Shameless Lockhart and The Grey Lady

Led by Professor Flitwick, Scott and his group returned to Ravenclaw Tower.

However, as they climbed the spiral staircase, they found Lockhart standing neatly dressed outside the common room door.

"Oh! Holy shit!" Roger immediately cursed under his breath.

"You've returned, Filius!"

Lockhart's eyes lit up the moment he saw them, and he flashed a brilliant smile at Professor Flitwick.

"I felt the call of duty; I am needed here, a Defense Against the Dark Arts expert. You know, no one is better at handling these things than I am! So, I waited here in advance!"

He lifted his chin with pride, seemingly waiting for Professor Flitwick to beg for his help.

Professor Flitwick's expression looked as if he had just stepped in a pile of steaming dog shit.

Perhaps it was because the accidents involving Ravenclaw students over the past two days had put the professor in an extremely foul mood. He no longer had the patience to maintain his composure when facing a nuisance like Lockhart.

"This is an internal matter for Ravenclaw House, Professor Lockhart." Professor Flitwick said to Lockhart with a cold face, "I believe I am the Head of this House, and Dumbledore has entrusted this matter to me!"

"Don't say that, Filius." Lockhart's expression stiffened for a moment before he forced a wide grin, "Could it be that you've forgotten? I am also a graduate of Ravenclaw House."

"Yes, you once were." Professor Flitwick looked up at him coldly, "But you haven't been for a long time now."

Without waiting for Lockhart to say anything else, he continued: "Your help is not needed here, Lockhart. No one other than the students and the Head of House has ever entered the Ravenclaw common room!"

Despite the vast difference in height between the two wizards, the tall Lockhart was stunned by the aura erupting from the diminutive Professor Flitwick.

He changed his mind almost immediately.

"Very well. You are right, Filius. We must not break Ravenclaw tradition."

In the crowd, Eddie muttered gleefully, "Madam Pomfrey was in here yesterday."

The students nearby who heard him couldn't help but curl their lips into smiles.

Lockhart was still trying to save face.

"Of course, if you need help, you must notify me! Please remember, a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, and honorary member of the Defense Against the Dark Arts League is always ready to serve you!"

He gave a pretentious bow before leaving under Professor Flitwick's increasingly irritated gaze.

However, as he passed Scott, he stopped specifically to say a few words quickly.

"Oh, Trollope, you did quite well today, didn't you? Stealing the spotlight in front of everyone. But I think you still have room for improvement; perhaps you might need guidance from a seasoned professional."

"..."

Scott gave him a surprised look, and Lockhart's feigned friendly expression flickered before he finally turned and walked away for good.

Scott watched his retreating back with an indifferent gaze, unable to help but marvel at his thick skin.

"How dare he!" Roger said viciously, "He actually called himself an expert in front of Professor Flitwick!"

"That's nothing; you should know he did plenty of attention-seeking, foolish things back when he was a student." Eddie was showing off the information he had dug up again.

Unfortunately, no one was interested in Lockhart's old news at this moment.

Scott nudged his shoulder, "Let's go, the door to the common room is already open."

"Fine, we'll discuss this later." Eddie shrugged regretfully.

After entering the common room, Professor Flitwick first sought out the ghost lady who was wandering near the common room library.

"The Grey Lady!" He greeted her politely.

"Filius?" The Grey Lady, who had been facing the bookshelf, turned around to look at Professor Flitwick and the students gathered behind him.

Her expression was cold, yet there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Has something happened?" she asked in an indifferent tone.

"Oh, it's like this." Professor Flitwick recounted what had happened on the pitch.

"I know what you want to ask." The Grey Lady shook her head, "I can tell you, no. No one from outside the House has entered here."

Roger asked anxiously: "Then did you see, I mean, anyone enter our dormitory?"

"I do not pay attention to the boys' dormitories." The Grey Lady looked at him coldly.

"O...okay." Roger said weakly, "Thank you for your answer."

"I am going back to my reading."

The Grey Lady turned back to stare at the bookshelf, clearly not wanting to pay them any more mind.

"Alright, do not disturb The Grey Lady any further."

Professor Flitwick said, waving his hand at the other Ravenclaw students who had been following them.

"Everyone else, disperse."

But the students stood where they were, unmoving.

"Fine, fine, you may wait here for the results, but do not all crowd into Davis's dormitory." Professor Flitwick said helplessly.

"Davis, take me to your dormitory." He beckoned to Roger.

"Please follow me, Professor."

Roger took the lead, walking up the stairs toward the boys' dormitory, with Professor Flitwick following close behind him.

Scott and his other roommates followed as well. As for the members of the Quidditch team, Captain Bruce stopped the others and came along by himself.

Scott walked at the very back. As he stepped onto the stairs, he turned his head, his gaze locking precisely onto Jacob amidst the crowd in the common room.

At that moment, Jacob, who was standing alone in a corner, happened to be looking at him as well.

Their eyes met, and Jacob hurriedly looked away.

Scott curled his lips, then turned and walked up the stairs.

"Actually, I went back to the dormitory once before heading to the Quidditch pitch," he said to the others. "But I only dropped off my textbooks in a hurry and left; I didn't notice anything unusual."

"Actually, everyone could have guessed that already," Eddie muttered with a strange expression. "The only people who can enter our dormitory should be Ravenclaw students."

"Oh no, you can't say that, Eddie."

Milton's expression was somewhat dazed; he seemed completely unable to accept such a conjecture.

"M... maybe it's possible that someone else snuck in and did this without The Grey Lady noticing. After all, the question from the Eagle Door Knocker... it really isn't that difficult." His face scrunched up as he said this, clearly feeling uncomfortable with this theory as well.

"Face reality, Milton." Eddie sighed with a feigned air of maturity.

The group walked into the dormitory, and under Roger's guidance, Professor Flitwick began to examine the rectangular wooden chest where he kept his Quidditch gear.

"It's right here, Professor," Roger said. "My Quidditch robes, gloves, boots, and my Flying Broomstick are usually kept in this chest."

Scott also stepped a little closer.

He hadn't noticed anything when he came back to drop off his textbooks earlier, but now, sensing carefully, he immediately detected something abnormal.