position?"
"Oh, Draco."
Snape paused slightly, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Professor Dumbledore has only been temporarily suspended by the board. I'm sure he'll return to us soon."
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right."
Malfoy said with a silly grin, "But sir, if you applied for the position, I think Father would vote for you—I'll tell Father you're the best teacher here, sir..."
What followed was a bunch of flattering words, saying things like Snape was already the youngest Head of House in history, and the next step would be becoming the youngest headmaster ever.
Snape also seemed encouraged by Malfoy's words, striding around the dungeon classroom with his head held high and a pleased smile on his face.
Watching this scene, Sherlock couldn't help but shake his head secretly.
How to put it? This joy expressed from within didn't even seem fake.
It could only be said that Severus Snape was indeed talented for undercover work.
However, while Sherlock could see this, others couldn't.
Seeing Snape like this, Seamus immediately made a vomiting gesture toward his cauldron.
His friend Dean was startled and quickly shifted to block him, preventing his actions from being seen by Snape and the Slytherin students.
"I'm quite surprised that the Mudbloods haven't packed up and left yet."
After Snape left, Malfoy continued speaking to other Slytherins.
"I bet you five Galleons the next person to be attacked will definitely die."
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