Chapter 125: The Sin of Erasing Memories (Patreon)

“Enzo, I need to warn you. We’re dealing with a Basilisk,” Harry said. “The moment you meet its gaze, you’ll die.”

“Eye magic? Understood.”

“Eye magic?” Ron asked in confusion.

“Magic related to the eyes. Petrification, charm spells, burning, Eagle Sight, and so on all fall into this category.

“Looking directly into a Basilisk’s eyes and dying may sound absolute, but it depends on the circumstances.”

Vader spoke calmly.

“If Dean Griffin were here, perhaps he could ignore the Basilisk’s gaze entirely.”

“What about you?”

Lockhart asked nervously. He knew very well that Enzo was a powerful wizard, and their survival now depended on him.

“I don’t possess Dean Griffin’s overwhelming magical power. If I looked directly into the Basilisk’s eyes, I might not die, but my physical state would become fixed.”

“In other words, I’d be Petrified.”

“What?”

Lockhart felt as though he had just taken a Bludger to the knees and nearly collapsed.

“However, before I left, Dean Griffin gave me a bag.”

“He told me it contained a secret weapon. If I encountered a problem I couldn’t solve, I could open it.”

Whoosh!

Lockhart immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and his courage returned.

Without making it obvious, he glanced at Harry and Ron.

If he got the chance, he would erase both their memories. That was the only way to prevent himself from being completely ruined.

“By the way, there’s something I’m rather curious about.”

Vader smiled playfully.

“Lockhart is the teacher, while you two are students. Normally, the teacher should be protecting the students, but…”

“You two have been forcing him forward the entire time, as if you’re afraid he’ll run away.”

“That’s because he’s a fraud.”

Ron spoke disdainfully before briefly explaining everything Lockhart had done.

“Memory erasure?”

Vader pretended to be surprised.

“I really didn’t expect you to be capable of something so vicious.”

“Vicious…?”

“Erasing someone’s memories is a greater sin than killing them. Dean Griffin once told me that death has never been the end of life.”

“Forgetfulness is.”

Lockhart blinked blankly.

“Yes, exactly! You’re absolutely right. The Ministry of Magic even has a department specifically responsible for erasing memories. I think you could…”

“I don’t think so.”

Vader gave him a contemptuous look.

“Do I look like someone who can be fooled so easily?”

“No, of course not.”

Lockhart gave an awkward chuckle, a flash of hatred briefly appearing in his eyes.

“Harry, over there…”

Ron tremblingly pointed ahead.

A gigantic creature lay motionless in the tunnel.

“Shh! Maybe it’s asleep.”

“No. I can’t sense any breathing.”

“That’s a dead creature.”

Vader gently waved his staff.

A ball of light flew above the enormous creature.

Under its illumination, they saw a freshly shed snakeskin more than twenty feet long. Its green scales were remarkably vivid.

“This Basilisk must have lived for at least a hundred years. And it was raised using some special method. Otherwise, it couldn’t possibly have grown this large.”

Lockhart stared at the snakeskin, a sly glint flashing through his eyes.

Then he promptly collapsed to the ground.

“That man certainly has quite the nerve.”

The moment Ron finished speaking, Lockhart sprang up and lunged at him, snatching the wand from his hand.

“This is where our adventure ends, children.”

Lockhart proudly pointed the wand at all three of them.

“But don’t worry. People will hear our story.”

“I arrived too late and failed to save the girl. When the two of you saw her torn-apart corpse, you unfortunately lost your minds.”

“And you…”

Lockhart turned toward Enzo.

“The Heir of Salazar Slytherin was defeated by Gilderoy Lockhart, and you were sent to Azkaban. I’ll make sure to preserve that cover story.”

“Idiot.”

Vader’s crimson eyes were filled with pity for the foolish man.

“I really can’t understand where you get your confidence from.”

“I’ve never failed when using Memory Charms.”

“Before you try anything, I suggest you take a good look at the wand in your hand.”

“Because even if I were a once-in-a-thousand-years magical prodigy, I wouldn’t have the confidence to cast a spell with a broken wand.”

“What? What are you talking abou—”

Lockhart suddenly noticed the thick layers of tape wrapped around the wand.

The skin on his face twitched.

“What kind of joke is this?”

“Sorry, Professor Lockhart.”

“My wand was broken by the Whomping Willow on the very first day of term. I haven’t successfully cast a single spell with it.”

“Sometimes, my spells even backfire.”

Lockhart’s expression changed rapidly.

From green to purple, then black.

Finally, it settled into his trademark smile.

There was no way he was going to take that risk.

If the spell backfired, he knew better than anyone what the consequences of losing his memories would be.

He stepped forward, patted Ron on the shoulder, and returned the wand to him.

“That was just a joke. I was trying to ease the tension.”

Ron gave a cold laugh, clenched his fist, and punched Lockhart squarely in the face.

A trickle of blood appeared at the corner of Lockhart’s mouth.

Yet he simply smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

“I completely understand how you feel, Weasley.”

“If throwing that punch helps you vent your emotions, then I couldn’t be happier.”

Damn it!

Ron felt as though his full-strength punch had landed on a pillow.

This man’s shamelessness had reached an entirely new level. It was practically impossible to hurt him.

“You really know when to bend and when to stand your ground.”

Vader looked at him with newfound admiration.

“I’m starting to appreciate you.”

The four continued forward.

They stepped over the enormous snakeskin and passed through one winding section of the tunnel after another until they finally reached the end.

A solid stone wall blocked their path.

Two intertwined serpents were carved into its surface, their eyes set with shining green gemstones.

“This is Salazar Slytherin’s Chamber of Secrets.”

Ron took a deep breath.

“Ginny is inside.”

“I think I know how to open it.”

Harry stepped forward and spoke Parseltongue toward the stone wall.

Hiss!

The two intertwined serpents separated.

The stone wall split down the middle and slowly slid apart, revealing the passage beyond.

“Wait, wait! How about this? I’ll wait outside.”

Lockhart clung to a final shred of hope.

“I won’t be able to help much anyway. I’d only get in the way.”

“You first.”

Ron pointed his wand at him.

“Why does it have to be me again?”

“Obviously. If not you, then who? Me?”

“Harry, you know I…”

“Go. Stop wasting time.”

Lockhart turned his head and looked pitifully toward Vader.

“Mr. Enzo, you have a secret weapon, don’t you? Could you lend it to me for protection?”

“My kindness is not meant for frauds.”

“Especially not heinous frauds.”

Lockhart desperately forced out a bitter smile.

His legs trembling, he slowly walked inside.

Beyond the entrance was a dimly lit grand hall.

Numerous stone pillars carved with enormous serpents supported the ceiling. On either side stood rows of statues depicting giant snakes with their mouths wide open.

At the very front stood a colossal statue that nearly reached the ceiling.

Its aged, monkey-like face and sparse, long beard that nearly reached the hem of its wizard’s robes made its identity unmistakable.

It was Salazar Slytherin.