allendalepharm Chapter 122 A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 122 A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 122 A Deal with the Devil
Lockhart never wanted his research to remain superficial. Knowing the "wonderful mechanisms of the magical world" was certainly entering a wonderful realm, but knowing only what it was without understanding why it was so was unacceptable. He longed to experience the mysteries within more intricately.
Exploring magic and such was so much fun; he never tired of it.
He could put Coban Yaxley's matter aside for now; improving his companions' strength, specifically his research into the cultivation of dark magic creatures in his own field of expertise, was his top priority.
He has found a relatively clear entry point.
When he performed the "Mind Cleansing Technique," the interaction between his own mind and nature immediately reminded him of the interaction between the wronged fairy and the earth, which is definitely a point worth exploring.
At this point, the Slytherin research materials on basilisk breeding, given to them by Tom Riddle, the heir of Slytherin, became very important.
Of course, there's also his main job, the new fairy tale chapter "The Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts." As the chief planner, he also needs to spend a lot of energy and time getting this project on track before he can gradually extricate himself from it.
Lockhart was very busy for the next two weeks.
He seemed to have entered a very pure rhythm of life, his mind filled with magic.
Until this day.
Senior student Rita Skeeter came to her door again.
She brought news that Lockhart had once again become a bestseller, and this time it was the bestseller worldwide.
"I'm sorry, your story won't make the front page of the Daily Prophet!" Rita said, a hint of smugness in her expression as she waved the newspaper. "I have my own things to do."
Lockhart's expression shifted as he looked at the guy who had come to deliver good news, and he suddenly realized that it was probably time to pay back his debts.
Rita needs my help, and she should use her current immense influence.
He didn't bring it up, but just chuckled as he took the newspaper, casually flipping through it. "Oh, really? There's even more important news than my bestselling book? You know, fans all over the world are waiting for my report. Your Daily Prophet is going to miss out on a lot of sales if you do this."
This is clearly the correct judgment.
Rita's face fell, and she pouted unhappily. "Yes, damn it, your fans are buying up 'The Quibbler' like crazy right now, and Lovegood is definitely going to put your story on the front page. He's already put your picture on the cover for two issues in a row!"
The magazine "The Quibbler" often publishes conspiracy theories, eyewitness accounts of creatures that do not exist, and other unconventional news stories.
To many, this is similar to those cheap magazines that publish unsolved mysteries like aliens in the eyes of Muggles.
Lockhart chuckled. "Don't blame me. I still have your exclusive interview rights, but I haven't written any articles for Lovegood. You need to reflect on why someone else took the most delicious fruit from you."
"I'm just unlucky," Rita shook her head and shrugged, then reached out and patted the newspaper Lockhart had taken from her. "So I have to make a big splash and reclaim my rightful honor!"
The big news she told me
Lockhart finally looked down at the newspaper and gasped sharply.
Front-page headline: Coban Yaxley: When are you going to register at the Beasts' Office, you werewolf?
Oh my god~
Rita is such a despicable person!
The victim of the Ministry of Magic's werewolf attack was clearly Coban Yaxley, yet before the incident had even died down in attention, and with Coban Yaxley reportedly still receiving treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries, Rita pointed the finger at this victim.
She didn't care about the trial of the werewolf who caused the chaos and attacked so many people, nor did she care whether the Ministry of Magic had made any changes; she just focused on the most prominent victim.
Lockhart skimmed through the newspaper, reading the emotionally charged sentences, and couldn't help but spit out a curse.
Mr. Yaxley, a professional!
You're a werewolf now!
Yes, a werewolf!
Why don't you go register at the "Werewolf Registry" in the "Beast Office"?
As a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic, should he also violate the Ministry's regulations and choose to lead the way in breaking the rules?
No wonder no werewolves are willing to register at the werewolf registry!
Rita knows how to stir things up. Minister of Magic Fudge has paid a heavy price to calm the attacks on the Ministry of Magic's system during the werewolf attack, and Rita has brought it up again as soon as she gets involved.
It involves a series of sensitive topics such as the Ministry of Magic system, Ministry of Magic executives, the Twenty-Eight Holy Pureblood Families, werewolves, etc., and the angle is particularly cunning.
She's trying to force Minister of Magic Fudge to pressure Cobban Yaxley into registering as a werewolf, otherwise the previous incidents might resurface.
Ironically, if someone with formal training were to actually register, she could write an article claiming that she, as a renowned journalist, had helped improve the Ministry of Magic's rules and regulations.
Awesome!
Lockhart read the entire report in astonishment, then looked up at the smug Rita. "Are you really not afraid that Coban Yaxley will kill you?"
"I must warn you, he is a Death Eater, and a Death Eater who has been active again since the news broke. He might actually come after you."
Rita wasn't afraid at all. She calmly pulled out a small mirror and lipstick from her handbag to touch up her makeup. "Scared?" she said nonchalantly.
As a typical Ravenclaw remnant, she has the means and the magic, and she is truly confident.
Putting everything else aside, she is an unregistered Animagus who can transform into an inconspicuous little beetle, a form that is even more effective than Sirius Black's transformation into a big black dog.
Once she's out of the enemy's sight, she can disappear into any crack in the ground or wall in an instant. No matter how skilled the enemy is, they won't be able to find her.
Moreover, she already had plenty of ways to deal with it, so there was no need to resort to magic.
"I plan to give a speech at the International Federation of Wizards tomorrow to denounce this matter and make a big fuss. If he dares to attack me, I can make the front page of the news with my own name."
After Rita finished speaking, she stared at Lockhart. "Hey, buddy, I need you to write an article for me. Whatever you say to the public now will be reprinted by newspapers all over the world. I need that influence."
