Chapter 424: Interrogation

“A top-secret location.”

Lockhart walked happily through the door.

Imagining a horde of young witches screaming, he spotted him among the crowd… Mr. Green.

Who else could it be? The greatest wizard of the future, surpassing Dumbledore, the greatest alchemist in eight hundred years…

He strode forward with his most charming smile, head held high.

But what greeted him was:

“Expelliarmus!”

Jia Jia Siting shouted.

Lockhart panicked and tried to hide behind Hermione.

Hermione, however, had anticipated this and stepped aside, closing the door behind her.

Lockhart’s wand flew from his belt; he frantically searched for it, finally spotting it in Jia Jia Siting’s hand.

It turned out Jia Jia Siting had used “Lockhart’s Wand to Me.”

“What is this? A little joke, right?”

He turned to Hermione, reverting to his usual knowing expression,

“Of course, you’ve taken advantage of my distraction to disarm me, my devoted admirers—do you really think this will make me teach you some little dueling tricks?

Ha, you’re right—I’m about to teach you now—”

Lockhart suddenly spun around, trying to snatch Hermione’s wand, but she dodged effortlessly.

“Impressive combat skills, it seems…”

Before he could finish, Jia Jia Siting shouted:

“Tarantallegra!”

Instantly, he began dancing uncontrollably.

His legs flailed wildly; his heart sank halfway.

He couldn’t understand what this was for.

What were these young wizards aiming for?

“Hey! Guys! Remember—I’m a professor!”

He said.

“Not for long.”

Hermione’s face was cold.

“What now?”

Jia Jia Siting stepped out from the corner.

“Wait a moment.”

Hermione sat on a chair; she now very much wanted to learn a petrification spell.

But that belonged to the dark arts.

Unfortunately, Lockhart had taught them nothing—not even this spell, which came from Wizard Sean’s notes.

“Alright. Quietus.”

Jia Jia Siting cast the Quietus charm, which dampened sound and effectively negated the effects of the Sonorus charm.

Lockhart seemed to finally understand; he looked around desperately, but no one came to his aid.

He no longer looked dashing or handsome.

His lips trembled; the usual bright-toothed smile was gone, leaving his chin sunken and his face gaunt and worn.

“Hey! Kids! What’s going on? Let me go now, or your situation won’t be good!

I’m an internationally renowned author, a Third-Class Member of the Order of Merlin, an Honorary Member of the Anti-Black Magic League, and I’ve won the Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award five times!”

Lockhart said, forcing calm.

“Your honors come from your books.”

Hermione said bluntly.

They waited until Lockhart grew exhausted, his resistance weakened, or he became distracted.

Then Jia Jia Siting cast the Binding Charm on his hands—this spell was too easy to dodge, so they had to be careful.

And she followed with the Corpse Float spell to control Lockhart’s movements.

She had learned this spell from the Restricted Section; it helped those unable to walk move.

In reverse, it could briefly control a wizard’s actions.

That way, they could force the Truth Potion into his mouth.

“Those were all my personal experiences, guys.”

Lockhart said.

“Books can lie, Professor—just like you.”

Jia Jia Siting said, casting another Dancing Charm.

“This is pure sensationalism!”

Lockhart danced, unable to reach the young wizards, yet performed with furious indignation.

“Dear Miss Granger, the top witch in the entire year—you can tell the difference between these two, right?”

He said insincerely, subtly glancing at Hermione’s wand.

He was dancing, yes—but with his magical skill, he shouldn’t be this defenseless.

But if these two young wizards kept watching him and casting spells, he was indeed in danger.

“We’ve visited the people you described.”

Hermione said.

“Oh? What did you find, my devoted admirers?”

Lockhart tried to distract them.

“Hey, Professor, stop your little tricks. Impedimenta!”

Jia Jia Siting suddenly said, catching him off guard and binding his hands together.

“Hermione!”

He shouted.

“Impedimenta!”

Hermione swiftly swung her wand.

Now Lockhart was tied up tightly, wriggling helplessly on the floor.

Finally, the two felt at ease.

“Hermione, come on, quick.”

Jia Jia Siting sounded excited.

After sending Lockhart away, they’d get a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.

“Corpse Float.”

Hermione nodded, forcing the Truth Potion into Lockhart’s mouth as his face froze in terrified rigidity.

“What have you done?!”

Lockhart screamed.

“Alright, Professor, tell us the truth now.

What really happened behind the stories in your bestsellers? Who actually performed these deeds?”

Jia Jia Siting asked, pulling out his recording device.

Lockhart was about to lie—but his mouth spoke the truth anyway:

“My dear children, use your common sense!

Of course it wasn’t me. But if people didn’t think I did these things, my books wouldn’t sell at all.

Readers won’t want to read about some ugly old American wizard, even if he freed a village from werewolves.

Putting his photo on the cover? That would be hideous.

He had no taste in clothing. And that witch who banished the Wraith of W Lun —she had a hairy chin!

I mean, think about it…”

“So you just took credit for everything others did?”

Hermione asked, still incredulous.

“Hermione, Hermione,”

Lockhart frantically clapped his hands over his mouth, but the words kept pouring out,

“It’s not as simple as you say. My work isn’t easy either. I had to track these people down, find out exactly how they did those things.

Then I had to cast a Memory Charm on them, so they’d forget everything completely.

If I have anything to be proud of, it’s my Memory Charm. You see, Hermione, Jia Jia Siting—I’ve worked hard too.

You think it’s just signing books and posing for photos? If you want fame, you must be ready for long, grueling effort.”

When he finished, his face turned completely ashen.

“New professor coming?”

Jia Jia Siting picked up his recording device and smiled.

"Hmm."

Hermione lifted her chin.

"Where's Wizard Sean?"

She asked.

Both turned to look at the left corner, but Wizard Sean was not there.

This made them both grim, more uneasy than when facing Lockhart.

"Well done, everyone."

Wizard Sean's voice drifted in as he stepped through a doorway; behind him stood Dumbledore, watching with amusement.