Sherlock, hearing Dumbledore's words, immediately asked. "How is Professor Lockhart?"
"I didn't expect you'd ask about this first?" Dumbledore looked at Sherlock with some surprise.
"Life comes first."
Sherlock said seriously, "According to what you said earlier, Lockhart unauthorized erasure of others' memories should be punished, but the crime doesn't warrant death."
Harry nodded in agreement, Hermione looked at Sherlock joyfully, and Ron looked indifferent.
Dumbledore looked deeply at Sherlock and said with some emotion.
"Gilderoy's life is not in danger—"
Hearing this, Hermione breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's just that his soul was occupied by Tom for too long, so he'll be unconscious for a long time before he can wake up."
Dumbledore continued, his voice carrying a hint of regret.
Hermione became nervous again, and Sherlock followed up. "How long?"
"About a year or two."
"The impact is that severe?" A flash of surprise crossed Sherlock's eyes, and he fell into thought.
"Actually, Gilderoy is fortunate."
Dumbledore explained patiently. "Our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was indeed controlled by Voldemort, but in some ways, he always persisted in being himself.
It was precisely because of this persistence that Tom was never able to completely control him."
"Sir, when you say persisting in being himself, you don't mean his role-playing in Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, do you?"
"Although it sounds incredible, that is indeed the case."
Dumbledore's eyes held a hint of amusement, "Speaking of which, if Gilderoy had chosen to give up early, you would indeed have been able to learn more in class.
However, in that case, Tom's complete control over him would have been earlier and more thorough, and the frequency of attacks at school would have been higher than before, even resulting in death cases like fifty years ago."
"So, we should thank him?"
"Objectively speaking, indeed."
"..."
After a brief silence, Dumbledore laughed again.
Clearly, after successfully resolving the Chamber incident, his mood had improved considerably.
"Actually, this might not be a bad thing for Gilderoy. Since there's no danger to his life, let him rest well for a few years.
When he fully awakens, he's bound to have a completely new understanding of his life.
However, this means we'll need a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next term."
"Any prospects?"
"Not yet."
"However... this might be an opportunity."
"What opportunity?"
"That curse—in a sense, Voldemort did indeed serve as Hogwarts' Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this term."
"Sir, do you mean... You-Know-Who's curse has been broken?"
Hermione, who had been listening to the conversation between Sherlock and Dumbledore, couldn't help but ask in surprise.
"Could it be that next term's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor won't have to leave after just one year?"
"Hermione, this is just my speculation—let's wait and see!
But before that, the Defense Against the Dark Arts course will have to trouble Severus."
"What, Snape again?!" Ron looked unwilling.
"That's Professor Snape, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore smiled at Ron with some teasing in his eyes. "You seem to have some opinions about him?"
"No, I just..."
Ron felt that Dumbledore had seen through him and simply stopped pretending.
"Yes, sir, you know that Professor Snape has always been targeting Gryffindor and favoring Slytherin.
Just the Potions class alone has already cost us quite a few points. If we let him also teach Defense Against the Dark Arts..."
"If that's the case, you don't need to worry."
Dumbledore was amused by Ron, "Since we've gotten to this point, I might as well let you in on something. No matter how much Severus deducts, this year's House Cup champion will still be Gryffindor."
"Really?" Ron's eyes widened like copper bells, "I don't believe it!"
Harry and Hermione exchanged glances, both finding the blind spot in Dumbledore's statement.
"No matter how many points are deducted, it won't matter."
Sherlock didn't care about house points at all. He was concerned about other aspects.
"Professor Dumbledore, this is already the second time Professor Snape has substituted for Defense Against the Dark Arts.
I suggest letting him directly take the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. Among all the current teachers at Hogwarts, apart from yourself, he's the most suitable candidate."
Harry, Hermione, Ron: Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
'Do you know what you're saying?'
Compared to the three shocked youngsters, Dumbledore smiled even more happily.
"Sherlock, I'm very glad you think this way. I believe Severus would be very happy to know of your trust in him.
Severus has always wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, and his abilities indeed qualify him for the position.
Unfortunately, excellent Potions masters like Severus are too rare.
We would need to find a Potions professor no less capable than him before we could free him up to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts.
In my opinion, the difficulty of this task is no less than hiring a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor."
Dumbledore shook his head somewhat regretfully, then asked again.
"So... do you have any other questions?"
Sherlock, Harry, and Hermione all shook their heads.
"I do!"
Ron suddenly raised his hand, then said under Dumbledore's encouraging gaze.
"Sir, since Sherlock already had the sword, why did he have to stab the basilisk first before destroying the diary?"
Hearing Ron's words, Sherlock raised an eyebrow, and Harry and Hermione looked at him in surprise.
"What, did I say something wrong?"
