Chapter 10: The Second Year, Part Three
While Ron and some others kept investigating Lockhart's self-proclaimed list of accomplishments, the Board of Governors was pressing Dumbledore into starting another investigation. "Headmaster, while the fact no new attack happened gives more credence to the fact you did have seem to have neutralized the problem, there's still a monster dwelling inside Hogwarts and the Board feels like a permanent solution must be employed." Lucius Malfoy said. "I also feel like you have just blamed He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named so that Hagrid would be off the hook. But it's not your fault that your predecessor didn't want to investigate."
"Look here," Hagrid said until Albus Dumbledore silently asked him to stop.
"I'd gladly help but whoever released the monster didn't leave any clue we could follow." Said the defense teacher who could never kill any dark creature unless it was possible to annoy them to death.
"That's where you're wrong, Professor Lockhart." Lucius Malfoy calmly replied. "I was told that the Muggleborn reported to have been killed by Salazar Slytherin's monster returned as a ghost."
"You're correct, Lucius." Dumbledore happily confirmed. "We could ask her."
Moaning Myrtle was then called and all living wizards and witches inside (albeit the Slytherin Head of House didn't show much of it) were horrified not only by what happened to her but also by how happy he was while telling about her death. "Thank you, Myrtle." Dumbledore managed to say.
"I can't believe Salazar Slytherin would hide the entrance of his chamber inside a girls' lavatory." Professor Filius Flitwick commented.
"There's no telling what that lavatory was for back then, Filius." Albus calmly replied. They then went to said lavatory and, since none of them was a Parselmouth, they tried to think of another way to open the chamber's entrance.
"Excuse me." Lockhart said and then pointed his wand at the entrance. "Open Sesame!"
Nothing happened. "Well, it was worth a try!" Lockhart sheepishly said.
"I, for once, am glad it didn't open." Severus Snape commented. "I'd rather keep the monster stuck inside the chamber."
"There's no need to be afraid, Severus." Gilderoy Lockhart said with his usual arrogance. "I'm here to protect you."
"You really think you have a chance against a basilisk, Lockhart?" Snape asked in reply, shocking most of the faculty, especially Lockhart.
"Severus, what makes you so sure the monster is a basilisk?" A surprised Minerva McGonagall asked.
"Well, the legend says Salazar Slytherin and his heirs were the only ones able to open the chamber and control the monster." Snape started to explain. "That's a good reason to suppose the monster must be some sort of snake and, given that basilisks are the only kind of snake to live that much…"
"Well, that explains Hagrid's roosters being killed." Albus Dumbledore said. "Whoever set the basilisk loose might have killed the roosters so they wouldn't kill the basilisk with their sound."
Hagrid was now enraged. "I don't care if Tom is You-Know-Who! If I ever get him…"
"Priorities, Hagrid!" Dumbledore calmly replied. "First we must make sure nobody ever gets here again."
"Headmaster, I suggest drawing an age line so nobody under seventeen will be able to enter this lavatory ever again." McGonagall said.
"And some charms to tell us whenever somebody does enter here." Professor Flitwick added.
"And we could charm some objects to sound like roosters should the basilisk come through again." Severus Snape added.
"Excellent suggestions." Dumbledore replied. Once the Board of Governors was satisfied with the measures taken to keep the students safe, Professor Dumbledore announced to the students not to enter Moaning Myrtle ever again. Knowing about the basilisk and not wanting anything to do with Myrtle was enough to keep any students from ever ignoring the warning.
Unfortunately, for Lockhart, before the Board of Governors left, Ronald Weasley approached them with his research. "My son told me about Lockhart releasing some Cornish Pixies and making the second-year students capture them after he failed to do so." Lucius Malfoy said, willing to do anything to discredit Dumbledore. "I think we should investigate this matter."
Board and Faculty reunited again. "Gilderoy Lockhart, your credentials are being questioned." Lucius Malfoy said. "Fortunately, there's an easy way to settle this. Just show us pensieve memories of you performing the heroic deeds that make you so famous."
Lockhart was now reminding them of the stuttering fool his predecessor pretended to be. "I-it's too dangerous. Those of you with weak minds won't stand watching them."
"We'll take the risk." Snape said with an angrier sneer than usual. "Just show us the memories."
"I'd love too but I just remembered I was called to help with some emergency in Calcutta. I'll hand my resignation letter as soon as I can. Bye." Lockhart then tried to run away but McGonagall stopped him.
"Severus, please fetch me some veritaserum." Dumbledore asked.
A few days later, at Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, the students were reading an article about Lockhart.
GILDEROY EXPOSED AS A FRAUD
By Rita Skeeter
Ronald Weasley, a pureblood student on his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, found some contradictions on Gilderoy Lockhart's self-proclaimed accomplishments and took them to the attention of Hogwarts' Board of Governors. When they demanded Lockhart to show pensieve memories to prove his heroic claims, Lockhart tried to run away but was stopped by Professor Minerva McGonagall and, under veritaserum, admitted to have taken credit for other people's heroics and used memory charms on those people so they'd not remember doing the things he falsely took credit for. Those people will have their memory restored and all people who bought Lockhart's books will be offered a total refund.
"Well, I am glad he's been unmasked." Pierre commented and his friends nodded in agreement.
"I hope he's sent to Azkaban." Dudley replied. "Hopefully the dementors will remove that stupid smile from Lockhart's face."
"It's official!" Harry said. "I'll never attend Hogwarts."
"Neither will we, Harry." Dudley, Pierre and Desiree replied. They then resumed working on their Transfiguration essays.
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