Chapter 185: Chapter 185: "The End of a Celebrity"
The following morning, the Great Hall buzzed with the usual breakfast chatter as students filled their plates and discussed their upcoming classes. Harry sat at the Ravenclaw table, casually buttering his toast while keeping an eye on the staff table. Professor Lockhart was there, beaming as always, completely oblivious to the storm that was about to break over his carefully coiffed head.
As if on cue, the familiar sound of fluttering wings filled the air as owls began to swoop into the hall, delivering the morning mail. Harry watched as several students unrolled their copies of the Daily Prophet, their eyes widening in shock as they took in the front page.
Within moments, excited whispers spread through the hall like wildfire. Harry took out his own copy of the Prophet to see how the wizard reporters had crafted this explosive story.
GILDEROY LOCKHART: A FRAUD!
Bestselling Author and Hogwarts Professor Accused of Memory Charms and False Claims
The article, spanning several pages, detailed a shocking exposé:
"In a stunning turn of events, evidence has come to light revealing that Gilderoy Lockhart, famed author and current Defense Against the Dark Arts professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, has built his entire career on lies and magical deception.
Anonymous sources have provided the Prophet with irrefutable proof that Lockhart's heroic deeds, as described in his bestselling books, were in fact performed by other witches and wizards. Lockhart allegedly used memory charms to erase the real heroes' recollections of their achievements, then claimed these feats as his own.
Among the evidence are sworn statements from the true vanquisher of the Wagga Wagga Werewolf and the actual savior of a Transylvanian village from vampire attacks. Both individuals had their memories recently restored by skilled healers from St. Mungo's, revealing the extent of Lockhart's deception.
Additionally, magical law enforcement officials have uncovered a trail of obliviated victims across several countries, all corresponding to the locations and times of Lockhart's supposed adventures.
The Wizarding Examinations Authority has announced that they will be conducting a thorough review of Lockhart's academic credentials, which are now suspected to be falsified.
Hogwarts Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was unavailable for immediate comment on Lockhart's position at the school in light of these revelations.
As this story develops, many in the wizarding community are left wondering: If Lockhart's heroic deeds were all fabricated, what else might he be lying about?"
The article continued with more details, including interviews with some of Lockhart's former classmates who expressed skepticism about his abilities, and statements from publishing industry insiders hinting at doubts they'd had about the veracity of his stories.
Harry couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. The evidence had been surprisingly easy to find. All he had to do was search for excellent wizards and adventurers who had suddenly lost their memories. Then, he arranged for them to be taken to St. Mungo's for treatment. None of these wizards had been treated until now because they couldn't afford it. Reversing memory charms needed skilled Legilimens who were rare, hence the high cost of treatment. Harry had paid for these treatments and sent the recovered victims to Sirius to take their testimonies and press charges against Lockhart.
The Daily Prophet had also done its own investigation, it seemed, since they had uncovered more of Lockhart's victims and gathered additional testimonies. It looked like Lockhart would be spending the rest of his life in Azkaban.
Some might wonder why, if it was so easy to find proof of Lockhart's fraud, nothing had happened to him yet. Well, this was because Lockhart had been careful in choosing his victims. He targeted wizards who were poor and didn't have a pure-blood family's backing. This way, people weren't bothered to look into it. On top of this, Lockhart must have spent a lot of galleons bribing ministry officials to not investigate the unauthorized obliviation cases. However, now with Harry involved, and through him, Sirius and Arcturus, everything was out in the open.
As the news spread through the Great Hall, all eyes turned to the staff table. Lockhart, who had been cheerfully buttering a crumpet, seemed to finally notice the commotion. His ever-present smile faltered as he caught sight of the newspaper headlines being thrust in his direction by shocked students.
Lockhart tried to make a run for it, but someone was ready for him. Snape, with a smile that shocked many students, stood in the path of Lockhart's escape and had him quickly disarmed and tied up. Many students were dumbstruck at Snape's expression. For the first time ever, they saw a genuine smile on Snape's face.
Within minutes, Aurors were at the school to take Lockhart away. Harry had already informed Amelia Bones about his plan, and she had her Aurors ready to put Lockhart behind bars and send him for trial after a proper investigation. She hoped to uncover some corrupt ministry officials through him.
With Lockhart gone, the people who were most happy were surprisingly the Professors. For the rest of the day, the professors were in a good mood and awarded many house points for the littlest of things. Professor Flitwick looked the happiest. He no longer had to deal with Lockhart for Duelling Club activities.
The only people sad were Lockhart's die-hard fans who couldn't be consoled. They were crying, angry that their trust had been betrayed. Other than them, all students were happy. They had hated Lockhart's DADA classes and that cringe-worthy smile. Now all they hoped was that a replacement DADA professor would come soon and teach them some actual Defense Against the Dark Arts.
The excitement of Lockhart's arrest died down in a few days, with everyone returning to their usual routines. Lockhart had his trial and, as expected, was locked in Azkaban. His books were removed from shelves and later republished by the real heroes. The publishers were quick to reach out to them as the books still had a high demand among witches.
A temporary DADA professor came to Hogwarts and took over the class - another retired Auror. Decent at teaching but not great. However, this was enough for students since they had faced far worse.
The rest of the Hogwarts term passed by quickly. No exciting incidents occurred. Harry was busy with classes, his training under Flitwick, his apprenticeship duties (which also included helping Professor Flitwick with the Duelling Club), and his extra studies. This already busy schedule kept him occupied for the whole term, and he hardly noticed the days flying by.
As for the results of various tournaments at Hogwarts: In Quidditch, two teams tied for the top with two wins and one loss each - Slytherin and Hufflepuff. In the end, due to the high score difference Slytherin had gained during their first match against Gryffindor, Slytherin won the cup.
The Duelling tournament was divided into under-13, under-15, and 17-and-under categories. The under-13 was won by Charles Potter. His training at home before coming to Hogwarts played a huge role, as he outclassed the rest of the participants in his age group. Cedric won the under-15 tournament. Harry's friends had had some training sessions with him in the past and more this year. Cedric had performed the best during those sessions, and the same was shown during the tournament. Roger was the runner-up. The tournament for 17-year-olds and under was won by the Head Boy of this year.
As for the House Cup, it was won by Ravenclaw, thanks to the 200 points Harry had gained for his part in saving Evelyn Rosier from the Chamber. This ensured that Ravenclaw was way ahead in the points table.
As the term came to a close, Harry found himself looking forward to the summer. The upcoming adult-level dueling tournament, The All-English Dueling Tournament, loomed on the horizon, promising to test his skills in ways Hogwarts never could.
While packing his trunk, Harry thought about everything that had happened this year. He'd made a lot of big changes compared to the canon timeline. He'd exposed Lockhart as a fraud, dealt with the Chamber of Secrets early, and become much stronger. Harry was really happy with how things had turned out.
He knew that all these changes might cause unexpected things to happen in the future. It was like throwing a stone in a pond - the ripples could go in any direction. But Harry wasn't worried about this. He felt he was now powerful enough to handle whatever came his way.
As Harry closed his trunk, he smiled to himself. He didn't know exactly what the future would bring - there might be new problems or new chances to do good things. But whatever happened, he was ready to face it. He was looking forward to seeing how his actions would change the magical world in the years to come.
Chapter 186: Chapter 186: "The All-English Dueling Tournament"
The summer holidays had begun, bringing with them a sense of freedom and excitement. A few days into the break, Harry found himself at Bones Manor, engaged in what had become one of his favorite activities: playing with Sirius's son, Aries Black.
The toddler, just over two years old, sat wide-eyed on the plush carpet of the living room, captivated by Harry's animated storytelling. With graceful wand movements, Harry conjured vibrant illusions to accompany his tales. Magical creatures danced around them, eliciting delighted giggles from little Aries.
"And then," Harry proclaimed dramatically, "the brave pirate vanquished the fearsome monster king, freeing the villagers from his tyrannical rule!" With a flick of his wand, he transformed a nearby cushion into a comical, yet slightly intimidating figure. Aries clapped his hands in glee, completely engrossed in the story.
Amelia Bones, watching from the doorway, couldn't help but smile at the scene. "It's remarkable," she said, addressing Harry. "Aries is only ever this well-behaved when you're around. With anyone else, he's a little whirlwind of energy."
Harry grinned, ruffling Aries' hair affectionately. "Of course he is," he replied with a wink. "That's because I'm his favorite big brother, aren't I, Aries?"
Aries nodded excitedly. "Harry is the bestest!"
Just then, Sirius entered the room, his face a comical mask of exaggerated monster features - the result of Harry's earlier spell work to entertain Aries.
"Harry," he said, his voice muffled by his transformed mouth, "we need to leave. We'll be late for the tournament." He paused, touching his distorted face gingerly. "And could you please change my face back to normal? I don't know what you're learning with Professor Flitwick for your Charms mastery, this charm seems impossible to remove."
Harry, deciding he'd had enough fun at his godfather's expense, waved his wand lazily. Sirius's features smoothly morphed back to their usual handsome arrangement.
"There you go, old man," Harry teased. "Can't have you scaring the competition away before we even start."
After a round of goodbyes, they set off. Their destination: the All-English Dueling Tournament. Unlike the previous summer's competition, this event was closer to home, set in the outskirts of London in a makeshift arena.
