78 Tom Riddle Was Stunned
As it turned out, Dumbledore's most trusted subordinate now was Snape. He arrived at the Headmaster's office at the first opportunity and, seeing Lockhart gesticulating wildly and jumping around energetically, visibly breathed a sigh of relief.
Interestingly, Voldemort's most trusted subordinate in the past had also been Snape.
Lockhart's judgment of people was quite good, and he also thought that old Snape was a reliable person.
However, Snape felt that Lockhart was anything but reliable.
He hurried up the spiral staircase and into the office, only to hear Lockhart loudly proclaiming, "Professor Trelawney even predicted that I would die in office as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor this year!"
This fellow had both hands propped on the Headmaster's desk, looking down at Dumbledore, his tone impassioned, "Professor Dumbledore, you tell me, if I don't die, if I don't die in office. Do you think..."
Lockhart seemed to hear footsteps, glanced back at Snape, then stared intently at Dumbledore again, "Our savior, Mr. Potter, can he really kill the Dark Lord as Professor Trelawney's prophecy foretells?"
"!!!"
Snape was shocked, his head snapping up to stare directly at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore also seemed taken aback, his gaze hardening, his brow furrowed.
"We can't always fantasize that the savior will definitely kill him, especially since I know Harry too well. He's not capable enough. Forget the Dark Lord, he can't even beat me!"
Lockhart shrugged, "Are we going to rely on the arrangements of fate, conjure up an endless series of coincidences, and then have Harry accidentally trip and stab the Dark Lord in the throat with his wand, killing him?"
"Heh~!"
He chuckled lightly, "Dumbledore, do you believe in fate?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Snape, "Severus, what about you? Do you believe in fate too?"
However, Lockhart was met with silence.
He seemed to have asked the wrong people. These two were precisely individuals who had been cruelly manipulated by fate, pitiful and with unspeakable bitterness in their eyes.
"..."
Lockhart felt somewhat helpless.
He wasn't bringing up these things with old Dumbledore out of idleness. He clearly recognized that because of his own transfiguration and his desire to showcase his existence and exert influence, the "original story" was no longer the "original story."
So, could Harry really kill Voldemort?
Anyway, he dared not say he was 100% certain. After all, in the original story, Harry didn't win through strength but relied on a whole bunch of protagonist plot armor.
This wasn't very convincing to him.
He was also afraid of that old silver coin, Voldemort. Now that he had accidentally kicked Voldemort's anthill and stirred the fellow up, he had really offended him badly.
At such a time, rather than believing Professor Trelawney's prophecy, it was better to believe the wand in his own hand.
Of course, he was also counting on the current Dumbledore, whose strength was even greater than Voldemort's. Old Dumbledore, don't be depressed! Don't always think about going to the afterlife to have some great adventure with your sister! You need to buck up!
You're only 111 years old, still young for a wizard, like the rising sun. You need to be more energetic!
You should be like me. Instead of believing in fate, believe in your own abilities.
If all else fails, you have to properly nurture Harry Potter.
Just letting him grow wild and relying solely on accumulating hatred to guide the opposition isn't enough.
We can't wait until we encounter Dementors to think about teaching the Patronus Charm, and we can't wait until we discover Voldemort can probe Harry's thoughts to teach him Occlumency. Moreover, this haphazard approach isn't systematic at all.
Dumbledore was silent for a long time, finally just saying, "During the Christmas holidays, Harry will go on an adventure with you. He should indeed get some training."
Snape, standing to the side, clearly disagreed with this view and became anxious. The Dark Lord was still wandering somewhere, and what if he suddenly appeared...
"Dumbledore!" His voice was somewhat urgent.
Old Dumbledore looked up at him and nodded, "Severus, if you're worried, go along too."
The matter was settled just like that.
Dumbledore's decisions were not to be questioned.
Snape walked over with a complex expression, reporting on the school's patrols. In short, nothing had been found.
He did mention Arthur Weasley's flying car.
Regarding the matter of Lady Car, Lockhart had already mentioned it when he was detailing his encounter with Voldemort to Dumbledore. Old Dumbledore clearly had a plan.
"I will have Mr. Filch help tidy up the astronomy tower observatory near the Quidditch pitch for Lady Car's temporary use."
Dumbledore thought for a moment and then said to Lockhart, "I will talk to Arthur about the ownership of this car."
Lockhart's eyes lit up, and he quickly promised that he could compensate with some Galleons if necessary, or provide Arthur with a brand-new Muggle sports car or helicopter. Money was the last thing he lacked now.
This was clearly a minor matter.
Dumbledore steepled his fingers, falling into deep thought, clearly not entirely unmoved by Lockhart's earlier words, "If I can escape prophecy, can't Voldemort?"
Lockhart and Snape exchanged a glance, not disturbing the pensive old man, and left the office together.
Old Snape was clearly somewhat helpless about Lockhart's ability to stir up trouble. After they came out, looking at Lockhart, who was smiling brightly and carefree at the prospect of gaining official ownership of a flying car, he sighed.
But he had clearly underestimated Lockhart.
Lockhart's ability to cause trouble was obviously not just this much.
Regarding this, Ginny's good friend, Mr. Tom Riddle, also expressed shock.
—"WHAT?!!!"
Ginny had never seen such messy handwriting in the diary before, as if Mr. Diary was frightened by the news she had casually mentioned.
She looked at the clawing letters that appeared on the diary page, shuddered, patted her chest, looked at the other roommates in the dormitory, confirmed that no one had noticed her, and continued to bury her head in the diary.
—Yes, I don't think I misheard.
—Professor Lockhart has decided to open the "Chamber of Secrets of Hogwarts" and let everyone start an adventure. Registration is now open. It is said that everyone needs to form their own adventure team, not limited to upper and lower grades, and everyone can freely team up.
—But don't worry, our "Dueling Club" will form its own team to fight the monsters in the Chamber. I won't separate from Harry...
I'm not worried at all!
No, it should be that I don't care at all!
Tom Riddle in the diary was stunned!
He racked his brains but couldn't figure out
what was going on.
Professor Lockhart, open the Chamber of Secrets?
Doesn't he understand who the Heir of Slytherin is?!
I, Tom Riddle, from the Gaunt family, one of the sacred twenty-eight pure-blood families, am the direct descendant of Salazar Slytherin!
What right does Lockhart have to open the Chamber of Secrets?
....
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