novelnext Chapter 155 Catching a Mouse: Lupin Asks His Close Friend
Chapter 155 Catching a Mouse: Lupin Asks His Close Friend
Chapter 156 (Seeking 10,000 Daily Votes) Catching a Mouse, Lu Ping Asks His Close Friend
Picking up where we left off, Harry taught Lockhart to cast a spell on the top of his head, which terrified Lockhart so much that he felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over his spine, and his undershirt was soaked with sweat.
The fellow, thinking Harry was testing his loyalty, hurriedly withdrew his hand, forcing a smile as he said:
"I assure you, Harry, I have absolutely no ill intentions. I stand firmly on the side of Hogwarts and all the professors and students."
"To be more precise, we're on your side!"
After saying that, he waved to a few students who were watching coldly from the ridge, but those young men just turned their noses up at the sky and seemed not to see him at all.
Harry waved his hand, and the group scattered like birds.
Harry flicked his sleeves, crossed his arms in a gesture of respect, and said with a smile, "Professor, please don't doubt me. I am not a cunning and scheming person like Professor Dumbledore who is easily tested."
"If you're willing to put in the effort today, then this year's royalties and bonuses can be completely written off!"
Upon hearing that the profit-sharing was cancelled, Lockhart was like a hungry fly seeing blood; he immediately perked up and pounded his chest loudly.
"no problem!"
Whether you want to forget your ex or get rid of painful memories, I can help you!
Harry chuckled and shook his head, saying, "Not at all. I don't intend to erase my memories; rather, I want to add and modify some thoughts, like Professor Celtic Burne did."
Having said that, he recounted the invisible blade and Dumbledore's thoughts one by one.
Upon hearing this, Lockhart's smile vanished, his brows furrowed, and he paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.
After a long pause, he hesitated before saying, "Oh... Harry, this is not a good situation to handle."
"Changing beliefs is a dangerous thing, especially for someone as firmly committed as you—it's like undergoing major surgery."
"If I accidentally altered any of your other thoughts, your mental problems might be even more serious than Professor Celticburn's."
Lockhart knew his own limitations and was about to decline when he saw Harry burst into laughter.
"Professor, don't panic! I've long since mastered the Occupational Technique. When the time comes, I'll simply lay out the memories of the monk and his companions for you, like opening a chest to retrieve treasure or taking something out of a bag. What's there to fear about making a mistake?"
Lockhart, upon hearing that he had mastered the technique of Occlumency, secretly gasped in admiration.
Damn it! I've studied Occlumency techniques for half my life and I still haven't learned it, and he's only in third grade and he's already mastered it.
No, it's more likely they'll know it by second grade...
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly his face lit up with joy, and he said confidently, "If that's the case, no problem, leave it to me!"
Harry raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Professor, you've already come up with a good plan so quickly?"
"Of course, I can add a memory to your memory, which is 'the blade of this knife does not exist'."
"Then connect the memories of 'the blade exists' and 'the blade does not exist' together, and control them with a thought switch."
"Under normal circumstances, your memory is in a state of 'the blade exists'. Once you have the thought that you hope the blade does not exist, this switch will change your belief to the subconscious 'the blade does not exist'."
"The same principle applies to the other side."
Lockhart spoke eloquently for a while, and fearing that Harry might not understand, he quickly explained, "It's like a parallel circuit in Muggles."
"You should know what a parallel circuit is, right? After all, you've been living with Muggles all this time."
Harry was silent for a moment, then suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, "Professor, isn't what you're saying just like the farmers' method of 'multiple channels for irrigation'? Open the sluice gates during droughts and close the dams during floods—it's truly a reliable system!"
Lockhart, who had only ever known how to write calligraphy, knew nothing of farming. He listened with wide eyes, as if he were in a complete fog.
Just as he was about to ask for more details, the Celtic Burn on the wooden frame suddenly spoke up:
"Mr. Potter meant to install a sluice gate at the source of the canal. If it doesn't rain, water can be released for irrigation, and if it rains, the sluice gate can be closed."
Lockhart exclaimed hastily, "Ah! That's exactly what I meant!"
Harry couldn't help but applaud, "Professor, what a brilliant mind you have! If you had followed the right path, you would have made a name for yourself and been a true hero. Why did you have to follow that villain and engage in this deceitful and fraudulent scheme?"
Lockhart's face flushed red after hearing these words, and he awkwardly rubbed the toes of his boots on the ground before quickly changing the subject.
"Well, I also got my inspiration from the wisdom of Muggles—you know, I'm not just saying I hope Muggles and wizards can live in peace."
