"Wayne, have you discovered some clues?"
Cedric, who'd been listening bored until now, perked up and spoke first.
Wayne shook his head. "Just some thoughts to share."
"Well, let's hear them," Cedric encouraged, undeterred.
"First, we must establish that the Heir of Slytherin is a single human."
The group stared at him blankly.
Truly, listening to these words was like... listening to words.
"Not human? Then is it a House-elf?" Wotley said helplessly. Was Wayne just teasing them out of boredom today?
Thwack!
Senior Grace gave Wotley's head an exasperated slap. "Shut up and let Wayne finish."
Wotley obediently closed his mouth, and the other students fell silent too.
If Wayne was the most respected figure in the entire academy, then Grace was someone all Hufflepuff boys feared and all girls worshipped.
Anyone who displeased her might find themselves forcibly cross-dressed someday.
And if she really wanted to escalate things with just one public remark, they'd basically lose all dating prospects within their house.
Wayne waited for silence before continuing: "If it's one person, why start attacking this year rather than earlier or later?"
The little badgers began thinking along Wayne's lines.
"You mean... that person just became the heir?" Grace studied the young man.
"Yes, that's one possibility," Wayne nodded. "Another possibility... is that this person only arrived at school this year."
Whoosh!
Many eyes lit up with realisation.
Wayne's words opened several avenues of thought.
If the first scenario were true, they'd need to identify someone whose behaviour had drastically changed. If the second... the most suspicious would be among the new students.
This narrowed the scope to one-seventh of the population.
The first-years present who hadn't yet caught on suddenly felt chills down their spines.
Looking up, they found themselves under the collective gaze of senior students.
The timid ones immediately hid behind Wayne, pleading tearfully: "Senior Wayne, we're really not the heir!"
"I don't think you are either," Wayne agreed with a nod. "Everyone knows Slytherin's historical attitude towards Hufflepuff, right?"
The group fell silent—not from ignorance, but because the memory stung.
In Slytherin's eyes, Gryffindor was their undisputed arch-rival, a feud dating back to the founders.
Ravenclaw? Just clever wizards or bookworms at best.
As for Hufflepuff—complete losers, where the other houses dumped their rejects.
This prejudice wasn't unique to Slytherin; Gryffindor and Ravenclaw shared it, too.
Even with Cedric topping the year for three consecutive years (soon to be four), many still dismissed him.
Only after Wayne's emergence did this change—though resentment and curses persisted, they stayed strictly behind closed doors.
Get caught, and a swarm of badgers would come 'chat'.
If they couldn't resolve it, Wayne would step in.
Consequently, the badgers lately walked with newfound confidence, their presence more noticeable schoolwide.
"I trust you all. Don't make baseless accusations—find evidence first, then report to the professors," Wayne cautioned.
Everyone nodded earnestly, absorbing his words.
Upper-years began questioning the first-years about students from other houses, while Wayne slipped away unnoticed.
Just as he planned to return to his dorm, a sudden obstruction cornered him.
"Senior, is there something you need?" Wayne said helplessly.
He genuinely didn't want to be alone with this senior. Typically, he was the one teasing little girls, but with Grace, the roles were reversed.
"Wayne, are you up to no good again?" Grace remained smiling. "You showed no interest in the Chamber of Secrets before, yet today you suddenly have so much to say."
"Who's caught your eye this time?"
'Are you a mind-reader?'
Wayne grumbled inwardly but didn't beat around the bush. He spoke bluntly: "Professor Lockhart nearly made me look foolish on Valentine's Day. I want to return the favour."
"Lockhart?" The senior with wavy hair looked at the boy in surprise, her wine-red locks swaying slightly.
"I thought you were targeting a student. I didn't expect it to be him."
Playing with her long hair, the senior seemed to have an epiphany.
"But you are a repeat offender. Last year, you bullied Quirrell so badly he almost got fired."
"Don't spout nonsense." Wayne blinked. "I was fighting for everyone's rights. I risked expulsion to file that complaint."
"Fine, fine." Grace didn't expose him further.
Instead, she placed a hand on Wayne's shoulder and leaned close to his ear. "Count me in. I can't stand Lockhart either—he caused me so much trouble on Valentine's Day."
"That's because you're popular, senior." Wayne flattered her first.