Harry was a bit embarrassed and said nothing.
Hermione was direct. "I didn't expect you'd be the one to spot the blind spot this time."
Sherlock was even less polite, upgrading Hermione's comment. "Even a fool can have a wise thought sometimes."
"Hey—!"
Ron looked huffily at Sherlock and Hermione, who were working in tandem. These two were too much!
'Still, my buddy Harry is the best!'
Dumbledore, seeing this scene, showed envious eyes.
'Ah, to be young...'
"I think Sherlock already understands the reason, but since Mr. Weasley asked, let this old man tell you a story."
Hearing that Dumbledore was going to tell a story, everyone pricked up their ears.
Sherlock looked at Dumbledore with a meaningful gaze.
It had to be said, since he and Harry had talked with Dumbledore last time, the old gentleman had indeed become much more endearing.
"I've said more than once that Voldemort's power is unquestionable. He possesses magic that I will never have.
So even an item he made at age 16 still has powerful dark magic protection and cannot be easily destroyed."
At this point, Dumbledore's eyes became deep, as if he had fallen into distant memories.
"Like the hat that sorted you into Gryffindor, this sword is also a relic of Godric Gryffindor, hidden in Hogwarts all along.
A thousand years ago, a goblin named Ragnuk the First custom-made this weapon for Godric Gryffindor.
Goblins are the most skilled craftsmen in the magical world, and Ragnuk the First was the most skilled silversmith among goblins, thus the Goblin King.
In goblin culture, the ruler works more and has better skills than others.
This sword was Ragnuk's masterpiece, forged from pure silver, set with rubies, and enchanted. Godric Gryffindor's name is carved below the hilt.
But precisely because it was made too successfully, even Ragnuk, the creator himself, coveted it.
So, he falsely claimed that Gryffindor had stolen the sword from him and sent his servants to steal it back."
"Despicable!"
Harry, listening, put himself in Gryffindor's place and couldn't help saying this, then embarrassedly added, "Sorry, professor, I just..."
"It's alright, Harry. I think anyone would disagree with the goblins' behavior.
Facing the attackers, Gryffindor defended himself with his wand but didn't kill them. Instead, he sent them back to the bewitched king.
He warned the king that if he ever again attempted to steal the sword, Gryffindor would declare war on them.
This time, the Goblin King took the warning seriously and let Gryffindor keep the sword as lawful property, but remained resentful until death.
So even now, some goblin tribes still spread rumors of Gryffindor's theft.
If someday you encounter goblins who believe the ownership of Gryffindor's sword belongs to them rather than us, don't be surprised."
"Sir, may I ask one more question?"
Ron raised his hand again.
"Of course, Mr. Weasley. I just said I won't refuse any answers."
Encouraged by Dumbledore, Ron continued. "Why would a wizard need a sword? Shouldn't we all use wands?"
As he said this, he stole a glance at Sherlock.
"This question is often asked, and the answer is actually simple.
Before the International Statute of Secrecy was enacted, wizards and Muggles could interact freely.
In that era, people considered using wands against Muggles to be ungentlemanly behavior, though of course, such things still happened.
So, under those circumstances, wizards also needed swords to protect themselves.
Many talented wizards were also excellent duelists in the traditional sense, and Gryffindor was one of them."
At this point, Dumbledore also glanced at Sherlock.
Though he said nothing, what he wanted to convey was already clear.
Using swords was originally a Gryffindor tradition!
"Having finished the story, it's time to answer Harry's question.
Although Gryffindor's sword is powerful, it's still not enough to destroy dark magic objects made by Voldemort himself.
However, blades forged by goblins have a characteristic, while repelling dust, they can absorb things that strengthen them.
So, Sherlock stabbed the basilisk first, then the diary. Do you understand now?"
"I don't understand."
Ron said honestly.
Dumbledore: "..."
Hermione was about to speak when Dumbledore looked beside her. "Harry, what do you think?"
"Professor, I think it might be like this..."
Harry said slowly, "Basilisk venom has powerful destructive force, and this destructive force can destroy dark magic objects.
Gryffindor's sword originally shouldn't have had the ability to destroy Voldemort's diary, but because it's a weapon forged by goblins, when Sherlock used it to pierce the basilisk, it absorbed the basilisk's venom.
After absorbing the deadly poison, the sword gained the properties of basilisk venom, which enabled it to destroy Tom Riddle's diary."
Harry explained slowly while pondering the basilisk characteristics Hermione had mentioned.
He was hesitant at first, but became more fluent as he spoke. After finishing, he couldn't help looking toward Sherlock.
Compared to Dumbledore, he hoped more for Sherlock's approval.
After all, since meeting Sherlock, he had rarely thought independently.
Sherlock didn't disappoint Harry.
"Harry, you've spotted the blind spot."
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