"Shut up!" Tonks put her hands on her hips and glared at Lockhart. "We received a joint report from several Hogwarts professors before coming here to bring you in for questioning."
"Ahem." Kingsley's mouth twitched. He quickly interrupted Tonks. He looked at Lockhart, surrounded in the middle, and adopted an official tone. "Apologies, Professor Lockhart. We did indeed receive a report and need to ask you to come to the Auror Office to clarify some matters."
"However, rest assured. If you truly haven't done the things mentioned in the report, we will immediately release you and provide compensation for your time."
After speaking, Kingsley shot Tonks a sharp look.
Moody's student is far too reckless. With so many students in the Great Hall, how could she say something like "bring you in for questioning" at a time like this?
That's the truth, sure, but we should use more diplomatic, official language to avoid rumors that the Auror Office manipulates justice and arrests people arbitrarily.
Lockhart heard the dark-skinned Auror's official tone. His face showed no expression, but his heart sank into complete panic.
He had no idea what had happened. When performing that so-called ritual yesterday, he'd lost consciousness. Upon waking, he found these Ministry Aurors staring at him.
But from those Aurors' expressions, he could tell that last night he must have done something terrible and been caught in the act.
Last night's experience also confirmed one thing for him.
That diary could indeed temporarily control his body. His frequent, inexplicable fainting spells this past month were probably due to that diary manipulating his mind.
But what exactly did that damned diary do with my body!
Furious inside, Lockhart forced himself to remain calm. He raised his head and spoke righteously. "I believe there must be some misunderstanding. I must clarify one thing first. Last night, I lost consciousness on my way to the bathroom and don't know what happened. It's very possible someone knocked me out, then used Polyjuice Potion to impersonate me and do certain things."
Lockhart spoke more fluently and confidently, but before he could finish, Kingsley interrupted him.
"No, we're not taking you back to the Ministry for investigation because of last night's events." Kingsley first gave Lockhart a strange look, then pulled a document from his pocket and read from the text. "I hereby report that Hogwarts Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Gilderoy Lockhart, has repeatedly used Memory Charms on unsuspecting wizards and stolen their experiences and achievements to create books for profit. Victims include Julian Fiss, Ginnia Bennett—"
Name after name came from Kingsley's mouth. With each one, Lockhart's expression paled another shade.
He clearly knew what those names represented.
And being able to find these names meant only one thing.
I'm finished.
Kingsley continued reading the names on the letter in his steady voice. As his voice carried through the hall, the expressions of young wizards eating an early breakfast also began to change.
"Using Memory Charms to steal other wizards' experiences and achievements?"
"No wonder his books and actual performance were worlds apart. Turns out all those experiences were stolen!"
"My mum bought so many of his books, and my school textbooks came directly from her collection—"
The young wizards began whispering, their voices growing louder. Even some young wizards who had once admired Lockhart gradually showed disappointment on their faces.
After reading the names, Kingsley also presented some evidence. Although that evidence hadn't been verified yet, from Lockhart's increasingly pale expression, they could tell those things were all true.
Lockhart slowly clenched his fists. He looked at the document in Kingsley's hands in disbelief, wishing he could rush forward and tear it to shreds.
"How could you possibly know these things? You couldn't possibly know these things!" Gradually, his expression became frenzied. His hands waved wildly. He lunged forward, breaking free from the young Auror holding his arm, and fell to the ground. He began crawling toward the Great Hall entrance on his hands and knees.
If my deeds truly come to light, I'll definitely be locked in Azkaban with no chance of ever getting out.
Azkaban. If thrown there, I absolutely can't survive!
I have to leave this place. Only by leaving here is there any chance of survival!
The Order of Merlin medal on his chest was stained with dirt. Those gorgeous robes were covered in dust, but Lockhart paid no attention. He struggled to his feet and ran toward the door.
Kingsley's gaze sharpened. He waved his hand. The two young Aurors beside him nodded and drew their wands to move forward, while Tonks was clearly stunned for a moment before following along.
"Don't come closer! Don't come closer!" Lockhart heard the pursuing sounds behind him. He frantically turned back, pointing his wand at the nearest Auror and shouting loudly. "Oblivia—"
But before he could finish the spell, red light flew from the distance, knocking his wand away.
Then two young Aurors split left and right, lunging at his body and firmly pressing him to the ground.
Kingsley looked at the restrained Lockhart and lowered his wand. His expression became somewhat strange.
Being this incompetent, what gave him the courage to think he could escape so many Aurors?
Earlier, he'd thought this would be troublesome. If Lockhart refused to confess, he'd have to lead people out to find evidence piece by piece. During the evidence-gathering process, Professor Lockhart might even mobilize connections to try to interfere with their actions.
But seeing him panic, try to escape, and even attack the Aurors made everything afterward much easier.
Kingsley nodded to his two subordinates. He looked around, confirming the surrounding young wizards had all witnessed this scene, then spoke coldly. "Gilderoy Lockhart is formally arrested by the Auror Office for assaulting Aurors."
"Take him away!"
"Yes, sir!"
The two young Aurors responded. Each grabbed one of Lockhart's shoulders and headed toward the door.
Tonks, who'd been half a beat slow, was clearly somewhat disappointed. She waved at Professor Kahn at the staff table in the distance, then followed behind Kingsley as they left the Great Hall together.
Cheers erupted from the surrounding young wizards. After all, over these past months, the young wizards had been full of complaints about this professor who taught nothing useful.
Evans watched this spectacle and smirked, feeling somewhat regretful.
The greasy bat seems to have quite a grudge against Lockhart, too. Missing this show is truly his loss.
He shook his head. He quickly finished the remaining food on his plate, then transformed into a silver-white arc of light and vanished.
Today, he still had to study Horcruxes with Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel. He definitely didn't plan to miss that.