Harry, not wanting to listen to his rambling, grabbed his wrist and dragged him away.
"Professor, stop spouting this useless nonsense. Let's find a quiet place to cast the spell as soon as possible!"
Lockhart stumbled, hastily said goodbye to Celtic Burne, and followed Harry away.
Seeing that they were heading towards the Screaming Shack, Lockhart was so shocked that his face turned ashen and his legs seemed to be rooted to the ground.
"Wait! Harry, you're going to the haunted house?! That place is haunted!"
"Just a few months ago, someone heard ghosts howling inside this house!"
"Ah! A true man born between heaven and earth, how can he fear the wronged souls of birds! Since I want you to go, I will protect you!"
Seeing his determination, Lockhart dared not say anything more and could only follow him with trepidation. When they arrived at the screaming shed, they saw waist-high weeds and a broken window that looked like the black mouth of a giant beast. The man was already half-dead.
Harry pushed open the door first, waved his wand, and a spell light circled the beams three times like a dragon, instantly covering the doors, windows and walls with a layer of restriction.
He then sat cross-legged amidst the accumulated dust and called out loudly, "Please, Professor, perform the spell!"
Lockhart looked around and, seeing no strange noises, finally felt at ease.
He then shakily raised his wand, aimed it at the back of Harry's head, and said, "One, forget everything."
A white light appeared at the tip of the staff, and when Lockhart examined it with his mind, he indeed saw only the treasured sword floating in his memory.
Fearing that Harry would question him if he watched too long, he quickly composed himself and fabricated a fictitious past event to insert into the story.
About an incense stick later, he finally put away his magic wand, his clothes soaked with sweat.
"Alright, Harry, I'm done."
Harry opened his eyes and carefully examined his memories, but found nothing unusual, which surprised him.
He laughed and said, "Professor, you truly have excellent skills. Even Hua Tuo would have to show you respect if he were alive."
Lockhart had no idea who Hua Tuo was; he was only focused on escaping the haunted house, so he hurriedly said, "If there are no problems, then I'll be going now."
"I still have some papers to grade at home, or rather, in my office."
"Professor, please feel free to leave."
Having received permission, he was about to leave in a panic.
He hurriedly took a few steps, but Harry was nowhere to be seen. Looking back, he saw Harry still sitting cross-legged, ready to draw his sword and test it.
"Uh... Harry? Aren't you leaving? We could try it outside the haunted house."
Harry paused, then said coldly, "I have a huge grudge to settle, Professor. Please leave and don't get involved."
Lockhart, having heard more secrets, was immediately struck by a relapse of his old ailment. Like a cat that has caught a whiff of fish, he had long since cast aside his fear. Instead, he felt ants crawling in his bones and his heart pounding wildly, determined to find out the truth.
He immediately stopped in his tracks, turned around and rushed back to Harry's side like a whirlwind, straightened his clothes and said solemnly:
"Harry, you should know that it is a professor's duty to help students solve their problems."
"You can tell me whatever difficulties you have—so what exactly are you talking about?"
Harry simply waved his hand dismissively: "Professor, shut up! This is not the time for conversation!"
"Harry, I'm determined to get the Outstanding Teaching Assistant award, and no matter what difficulties arise, I'm willing to stand in your way!"
Just as they were arguing, they heard a commotion of footsteps outside the door. Ron came in carrying Banban, calling out in a sweet voice:
"Oh~ Banban, I've missed you so much."
"I almost thought I was going to lose you forever."
"Professor Lupin, is this Shrieking Shack really a gateway to Hogwarts?"
Before the words were even finished, the two had already rushed into the dilapidated house.
Upon seeing Harry, the desperate man suddenly swung his arm in a wide arc, throwing the splattered object straight at Harry's face!
"Harry! It's your turn!"
Upon seeing the rat, Lockhart jumped up in fright, shrank his neck, and hid behind a pillar.
"Merlin's mustache! It's a rocket!"
"Don't come any closer! My skin is so smooth, you can't even see my pores!"
The scaly creature thrashed about in mid-air, but Harry simply tapped his wand, and a vine suddenly shot out from the ceiling and bound it tightly.
Ron went up to Harry, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a sigh of relief, "Thank goodness, this guy still believes I consider it a pet."
Lu Ping stepped forward, glanced at the squeaking rat, and said in a daze:
"I really wish you were just an ordinary mouse."
"But I also hope you're not."
He muttered something to himself for a moment, then raised his wand.
"No matter the outcome, I will lose a dear friend today."
(End of this chapter)