Dar-Squito and the Thinking of You Potion

Tom Riddle's diary was put into a cloth bag, and Horatio provided his own voice-over: "Ding, another Voldemort Horcrux."

[Ding, Voldemort Horcrux +1, didn't you want me to announce it for you?]

"According to the usual plot of novels I've read, shouldn't you be giving me rewards?"

[Sorry, I've used up all my opportunities recently.]

"Tch, you always send me books. Can't you just give me skill points to add directly? I feel like my brain is growing."

[Sorry, that's an advanced system's ability. Shall I try to apply for it for you? They'll at most erase you for failing the mission.]

"No, this is fine. I'm tired of working in my previous life. Reading is good, I like reading."

After finishing the conversation with the artificial idiot, the system returned to its dormant state. Horatio's consciousness returned to the real world, but reality delivered a heavy blow.

Hermione looked at Horatio, who was clutching his stomach like a cooked crayfish: "Hmph, serves you right for provoking me."

Ron walked towards Hermione, looked at her affectionately, and then with a plop, knelt on the ground: "Please, big sister Hermione, save your little brother's life."

Mrs. Granger looked at Mr. Granger, who was excitedly shadowboxing nearby, and a few question marks appeared on her forehead.

Everyone decided to meet at Flourish and Blotts in an hour. Mr. Granger had originally planned to keep a close eye on Horatio, but he couldn't resist Arthur's enthusiasm and ended up going with Arthur to the Leaky Cauldron for a drink.

Before leaving, he handed something to Mrs. Granger and instructed her: "Keep an eye on that kid. If he dares to lay a hand on Hermione, finish him with this."

Mrs. Granger rolled her eyes at him, didn't take the item, and continued her conversation with Molly.

Horatio looked at the item in Mr. Granger's hand and thought it looked useful, like something Harry would have, something Ron would use for a fight, and something Voldemort could buy. His eye twitched involuntarily.

Fine, you're going to use this against me? Then I'd be remiss if I didn't park a Hippogriff outside your house.

"Hermione, want to go shopping? I'll treat you," Horatio invited Hermione.

Hermione had given Horatio a good whack earlier, and her anger had mostly subsided, so she replied: "Okay, thank you, Mr. Horatio."

Horatio then led Hermione to a bookstore in Diagon Alley, glancing back at Mr. Granger with a mocking look and a triumphant smile.

"No—" Mr. Granger let out a desperate wail, pulled away by Arthur towards the Leaky Cauldron at the end of Diagon Alley.

An hour later, everyone except Arthur and Mr. Granger had gathered at the entrance of Flourish and Blotts.

They were surprised to find a large crowd gathered outside the shop. A banner was hung from the upper floor:

"Gilderoy Lockhart Signing and Selling His Autobiography, The Magical Me."

Gilderoy Lockhart was seated behind a table, surrounded by large photos of himself. Lockhart, wearing a blue robe, winked at the crowd, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.

In front of him, a reporter from what called itself The Daily Prophet was constantly taking pictures of him.

Horatio, seeing Lockhart's flamboyant display, had a bold idea. He pulled Fred and George to a secluded corner.

"Do you guys want to get your brother on The Daily Prophet?" Horatio said mysteriously.

"Elaborate," Fred and George said, very interested.

Horatio took out a bag of powder and a bottle of potion from his cloth bag. "This is a new potion I developed by improving the Love Potion. I call it 'Thinking of You Potion.' Just a tiny bit can make someone fall madly in love with the person the powder is sprinkled on."

"You mean?"

"Think about it, if Lockhart were to passionately confess his love to a young wizard, wouldn't that make The Daily Prophet?"

Fred and George were very tempted but still asked, "Then how do we drug Lockhart?"

Horatio took out a transparent plastic box from his cloth bag. Inside the box was something the size of a mosquito. "This is a prototype drug-delivery machine I developed to frame Snape—the original Dar-Squito. It'll handle the drugging later. You just need to sprinkle the powder on Ron."

The three finalized the details in the corner, emitting eerie laughter. Sirius, passing by, shook his head.

When the three returned to the scene, Lockhart was posing for a photo with Harry.

A while later, George signaled to Horatio, indicating their task was complete.

Horatio then controlled the Dar-Squito, which had been filled with the potion, to fly towards Lockhart and land on his neck, injecting the Thinking of You Potion into his bloodstream.

Lockhart felt no abnormality. He gave Harry a copy of his autobiography and announced to the crowd that he would be the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry starting this September.

Warm applause erupted from the audience. Lockhart looked at the applauding crowd with satisfaction. Suddenly, he noticed a red-haired little boy next to Harry Potter. His fiery red hair, slender body, and tender face stirred his heartstrings.

Lockhart couldn't help but walk off the stage, approach Ron, push Harry aside, and ask affectionately, "May I ask your name?"

Ron, unaware of what was about to happen, thought Lockhart was simply admiring him and excitedly replied, "Mr. Lockhart, my name is Ron Weasley."

Lockhart grabbed Ron's hand and brought him onto the stage, excitedly announcing to the audience: "Today, I have met the love of my life, Mr. Ron Weasley, whom I will protect for all my days."

Lockhart turned, knelt on one knee, and confessed to Ron: "Mr. Ron Weasley, it was love at first sight. Every move you make captivates my heart. I have fallen in love with you. Will you be with me?" With that, he took Ron's hand and kissed his fingers.

"Wow!!!" The crowd erupted in cheers and thunderous applause. After all, it was England, understandable.

The reporter from The Daily Prophet clicked his camera so fast it was smoking, wanting to capture this moment.

"Be together! Be together!!" Fred and George egged them on from the crowd, and the audience joined them, shouting: "Be together!"

Ron stood helplessly on the stage, unable to break free from Lockhart. He looked towards Molly in the audience, hoping for her help. But what happened next filled him with despair: Molly was cheering and applauding with Mrs. Granger, their voices the loudest in the entire venue.

Ron couldn't handle the stimulation any longer. He closed his eyes and fainted.

Harry felt a chill run down his spine as he saw Horatio's satisfied smile. Horatio was too ruthless, how was Ron supposed to live through this?

The next day, Ron woke up and said, "I think I had a nightmare."

He found a newspaper weighing down a strip of white cloth on his bedside table and picked up the newspaper in confusion.

It was a copy of The Daily Prophet, and the headline read, "Shocking: The person The Magical Me's author Gilderoy Lockhart has fallen in love with is actually him!!"

Ron's vision went black, and he almost fainted again. He frantically tore up the newspaper and turned to look at the strip of white cloth on his bedside table.

You can't find it by searching the book title, maybe try searching the author, perhaps they just changed their name!