The young wizards who were eating breakfast in the hall were whispering.

Hermione borrowed a newspaper from the seat next to her, pointed to the words on it and said, "Look here, 'Lockhart tampered with the wizards' memories, obtained their stories, and used Oblivion to make them forget everything. So far, only seven victims have been found, and their memories have been permanently damaged.'"

Ron's chicken leg in his mouth was no longer fragrant, "So, I almost lost my memory forever?"

He still felt incredible. With the magic level that Lockhart usually showed, he could attack repeatedly.

Harry also said with lingering fear, "You may not even know that you have lost your memory. Who would have thought that he is a true master of Oblivion?"

"It's terrible. I actually stayed in the same office with such a person for a week." Ron took a big gulp of pumpkin juice.

"I wonder who caught Lockhart?"

"Wasn't it the Auror of the Ministry of Magic? I heard it from Dean."

"Impossible, I asked the Fat Lady, and she said that no outsiders came that day." Hermione said casually.

"How does she know?" Ron was shocked. "It's just a portrait."

"Ron, the portrait also retains its own personality. The Fat Lady is keen on opera and chatting. She often visits other portraits when no one is around." Hermione narrowed her eyes. "As long as you praise her singing a few more times, she will be happy to share some gossip with you."

"And to be fair, her songs are not bad."

...

That afternoon, in the headmaster's office, Felix and Dumbledore sat face to face, discussing the aftermath of Lockhart's arrest.

There were several plates of small cakes and cookies on the table, as well as two glasses of pumpkin juice.

"Unfortunately, the number of people harmed may exceed the initial expectation." Dumbledore said softly.

"More than his adventures?"

"Yes, he can't guarantee that every story he encounters is attractive enough."

Felix flipped through the newspapers on the table. "Why don't I see the report on Rita Skeeter?" This is not like her.

Is she afraid that her attack on Lockhart will be exposed? But memory is difficult to be used as evidence, especially when the criminal himself is a master of memory. Even if Lockhart identified Rita Skeeter in court, it would not mean much.

"She got into some trouble." Dumbledore picked up a piece of cake with a small fork. "It tastes quite good, Felix, I highly recommend it."

Felix picked up a piece and put it in his mouth. "Will she put herself in trouble? She is a smart person."

Dumbledore glanced at him. "Smart people can also make mistakes, and they are more likely to find loopholes in the rules than ordinary people, so the mistakes they make may be bigger."

"So her trouble is-" "

According to the information I got, she tried every means to find out the inside story of Lockhart's arrest, and then rushed to the Ministry of Magic to register as an Animagus on the same day."

"Animagus." Felix swallowed the cake and repeated. "Yes, Animagus, illegal Animagus..."

He finally understood why Rita Skeeter attacked Lockhart.

"I guess her transformation must be some kind of very small creature." Felix's tone was very certain.

"It's a beetle." Dumbledore said calmly, "If the facts are as we think, there is a reason why she has been so well-informed over the years. From your previous judgment, Lockhart was hit by the Oblivion Curse, but he has gotten rid of the influence of the spell, which has put her in a very embarrassing situation."

Memories can be forged, but magic will not lie. If Lockhart really testified that Rita Skeeter was an illegal Animagus, there must be many people in the Ministry of Magic who are interested in checking it out.

Rita Skeeter has acted recklessly in recent years and no one knows how many people she has offended.

"I don't think she will get her wish easily." Felix said.

After a moment of silence, Felix said, "Principal Dumbledore, there are still five months to the next school year. What should we do with the Defense Against the Dark Arts class in the school?"

Dumbledore also showed a distressed expression. He couldn't help but smacked his lips and sighed, "The professors of this course are consumed very quickly."

"So, is the Dark Lord's curse real?" "

I think so. Since I rejected Voldemort, no Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher has been able to teach for more than a year." Dumbledore said, "I think he must be very angry. He was rejected twice."

"Twice?" Felix looked at him strangely. "You rejected him twice?"

He, who had been rejected three times, was still eating cake in the principal's office.

"No, Felix." Dumbledore blinked and said easily, "Principal Dippet thought he was too young and rejected him. After that, he disappeared for ten years. When he came to apply for a job again, I could hardly recognize him. I clearly rejected him."

"Professor Snape has always been obsessed with this course." Felix drummed for his dean.

"Severus..." Dumbledore raised his eyebrows: "I won't give this course to him."