With Grace's figure and looks, she was undoubtedly the prettiest seventh-year girl. Combined with her personality, she was extremely popular among both boys and girls.
It was normal for so many to write her love letters.
"Let's wait a couple of days. Once the topic gains traction, you can steer it towards Lockhart." After a moment's thought, Wayne assigned Grace her task.
"No problem. I'll handle it so well no one will notice."
Satisfied with the answer, the senior swayed away.
...
That night's conversation spread quickly. Like the badgers, students from other houses also had a sudden realisation and began targeting students with unusual behaviour—especially first-years.
The poor first-years had to endure interrogations from older students every time they returned to their common rooms.
Those who travelled in groups fared better, as they could vouch for each other. But those who preferred going out alone had it rough.
They had to rack their brains to prove their innocence every time.
On the last day of the week, after breakfast, Wayne gathered the first-year badgers into a line and led them towards the Charms classroom.
This should have been the Prefect's duty, but the fifth-year Prefect had recently caught a cold, forcing Wayne to take over temporarily.
The professors didn't object. In their eyes, Wayne escorting the young wizards was far safer than leaving it to the Prefects.
The young wizards followed Wayne to the third-floor classroom door.
Since it was still early, Wayne planned to leave immediately.
But the conversation inside made him pause.
...
"Lovegood, are you the heir of the Chamber of Secrets?"
"I'm not."
"Impossible. You have no friends and always disappear alone."
"You're always saying things no one understands—maybe you're communicating with the monster in the Chamber."
"I was just asking the Nargles if they'd seen a Crumple-Horned Snorkack."
"What Nargles? What Crumple-Horned Snorkack?" A freckled blonde girl laughed exaggeratedly: "Are you talking nonsense? Those two magical creatures don't exist in this world."
"Even if you're making excuses, at least come up with something believable?"
"You're becoming more suspicious by the minute, Lovegood!"
Luna wanted to argue back, but a calm voice came from the doorway: "You there. Do you have any evidence for what you just said?"
"Who the—mind your own..." The blonde, freckled girl turned her head impatiently, but the rest of her words died in her throat when she saw Wayne. Her face paled, and she hastily stood up.
"S-sorry, Senior Lawrence, I didn't realise it was you."
"We'll discuss that later." Wayne waved dismissively as he entered, followed by the little badgers.
Wayne approached Luna, while the other badgers instinctively encircled the Ravenclaw girls who had been intimidating her moments earlier.
The remaining Ravenclaws in the classroom didn't dare breathe too loudly, let alone intervene.
This was typical of the Eagle House.
Too shrewd, too quick to distance themselves from anything not directly concerning them.
Even those who might have wanted to help thought twice upon seeing Wayne.
"What exactly are you all gathered here for?"
Wayne's eyelid twitched. "Return to your seats immediately. If Professor Flitwick arrives and sees this, he'll think I'm bullying his students."
Whoosh!
At Wayne's words, the badgers hastily dispersed, clearing the area.
"There's still time before class starts. Care to explain what evidence you have for those accusations just now?"
"Luna, come here. Don't stand over there."
Wayne adjusted his cuffs leisurely, beckoning to Luna.
The girl obeyed without hesitation, floating silently to stand behind him, remaining quiet as a shadow.
"Senior, Lovegood has always been suspicious," the freckled blonde persisted stubbornly, reiterating her suspicions. "She disappears alone frequently, and no one knew her whereabouts during the previous two attacks."
"Finished?" Wayne leaned casually against a desk.
"Then allow me to rebut—or as Professor Snape would say, to help develop your Troll-sized brain."
The freckled girl's face alternated between green and white, but she didn't dare speak up.
In the school's hierarchy—excluding professors—Wayne stood unquestionably at the very top, perhaps even in a league of his own.
Even first-years understood this through older students' warnings.
Challenging Wayne? The freckled girl lacked that courage entirely.
"First, regarding Crumple-Horned Snorkacks. True, their existence remains unverified—but who can definitively say they don't exist?"
Wayne looked down at the girl. "Even Newt Scamander explicitly noted in his book that the creatures he documented merely represent those currently discovered—that countless unknown mysteries still lurk in every corner of our world."
"What academic authority do you possess to make such conclusive judgments for others?"
