Reading settings
chapter 168 part 2
---
In a school corridor, Ron wandered aimlessly after finishing his visit.
Gryffindor was still celebrating today's victory, but Ron felt that he couldn't possibly fit into such a cheerful atmosphere right now.
An invisible monster was roaring in his chest, but he didn't know why it was roaring, or what it was roaring about.
*Do I really not know?*
*Or am I just afraid to know?*
Such thoughts swirled in his mind, leaving him unsure of where to go.
"Ron Weasley?"
*Who's calling me?* He snapped out of his daze and saw that the smiling person before him was one of the people he disliked most—that Lockhart!
But since he'd run into him, he had to be polite.
"Professor Lockhart, hello."
"I'm very well, but you, child, are not," Lockhart flashed his perfect smile. "Professor Lockhart's Problems Solving Club. You must have heard of it, right?"
*Heard of it? Harry and I have been complaining about the stupid name of this damn club for ages.*
But the words that came out of his mouth were, "I've heard of it, Professor, but I've never come. I don't like to bother people."
"It's no bother at all," Lockhart said with a kind smile. "Come, let's have a talk. You must trust the amazing Professor Lockhart."
As if by some strange impulse, Ron took a step he never would have been willing to take before. He had never imagined he would sink so low as to need Lockhart to solve his problems.
*It smells so nice,* Ron thought, looking around the room he never thought he'd enter, and couldn't help but sigh in appreciation.
"A little incense, I like it," Lockhart said, sitting down across from him. "I hope you like it too."
...
"You see? The problem is solved, isn't it?"
Professor Lockhart's hand clapped onto Ron's shoulder. Surprisingly, Ron didn't feel any revulsion. Instead, he felt an infinite warmth emanating from that hand, driving away all his anxiety and darkness.
*I was so foolish before. I actually doubted a professor like him.*
The thought couldn't help but surface in his mind.
It made him feel incredibly ashamed, but also worried. Unconsciously, he had told the professor before him many of his troubles—the things he could say and the things he couldn't, all the deeply hidden, dark parts, he had told him everything.
"Rest assured, Mr. Weasley. Professor Lockhart's club has received countless students, and not a single word has ever gotten out."
As if reading his mind, Professor Lockhart revealed a confident smile, which only made Ron feel more ashamed.
"Alright, child. Just as you thought, go and mend your friendships in your own way. Go celebrate for them," Professor Lockhart showed a hint of fatigue. "Of course, if there's anything else you can't solve for the time being, you're welcome to come and find me."
"Yes, Professor. Thank you, Professor," Ron said with sincere gratitude.
"Until next time, then, Mr. Weasley."
Lockhart waved goodbye.
---
*I was actually jealous of Harry and the others, and even jealous that my siblings got to touch the diadem,* Ron thought with deep regret as he walked down the corridor. *Ginny was injured so badly she's still in the hospital wing, and I was actually jealous that she found Ravenclaw's Diadem!*
*Thank goodness for Professor Lockhart. Thank goodness.*
He berated himself for his jealousy while also chastising himself for his past prejudice against the professor.
*Just as the professor said, I have to make up for it with my blessings. I need to find someone and properly celebrate for Harry and Hermione, not just offer some half-hearted congratulations.*
*I'll find Hagrid. I'll go to Hagrid. He'll definitely be willing to help me celebrate for Harry and the others.*
With this thought, he started walking toward the Forbidden Forest.
---
"Alright, keep smiling!"
The reporter from The Daily Prophet continuously commanded the Quidditch players, making them strike all sorts of poses for the photos. "Perfect, absolutely perfect! You don't want to be picking your boogers on the front page of tomorrow's paper, do you?"
"Hey, Adams, can magical photos even show someone picking their boogers?" William whispered to Adams in front of him.
"How should I know? I'm not a photographer. In any case, I've never seen a photo of someone picking their boogers—William, stop messing with me, I have to participate in the test!"
Adams was getting genuinely anxious. He had been waiting all day, yet the photographer was still deliberating on how to take the best shot.
Finally, the photographer was satisfied.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, my apologies, this is very forward of me, but... may I touch the diadem?" he asked cautiously and eagerly.
"I'm sorry, the protective magic on it is very ancient and is still under research—" Dumbledore replied in a regretful tone, "—but you may take a couple of close-up photos. You can even bring the lens right up to it."
This reply left the photographer overjoyed. He took shots from every conceivable angle until he ran out of film.
---
After the reluctant photographer and the Gryffindor House Team left, Professor McGonagall's office became much more spacious.
The diadem, which had been transported in a transparent case, had now been freed from its restraints. It lay quietly on a velvet cushion, awaiting a challenger brave enough to take it on.
*I was careless. Why are there so many Weasleys here?*
William looked at the three red-haired heads and wanted to complain but didn't know what to say. He had brought Percy here as a reward for his assistance and as a future investment; the top student of Hogwarts's sixth year was worth the price.
As for the other two, William had promised them long ago. These two children had gone so far as to turn in their own sister to solve the case and were the ones who brought back the diadem. William couldn't go back on his word. He decided to fulfill his promise while the house team was having their photos taken.
"Professor William, Professor Flitwick, Severus, Minerva, each of you stand guard on one side. If an experimenter shows any adverse reaction, interrupt them immediately."
Dumbledore, holding his wand for a rare occasion, assigned them their tasks.
*Wait, why am I included?*
William was stunned for a moment but noticed that no one present objected. It had apparently become common knowledge that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would not be weak in combat.
Moreover, William was a wizard who had graduated from the old-fashioned master-apprentice system. In the wizarding world, which revered antiquity, a wizard with William's background was naturally held in high regard. Otherwise, he would have faced much more resistance when he became a professor.
"I will be here as well," Dumbledore added, dispelling everyone's final reservations. "Well then, let's start with a professor. Professor Adams, please prepare yourself."
(end of chapter)
---
In a school corridor, Ron wandered aimlessly after finishing his visit.
Gryffindor was still celebrating today's victory, but Ron felt that he couldn't possibly fit into such a cheerful atmosphere right now.
An invisible monster was roaring in his chest, but he didn't know why it was roaring, or what it was roaring about.
*Do I really not know?*
*Or am I just afraid to know?*
Such thoughts swirled in his mind, leaving him unsure of where to go.
"Ron Weasley?"
*Who's calling me?* He snapped out of his daze and saw that the smiling person before him was one of the people he disliked most—that Lockhart!
But since he'd run into him, he had to be polite.
"Professor Lockhart, hello."
"I'm very well, but you, child, are not," Lockhart flashed his perfect smile. "Professor Lockhart's Problems Solving Club. You must have heard of it, right?"
*Heard of it? Harry and I have been complaining about the stupid name of this damn club for ages.*
But the words that came out of his mouth were, "I've heard of it, Professor, but I've never come. I don't like to bother people."
"It's no bother at all," Lockhart said with a kind smile. "Come, let's have a talk. You must trust the amazing Professor Lockhart."
As if by some strange impulse, Ron took a step he never would have been willing to take before. He had never imagined he would sink so low as to need Lockhart to solve his problems.
*It smells so nice,* Ron thought, looking around the room he never thought he'd enter, and couldn't help but sigh in appreciation.
"A little incense, I like it," Lockhart said, sitting down across from him. "I hope you like it too."
...
"You see? The problem is solved, isn't it?"
Professor Lockhart's hand clapped onto Ron's shoulder. Surprisingly, Ron didn't feel any revulsion. Instead, he felt an infinite warmth emanating from that hand, driving away all his anxiety and darkness.
*I was so foolish before. I actually doubted a professor like him.*
The thought couldn't help but surface in his mind.
It made him feel incredibly ashamed, but also worried. Unconsciously, he had told the professor before him many of his troubles—the things he could say and the things he couldn't, all the deeply hidden, dark parts, he had told him everything.
"Rest assured, Mr. Weasley. Professor Lockhart's club has received countless students, and not a single word has ever gotten out."
As if reading his mind, Professor Lockhart revealed a confident smile, which only made Ron feel more ashamed.
"Alright, child. Just as you thought, go and mend your friendships in your own way. Go celebrate for them," Professor Lockhart showed a hint of fatigue. "Of course, if there's anything else you can't solve for the time being, you're welcome to come and find me."
"Yes, Professor. Thank you, Professor," Ron said with sincere gratitude.
"Until next time, then, Mr. Weasley."
Lockhart waved goodbye.
---
*I was actually jealous of Harry and the others, and even jealous that my siblings got to touch the diadem,* Ron thought with deep regret as he walked down the corridor. *Ginny was injured so badly she's still in the hospital wing, and I was actually jealous that she found Ravenclaw's Diadem!*
*Thank goodness for Professor Lockhart. Thank goodness.*
He berated himself for his jealousy while also chastising himself for his past prejudice against the professor.
*Just as the professor said, I have to make up for it with my blessings. I need to find someone and properly celebrate for Harry and Hermione, not just offer some half-hearted congratulations.*
*I'll find Hagrid. I'll go to Hagrid. He'll definitely be willing to help me celebrate for Harry and the others.*
With this thought, he started walking toward the Forbidden Forest.
---
"Alright, keep smiling!"
The reporter from The Daily Prophet continuously commanded the Quidditch players, making them strike all sorts of poses for the photos. "Perfect, absolutely perfect! You don't want to be picking your boogers on the front page of tomorrow's paper, do you?"
"Hey, Adams, can magical photos even show someone picking their boogers?" William whispered to Adams in front of him.
"How should I know? I'm not a photographer. In any case, I've never seen a photo of someone picking their boogers—William, stop messing with me, I have to participate in the test!"
Adams was getting genuinely anxious. He had been waiting all day, yet the photographer was still deliberating on how to take the best shot.
Finally, the photographer was satisfied.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, my apologies, this is very forward of me, but... may I touch the diadem?" he asked cautiously and eagerly.
"I'm sorry, the protective magic on it is very ancient and is still under research—" Dumbledore replied in a regretful tone, "—but you may take a couple of close-up photos. You can even bring the lens right up to it."
This reply left the photographer overjoyed. He took shots from every conceivable angle until he ran out of film.
---
After the reluctant photographer and the Gryffindor House Team left, Professor McGonagall's office became much more spacious.
The diadem, which had been transported in a transparent case, had now been freed from its restraints. It lay quietly on a velvet cushion, awaiting a challenger brave enough to take it on.
*I was careless. Why are there so many Weasleys here?*
William looked at the three red-haired heads and wanted to complain but didn't know what to say. He had brought Percy here as a reward for his assistance and as a future investment; the top student of Hogwarts's sixth year was worth the price.
As for the other two, William had promised them long ago. These two children had gone so far as to turn in their own sister to solve the case and were the ones who brought back the diadem. William couldn't go back on his word. He decided to fulfill his promise while the house team was having their photos taken.
"Professor William, Professor Flitwick, Severus, Minerva, each of you stand guard on one side. If an experimenter shows any adverse reaction, interrupt them immediately."
Dumbledore, holding his wand for a rare occasion, assigned them their tasks.
*Wait, why am I included?*
William was stunned for a moment but noticed that no one present objected. It had apparently become common knowledge that the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor would not be weak in combat.
Moreover, William was a wizard who had graduated from the old-fashioned master-apprentice system. In the wizarding world, which revered antiquity, a wizard with William's background was naturally held in high regard. Otherwise, he would have faced much more resistance when he became a professor.
"I will be here as well," Dumbledore added, dispelling everyone's final reservations. "Well then, let's start with a professor. Professor Adams, please prepare yourself."
(end of chapter)
