The Hunting Operation

Lockhart had been staring at Anduin so intently that he was starting to feel uneasy. He asked nervously, "What's wrong? Is there a problem? Do you know that witch?"

"Nothing..." Anduin smiled calmly. "I've just suddenly started to see you in a new light. Maybe there's somewhere better suited to you than the Ministry of Magic."

"Oh? Is that so?" Lockhart's heart leapt at this. He was sure Anduin had seen how cooperative he was and was going to let him off the hook.

"That's right. Stupefy!" Anduin sneered, then stunned him without further ado. He immediately opened a communicator. "Hog, come to the Defense Against the Dark Arts office."

A short while later, Hog poked his head cautiously through the doorway. "You called, sir?"

"Mm." Anduin nodded, then gestured toward Lockhart on the floor. "Drag him back to the institute and put him in containment!"

"So it's that old fraud..." Hog went over to Lockhart and grinned as he prodded him with a paw. Then he raised his brows in surprise. "You're not going to hand him over to Dumbledore?"

Hog knew all about Lockhart's situation. He'd known Anduin would deal with him sooner or later, but according to the original plan, they were going to hand him over to the Ministry of Magic. Why the change?

"Lockhart knows some secrets I'm interested in." Anduin put away the materials in his hand and murmured, "But I still need to verify them. And his account was too vague, so his memories need to be thoroughly examined."

"What about Dumbledore? It'll be hard to explain if you just detain a professor," Hog cautioned.

"Dumbledore knows what Lockhart's like. I can hand him over afterward." Anduin smiled dismissively. "Do as I said. Also, keep your eyes open over the next few days.