Professor Lockhart had been attacked by the monster in the Chamber of Secrets and was seriously injured, falling into a coma.
The news spread through the school as if it had grown legs. Many of Lockhart's fans ran to the school hospital, hoping to visit him.
"Professor Lockhart has been petrified. It is not convenient for too many people to visit him at the moment."
Madam Pomfrey only let a few students in, and when they came back out, their faces were pale with fright.
"The professor really was petrified."
"It was terrifying. His face was still swollen."
"What exactly is the monster in the Chamber of Secrets?"
The students chattered nonstop, while Draco excitedly wrote to his father.
When Lucius saw the news, he immediately perked up.
This year, he had put the diary into Ginny's cauldron with the intention of using her to open the Chamber of Secrets.
Lucius did not believe the monster in the Chamber of Secrets could cause much trouble in front of Dumbledore. But as long as it killed a few students, he could use the opportunity to convene a Board of Governors meeting and sign a vote of no confidence against Dumbledore.
As long as Dumbledore was driven out of Hogwarts, he was confident he could push one of his own puppets into the position and take control of Hogwarts.
He had been waiting since the first day of term. After so long, the first attack had finally happened, and the victim was none other than the renowned Gilderoy Lockhart.
At his instigation, the Daily Prophet published article after article about Lockhart's past glories, using them to highlight the terror of the monster within Slytherin's Chamber of Secrets.
In just a few days, Hogwarts was gripped by panic.
"It's not enough yet." Kano