"I—" The girl attempted to interject, but Wayne's icy glare silenced her.
"Second, Luna's whereabouts."
"Your ignorance of her location is your problem. To my knowledge, Luna often spends time with Ginny Weasley from Gryffindor."
"You're entitled to suspicions, but not to interrogations. Either produce concrete evidence for the professors, or drop it."
"Luna is my friend." Wayne glanced at the girl beside him before sweeping his gaze across the classroom. Every Ravenclaw lowered their eyes—none dared meet his stare.
"Friendship is Hufflepuff's most treasured possession. And I do so enjoy making friends."
The young man flexed his wrist. "But if I find out who's been slandering or even bullying my friend..."
"Then I can guarantee my other friends will also turn against you, right?"
"Right!"
The little badgers shouted in unison, their voices practically piercing through the ceiling.
The Ravenclaw students fell silent, many turning pale. Luna was seen as an oddball in Ravenclaw with no friends to speak of, and they were desperately trying to recall if they'd ever bullied her.
"As for you, you'd better watch your step from now on." Wayne glanced at the freckled girl who had slumped into her chair, not bothering to press further.
Class was about to start, and it wouldn't do for Professor Flitwick to witness this scene.
"Pay attention in class. If you have any problems later, go find Ginny." Wayne yielded his seat to Luna and walked out of the classroom under the admiring gazes of the badgers, only to bump into Flitwick, who'd been eavesdropping by the door.
"Professor, you're here." Wayne felt rather awkward now.
There was no telling how long Flitwick had been there or how much he'd overheard.
"It's alright, my boy." Flitwick smiled warmly, showing no sign of anger. "There are matters where professors can't intervene directly—it might even backfire. I understand you wanting to protect your friend."
Flitwick jumped up to pat Wayne's shoulder. "Off to class now. I'll have a serious chat with Ravenclaw's Prefects about handling such issues properly."
Wayne nodded. "I'll be going then, Professor."
...
Word of the Charms classroom incident spread quickly. Everyone knew Wayne had stood up for a girl that morning.
Yet no one thought he fancied Luna—it was simply a matter of principle.
Because this defied Lawrence's Law.
The so-called Lawrence's Law stated that Wayne only maintained close relationships with the prettiest girl in each year group: Grace in seventh year, Penelope in fourth, Cho in third, Hermione in second, and Astoria in first.
As for this Ravenclaw first-year, frankly, Luna hadn't blossomed yet—her frame was slight, her eyes bulged slightly like a goldfish's, showing little sign of future beauty.
Even Hermione and the others assumed Wayne had simply disliked those girls' aggressive attitude.
Well, that was partly true.
Ultimately, this was about countering Lockhart. Luna had suffered collateral damage because of him—if Wayne didn't intervene, who would?
Both Cho and Penelope promised to keep an eye on Luna within their houses to prevent any retaliation.
Ginny specially sought him out to thank him on behalf of her friend.
Others simply felt envious.
For a time, being Lawrence's friend became the highest honour in all of Hogwarts.
Who wouldn't want such a powerful, reliable ally?
Earning Lawrence's friendship meant gaining the approval of all Hufflepuff—greetings wherever you went, and badgers never hesitating to lend help when needed.
...
Meanwhile, senior Grace, following Wayne's cue, began making her move.
That weekend, she brought several friends to the library to catch up on homework, casually steering the conversation towards Lockhart.
"I wonder what illness Professor Lockhart has. We haven't seen him at school for a whole week." A female student remarked idly.
They were all seventh-years now. The teachers couldn't teach them anything substantial anymore since they'd already learned everything.
At least Lockhart was pleasant to look at, so they didn't mind him that much.
Compared to certain professors who were slovenly and hadn't washed their hair in centuries.
Lockhart was indeed quite the looker.
"He claims to be ill, but he's not in the hospital wing," Grace said, flipping through a book with feigned indifference. "You don't think he's plotting something like Quirrell did?"
"Impossible," another girl scoffed. "Last year, the school had the Philosopher's Stone. This year, there's nothing special here."
"Unless... he's after... the Chamber of Secrets?"
Her voice trailed off at the end.
The others stared at her in shock.
A newcomer to the school... the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor... missing...
When they connected these dots, they'd stumbled upon an incredible secret!