Hogwarts, Slytherin Chamber of Secrets, Underground Palace.
The originally dark and spacious underground palace now had a completely different look. The large areas of water on the ground had disappeared, leaving only the clean marble floor. All the debris and dust on the surrounding stone pillars were swept away, revealing densely packed runes that emitted faint light as magic power flowed through them.
In the middle of the underground palace stood a very conspicuous, simple cross. Tied to the cross was a blonde witch, none other than Rita Skeeter. A massive basilisk loomed nearby, its huge yellow eyes fixed on her with unsettling interest.
Standing across from Rita was Gilderoy Lockhart, who observed her with a mix of amusement and curiosity. He had initially planned to use Rita to dig into the pureblood families and wrote her the letter that led her here. He had emphasized his knowledge of her illegal Animagus status to ensure her compliance and hired a wizard to deliver the letter under the guise of a pureblood family.
Lockhart had expected Rita to follow the instructions, but her swift and decisive actions surprised him. She had stunned the messenger, used Veritaserum to extract information, and skillfully cast an Obliviate spell to erase her tracks. Her cunning and resourcefulness impressed Lockhart, leading him to reconsider his plans for her.
After regaining consciousness from being stunned, Rita found herself tied to the cross, face-to-face with the basilisk. Fear surged through her as she took in her surroundings. Lockhart's voice cut through her panic.
"Little snake, back off," he commanded gently. The basilisk retreated, and Rita's fear lessened slightly.
"Professor Lockhart," Rita gasped, recognizing him. Panic set in as she realized the precariousness of her situation. She had written numerous slanderous articles about Lockhart, questioning his character and abilities. Now, faced with him, her thoughts raced for a way to survive.
Rita attempted to transform into her Animagus form but was immediately paralyzed by a bolt of electricity.
"Rita Skeeter, don't waste your efforts. Your Animagus won't help you here," Lockhart said coldly. Disappointment flashed in Rita's eyes as she realized her predicament.
In a desperate attempt to save herself, Rita spoke rapidly. "Professor Lockhart, I didn't mean to write those reports. The pureblood families forced me to. They threatened me with losing my job and bankruptcy."
Lockhart's smile turned colder. "Shh," he hushed her, and she obediently fell silent.
"Ms. Skeeter, I read your reports," Lockhart continued. "Your writing is impressive. And your identity is why you're still alive."
Rita's mind spun rapidly, searching for a way to turn the situation in her favor. "Professor Lockhart, I can help you deal with the pureblood families," she said decisively. "My Animagus allows me to sneak into their homes and gather intelligence."
Lockhart studied her closely, his expression unreadable. Rita felt the pressure intensify.
"Eavesdropping and gathering intelligence, you can do that later," Lockhart said coldly. "Right now, I need you for something else."
Rita's heart pounded as she awaited Lockhart's next command, knowing her survival depended on her ability to prove her worth to him.
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