Poisoning Gilderoy Lockhart to death was, of course, unnecessary. For one, Glenn didn't think Lockhart deserved such an extreme measure. Second, Dumbledore probably wouldn't allow it. Third, Lockhart needed to stay alive to substitute for Severus Snape in Defense Against the Dark Arts and bear the curse.
Using the excuse of going to the bathroom, Glenn managed to slip away from Hermione's watchful gaze. In her blind spot, he quickly cast a Disillusionment Charm and headed straight for Lockhart's office. Along the way, he prepared an explosive magical laxative using the materials he carried and his deep understanding of potion-making.
When Glenn reached Lockhart's office, he saw Harry and Ron about to enter. Timing his move perfectly, he slipped inside as they opened the door and hid himself. Once the two boys entered, he used a spell to slow the door's closing, leaving it slightly ajar for a quick escape after completing his task.
"Professor Lockhart, we'd like to ask for your help…" Harry said earnestly, fighting the urge to bolt. Lockhart, meanwhile, was savoring a fresh, steaming cup of pumpkin juice while delighting in the love letters secretly sent by young witches during class breaks.
Glenn wasn't interested in their conversation. Silently, he approached Lockhart. Seizing the moment when Lockhart set down his cup to boast to Harry and Ron, Glenn poured the potion into the pumpkin juice. He then cast a household charm to mix the potion thoroughly. Task complete, Glenn retreated to the door. After confirming that Lockhart took another sip, he left the office without a trace.
Based on his estimation, the potion would likely cause Lockhart to suffer intense diarrhea for a month, leaving him practically immobilized.
Outside, Glenn stood at a corner not far from Lockhart's office door, counting silently in his mind.
He wanted to observe the potion's effects and record them in his notebook for future improvements.
"Three, two, one…"
"Bang!"
The office door burst open. Lockhart staggered out, his face pale, legs clamped together as he leaned against the wall for support, clearly in agony.
"Fast-acting, potent, causes increased heart rate and cold sweats…" Activating heightened perception, Glenn meticulously noted the symptoms manifesting on Lockhart.
It was time to leave. If he stayed any longer, the smell might become unbearable.
Without looking back, Glenn walked away. Behind him, Lockhart's suppressed groans and Harry and Ron's horrified screams echoed through the hallway.
"Let's go," Glenn said, reappearing behind Hermione as she turned her attention to the commotion down the hallway. Before revealing himself, he used the Aguamenti charm to clean his hands thoroughly.
"What's happening over there? Why is someone screaming?" Hermione asked, distracted by the noise, as Glenn emerged from the "bathroom."
"Probably some wizard causing a scene. Nothing to do with us," Glenn replied calmly. "Let's head to the library. We still need to check the books in Section C today."
"Oh, alright." Hermione withdrew her gaze, feeling an inexplicable sense that she'd regret investigating further. Trusting her intuition and mindful of their unfinished research, she prioritized their task.
Hand in hand, the two headed for the library, dedicating the time until dinner to their research.
---
By dinner, word had spread about Lockhart's misadventure in the bathroom. Rumors swirled about a mysterious creature from the Chamber of Secrets attacking him with unidentified substances from the toilet. The news carried a certain… aroma. Harry and Ron's lingering stench and Lockhart's subsequent hospitalization confirmed the rumors.
The two boys wished they could disappear, especially Harry. Already suspected of being Slytherin's heir, he'd rather endure those rumors than the current, utterly absurd gossip.
No one knew what Harry and Ron had endured that afternoon. Hearing their peers gossip about the incident only brought back vivid, traumatic memories.
It was a tidal wave.
A tidal wave that left an indelible mark on their minds.
"I think I need an Obliviate," Harry muttered, pale and unable to eat. Ron, equally pale, nodded silently, his chicken leg untouched.
If not for their quick thinking—taking a thorough shower, scrubbing each other's backs until their skin nearly peeled, and casting Scourgify and Freshening Charms—they wouldn't have been able to sit at the Gryffindor table now.
Later, Dumbledore announced from the staff table that Professor Lockhart would be spending another month in the infirmary. Hermione, seemingly reminded of something, leaned toward Glenn with a conspiratorial glint in her brown eyes.
Glenn obliged, leaning in.
"Have you noticed? Lockhart has never managed to teach two consecutive lessons without interruption," Hermione whispered, her tone brimming with the desire for truth. "I think it's the curse Voldemort placed on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position."
"There's no other explanation."
"As for Quirrell last year… I suspect Voldemort's possession shielded him from most of the curse, allowing him to survive—well, survive long enough to meet you and hold out until the end."
Glenn stared at Hermione's serious expression in silence for a long moment before finally squeezing out a single word.
"…Right."
It was best if Hermione thought so. At least she wouldn't suspect him.
"I'm a bit worried about Professor Snape. With Lockhart in the infirmary, he'll have to substitute. What if the curse targets him instead?" Hermione looked genuinely concerned. What if the curse, lacking a primary target, affected Snape?
"No need to worry. Snape is just a substitute. Voldemort's original curse was that 'no Defense Against the Dark Arts professor could last more than a year.' It won't affect him as long as Lockhart doesn't resign," Glenn explained. The curse required a specific target to take effect. As long as Lockhart remained in the position, Snape was safe.
Hermione nodded, relieved. "That's good to know."
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