Lockhart adopted a serious expression, frowning as he looked at her. "Are you trying to make me completely offend Coban Yaxley? Make me his enemy?"
"You should know how much this will affect me. I will be completely opposed to this high-ranking official in the Ministry of Magic and the head of a pure-blood family!"
Rita didn't say anything, she just stared at him.
"You know, I managed to get a position in the Ministry of Magic thanks to this werewolf attack incident, but it's a dead-end job in a retirement department. If I want to advance further, it's not wise to offend the big shots in the Ministry of Magic."
"Also, you may not know this, but I have just joined Ms. Melissa's club, where Coban Yaxley is very influential."
Lockhart earnestly explained his predicament: "Doing this would simultaneously block my path after leaving Hogwarts!"
"You have to help me!" Rita cried out, squeezing the lipstick tightly in her hand. She had assumed Lockhart would definitely help with this; the fool had never thought of such things before. "I've done so much for you, and all I'm asking is for you to write an article. You have to repay me!"
Seeing Lockhart remain silent, her expression turned sinister. "Gidero, you know me. I need this article. If you don't write it, you'll eventually see it in the newspaper. I'll write it for you! Don't think I don't know some things about you. You're not some magic master at all. Your fans will definitely be fooled by your empty boasting—."
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly felt a sharp chill rise from her heart. A feeling she couldn't quite describe—whether it was panic, helplessness, or the tension before a mental breakdown—crewed up her scalp and arms, raising goosebumps.
She opened her mouth wide, wanting to continue speaking, but couldn't utter a word. Her whole body was covered in goosebumps, and she even felt her legs trembling.
She seemed to see a mournful cry from an invincible, dark abyss, billowing black smoke rising and enveloping Lockhart, making his figure look eerie and evil.
No, it's not just evil; it even has an indescribable viciousness and ruthlessness, like a monster crawling out of the abyss.
Boom~
Suddenly, thunder roared outside the window, and blinding lightning hissed and spread across the air outside the window. The lightning and the dark sky that had somehow turned gloomy made Lockhart's face flicker.
"Lytaskite!"
Lockhart drawled, raising his eyelids to look at Rita standing before him, and coldly asked, "Are you threatening me?"
Rita swallowed hard, wanting to speak, but found herself too nervous to say anything.
Her eyes were vacant as she stared blankly at the windowsill behind the blurry figure of Lockhart, where the sky was filled with swirling, ink-like clouds.
The ink seemed to devour her very soul.
She even felt that Lockhart's voice seemed to come from a very distant place, with the scorching heat of lightning cutting through the air, and the hollow echo of an abyss, gradually spreading towards her, and finally roaring in her ears.
Time seemed to stand still here. She didn't know how long this terrible feeling had lasted; maybe a whole day, maybe just a moment.
She vaguely sensed that Lockhart seemed to stand up and walk around the table towards her step by step!
Pat, pat, pat. —·
No!
Don't kill me!
I actually don't know anything!
I just like collecting negative reports about celebrities, and I like gathering these reports and brainstorming some explosive news. I really don't know anything about them!
Ahh ...
She screamed wildly in her mind, but her body seemed frozen in fear, unable to move at all.
Just then, there was a knock on the office door.
The thumping sound gradually became more real, pulling her back to reality.
Rita found herself able to move, and her reason told her that this was a good opportunity and she had to run!
But she just collapsed into the chair, her body limp, gasping for breath like a fish out of water.
She looked at Lockhart, who was looking down at her, with a sense of despair, and sadly realized that she didn't dare to show even the slightest intention to escape in front of him.
She's scared!
She, who is fearless, is truly scared this time!
Only when she truly felt how terrifying and real fear was, did she realize that she, too, could be afraid.
dong dong dong~
There was another knock on the door, and it sounded vaguely like someone was asking if Lockhart was there.
Yes, yes, Gilderoy, hurry up and open the door for them!
Lockhart gazed at her intently for a moment before turning and walking toward the office door.
"Gidero!" Rita finally mustered the courage to call out softly. Her voice was so hoarse and weak, yet it successfully made the terrifying man in front of her, who had become so unfamiliar, stop in his tracks.
"Go ahead and tell me your conditions, as long as you get this done for me! I really need this article!"
Yes, she was terrified of death, terrified to death!
But she still couldn't stop thinking about her big news.
Everyone has their own obsessions. Oh, that's not quite right. In fact, it's very difficult for people to find their own interests, let alone be willing to devote themselves wholeheartedly to things they are interested in.
This is a kind of happiness, and also a belief in life, a belief that makes one unafraid of death.
Ultimately, Lockhart's attempt to resonate with the magical environment of the werewolf and the golden retriever using the Weather Charm was merely a casual experiment, and the effect was only superficial, failing to truly imprint the fear into her soul.
Her persistence clearly moved this terrible man.
Lockhart turned to look at her, remained silent for a moment, and then said coldly, "Then you'd better be prepared to pay the price, Rita. I won't refuse you this time, but when I demand that you pay the price, you are not allowed to refuse!"
Rita swallowed hard, suddenly having the unsettling feeling of making a deal with the devil.
She wondered if she had made the wrong decision, whether making a deal with someone like Gilderoy would ultimately drag her into the abyss.
She wanted to suggest that they forget about it, but under the other person's gaze, she forced a smile and answered, "Of course, I will keep my promise."
Damn it, what am I even saying?!
Rita was almost in tears. She never imagined that Gilderoy Lockhart, who always looked like an idiot with a silly grin, was actually so terrifying and powerful in secret.
You're actually a magic master?!
Then why do you always act like you're pretending to be a magic master?
You're lying!
She was wailing in her heart.