Bab 145: Chapter 145: Rita Skeeter’s Report
"Who is Lockhart? We all know he is an explorer and a best-selling author. But only in our memory, he has never claimed to be a researcher, and there are no published research results. We have to wonder, is it true what he said about making the Squib a wizard? Or is it a gimmick he concocted for his declining reputation?"
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"According to the reporter's in-depth investigation, Hogwarts students from the same period recall Gilderoy Lockhart mentioning during his school days that his wish was to be a star. This shows that he has an unusual obsession with fame."
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"When Lockhart became a professor at Hogwarts, he chose to use all the books he wrote as textbooks. We have to think deeply about the reasons behind this behavior. Is it for gold galleons, fame, or both?"
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"Any genuine piece of research is undoubtedly the result of years of painstaking effort and repeated verification. However, Lockhart used to publish books at the rate of one per year and hold fan meetings everywhere at the same time. We have reason to wonder, where does his research time come from? If it were true, I would call him a time management guru."
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"If his research is true and can make Squibs into wizards, we need to consider another possibility. Is this research really his? Is there a chance he obtained the research results of his predecessors at Hogwarts and claimed them as his own? Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why there were no research results before he joined Hogwarts, and then he produced a top-notch result just one month after joining."
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Professor Sprout once again saw that every line of this report tempted wizards to question it. Then she looked at Lockhart, who seemed to have turned his grief and anger into appetite, and subconsciously comforted him. She felt that Lockhart was a nice person. He had given her many unknown plants and a set of skincare products some time ago. Plus, Rita Skeeter does have a bad reputation. Therefore, she directly put herself in Lockhart's shoes and comforted him.
At this moment, Lockhart was enjoying the delicious food. Hearing the comforting voice in his ear, Lockhart smiled and said reassuringly to Professor Sprout, who looked worried, "Don't worry, Professor Sprout. I know exactly what Rita Skeeter is like. I won't be angry at such a person."
"Ah, I understand." Upon hearing this, Professor Sprout felt a little confused. It was a little different from what she thought. Lockhart himself was scolded so miserably in the newspapers because his character and ability were questioned in every aspect. Yet he actually comforted her as if nothing had happened. This made her a little confused, so she could only nod and return to her seat.
Lockhart glanced at the familiar words and pictures in the Daily Prophet again, and the corners of his mouth curled up. He received this newspaper this morning. After reading it, he wasn't too surprised, as it felt normal. If the pure-blood families didn't take action, there would be a problem. There might be a big mine buried somewhere for him, waiting for him to step on it. Now that he chose to promote his own magic system, he already had a rough idea of the obstacles he might encounter. The pure-blood families' move to press public opinion was within his expectations, so why should he be angry?
But don't forget, what is his identity? In addition to being a Hogwarts professor, he is also a best-selling author, with fans all over the British wizarding world. When it comes to public opinion, of course, he had to make good use of such a good advantage. However, Rita Skeeter might be useful for some plans. The pureblood families took action, so he couldn't fall behind.
Afternoon, Hogsmeade, Rita Skeeter's home.
The sun shone through the glass into the living room. The tables and chairs in the living room were neatly arranged, and the air was filled with the scent of aromatherapy. Entering through the main entrance, one could see a very conspicuous bookshelf on the left wall, containing various books, trophies, and newspapers. These were all specially arranged by Rita Skeeter, who considered them to be her honors and wished everyone who entered her home to see them.
At this moment, Rita Skeeter was sitting on the sofa in the living room, legs crossed, holding a newspaper in her hand, looking at the article she had written through a pair of jeweled eyes, with a satisfied smile on her face. This report was so well-written. Not only did she gain a lot of fame, but she also earned many gold galleons. As for Lockhart, the protagonist in the report, she wasn't familiar with him. However, someone had tipped her off that this was a hot topic and could bring many benefits if she covered it. Of course, she gave it a try. It's not like she couldn't afford to offend Gilderoy Lockhart.
Suddenly,
Bang bang bang!
There was a noise outside the window. Rita Skeeter looked up and saw an owl and a letter. She waved her wand, opened the window, and within seconds, the owl delivered the letter in front of her. However, there was something slightly wrong with the weight of this letter; it felt heavier and not soft, but hard. This made her curious. As usual, after feeding the owl some food, Rita Skeeter opened the envelope and raised the corners of her mouth when she saw the familiar golden light.
Then, as Rita Skeeter tilted the envelope, a series of gold galleons fell on the table, making a clattering sound. She roughly calculated that it was at least ten gold galleons, which was less than half a month's salary. Such an unexpected surprise made her quite excited to open the contents of the envelope.
Then, Rita Skeeter's expression froze. She saw a very familiar symbol—a beetle. The envelope read: "Dear, Ms. Beetle Animagus."
"I read the report you wrote today; it was excellent. The 15 gold galleons in the envelope are a deposit. I also need you to write another report, and there will be a reward of 35 gold galleons. We will meet tonight to discuss the specifics."
Rita Skeeter looked at the address below, her face uncertain. She was an unregistered Animagus in the wizarding world, and this was her biggest secret. It was actually leaked. What was even more troubling was that the mysterious sender knew her Animagus form, the beetle. What if someone from the Ministry of Magic found out about this? Then she thought of the Ministry of Magic officials and pure-blood family members she had exposed in the past. Suddenly, she felt a chill all over her body, and she quickly looked around cautiously, as if she was being watched.
After a moment, she looked at the address of the invitation in the envelope, fear evident on her face.
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