Chapitre 60: argument
Christmas and New Year offer a brief respite at Hogwarts. Following the resolution of the Chamber of Secrets incident, most teachers and students opted to remain within the school's walls. As winter's chill set in, heavy snow blanketed the grounds, creating drifts several feet deep. Despite the snow reaching almost to their knees, students remained undeterred, eagerly engaging in snowball fights and frolicking in the wintry playground during daylight hours.
Their snowball battles, conducted with wands, were notably more intense than those of their Muggle counterparts. The mischievous Weasley twins, in particular, delighted in inventing prank gadgets that occasionally landed students in the school hospital. Though Mrs. Frey admonished the twins sternly, she nevertheless provided excellent care to the ailing students.
Most Hogwarts teachers were deeply dedicated to their craft, exhibiting a range of attitudes towards their students, from strict to nurturing, but all genuinely caring.
Ciaran indulged in breakfast in the comfort of her office, leisurely delaying her visit to Dumbledore for book requests.
"Dumbledore shouldn't deny my modest request," Ciaran mused confidently.
After a brief respite, she exited her office and made her way to the eighth floor. En route, she encountered numerous playful students. The Weasley twins, having recovered from their stint in the hospital, resumed their mischief-making in the corridors, much to Filch's ire.
"It's those two troublemakers again! Where do they acquire these contraptions?" Filch muttered to himself as he scrubbed black spots from the floor.
Meanwhile, the Weasley brothers, catching sight of Ciaran, implored her with silent gestures not to reveal their hiding place.
Passing by the twins, Ciaran cautioned, "Exercise caution and do not overstep."
Though Hogwarts' caretaker, Filch's unpleasant demeanour irked both students and professors alike, he was begrudgingly acknowledged as a fixture at the school. Having served at Hogwarts during Ciaran's student years, Filch commanded a modicum of respect, even from the mischievous Weasleys, who refrained from crossing certain boundaries.
The twins nodded in acknowledgment, understanding the unspoken message.
Continuing to the sixth floor, Ciaran encountered a striking figure descending the staircase: Lockhart, the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, clad in resplendent wizard robes.
Something seemed amiss, as Lockhart's typically cheerful countenance bore a hint of gloom.
Though curious, Ciaran opted not to pry upon seeing Lockhart's sombre expression.
As they passed, Lockhart called out, "Professor Frémont, hold a moment!"
Ciaran turned, regarding Lockhart with curiosity.
"Are you headed to Dumbledore's office?" Lockhart inquired.
Ciaran affirmed, inwardly wondering if Dumbledore's rebuff had soured Lockhart's mood.
"Hmm, I'd advise against it at present," Lockhart advised nonchalantly. "Mr. Potter paid the principal a visit, followed by Lucius Malfoy, and I, too, received my marching orders. But who cares?"
With an air of arrogance, Lockhart continued, "We're professors at Hogwarts, not Dumbledore's lackeys, correct? He lacks the authority to command us!"
"He may be a centenarian, but I refuse to cower before him!"
Lockhart gesticulated animatedly, as though addressing Dumbledore directly.
Indeed, Dumbledore had rebuffed Lockhart!
Amused yet perplexed by Harry's visit to the principal's office, Ciaran pondered Lucius Malfoy's unexpected appearance at Hogwarts.
With the Chamber of Secrets saga swiftly resolved, no lives lost, what emboldened Lucius Malfoy to challenge Dumbledore and seek expulsion from the school?
Ciaran found herself at a loss.
"Professor Frémont, do you find Dumbledore overbearing? As a recipient of the third-level Order of Merlin, I sought an audience, only to be dismissed," Lockhart snorted. "I, Gilderoy Lockhart..."
Lockhart launched into a boastful monologue, regaling Ciaran with tales of his supposed heroics, convinced of his superiority to Dumbledore, albeit by a slim margin.
Ciaran listened, bemused by Lockhart's self-aggrandizement. She knew his celebrated exploits were fabrications borrowed from more illustrious wizards. Despite her attempts to disengage, Lockhart persisted, oblivious to her cues, leaving Ciaran exasperated.
As a Hogwarts professor, she refrained from resorting to magic outside the school's confines, though tempted to silence Lockhart with a well-placed spell.
As Ciaran struggled to extricate herself from Lockhart's company, a heated exchange unfolded in Dumbledore's office on the eighth floor.
"A diary? You claim this diary is mine? Dumbledore, do you entertain such baseless accusations?" a haughty voice retorted.
Seated calmly at his desk, Dumbledore regarded Lucius Malfoy through his spectacles, his blue eyes unwavering. "I trust Harry, Lucius. I believe him."
"It's him, Professor!" Harry pointed accusatorily at Lucius Malfoy. "Riddle's diary belongs to him!"
Lucius Malfoy scoffed, his gaze icy. "What nonsense. We wouldn't deign to use such a trinket." Despite his bravado, he flinched under Dumbledore's scrutiny, a fact not lost on Harry.
Dobby, the house-elf, cowered in a corner beside Lucius Malfoy, his expression one of despair and resignation.
Observing Dobby's plight, Harry resolved to thwart Lucius Malfoy and free Dobby from servitude.
Harry had gleaned the diary's origins from Dobby. Lucius Malfoy, who had surreptitiously passed the diary to Ginny, bore responsibility for the Chamber of Secrets debacle. Harry's revelation prompted the confrontation unfolding in Dumbledore's office that day.
With that, Ciaran departed, leaving the scene unresolved. If a second chapter awaited, she would explore it on her return, promising a third instalment the following day.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone