"Oh my goodness! Professor Lockhart is truly too careless! Professor Snape, please lend a hand!"
Grindelwald hurried down from the stage and, together with Snape, helped the unconscious Lockhart up.
"We need to wake him up."
"That's simple, I have some—huh?"
Just as Snape pulled a Potion from his pocket, he saw Grindelwald slap Lockhart twice.
This… is this right? Do you two have a grudge?
As expected of the person who taught Neville Longbottom how to use a mace; he could even feel the wind from the slap just now.
Grindelwald ignored Snape's shocked gaze. His two full-force slaps had an immediate effect.
Although Lockhart didn't wake up, his entire face quickly swelled up, like a risen bun.
"It seems my method isn't working. I'll have to try your Potion, but—"
Grindelwald smiled at Snape, "Do you have one with a more unique taste? I feel like ordinary Potions might not be effective."
"Of course!"
Snape understood, pulling out a small bottle of brown Potion and pouring it into the green Potion he had taken out earlier. A bubbling, foul-smelling Potion of an indiscernible color appeared.
"As expected of a Potion Master! Professor Lockhart is truly fortunate!"
"Professor Green, you flatter me!"
Snape gave a sinister smile, then pried open Lockhart's mouth and poured the Potion directly in.
"Ugh!"
Not long after, Lockhart retched and woke up, his face filled with terror.
What is that taste? Did I eat… that?
And… why is my face so swollen?
"Professor Lockhart, Professor Snape and I are relieved to see you're alright."
Grindelwald and Snape helped Lockhart back onto the stage, then began to reprimand Karl.
"Mr. Orolin! I asked you to demonstrate a Wizard duel! How could you use your fists and feet?"
Karl lowered his head and admitted his mistake, "I'm sorry, Professor Green, I got a bit excited and forgot."
"Alright then, you and Professor Lockhart will duel again. This time, you must use your wands."
"Understood! Please rest assured!"
Lockhart: (T_T)
Again? I see it now! You just want me dead!
He almost punched me to death just now—huh? I'm still alive?
No! Must run!
Realizing what was happening, Lockhart struggled to break free from Grindelwald and Snape. Just as he was about to turn and run, he suddenly collapsed onto the ground.
Grindelwald, Snape: (・_・)
Lockhart: (°w°")
My lower body is numb? What's going on?
Only then did he remember being punched in the chest by Karl, but why hadn't he felt any pain?
Snape, whose Potion effect was likely wearing off, silently counted one, two, three in his mind!
"Ah—!"
The intense pain made Lockhart let out a sharp scream, then his eyes rolled back, and he fell asleep.
In the instant he lost consciousness, Lockhart even felt a sense of relief, finally not having to duel anymore!
Grindelwald gave Karl a speechless look: I gave you a chance, but you don't know how to cherish it. How boring to knock him out so cleanly. Couldn't you have taught him a good lesson?
Karl scratched his head sheepishly, "Oops, I accidentally used a bit too much force."
How else could he teach him a lesson? Like the Hulk smashing Loki?
He didn't care, but he was mainly worried that Lockhart couldn't handle it. What if he just… kicked the bucket?
The young Wizards who witnessed the whole thing:
No wonder the older students said Karl Orolin was a dangerous person who should absolutely not be provoked!
Do we young Wizards really possess such terrifying strength? Is this a humanoid Dragon?
As expected of the legendary and famous Boar Knight. Fortunately, he hasn't set anything on fire yet, otherwise Professor Lockhart could have gone straight into a box.
"Everyone, there's no need to worry. Madam Pomfrey of the Hospital Wing is highly skilled and will soon heal Professor Lockhart. It won't delay your classes."
Grindelwald gestured for Snape to take Lockhart to the Hospital Wing, while also comforting the young Wizards.
Everyone: (・_・)
We weren't worried before, but now that you mention it, we're starting to worry.
Will there be risks with the healing? If so, please prioritize Professor Lockhart's health, and it would be best if the treatment lasts until next July.
After Snape dragged Lockhart away, Grindelwald also sent Karl off the stage.
"Now I will tell you what dueling is, as well as future learning content, training methods, expected goals, and so on."
"And the most important point is that I will be very strict. I hope you are mentally prepared in advance. If you want to cry, please finish crying outside. I do not wish to see anyone crying here."
The first meeting of the Dueling Club concluded successfully. Although there was a minor, negligible incident of a Professor being severely injured, unconscious, and hospitalized, overall, it was very successful.
After announcing dismissal, Karl and Grindelwald went straight to the Headmasters Office.
"Albus! Albus! I'm here!"
Karl rushed to the desk as soon as he entered, then turned the nearby chair into a small stool.
Grindelwald: (ーー;)
Why did he, who had no children, feel like he was raising a grandchild?
Oh! It turns out this little rascal is too much of a rascal! Then it's fine! It's only natural!
Karl looked at Grindelwald suspiciously, suspecting the old man was cursing him in his mind.
Dumbledore smiled and poured tea for both of them, "How was it? Did everything go smoothly?"
Grindelwald nodded, "Hmm, not bad, it's just—"
Before he could finish, Karl interjected, "It's just that Lockhart was severely injured by Snape and is still lying unconscious in the Hospital Wing."
Grindelwald: (ー_ー;)
Fine, whatever you say.
Dumbledore looked at the sincere-faced Karl, then at the speechless Grindelwald, and after a moment of contemplation, chose to believe.
"Is Lockhart alright?"
Karl shook his head with some regret, "I didn't hit him hard… Ah, bah! Snape didn't hit him hard, so there's definitely no problem."
Dumbledore, Grindelwald: (・_・;)
You don't have to be so disappointed, and we're already cooperating with you against our conscience. Can you please not spill the beans yourself?
"Cough! That's good then!"
Dumbledore coughed and changed the subject to another matter.
"I received some information about Thor Crocker from Kingsley Shacklebolt, an elite Auror from the Ministry of Magic."
Hearing this, Karl and Grindelwald immediately became serious, "Did you find any problems?"
"Unfortunately, no."
Beneath his half-moon spectacles, Dumbledore's blue eyes flashed with a strange light.
"Everything about Thor Crocker is normal, from his birth to his enrollment at Hogwarts, becoming a Ravenclaw. I even taught him once."
"After graduation, Crocker successfully joined the Ministry of Magic due to his decent research abilities, eventually becoming an Unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries."
"If it weren't for the information you got from Lockhart, I wouldn't even have suspected him."
Karl and Grindelwald looked at each other, finding each other's eyes to be incredibly clear.
Sure enough, when there are big shots around, everyone chooses to be lazy and rely on them.
"So what do you think?" x 2
"I believe the problem is not with the Ministry of Magic, but with the Department of Mysteries."
Dumbledore looked helplessly at the two, who were waiting for him to elaborate, and had no choice but to continue answering their questions.
"The Ministry of Magic is a very complex organization. If the other party had enough power to infiltrate the Ministry of Magic, there would be no need for the extra step of having Crocker threaten Lockhart to gather information."
"And Crocker didn't even disguise himself, which is more like fishing. Perhaps the other party doesn't care if Lockhart succeeds, or even hopes that we get this information."
"The Department of Mysteries is a highly confidential department that can almost be considered independent of the Ministry of Magic. Too many terrifying things are hidden within it."
Recalling the various halls in the Department of Mysteries from the original novel, Karl couldn't help but frown.
Whether it was the living brains in the tanks of the Brain Room or the eerie veil on the archway in the Death Chamber, they were all full of unknown dangers.
"You mean the other party wants to lure us to the Department of Mysteries? So what should we do?"
"Respond to all changes by remaining unchanged! Let them come!"
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