Request

Amosta understood what Professor McGonagall was worried about. He did not reply at once, but sat in silent thought. After a long while, he raised his head and calmly met Professor McGonagall's stern scrutiny.

"The key lies in making a choice, Professor."

Professor McGonagall's lips twitched. Intelligent and capable as she was, she could hardly have failed to anticipate what Amosta was going to say.

"A choice,"

Amosta continued, "We all know what kind of crisis Hogwarts is facing now, Professor McGonagall. None of us wants to see it come to that end. But if the current situation cannot be brought under control... or worse—"

Amosta caught the fleeting hesitation in Professor McGonagall's hawk-sharp eyes and spoke calmly,

"Before that Heir of the Chamber of Secrets has been exposed, the petrification of two young wizards will not be the end of this chain of events. Others will certainly be attacked next. Professor McGonagall, can you guarantee that petrification will be all that happens?"

Professor McGonagall's gaze flickered several times, and her breathing grew heavy.

"Reality may be brutally cruel, but it must be faced, because running away solves nothing," Amosta said rationally.

"I do not know why the person lurking in the shadows did not simply kill Colin Creevey and Justin Finch-Fletchley... Perhaps he merely enjoys the thrill of creating fear and has no desire to take a young wizard's life. But Professor McGonagall, are you going to place your hopes in an enemy's mercy?"

"I understand, Amosta—"

At the mention of the word "kill," Professor McGonagall's slender body swayed. She blew her nose, and her hard shell began to crumble.

"Dumbledore has said nothing, but I can see that he is also worried about the possibility you mentioned. But, Amosta, we are not the Ministry of Magic. We have no right to..."

"Freedom means nothing in the face of precious life."

Amosta raised his voice and rudely cut Professor McGonagall off.

"I understand what the school is worried about. Yes, I can imagine the criticism Hogwarts would face if the young wizards, their families, or public opinion learned that Hogwarts was monitoring their every move."

Amosta revealed the forceful side of his character as well, speaking with absolute certainty,

"But I do not think any of that matters. If our measures can save... even just one child's life, then no amount of doubt cast upon the school would be too high a price!"

Professor McGonagall fell silent. Tormented inside, the principles she had always upheld and her clear-headed reason were waging a fierce battle in her mind.

"If we followed my original idea, Professor McGonagall—"

Amosta rubbed his stomach. He was a little hungry.

"Gather everyone in the school in the Great Hall, then use Legilimency or Veritaserum on them one by one in the Entrance Hall. Those who pass can wait in the courtyard. We might wrap this whole thing up in less than a day!"

"Absolutely not!"

Professor McGonagall snapped awake, startled by Amosta's utterly unrestrained proposal. She immediately refused in the strongest terms,

"That would be a serious violation of the law, Amosta. If we did that, Hogwarts might be shut down before that Heir even made another move!"

Amosta shrugged, looking innocent. "It was only an idea, Professor. I had no intention of actually carrying it out."

Professor McGonagall was ultimately persuaded. It was inevitable. Unless she could come up with an effective solution next term, there were simply too many corridors, towers, and courtyards in Hogwarts Castle. The school's professors, prefects, and student council members could not possibly cover them all by increasing patrols alone.

And who said prefects and professors could not be attacked?

If that really happened, to say nothing of the young wizards, there were only a few people in the school with enough ability to handle such a dangerous situation.

"Do your best to keep this confidential, Amosta. Some young wizards..." Professor McGonagall chose her words carefully. "Especially those in Gryffindor... are rather fond of adventure."

Amosta readily agreed. Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, seemingly feeling that he had not realized just how troublesome certain Gryffindor young wizards could be.

"Would you like to go down and eat, Professor McGonagall?"

With the matter settled, Amosta was in fairly good spirits. He invited Professor McGonagall to have lunch with him in the Great Hall.

"No, I still have a great deal to deal with. I'll have the house-elves prepare something for me later."

Professor McGonagall stood and watched Amosta leave. But before he reached the door, she seemed to suddenly remember something and hastily called him back. Facing Amosta's puzzled look, she appeared somewhat troubled.

"There is something I only just thought of, Amosta. I have not had time to ask Headmaster Dumbledore for his opinion. Perhaps you could help..."

Amosta blinked. Professor McGonagall had always been decisive and efficient, never one to hesitate. What could possibly trouble her this much?

"Have you heard of Gilderoy Lockhart?"

Professor McGonagall's expression was rather interesting, half irritated and half helpless.

"If you mean the bestselling author..."

Amosta said in surprise, "I have indeed heard of him, Professor. His books are very famous. In many other European countries, I have seen people reading about his remarkable adventures. I have read them myself; they are quite entertaining. He is good at writing stories. Are you... asking whether I can get his autograph?"

"That has nothing to do with it!"

Professor McGonagall shook her head sharply, as though swatting away an annoying mosquito, and said crossly,

"He is teaching at the school now. Headmaster Dumbledore invited him."

"Oh!"

It seemed Professor McGonagall did not like the celebrity author. Amosta widened his eyes.

"Then I dare say he must be very popular with the young wizards... So?"

"How should I put this!"

Professor McGonagall was not the sort of person who liked discussing her colleagues behind their backs. It was not her way. But as the school's deputy headmistress, she had to be responsible for Hogwarts' teaching standards.

"Professor Lockhart may have some... I mean, writing skill, but he... well, does not seem particularly good at teaching. You know, Amosta, fifth-years face their O.W.L.s in the second half of the year, and seventh-years must also take their N.E.W.T.s. This is very important; it concerns the young wizards' futures. Several students have already come to me and said that they cannot get any help or improvement from Professor Lockhart... So I just thought..."

Professor McGonagall looked at Amosta expectantly.

"I was thinking that perhaps we could find him an assistant—"

Amosta frowned. His main task at Hogwarts was to find the Chamber of Secrets and obtain what Slytherin had left behind. His method was to monitor the young wizards and observe whose behavior was abnormal.

To do that, he had to remain in the monitoring room all day and could not leave.

Serving as a professor's assistant would mean leaving his post during the day. That would be putting the cart before the horse.

"If you are willing, I can discuss it with Headmaster Dumbledore and arrange for you to be paid at a full professor's salary."

Trying to bribe me with money, Professor McGonagall? That is not your usual style!

Amosta asked righteously,

"I will not have to mark homework, will I?... By the way, what subject does this Professor Lockhart teach? Sorry, I am not very good at Divination... Hmm, has Professor Kettleburn retired?"

"It is not Divination or Care of Magical Creatures, Amosta..."

Professor McGonagall looked unusually cautious. "Er... well, it is... it is Defence Against the Dark Arts."

Bang!

Amosta spun around briskly, slammed the door, and left.

"Sorry, goodbye!"