"Why? In the years I was in school, no one died, only one or two were slightly injured, it seems that the curse has little effect."

"That's because no one has taught this course for more than a year." Dumbledore sighed softly. "This is the only way I can think of, but more than 30 years have passed, and the reputation of this course is not very good. It is becoming more and more difficult to find qualified teachers."

This is indeed the truth. The reason

why Felix rejected the Defense Against the Dark Arts course was, on the one hand, because the default term of employment for this course was one year, and there had never been an exception, which did not meet his purpose; on the other hand, this position was really weird, and every professor had more or less accidents at the end of the term.

But in his opinion, the risk this time was not great. Snape could completely substitute for half a year, and at most he could hand it over to a new professor next year.

Felix gave his suggestion.

"But Severus will stay in Hogwarts to teach next year, right?" Dumbledore looked at him meaningfully.

"You mean, as long as this person is still in school, the curse will not stop?" Felix asked sharply.

"That's what I've observed. I've also invited several professors of Defense Against the Dark Arts who have resigned to other positions, but serious accidents have occurred..." Dumbledore fell into reminiscence, "But it's no big deal to temporarily teach one or two classes."

The information he revealed was very shocking. It was almost like saying that once you were cursed, you had to flee Hogwarts within a year at most. Otherwise, even if you resigned from the Defense Against the Dark Arts class, you would not be able to escape.

Dumbledore would not look for anyone else, not Snape.

Felix completely gave up the idea of ​​helping him get the Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching position, and the two began to discuss the curse itself.

"How did he do it?" Felix asked.

This seemed incredible to him, because Voldemort's curse was a little too closely related to the school.

But Hogwarts itself actually has a very good defense system and is difficult to be affected by external factors.

"The following is all my guess, just treat it as a casual chat during afternoon tea."

"Of course."

"I think Voldemort cleverly used the identity of the heir of Slytherin, and he himself is also very good at curses... In short, when these two are combined, the effect is amazing." Dumbledore said.

"Voldemort can affect the operation of Hogwarts?" Felix asked in horror. This statement is too shocking...

"No, Felix. The order of Hogwarts has existed for a thousand years. Even if Salazar Slytherin returns, he cannot reoccupy the school."

"Then-"

"Voldemort paid a huge price. From all indications, he has forever given up the protection of Hogwarts for him-this is the power that belongs exclusively to the descendants of the four founders, and he has imposed this curse with his hatred."

After a long silence-

"Then the way to remove the curse?"

"Voldemort's death." Dumbledore lowered his eyes.

"So you knew a long time ago that he was not dead?"

"Yes, I have always known." Dumbledore murmured: "The existence of the curse explains everything."

Then, the two discussed the issue of the curse for a long time, and Felix learned a lot of information about Hogwarts.

When Felix said goodbye and left, Dumbledore sat quietly in a chair. On the table with long legs, there was a group of strange silverware, rotating and spewing small puffs of smoke.

On the wall were portraits of former male and female headmasters. They whispered and discussed the topic they had just discussed in a low voice.

On the shelf of the cabinet opposite the table, there was a tattered and wrinkled wizard hat. At this moment, the Sorting Hat opened like a mouth at a crack near the brim: "Dumbledore, this is not like you."

Dumbledore put his slender fingers together, "Do you have any opinions, Sorting Hat? I'm all ears."

"You said a lot today, I thought... you would keep these things in your heart."

"Maybe I was just aroused by the conversation, Felix is ​​a good listener."

"Maybe... but you are revealing the secrets of the school bit by bit, which is the exclusive authority of the headmaster. Dumbledore..."

The portraits on the wall stared at Dumbledore.

"...I guess you want to train that boy?"

Dumbledore smiled, his beard trembling slightly: "Sorting Hat, what do you think of him, from your own perspective?"

"I can see that he wants to study me, although he hides this idea very well. What an excellent wizard, he reminds me of Ms. Ravenclaw, I am very much looking forward to his growth."

Dumbledore showed a surprised expression. He had been with the Sorting Hat for nearly half a century, and naturally knew that although the Sorting Hat respected the four founders, it had the most special feelings for two of them, one was Gryffindor, and the other was Ravenclaw.

This was a high evaluation for the Sorting Hat.

The old man regained his composure, and he said: "Voldemort's presence is getting stronger and stronger. I have a hunch that his return is not far away. I also have to make some preparations, although they may not be useful."