A certain Hogwarts professor of runes

Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived at some point. Hermione was still wearing that huge mask and knitted hat, but her eyes had returned to their brown color.

This means she has become more skilled at light-weight transformations—or, of course, it could be due to the effects of Madam Pomfrey's potion.

Ron pulled Harry and Hermione aside, and they hid behind a pillar. He peered out and said, "Cornely Fudge, Lucius Malfoy, and Rita Skeeter! What's the occasion? All three nasty devils showing up at once!"

Harry asked, "Who is Cornelius Fudge?"

"He's the Minister for Magic, and my dad's boss. But he's a big shot. He looks down on my father's job, you know, dealing with Muggle items and such, and he's always been looked down upon..." Ron muttered.

Hermione's eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter, carefully observing her back.

"That woman is Rita Skeeter? She looks like she has terrible taste," Hermione remarked, criticizing her outfit.

"I agree with you. If you ask me, Lockhart is better than her in this respect. It's not like she's short of money... Oh, Merlin!" Ron suddenly wailed.

"What's wrong?"

"Look over there," Ron pointed in another direction, "Lockhart's here too, the four rascals are all together!"

Sure enough, Harry looked up and saw Gilderoy Lockhart, dressed in a magnificent robe, with a charming smile on his face, walking past the young wizards to greet Fudge and Lucius.

"He's like a peacock with its tail feathers spread." Ron's expression was full of resistance—he was supposed to report to Lockhart's office tonight.

Lockhart gave a graceful bow, his smile radiant. "Minister Fudge, Mr. Malfoy, it's an honor to meet you."

Fudge paused for a moment, then smiled broadly and extended both hands. "Mr. Lockhart, hello! I've read all your books, and I must admit, I've learned a great deal..."

Lockhart said modestly, "I just did what I was supposed to do, Minister. I can't just turn a blind eye to poor people in trouble."

Fudge said with a sigh, "There aren't many adventurers as responsible as you anymore."

Lockhart wanted to say something more, but Dumbledore stepped forward and said with a smile, "Fudge, let's take a look at the monster in the Chamber of Secrets first." He waved his wand, causing the invisible protective barrier around the basilisk to disappear.

"Oh, Dumbledore, yes, that's right." Fudge fiddled with the top hat in his hand, turned around, and ordered the tall, dark-skinned man beside him, "Kingsley, go check on him."

The man named Kingsley stepped over the railing and walked up to the basilisk. Wearing a pair of dragon-skin gloves, he carefully examined the basilisk's remains.

Felix didn't go forward. He saw a familiar figure—it was Luna, the Ravenclaw witch.

He walked over and stood beside her. "Luna."

"I really like the gift you gave me, Professor Hyp." Her eyes were fixed on Rita Skeeter's jeweled glasses, and she said in a singing voice, "I think she has a bad memory."

Why do you say that?

"She regretted leaving some important things at home," Luna said.

Felix watched Rita Skeeter, who was constantly directing her assistant to take photos, and remained noncommittal.

"Have you become friends with that little girl with the fiery hair?"

Luna looked at him in surprise. "We're friends now." She said thoughtfully, "I think the rooster doll I gave her played a significant role."

"Really!" Felix clicked his tongue.

Not long after, Kingsley reported to Fudge: "Minister, it's confirmed to be a basilisk, and there's no danger anymore."

"Very good, Kingsley." Fudge was about to take a closer look at the basilisk when he was stopped by Rita Skeeter's voice before he could take a step.

"Minister Fudge, I think we should take a picture together for tomorrow's front page," Skeeter said with a smile.

"Oh, of course, no problem."

The adults present stood in a row. Rita Skeeter rushed over and pulled Lockhart, who had taken the center position, aside. "This is your place!"

Lockhart stood reluctantly on the edge.

"Professor Flitwick?"

Flitwick waved his hand and stepped aside.

"Click!" The shutter sounded, and the photo was captured.

Fudge, Dumbledore, Malfoy, Professor McGonagall, and Kingsley stand together against the backdrop of the giant basilisk.

Having completed their task for the day, the group stood beside the basilisk. Fudge stepped forward, his belly protruding, and carefully observed the basilisk. "This is the thing that's been in Hogwarts for over a thousand years. How did it manage to hide itself from being discovered?"

Professor McGonagall explained, "Through the pipes that run throughout Hogwarts—the school has undergone several renovations, and the internal pipes are so numerous that few people can see the whole picture, and it has never been thoroughly investigated."

Fudge didn't speak, but whispered to Lucius beside him.

Lockhart joined in, examining the basilisk. "It doesn't seem too difficult to deal with. I once encountered a water monster that could fill half a lake." He tapped the basilisk's fangs with his wand, about to make a witty remark, when his wand suddenly emitted a "sizzling" sound. "Oh my god!" he exclaimed, frantically swinging his wand.

The young wizards watching from the sidelines, with remarkable foresight, quickly retreated more than ten meters, as if fleeing a famine.

But the Minister of Magic, who was looking down at the basilisk's head, was in trouble. A drop of something mixed with saliva and venom was splattered onto Fudge's face, causing him to let out a bloodcurdling scream.

Lucius Malfoy quickly erected a magical barrier, coldly observing the farce. He maintained the magic and retreated, but after only two steps, he was blocked by a ring of golden light.

Felix raised his wand at some point. "Young wizards, back off!"

Several professors were doing the same thing, and the protective magic of Flitwick, McGonagall, and Dumbledore made the center of the courtyard colorful.

Hagrid stretched out his large, fan-like hands, picked up the fallen wizards with one hand each, and pushed them far away.

But Lucius was closest to Fudge and Lockhart, and he was surrounded by layers of magic. A drop of venom mixed with saliva, trailing a string, was flicked onto his armor charm, making a sizzling sound.

He yelled, his face pale, "Stop, you idiot!"

Lockhart flicked his wand a few times before realizing what he had done. He stood flustered in front of Fudge, at a loss for what to do. "Oh, Minister Fudge, I'm sorry!"

But Fudge's screams grew louder and louder, his face turned completely black, and the blackening spread visibly.

The scene was a complete mess.

"Quiet!" Dumbledore shouted, dispelling the magic blocking his way. He stepped forward, pressed his wand against Fudge's face, and layers of golden light emanated from the tip of the wand, stopping the expanding black marks.

Dumbledore examined him carefully. "You need further treatment, Fudge. I need to take you to the university hospital."

"No, send me to San Mungo! My face is ruined! Gilderoy Lockhart, I'm going to lock you up in Azkaban #￥%&……#&……#" Fudge spat out a string of profanities.

"Oh, my God." Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, glaring at the frenzied Fudge, barely resisting the urge to cast a stunning spell on him. Finally, the Transfiguration professor yelled at the surrounding young wizards, "You, all of you young wizards! Get out of here and go to class!"

The young wizards scattered like birds and beasts.

Rita Skeeter excitedly grabbed the camera and frantically pressed the shutter button, her mouth agape, her two huge gold teeth gleaming in the sunlight.

"Look at that woman, I can see her back teeth!" Ron said, pointing at Rita Skeeter from behind a pillar in the yard. "She's got some big news today!"