Agent Mikel

The Christmas holidays came to a quick end, and the students boarded trains and returned to Hogwarts, making the once quiet castle noisy again.

After the holiday, the fear brought about by the attack seemed to have eased considerably, and everyone appeared to be chatting and laughing, unlike before leaving school when they were filled with anxiety.

Perhaps, in their view, the professors had already dealt with the monster in the Chamber of Secrets during their vacation.

Anyway, that's what Lockhart said.

The professor was the first to leave the school; he even left before the students. He left hastily after the last Defence Against the Dark Arts, without even attending the final dinner.

No one knows what he went through during his vacation, or what rumors he heard, but when he came back, he announced in a grand manner that... he had solved the Chamber of Secrets.

While Kyle was waiting for someone near the Entrance Hall, he inadvertently saw him talking to Professor McGonagall.

"I don't think there will be any more trouble, Minerva."

Lockhart's voice was loud. "I don't think the Chamber of Secrets will ever be opened again this time, because I've found the true successor. But I've decided to give him a chance, and if he's smart enough, he won't keep messing around."

Many people heard his words; some believed them, and some did not, but in any case, they at least provided some comfort.

It's worth mentioning, however, that five minutes earlier, Lockhart had said the same thing to Professor Flitwick in the same spot...

Ten minutes ago, it was Professor Sprout...

Kyle was there.

No matter who Lockhart was talking to, not a single word of his speech changed, as if it were lines he had memorized in advance.

Professor McGonagall left quickly. Lockhart stood there, looking around, presumably searching for his next target.

In order of appearances, he's probably looking for Snape... but that task is a bit too difficult.

It was unclear whether Snape would ignore him or patiently listen to the whole thing...

Of course, it's also possible to silence him temporarily with a Langlock, or to silence him forever with Sectumsempra.

All of these are possible.

Kyle was quite keen to stay and observe, but just then, the person he was looking for arrived.

Cedric walked up the stone steps into the castle and went straight over to Kyle when he saw him.

"I've already asked for you."

He handed Kyle a gold chain, saying, "I don't know of any store with this decoration, including Diagon Alley."

"Nothing similar?" Kyle frowned.

"No." Cedric thought for a moment, then continued, "But I didn't go to Knockturn Alley; my dad won't let me go there..."

"It's alright, this is enough." Kyle shook his head and said, "People in Knockturn Alley rarely tell the truth, going there won't make a difference."

"You're right..." Cedric and Kyle walked into the Great Hall together. "I was just about to ask, what exactly is this?"

"I don't know either," Kyle said. "I found it, and I feel it might be related to the recent attacks. That's why I asked you to help me find out what it is."

"You mean... Chamber of Secrets?" Cedric paused, then, perhaps realizing his voice was a bit loud, quickly lowered it and asked, "Are you sure?"

"It's just a guess; maybe it's just a decoration on the clothes."

Can I take another look?

"Of course," Kyle glanced at the object in his hand, then casually handed it to Cedric. "You can have it, but be careful not to get too close to the fireplace, or it might turn back."

"Is this Transfiguration?" Cedric looked at Kyle in surprise; he hadn't noticed it at all before.

The banquet began shortly after the two sat down at the long dining table.

Dumbledore, dressed in a light blue robe, was chatting with Professor Trelawney taught Divination.

Speaking of Divination Class... Kyle suddenly realized that he hadn't attended a single Divination Class since the start of the semester.

According to his classmates, he's practically become a teaching prop for Divination Class, Professor Trelawney is very unhappy about. Before the holidays, she even said...

"I'm so sorry, if he doesn't come to the Divination Class soon, he'll be leaving us forever next semester."

Mikel and Ryan even advised him to take a Divination Class when he had some free time.

Kyle originally wanted to go, but unfortunately, Divination conflicted with Ancient Runes, so he had to give up one of them.

Ancient Runes are definitely not something he can give up. Without Riddle as his tutor, he can only ask Babbling about the problems he encounters with Ancient Runes... and only once a week.

Because apart from class time, no one knew where Babbling was at other times; she was nowhere to be seen in the entire castle.

So Kyle had to give up the Divination Class and didn't go.

I reckon his name will probably become a "teaching prop" in Divination Class once the second semester starts.

Beside Dumbledore stood Professor McGonagall, her expression serious, and Lockhart, his eyebrows dancing with excitement.

Lockhart seemed particularly pleased; he even brought out a bottle of whiskey, intending to have a few drinks with the other professors.

Everyone refused. Professor McGonagall pursed her lips, seemingly displeased with his drinking hard liquor at school, but Dumbledore didn't object, so she didn't say anything.

After the banquet ended, a dazed Lockhart stood up and repeated what he had said to the professor earlier.

A cheer immediately erupted from the surrounding crowd.

Lockhart also stated that he will be publishing a new book about Hogwarts and the Chamber of Secrets of Secrets, in which all the students will be the main characters.

The cheers grew even louder.

However, a small number of students remained unmoved; they no longer believed anything Lockhart said and simply assumed he was drunk and acting out.

Back in the Hufflepuff Common Room, some students, as usual, sat on the sofas to finish their holiday homework.

Kyle handed his homework to Mikel.

"Thank you," Mikel said happily. "I'm five inches short of finishing my Potions Class, and I'll never finish it!"

While he was catching up on his homework, Kyle asked, "Have you noticed anyone in Slytherin behaving strangely lately?"

When Mikel said he was going to the Slytherin Common Room to gather information, he wasn't just talking; he actually went.

Even more outrageous, he succeeded. By claiming that his face was swollen from a three-tailed bee sting, he managed to blend in with a group of Slytherin students who had just finished their Care of Magical Creatures, followed them into the common room, and secretly memorized the password.

However, he was later discovered for some reason, and because of this, Snape deducted fifty points from Hufflepuff.