I Am Gilderoy Snape

Harry added, "Yeah! Think back to when we first met, you tried to Transfiguration Scabbers, and there was no reaction at all, right? This time, at least you're halfway there."

Ron nodded, then suddenly remembered something, "If Professor McGonagall had been willing to give me extra points earlier..."

"Ahem!" He finished reviewing the list and said in a stern voice, "Going to the library to study is very studious! Ten points added to Gryffindor!"

Hermione encouraged them, "Keep this momentum going, and Professor McGonagall will definitely give you extra points in Transfiguration class!"

Harry turned to look at Hermione, pursing his lips without saying a word, as if he were observing something.

Hermione frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"

Harry gestured and said, "Suddenly I feel... like you've changed a lot, your way of speaking has changed... and you led the way in breaking School Rules... taking us to the washroom to brew Potions..."

"I remember last school year, back when Three-Headed Dog was around! It's completely different now!" He looked at Ron. "Ron, don't you think so?"

Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Is that not allowed? Do you want me to turn back into my old self?"

"Of course not!" Harry and Ron shook their heads repeatedly.

Ron laughed and said, "That's great! Absolutely great! That's how Gryffindor should be!"

"Professor McGonagall ..." Lockhart hurriedly packed his things, first putting the Love Potion perfume into the drawer, then gathering the messy envelopes and stuffing them all into the cabinet.

"Professor Lockhart, what's wrong?" Professor McGonagall asked, looking at the flustered Lockhart. "What trouble have you run into?"

"It's a minor issue, don't worry about it! It's already been resolved!" Lockhart wiped his brow. "Did you need something from me?"

"I have good news for you." Professor McGonagall produced a roll of parchment. "The application for the Duelling Club has been approved, and the date will be as you said... next Thursday evening."

"So fast!" Lockhart's eyes widened instantly. Although he saw Professor McGonagall's action, he didn't take the parchment offered to him...

"Yes! Because it is a very good suggestion." Professor McGonagall placed the parchment on the table. "Headmaster Dumbledore thinks it is very necessary to teach students how to duel."

"Hahaha..." Lockhart laughed awkwardly. "After all, I'm the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor! Adventures and duels are commonplace for me! Nobody knows more about dueling than me!"

He slowly unrolled the parchment, his gaze numb as he scanned the lines of writing, finally trembling as he read out the teaching assistant's name, "Severus... Snape?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Yes, he's a young professor. I think you two will get along better, since you're in the same age group."

"I remember you told us in the Great Hall that you got along very well with the young people and shared a lot of tips with us, saying that you could get closer to Professor Snape."

Lockhart's smile became even more strained, barely revealing his eight teeth. "Hahaha... yes... young professors are indeed easier to talk to..."

If today's events hadn't happened, he would at least have tried to communicate with Snape.

Even if Snape doesn't agree, as a Potions professor, or even a Potions Master, his strength shouldn't be too outrageous, making him a good candidate for the Duelling Club's assistant coach.

He still possessed a considerable amount of knowledge from others, enough to make him understand Snape's strength;

The speed and power of that silent Stunning Spell alone were something few wizards in his stored memories could match...

"It's a good thing for young people to interact more," Professor McGonagall nodded. "Do you need me to tidy up your office?"

"How could I trouble you, Professor McGonagall ..." Lockhart waved his hand. "I can take care of it myself."

"Alright, I won't bother you any longer," Professor McGonagall said, turning and leaving the office.

Once Lockhart was sure Professor McGonagall was far away, he slammed the door shut, almost slamming it against the frame.

Bang!

A gust of wind blew up the door, making Lockhart shiver.

At that moment, not only was the wind cold, but his body and mind were even colder.

Smash it!

They've been completely exposed!

This is Lockhart's thought at this moment.

Harry and the others saw him in such a disheveled state...

Snape even found out about his secret...

There's another Duelling Club next Thursday...

Lockhart's eyes flickered as he considered what he should do next. "There are still a few days left... what should I do now?"

"Yes! Leave Hogwarts! Leave England! Hide in the Muggle World... Anyway, I know exactly how Muggle should live..."

He put his wand in his pocket, glanced at the self-portrait on the wall, then looked around at the various decorations, and got up to start tidying up...

Decor, clothing, self-portraits, and book after book...

As the suitcase filled with more and more things, sweat gradually soaked through his clothes, and even his meticulously styled hair drooped down.

"What is this?" Lockhart picked up a plain black notebook. "TMRiddle? It looks like an ordinary notebook... Is it mine?"

For some reason, he suddenly felt much calmer, and a longing seemed to arise in his heart, a desire to try opening his notebook and writing something more.

This longing was so intense that it even suppressed his desire to escape.

Lockhart wiped the sweat from his brow, turned and sat down, rummaging through his suitcase for ink and a quill pen, pondering what to write.

The ink dripped from the tip of the quill pen directly onto the notebook and disappeared instantly.

"Disappeared?" Lockhart frowned, picking up his notebook to examine it. "There's nothing strange about it... It shouldn't be Dark Magic Items, right?"

He tried to recall those stored memories, but could not find the answers within them.

"It doesn't look like Dark Magic Items ... so it probably isn't Dark Magic Items, right?" Lockhart murmured, then put the notebook back on the table.

Just then, the notebook suddenly displayed text.

Could you please tell me your name? Dear sir... or madam?

"Writing appeared?" Lockhart opened his mouth, looked at the quill in his hand, and then wrote down a sentence, "I am Gild..."

He paused before continuing, "I am Gilderoy Snape."

[Mr. Snape, it's a pleasure to meet you... I can sense your hesitation and anxiety in your handwriting. What happened? Would you be willing to tell me? Perhaps I can help you.]

Lockhart picked up his pen and wrote, "Who are you?"

My name is Tom Riddle, a witness and recorder who documented the terrible past of Hogwarts and the hidden truths.

Lockhart raised an eyebrow. "The terrible history of Hogwarts? The covered-up truth? What have you been recording?"

Mr. Snape, did you know... that the Chamber of Secrets was opened fifty years ago? And only I... know what really happened back then!