"Lockhart went down too?!"
On the way to the Girls' Lavatory, Professor McGonagall suddenly slowed. Turned to Neville. Disbelief flashed in her eyes.
Lockhart always avoided danger. As his former teacher, she knew this too well.
Neville swallowed. Nodded, bewildered. "Yes, Professor McGonagall."
"When Professor Lockhart heard about this, he seemed really happy. Grabbed Harry and ran down."
"He also said..."
"That Tiger would definitely help him with something..."
Neville shook his head. Clearly confused by Lockhart's reaction.
"Good heavens, the man's gone mad!" Professor Sprout quickened her pace. Headache building.
As Mother Polly's closest professor, she knew Lockhart's obsession. But this superficial fool couldn't face a Basilisk.
Such reckless behavior was dragging Harry and Ron to their deaths!
Wait!!
McGonagall and Sprout's eyes met. Both thought of something. Gazes locked on Neville.
"Mr. Longbottom."
"Does Professor Lockhart know about the Basilisk?"
Neville flinched. Froze. Stammered:
"Probably... probably not..."
"Harry and Ron were afraid he wouldn't dare go. So they only said they'd found whoever hurt Hermione..."
Done for.
Professor Flitwick slapped his forehead.
How clever.
Obviously, in their panic, Harry and Ron had only managed to notify Lockhart.
Though clearly useless, he was at least an adult wizard.
Unfortunately, the boys had misjudged.
Gilderoy Lockhart did possess certain talents. As his former Head of House, Flitwick knew this clearly.
Regrettably, his talents weren't in wand-waving or spellcasting.
Just then, violent tremor spread from the lavatory. Dust fell from the ceiling.
"It's Tiger!"
Shock flashed across the professors' faces. They rushed into the lavatory.
Though they'd forbidden students from following, the Slytherin snakes quietly trailed behind.
Under Burstrode and Theodore's arrangements, the young snakes donned Protection Amulets.
Draco and the others held wands. Loaded bullets into revolvers.
They were Slytherins. Slytherins never let their leader fight alone...
The lavatory was a complete mess.
Walls torn apart. Huge gaps like monster fangs.
Floor pitted and scarred. Grooves of varying depths. Twisted metal pipes and broken porcelain intertwined.
After demolishing half the lavatory, Tiger found the passage beneath the sinks.
The metal door was pierced by Venom's claw. Torn from the ground with a roar. Broken stones scattered.
Muscular arms bulged.
Like crushing a can, the door compressed into twisted scrap iron. Casually discarded.
"Shelby, don't be rash!"
"We need to rescue people first!"
Seeing this, the professors' breath caught. Flitwick tried to calm Tiger.
They'd seen more chaotic situations.
But Venom's illogical behavior made everyone's hearts rise. Like facing a rampaging humanoid dragon. Left the professors at a loss.
"Who else is down there?"
Venom looked at everyone with displeasure. White fangs fierce and terrifying. Instinctive warning made Flitwick step back.
Goblin blood was sensitive to this suppression. He took a deep breath. "Professor Lockhart is also down there. And Ginny..."
"I'm going down first!"
Venom impatiently interrupted. Especially after hearing Lockhart's name, Tiger's anger ignited the symbiote's violence.
"You pansies just wait here. I'll rescue that son of a bitch myself."
Before the words finished, Venom leaped. Plunged into the hole. Echoes reached the lavatory. "Don't wander off, useless lot!"
The professors' faces darkened.
"Uh..."
"I think we shouldn't completely attribute Mr. Venom's behavior... to Mr. Shelby..."
Sprout tried to defend Tiger. Dusty, kindly face showed embarrassment.
Because of Mother Polly, she'd always seen Tiger as her closest junior.
"Perhaps..."
Snape's tone was ghostly.
"If I remember correctly, an Obscurus is the truest reflection of an Obscurial's magic and mind."
Hearing this, the professors' faces looked worse. Sprout glared at Snape.
"Enough."
"We'll discuss Mr. Shelby's matter later."
McGonagall drew her wand. Looked seriously at those behind her. "Right now, we should be concerned about student safety."
"Severus, go find Albus. His vacation should end. If those Board fools don't shut their mouths, I'll shut them myself!"
"What Albus won't do..."
"Doesn't mean I can't!"
Recalling this older cat lady's formidable reputation, complex emotions flashed in Snape's eyes.
He nodded lightly. Like paying tribute to past years. Turned and left.
To maintain order, the truly strong imposed strict restraints on themselves.
This restraint didn't come from external force or others' expectations. But from responsibility and duty deeply rooted in their hearts. It transcended individual desires. Rose above worldly norms.
But this restraint belonged only to themselves. They could remove it anytime.
When that happened, the table would be overturned. How many fools giving orders would remain?
"A bunch of idiots."
Snape cursed silently.
"I am Lord Voldemort..."
Seeing the rearranged letters on the ground, Harry and Ron's faces went white.
Seeing them look at him, Lockhart's eyes rolled back. Body stiffened. Fell unconscious. Like all vitality drained.
He'd thought the culprit might be a Dark wizard. Hadn't expected a Dark Lord.
Polly, don't miss me...
"Damn..."
Harry cursed.
The black-haired youth standing before them smiled meaningfully...
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