"It just so happens you're not going on a vacation trip?" Luke asked, aware of the envelope Hermione had received from Mr. Granger.
"I didn't want to go," Hermione admitted, a hint of resignation in her voice. She was staying behind, not wanting to be a burden during Luke's own busy schedule.
"The holiday is only two months away; we'll meet soon," Luke reassured her, opening the book in his hands.
He would be staying in Knockturn Alley for the next two months, provided nothing unusual came up. Bringing Hermione along didn't seem practical under the circumstances.
"I'm back with a present for you," Hermione said, squeezing Luke's hand under the table with a smile.
As the bell rang, signaling the start of Professor McGonagall's class, students began settling into their seats.
Unlike last semester, Professor McGonagall did not dive straight into the final exam content. Instead, she announced that this year's final would be based on choosing one of the practical spells they had learned throughout the year.
This news caused a few frowns among the students, as the range of Transfiguration spells covered was extensive—from turning a coin into a bird to a glass of water into a snake.
For Luke, this wasn't a challenge. He had mastered these spells back in his first year.
Even Hermione had learned a lot from staying with Luke. As a result, the upcoming semester exams didn't seem too challenging for them. Whether it was spells, potions, or history, they were well-prepared.
Although Luke hadn't paid much attention to the history of magic class, Hermione had diligently noted down all the details in her notebook, providing a comprehensive review.
As May arrived, the weather at Hogwarts grew hotter, prompting many students to shed their robes for lighter shirts. Luke had also left his green robe behind in the dormitory and was now wearing a black slim-fit shirt. He and Hermione were nestled in a quiet corner of the library, reviewing for their exams.
With only a month left before the end-of-semester exams, the usually quiet library was now packed with students studying hard. Even Fred and George were there.
"How do we review for the Dark Magic Defense class?" Hermione suddenly realized, looking through her notes. She didn't have anything from Lockhart's class.
Lockhart's teaching was so ineffective that it was impossible to take meaningful notes. His classes were mostly filled with anecdotes from his own biography, and he had only covered a few minor, impractical spells this semester. Some of these spells had even been taught by Professor Flitwick.
"He's not going to test us on stuff about himself, is he?" Harry asked, sounding worried.
Recalling Lockhart's previous exams, Harry remembered they were full of irrelevant ghost questions, which were more torturous than helpful.
"I don't think so," Luke reassured them. "Lockhart won't be testing on those."
Luke recalled that Lockhart had sought him out recently. He had announced with great confidence that he was leaving at the end of the semester because he had secured a position at the Ministry of Magic—as an Auror!
Lockhart had displayed a self-assured smile when sharing this news. Despite his limited skills, particularly with a master-level forgetting spell, Lockhart felt confident due to the ten magical rings he possessed and the undead body he had managed to acquire. With these assets and his network of contacts, he believed he could easily rise to a high position within the Ministry.
Luke couldn't help but admire Lockhart's foresight. Despite his shortcomings, Lockhart had managed to carve out a path for himself. It was a relief for Luke, as it meant he wouldn't have to get involved in arranging Lockhart's future plans.
"During the recent holiday, Luke has been quite busy."
"So Lockhart is leaving?" Hermione blinked her beautiful eyes, her long lashes curling.
Harry's face brightened at the news. "Great, Lockhart is finally leaving! God knows how much we suffered under him. Every day after writing his replies, he dragged me around for photos. I was in the newspaper with him every day!"
"Does that mean there's no exam content for our Defense Against the Dark Arts class?" Ronald leaned in to ask.
"You'll need to ask Headmaster Dumbledore about that," Luke replied. He was unsure about the final exam since Lockhart hadn't mentioned anything about it.
---
In the Headmaster's Office at Hogwarts:
"Girold, are you sure you want to leave Hogwarts?" Dumbledore asked, his gaze fixed on Lockhart, who was holding a suitcase.
"Yes, Headmaster Dumbledore," Lockhart said with a familiar, strained smile.
"You know I'm talented, so the Ministry of Magic offered me an Auror position."
"Oh, really?" Dumbledore's eyes, hidden behind his glasses, looked thoughtfully at Lockhart.
"...That spell is very difficult, and I used it subconsciously in times of crisis," Lockhart added, trying to deflect suspicion.
Lockhart was momentarily stunned but then shrugged with a forced smile. It seemed Dumbledore was a bit suspicious of his claims. Leaving Hogwarts early seemed like a good idea.
"Since you insist, I'll have the elf send you your salary," Dumbledore said, handing over the resignation papers.
"If there's nothing else, I'll... leave now?" Lockhart asked, trying to maintain his composure as he moved toward the door.
Just as he was about to open it, Dumbledore's serious voice stopped him. "You're the only good professor we've had in Defense Against the Dark Arts for so many years. Are you sure you don't want to stay for another year?"
Lockhart's mouth twitched. His own body was turned to ashes by Luke, and now his soul was being toyed with by that second-year wizard.