chapter 183 part 2
"Isn't it because you got soft-hearted?" Adams mumbled, his mouth full of a dessert.
"Alright, alright, I admit I got soft-hearted. It was because of a child, not even eleven years old. For such a young child to become a ghost—it's truly..."
William shook his head. "His parents were once professors at Hogwarts. Otherwise, he couldn't have entered the school at his age. He's the child of a former colleague, after all. I should help if I can. It's just a few conversations. I can't just watch him play hide-and-seek with me every day."
After successively helping two ghosts find the courage to move on, the other ghosts who had been around for centuries began observing him like crazy. They neither approached nor distanced themselves, just watching from afar occasionally, hiding whenever he noticed them. Ghosts don't need rest, so it was practically 24-hour surveillance, making it impossible for him to continue his investigation.
Several times, he had considered forcibly requesting the school authority to expel those ghosts, but in the end, it was that child who made his determined heart soften.
After setting some ground rules with the ghosts and setting aside time to talk with them, William's routine finally returned to normal. However, the extra conversations left him frazzled. As for the payments, they became rather unimportant after he helped yet another ghost choose to move on.
"So, are you going to take the brooch to Singeade for analysis?"
"Let's hold onto it for now. I'll take a batch over later. I feel bad for constantly troubling him," William said, opening a drawer. "This one wasn't explicitly given to me, so I'll just keep it in this drawer for now."
He opened another drawer. "You can pick one from here, though. These were all explicitly gifted to me. I'm just not too clear on their effects. Consider it a test of your sharp eye."
William simply placed the entire drawer on the table. The drawer, full of small trinkets, startled Adams.
It couldn't be helped. Aside from a few rare jewels, every item had a faint magical fluctuation. Any of them could be sold for a few Galleons.
"Did you rob a shop?"
"No. It's just that after hearing their stories, I lost the desire for appraisal. If you want to look, see if you can find anything useful." William was very zen about it—the problem he was facing was a top-tier treasure like the Diadem. His research hadn't progressed at all, and the items in this drawer wouldn't be much help.
"Then I won't be polite." Adams began to pick through the pile of trinkets, forgetting even about the desserts. William didn't bother saying anything, simply pulling the basket closer and eating cheerfully.
—
"It seems that Professor William has received another ghost." In Lockhart's office, these words appeared on the diary he was holding.
This made Lockhart's eyes turn a little red. He snatched up his beautiful quill and began writing furiously in the diary.
"What Professor William? I'm the Professor! Professor Lockhart, the great adventurer, Professor Lockhart!"
"You?" A single word and a large question mark appeared on the diary, dripping with sarcasm.
"Yes, of course, it's me! The great me! The amazing me!"
"Give it up. What's the use of your Professor Lockhart's Problems Solving Club? Great? What's so great about it! Do you really think your readers will find a club for tricking little schoolgirls more famous than one that solves the problems of ghosts?"
"What a joke—" the words on the diary appeared faster and faster. "Does Professor Lockhart truly believe those ghosts won't talk to others?"
"That's not true! It's not!~" Lockhart's face twisted. He frantically scratched at the diary with his quill, trying to erase those damned sentences.
"I am Lockhart! I am the great adventurer! I am the great Professor!"
"Is your 'greatness' the kind that can't even control a few pixies?"
The diary's mockery grew sharper, causing Lockhart to slam it shut and throw it far away.
But he quickly retrieved it and opened it again, his heart filled with guilt.
"You're scared, Lockhart—just like my former master, Dumbledore!"
Such words appeared on the diary.
"I'm not! I'm not, I'm not!"
Lockhart muttered to himself, but the quill in his hand wrote nothing in the diary.
This was a book of truth that reflected its owner's mind and offered suggestions for improvement—its previous master was Albus Dumbledore.
It was with the help of this great book, disguised as a diary, that Dumbledore became the greatest white wizard in history.
This is what the book told him when he found it.
He had dismissed such claims as a joke, but when the book clearly revealed that Professor Lockhart was actually an incompetent fool and offered suggestions for improvement, Lockhart was shaken.
Something that belonged to Dumbledore!
The very thing that helped him become the greatest wizard was right here in front of him. It could teach him so much. So what if it always stung his heart?
Dumbledore abandoned this book after becoming the most powerful wizard, so Lockhart could do the same. After all, Lockhart was born great, wasn't he?
The book gave excellent advice for improving his strength, telling him to talk to the students to gain a reputation within the school. That Ron Weasley was from the Weasley family, Harry's good friend. As long as Ron felt he was a good professor, it would be much more effective than dealing with Harry directly.
This was very true, wasn't it?
He had already heard Harry's friend speak well of him to Harry many times—it was much more effective than his old methods.
It even gave hints for his course. Although filled with sarcasm, they were undeniably effective.
As for the attack on students to create chaos, ha, that was his specialty.
Lockhart, who resolved the chaos, became a hero, didn't he?
Rescue students in one place, create a cover-up in another—a perfect plan. Even Dumbledore didn't suspect a thing.
But what followed was even harsher sarcasm from the book—
'But it doesn't matter. I'll throw you away sooner or later, after I become the greatest wizard!'
Lockhart took a breath and cast the thought aside. He needed to find some more hints.
(end of chapter)