20demayo Chapter 217 True Talent
Chapter 217 True Talent
Chapter 217 True Talent
“My talent lies in something far more important—” He paused, the tip of his wand lightly tapping his temple, “right here, Professor Lynch. Human memory. Such a wondrous thing—it can be easily erased, altered, and also cleverly—unlocked, even reshaped.”
He let out a short, cheerful laugh, and the wand once again twirled nimbly between his fingers.
"Take the Oblivion Charm, for example. People always have some misunderstandings about the Oblivion Charm. They think it's just a little trick to erase bad memories or get rid of troublesome fans."
He shook his head, as if lamenting the ignorance of the world.
Lockhart and Lynch locked eyes, Lockhart's gaze filled with undisguised arrogance: "But in my hands, the Oblivion Charm is an art, an exquisitely detailed sculpture. I can peel away a memory, a thought, even a perception, with the precision of the most skilled craftsman removing the excess from a stone."
The tip of his wand hovered in the air, as if sketching an invisible picture.
"Justin Finley? That poor kid, he wasn't struck by some ancient petrification magic. I just—slightly modified my spell. I didn't erase his memory, Lynch, that was too crude. I selectively made him forget things—forget how to move his muscles, forget how to control his nerves, even forget how to feel his own body."
Lockhart broke into a bright smile.
"His consciousness was clear, or rather, partially clear, but trapped in a body he had forgotten how to control. From the outside, the effect was exactly the same as petrification, wasn't it? But in essence, it was merely an extremely sophisticated forgetting spell operating on the level of bodily perception. Even the healers at St. Mungo's couldn't detect it; they only detect traces of dark magic or curses. Who would have thought this was just—a small application of the memory realm?"
He glanced at Harry, who was still slumped in his seat.
"As for Mr. Potter, a milder version. He's simply temporarily forgotten how to respond to the outside world, immersed in—the tranquility I've arranged for him. You see, there's no need for those crude Stunning Curses or complicated Imperius Curses; a sufficiently skillful Forgetfulness Curse can solve almost everything."
A hint of undisguised surprise flashed in Lin Qi's dark eyes.
Lockhart's understanding and application of the Oblivion Curse truly exceeded all his expectations.
This is no longer the boastful liar, but a fanatic who has mastered a particular kind of magic to its extreme.
He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and continued to press, "Then, what about Professor Flitwick? He suddenly attacked Professor McGonagall, accusing us of being the masterminds behind the Hogwarts turmoil. Was that also the work of the Oblivion Charm?"
Upon hearing this question, Lockhart's smug expression vanished, replaced by a hint of regret.
He sighed softly, as if an artist were lamenting the imperfections of his work.
“Professor Flitwick—it’s a bit of a shame,” Lockhart said. “The most skillful forgetting spells are never just about erasing memories; that leaves glaring blanks and easily arouses suspicion. The real art lies in weaving—pulling away the old threads and seamlessly weaving in new ones. Just like my popular works, every detail is meticulously crafted, convincing even the person involved.”
He shook his head, tapping his wand impatiently against the palm of his other hand. "But I only had a short time in Professor Flitwick's office, it was too rushed. There was no opportunity for fine weaving, so I had to—well, take some more direct measures."
He looked up, a hint of regret in his eyes: "I can only simply implant one strong core understanding—"
Professor McGonagall and Professor Lynch are plotting something extremely detrimental to Hogwarts. As for the specifics, his brain automatically fills in the most logical details—usually the scenario he fears most in his subconscious. Then, it injects a sense of urgency that he must act immediately to stop them.
Lockhart shrugged, his tone tinged with reproach: "You see, the result is that—unaesthetically unappealing, overly crude reaction."
"What a pity. If there had been enough time to weave Professor Flitwick's memories, he would have been a more plausible candidate for the mastermind. Instead, he's just a crude, disposable tool to grab your attention and give me the opportunity to bring Harry to the Chamber of Secrets."
As he finished speaking, only the faint sound of rippling water remained in the secret room.
Lin Qi watched him quietly, the dark water beneath his feet reflecting the shadows of snakes coiled on the stone pillars.
"So, what's the ultimate goal?" Lynch's voice broke the silence, as calm as if discussing an academic question. "Going to such lengths, even risking revealing your true abilities in memory magic, what exactly is your purpose in bringing Harry here and opening this Chamber of Secrets?"
Lockhart's regret vanished instantly, replaced by a burning, greedy light.
He opened his arms as if to embrace the entire dark hall.
"For power and glory, Lynch! Salazar—the true legacy of Slytherin left here!" Lockhart's voice rose slightly with excitement, echoing in the empty chamber, as if he had already touched the power and glory he had longed for.
However, his burning gaze suddenly narrowed, fixing on Lin Qi like a spotlight, and a hint of coldness gradually appeared in his eyes.
"But besides that, there's an even more direct, more personal reason—" He paused, a cold smile playing on his lips, "for you, my dear colleague."
He lowered his arm, his wand pointing steadily at Lynch, a wide, undisguised smile of pleasure on his face.
"The seed of eradicating you was sown the moment I was forced to make a deal with you, exchanging those precious memories for your pitiful alchemical artifacts." His voice was laced with resentment. "Someone who knows my information channels" is like an imperfect memory, one that must be "pruned" away.
"Moreover," he changed his tone, looking at Lynch with disdain, "you, a theorist of unknown origin, what gives you the right to enjoy the same status as me, and even—win those things that should belong to me?"
Cautious respect? Your very existence is an offense against true talent!
"But the more I observe you, the more I realize that you are not as simple as you seem. You are a powerful practitioner, calm, sharp, and your reaction speed is probably astonishing. Under normal circumstances, even if I use all my memory magic, I may not be able to take you down easily by attacking from behind; the risk is too great."
His gaze swept over the surrounding eerie stone pillars, the coiled stone snakes seeming to come alive in the dim light.
“But here, everything is different!” Lockhart’s voice was filled with fervor, as if victory was assured. “In the Chamber of Secrets in Slytherin, with his power amplified, I controlled the situation! The ancient magic here will answer my call and amplify my power. Now, Professor Lynch,” he bowed slightly to Lynch, “you can go in peace. It is your honor to be the first sacrifice for the revival of Slytherin’s legacy.”