At some point, Harry, Ron, and Hermione also arrived. Hermione was still wearing the huge mask and knitted hat, but her eyes had returned to brown.

This meant that she had become more proficient in light transfiguration - of course, it could also be the effect of Madam Pomfrey's potion.

Ron pulled Harry and Hermione, and they hid behind a pillar. He poked his head and said, "Cornelly Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, and Rita Skeeter! What day is today? Three annoying guys are here at the same time!"

Harry asked, "Who is Cornelius Fudge?"

"He's the Minister of Magic and my dad's boss. But he's a big shot and looks down on my father's work. You know, dealing with Muggle items and stuff like that, it's never taken seriously..." Ron muttered.

Hermione's eyes were fixed on the woman Rita Skeeter, and she looked at her back carefully.

"That woman is Rita Skeeter? She looks like she has pretty bad taste." Hermione complained about her outfit.

"I agree with you. If you ask me, Lockhart is better than her in this regard. It's not like she has no money... Oh, Merlin!" Ron suddenly wailed.

"What's wrong?"

"There, look over there," Ron pointed in another direction, "Lockhart is here too, four annoying guys gathered together!"

Sure enough, Harry looked up and saw Gilderoy Lockhart wearing a gorgeous robe, with a charming smile on his face, walking past the little wizard and facing Fudge and Lucius.

"He's like a peacock with its tail spread." Ron's expression was very resistant - he would report to Lockhart's office tonight.

Lockhart saluted gracefully with a bright smile, "Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy, it's an honor to meet you."

Fudge was stunned for a moment, then stretched out his hands with a smile on his face, "Hello, Mr. Lockhart, I have read all your books, and I must admit that I have gained a lot..."

Lockhart said modestly, "I just did what I should do, Minister. I can't just turn a blind eye to the poor people who are in trouble."

Fudge had an emotional expression, "There are not many adventurers like you who are responsible."

Lockhart wanted to say something else, but Dumbledore stood up and said with a smile, "Fudge, let's take a look at the monster in the chamber of secrets first." He waved his wand, and the invisible protective barrier around the basilisk disappeared.

"Oh, Dumbledore, yes, that's right." Fudge pinched the top hat in his hand with his fingers. He turned around and ordered the tall, dark-skinned man next to him: "Kingsley, go check it out."

The man named Kingsley stepped over the railing and walked to the basilisk. He wore a pair of dragon leather gloves and carefully examined the remains of the basilisk.

Felix did not go forward. He saw a familiar figure, the Ravenclaw witch named Luna.

He walked over and stood beside her, "Luna."

"I like your gift very much, Professor Hep." Her eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter's jeweled glasses, and she said in a singing voice: "I think her memory is not very good."

"Why do you say that?"

"She regretted forgetting something important at home." Luna said.

Felix looked at Rita Skeeter who kept directing her assistant to take pictures, and he didn't agree.

"Have you made friends with the little girl with the flaming hair?"

Luna looked at him in surprise. "We are already friends." She said thoughtfully, "I think the cock doll I gave her played a big role."

"Really!" Felix smacked his lips.

Not long after, Kingsley reported to Fudge: "Minister, it's confirmed to be a basilisk, and there is no danger anymore."

"Very good, Kingsley." Fudge was about to take a closer look at the basilisk, but before he took a step, he was stopped by Rita Skeeter's voice.

"Minister Fudge, I think we should take a photo together for tomorrow's front page." Skeeter said with a smile.

"Oh, of course no problem."

Several adults present stood in a row, and Rita Skeeter rushed over to pull Lockhart, who was occupying the center position, to the side. "This is your position!"

Lockhart stood on the edge reluctantly.

"Professor Flitwick?"

Flitwick waved his hand and stepped aside.

"Click!" With a shutter sound, the photo was frozen.

Fudge, Dumbledore, Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, and Kingsley stood together, with a huge basilisk in the background.

After completing today's task, several people stood next to the basilisk. Fudge took a few steps forward, with his belly sticking out, and carefully observed the basilisk. "This thing has been in Hogwarts for thousands of years. How did it hide itself and not be discovered?"

Professor McGonagall explained: "Through the pipes throughout Hogwarts - the school has undergone several renovations, and the internal pipes are densely packed. Few people can figure out the whole picture, and they have never been thoroughly checked."

Fudge did not speak, and discussed with Lucius beside him in a low voice.

Lockhart also came over. He looked at the basilisk, "It doesn't look difficult to deal with. I once encountered a water monster that could fill half of the lake." He tapped the fangs of the basilisk with the wand in his hand, and was about to say a witty remark, but the wand in his hand immediately made a "sizzling" sound, "Oh, God!" He swung his wand frantically.

The young wizards who were watching on the side had great foresight and quickly retreated more than ten meters, as if they were fleeing from famine.

But the Minister of Magic, who was looking down at the basilisk's head, suffered a disaster. A drop of something mixed with saliva and venom hit Fudge's face, causing him to let out a terrifying scream.

Lucius Malfoy quickly set up a magical barrier and watched the farce coldly. He maintained the magic and retreated, but just after taking two steps back, he was blocked by a ring of golden light.

Felix raised his wand at some point, "Little wizards, retreat."

Several professors were doing the same thing. The protective magic of Flitwick, McGonagall, and Dumbledore made the center of the courtyard colorful.

Hagrid stretched out his big hands like a palm leaf fan, picked up the fallen little wizards one by one, and pushed them away.

But Lucius was the closest to Fudge and Lockhart, and he was separated by layers of magic. A drop of poison mixed with saliva splashed on his armor spell, making a "sizzling" sound.

He shouted palely: "Stop, you idiot!"

Lockhart shook his wand several times before realizing what he had done. He stood in front of Fudge in a panic, trying to do something at a loss. "Oh, Minister Fudge, I'm sorry!"

But Fudge's screams became louder and louder, and his face became dark, and the range was expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore shouted, he dispelled the magic in front of him, took a few steps forward, and put his wand on Fudge's face. Layers of golden light spread from the tip of the wand, and the expanding black marks stopped.

Dumbledore took a closer look, "Further treatment is needed, Fudge, I want to send you to the school hospital."

"No, send me to St. Mungo's! My face is ruined! Gilderoy Lockhart, I'm going to put you in Azkaban#￥%&……#&……#" Fudge spewed a series of swear words.

"Oh, God." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, stared at the crazy Fudge, and resisted the urge to cast a Stunning Spell on him. Finally, the Transfiguration professor yelled at the little wizards around him: "You, all little wizards! Get out of here and go to class!"

The little wizards scattered like birds and beasts.

Rita Skeeter excitedly grabbed the camera and kept pressing the shutter like crazy. Her mouth was wide open, and her two huge gold teeth glittered in the sun.

"Look at that woman, I can even see her back teeth!" Ron, who was hiding by the pillar in the courtyard, pointed at Rita Skeeter and said, "She got big news today!"