As Harley was about to finish her meal, Professor Lockhart walked into the Great Hall.
He wore a brightly colored, multicolored robe, a flamboyant hat, and a pair of glasses.
Professor Lockhart wore an exaggerated smile as he strode up to the High Table.
The professors glanced at him with disgust and shifted their chairs away.
Clearly, everyone had learned about his actions and blamed him for Professor Dumbledore's removal as Headmaster.
Lockhart, however, didn't care in the slightest. He cleared his throat and cast a Sonorus Charm on himself.
"My dear students, look! Your wise professor didn't lie to you!
"I've caught the culprit, the so-called Heir of Slytherin—and that's Rubeus Hagrid!
"He was caught by the Ministry of Magic fifty years ago, and the evidence was conclusive!
"It was only because Professor Dumbledore worked so hard to vouch for him that he was merely expelled from Hogwarts instead of facing further punishment."
At this, Professor Lockhart shook his head. "I don't mean to criticize Professor Dumbledore's kindness, but clearly, he wasn't a good judge of character..."
Professor Lockhart continued to prattle on, oblivious to the murderous looks from his colleagues and the students below.
Professor Dumbledore was immensely popular in three of the houses, with Gryffindor leading the way.
Now, everyone believed that Professor Lockhart had used a despicable trick to drive Professor Dumbledore out of Hogwarts.
So the Gryffindors, Ravenclaws, and Hufflepuffs all wanted to storm the stage and smash Professor Lockhart over the head.
As for the Slytherins, although they didn't like Dumbledore, they detested Lockhart even more for calling Hagrid the Heir of Slytherin!
It was a blatant insult! Hardly less insulting than praising Slytherin for being brave!
For the first time in Hogwarts history, more than three-quarters of the students agreed on one thing—