Chapter 594: Howler Letter!!
This exaggerated headline was obviously Rita Skeeter's work. Darren knew it without even needing to guess.
Even though the reporter's name was not signed.
He had been waiting all this time for Hermione to surprise him, and in the end, this was how it happened.
Compared to Fudge's stiff, official response, the public clearly preferred a headline like this. Darren noticed that many people practically glued their eyes to the article as they read.
He lowered his gaze.
Sure enough—Rita Skeeter's familiar, sensational style leapt off the page.
Gilderoy Lockhart: Genius or Idiot?
Everyone knew that three years ago, Gilderoy Lockhart had been a wizard who drove countless witches crazy.
Handsome looks, outstanding "talent," dazzling white teeth—he had it all.
Until Hogwarts.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts had always been the most cursed teaching position.
Gilderoy Lockhart did not escape this fate. He was reduced to a pitiful state, barely able to move, only his eyes still functioning.
Because of sympathy, over the past two or three years, countless Lockhart fans had travelled thousands of miles to visit him at St Mungo's.
And so, when they saw Lockhart's tragic condition, many of those fans laid all the blame squarely on Darren Potter.
This poor child, they claimed, was one of the students bullied at Hogwarts.
The author stated that they had interviewed many Hogwarts students, all of whom described how miserable Darren Potter's life had been.
A miserable childhood.
A tragic comparison with his brother.
No halo, no glory like Harry Potter's.
He stayed at school, was kidnapped by Death Eaters who were trying to capture Harry Potter, and nearly lost his life.
Later, again because of Harry Potter, he was dragged into repeated dangers, each one a brush with death.
Such a pitiful child—yet Lockhart's fans falsely accused him of being Lockhart's murderer.
As the author wrote this, they claimed to feel chilled to the bone, hands and feet icy even in the heat, sweat breaking out all over.
What kind of hatred could drive people to frame a student like this?
However, in order to present the truth faithfully, the author still went to St Mungo's to interview Miss Laurie Law, Lockhart's attending healer.
Miss Laurie Law, described as a very upright and righteous healer, provided the author with a Pensieve memory she had picked up outside.
"This is a memory vial I picked up," she said.
"I thought it was just an ordinary Pensieve vial, maybe someone had dropped it by accident. I never expected it to be Lockhart's incriminating evidence."
"Yes, incriminating evidence. I can only call it that. I truly don't know what kind of scoundrel could do something like this."
"I advise all Lockhart fans—please be rational. Don't burden a poor student any further. He was tortured by Lockhart until he nearly lost his sanity."
"At Christmas, Darren Potter came to visit Lockhart. Two witches—both Lockhart fans—insulted him viciously."
"Darren Potter was almost driven to collapse by their insults."
According to Miss Laurie Law, this was not an exaggeration.
The author also learned from Hogwarts that Darren Potter had not been doing well this year.
Perhaps because of what happened at the end of last year's Triwizard Tournament.
Perhaps because of Harry Potter's increasingly frequent emotional outbursts this term.
The author could not be sure.
But one thing was clear—when Darren Potter visited Lockhart, he was almost insulted straight into a ward at St Mungo's.
Was this what Lockhart fans called devotion?
Were they trying to force Darren Potter to death just to cover up Lockhart's crimes?
The author obtained the memory vial from Miss Laurie Law.
To purchase a Pensieve memory vial, please contact: xxxx
Price per vial: three Galleons
Let us give this child the justice he deserves, even if it comes late.
—End of article.
Darren noticed that people had already started buying memory vials.
For a moment, he genuinely looked confused.
Wasn't this a bit too much of a patchwork?
And the memory vial had been provided by him in the first place—why wasn't he getting the money?
Could it be that Rita Skeeter had deliberately kept things vague?
Maybe he should go and see Rita Skeeter himself.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, an owl swooped down, carrying a heavy pouch of Galleons. It was so heavy that the owl flew crookedly, nearly smashing straight into Darren's head.
Fortunately, Darren caught it deftly.
There was also a letter.
An anonymous letter.
> Dear Darren,
I am a reporter from The Daily Prophet who wrote the article about Lockhart.
I was fortunate enough to hear your story and felt compelled to write it.
I will only take the basic costs. The remaining Galleons are meant to support you.
This is the profit from this morning's sales of the memory vials.
In the future, we will either send payments by owl or transfer them directly to your Gringotts account.
I believe you must have suffered greatly over the past few years.
From a friend.
Darren opened the pouch.
There were several hundred Galleons inside.
He stared at them, stunned.
The article had only been published today—and even considering the delay in reaching Hogwarts, this amount was absurd.
This was outright profiteering.
Of course, he couldn't say that.
Instead, an indignant expression spread across his face.
"Miss Laurie Law promised me she wouldn't tell anyone! So why did she turn around and give an interview to a reporter?"
"Doesn't she know how much this will affect Professor Lockhart? He'll be laughed at by everyone!"
"And now I finally understand why my memory vial went missing—it was picked up by her!"
"But even so, she had no right to hand it over to the press!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Darren spoke with righteous anger.
He immediately pulled out his stationery and began writing a Howler to Miss Laurie Law.
He needed everyone to believe that all of this was her doing—and that a pure, innocent little saint like him had absolutely nothing to do with it.
He even prepared a Howler for Professor Lockhart. Surely Professor Lockhart would be moved, right?
Darren pursed his lips and wrote:
You are an utterly untrustworthy woman. Professor Lockhart has already paid for his mistakes.
As the victim, I chose to let the matter rest. Why would you betray my trust after promising to keep this secret?
The tone was harsh and accusatory. The handwriting was messy, filled with anger and distress, perfectly matching the emotions of someone wronged.
This earned him yet another surge of Holy Father value.
"Hermione, brother, Ron—tell me, how can there be someone so excessive in this world?"
"I made her swear she wouldn't tell anyone! My poor Professor Lockhart!"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]