Harry and Sirius apparated to the location, materializing in a designated arrival area. As they oriented themselves, Harry spotted a familiar diminutive figure waiting for them - Professor Flitwick, his face beaming with excitement.
"Ah, there you are, Harry, Sirius!" Flitwick called out, waving them over."I was beginning to wonder if you'd misunderstood the date or time."
As they approached, Harry took in the venue. From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than a huge circus-style tent, its striped fabric billowing slightly in the breeze. But as they stepped through the entrance, Harry's eyes widened in appreciation.
The interior was a stark contrast to the modest exterior. It was as if they had stepped into a grand magical colosseum. Tiered seating surrounded a central arena, which was currently shimmering with protective enchantments. Banners representing various magical institutions and notable wizarding families hung from the rafters, their colors vibrant against the backdrop of the tent's fabric.
"It's even more impressive than the Under 17 European tournament," Harry murmured, taking in the sights.
Flitwick nodded enthusiastically. "Indeed it is, Harry. The All-English Tournament may be more localized, but it's steeped in tradition. Some of the greatest duels in British wizarding history have taken place in this very arena - or rather, under this very tent, as it's reconstructed each year."
As they made their way through the growing crowd, Harry could feel the excitement building. Wizards and witches of all ages milled about, some conversing with their family members who were there to watch them duel, others engaged in animated discussions about dueling techniques and past tournaments. For this tournament, Harry hadn't invited anyone; it was just him, Sirius, and his master Flitwick.
"Now, Harry," Sirius said, placing a hand on his godson's shoulder, "remember what we discussed. This tournament is different from the junior leagues. You'll be facing fully qualified adult wizards, some with decades of experience. Don't let your guard down for a moment."
Harry nodded solemnly. "I understand, Sirius. I'm ready to win this."
Sirius continued, his tone serious, "I hope you are. There aren't many rules in this tournament. As long as you don't kill your opponent, any spells are allowed. So be careful out there. I don't want you to be missing any body parts."
Harry replied calmly, "Relax, Sirius. We've been over this many times already. No need to worry. You know me. I care more about my safety than anything else. I wouldn't be participating in this tournament if I didn't have confidence in my ability to avoid getting hurt. I promise I'll admit defeat as soon as I see I'm not in control of a duel."
Sirius, although not completely satisfied with the promise, chose to believe in his godson.
As they approached the registration desk, the official's eyes lit up with recognition. "Master Flitwick! It's good to see you here after so many years. Are you here to help your apprentice register? Although I didn't hear about you taking on an apprentice. Is this young man your new apprentice?" The man asked, gesturing to Sirius.
Flitwick chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no. This is Hadrian Potter, my apprentice," he said, indicating Harry.
The official's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "How old is he? He looks barely 18 or so."
Flitwick smiled proudly. "Harry is 15 years old and last year's European Under 17 Tournament champion."
The official's jaw dropped slightly. "Fifteen? That's... unusual."
He shuffled through some papers, then looked up with a concerned expression. "All the documents are in order, but Master Flitwick, are you sure you want your apprentice, who's so young, to participate? The tournament has had some accidental deaths in the past. It might be better for him to practice a few more years."
Flitwick stood tall, his voice firm. "I am confident in my apprentice's strength and abilities."
The official nodded, turning to Harry with newfound respect. "Well then, Mr. Potter, I look forward to seeing your duels. I hope you surprise me."
After completing the registration, the trio moved towards the participants' area. Both Sirius and Flitwick followed Harry, as Flitwick had used his contacts to allow Sirius to accompany Harry in the participants' area.
As they entered, Harry could feel the eyes of the other duelists on him. It looked like word had already spread in the arena about his participation. He was attracting a lot of attention. Whispers followed in their wake, some curious, others dismissive. He caught snippets of conversation:
"Is that a child?"
"What's Master Flitwick thinking, bringing someone so young?"
"I heard he is from the Potter family. He might be good. But even if he is a Potter, it is too early for him to compete here."
Harry kept his face neutral, but inside, he was smiling. Let them underestimate him. It would only make his victories sweeter.
They found a quiet corner where Harry could prepare. As he began his warm-up exercises, Flitwick turned to him with a serious expression.
"Remember, Harry, this isn't just about winning. It's about learning and growing. Every duel is an opportunity to improve. Observe your opponents carefully, adapt to their styles, and most importantly, stay safe."
Harry nodded, his focus sharpening. "I understand, Professor. I won't let you down."
As the announcement for the first round of duels echoed through the arena, Harry readied himself. This was it. The moment he'd been training for since he had heard about his great grandfather's feats in the dueling circuit all those years ago from Lord Black. It was time for the name Potter to ring in the dueling arena once more.
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