In the Defence Against the Dark Arts office, Kyle and Lockhart continued their back-and-forth exchange, with Lockhart jotting down every detail Kyle shared. If anyone had walked in, they might have mistaken him for a part-time journalist, meticulously documenting Kyle's story. After half an hour, a thick pile of parchment lay on the table.
"Amazing…" Lockhart said with admiration. "I've never met a young wizard quite like you. Such remarkable experiences at your age—you must have endless stories to tell."
Before Kyle's arrival at Hogwarts, Lockhart had only known him as the young wizard who had fended off a Werewolf at St. Mungo's, earning an Order of Merlin, Second Class. At the time, Lockhart had been rather resentful, feeling that the Order of Merlin was unfair. He had put so much effort into collecting stories, ridding villages of werewolves, and dispatching vampires, only to receive a third-class medal. Why had Kyle, for a single Werewolf, received a second-class one? Was it simply because he had connections?
Lockhart's initial impression of Kyle had been that of a lucky child who happened to know important people. If he'd had similar connections, surely he too would have received the same honor. But since becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Lockhart had learned more about Kyle's reputation. He discovered from older students that the Magical Creatures incident, which had shaken the British wizarding community two years prior, had also involved Kyle. As a first-year, Kyle had been captured by the infamous dark wizard Oren in the Forbidden Forest—and somehow managed to escape.
Lockhart was itching to dig deeper into that story, but for now, he turned his attention back to the Chamber of Secrets.
"The story's nothing special," Kyle said, brushing it off. "Just a bit more troublesome than usual."
"Another admirable quality: modesty," Lockhart noted, a pleased smile playing on his lips. "Now, let's return to the Chamber of Secrets."
He flipped through his notes. "Where were we… Ah, yes—the Founders. I'm sure they must have taught you some powerful Charms or ways to make yourself stronger."
He looked at Kyle with feigned casualness. "I know it's probably a lot to ask, but if you could share just one… it would satisfy my curiosity."
"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you, Professor," Kyle replied, shaking his head. "Forget about powerful Charms. They didn't teach me a single Lighting Charm."
"Really… I see," Lockhart sighed, pretending to accept this. "I understand if you don't want to share."
"I truly don't have anything to share, Professor," Kyle said, looking him directly in the eyes. "Learning magic requires consistent, step-by-step progress. Only ignorant charlatans claim you can pull out a 'secret manual' and become invincible."
Lockhart's gaze drifted to the window before he turned back to Kyle with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Well, I believe I've asked everything I needed," he said smoothly. "But there's one last… small matter."
Lockhart's tone grew darker as he drew his wand, pointing it at Kyle. "I'm truly sorry, my boy, but I'm going to have to cast a Memory Charm on you. My book doesn't allow for anyone else to steal the spotlight…"
Kyle, unfazed, took out his own wand, keeping his grip steady.
"So, Professor," he said calmly, "is this how you gathered all those stories in the first place?"
"You don't seem surprised," Lockhart replied, sounding almost disappointed.
"Not really," Kyle shrugged. "The way you acted in class… well, it didn't exactly scream 'Werewolf hunter.'"
"Yes, that's right—I'm the liar, the fraud, the fool, or whatever else you all call me behind my back. I know." Lockhart's voice was laced with bitterness, but he didn't deny it. "But my work is extensive. I find these people, ask them how they did it, and then… well, as I'm about to do with you, I erase their memories completely."
Lockhart's face twisted into a self-satisfied smile. "If there's one thing I'm truly proud of, it's my Memory Charms."
He pulled out a small, ornate notebook and tossed it toward Kyle. "Consider this a little compensation. It contains my notes on Memory Charms… and some of my… experiences."
Kyle caught the notebook, his wand still trained on Lockhart.
"Okay..."
"Professor," Kyle said suddenly, "I have one last question."
Lockhart looked at him impatiently. "Make it quick."
"What I just told you—every professor here knows, including Dumbledore. You can't erase their memories."
"I have my own ways," Lockhart replied dismissively, lifting his wand with a steady hand. "Now, say goodbye to your memories. Once forgotten…"
But before he could finish, Kyle's wand made a small motion, and the floor under Lockhart's feet suddenly buckled. Lockhart stumbled, his Memory Charm shooting harmlessly at the ceiling.
"Professor, that was…" Kyle started to say, but Lockhart fired another Memory Charm straight at him.
"Protego!" Kyle cast quickly. The Shield Charm rebounded the spell, sending it hurtling back toward Lockhart.
With a dull thud, Lockhart hit the floor, clutching his stomach and groaning.
"Nonverbal Spells, and maybe even Wandless Spells…" Kyle muttered, shaking his head as he bent to pick up the notebook. "You're full of surprises, Professor Lockhart. Sneak attacks can be risky, though… Not that I ever intended to let you pull it off."
"Bang!"
Just as Kyle retrieved the notebook, the door to the office flew open. Professor McGonagall burst in, followed by a group of Hit Wizards. At the front was Hadd, the captain of the Hit Wizard team who had been in charge during the Oren incident, and now head of the Hit Wizard Office.
"Gilderoy Lockhart," Hadd announced, "we have evidence of you tampering with the memories of others and passing off their achievements as your own. We are here to take you into custody for questioning by the Ministry."
Hadd raised his wand, but he quickly noted the unusual scene before him. The room looked as if it had been through a skirmish. Kyle stood with his wand in hand, while Lockhart lay on the ground, looking around with a dazed, vacant expression.
"Who are you? Who's Lockhart… and why am I on the floor?" Lockhart asked, blinking up at the crowd.
Hadd was momentarily taken aback. "What happened here?"
"He tried to use a Memory Charm on me," Kyle explained. "But it rebounded."
"That despicable trick…" Professor McGonagall said, clearly shaken and furious. She checked that Kyle was unharmed, then glared down at Lockhart. "Attempting that on a student! He got exactly what he deserved."
"Got what I deserved?" Lockhart repeated, blinking in confusion, his expression now almost endearing.
"It looks like we've had an accident here," Hadd said, signaling to one of the Hit Wizards, who moved over to inspect Lockhart.
After a few minutes, the Hit Wizard looked up from his examination and reported to Hadd. "Memory impairment. A serious one—it's consistent with a failed Memory Charm."
They then turned to inspect Kyle's wand.
"Sorry, kid, just a quick formality," Hadd assured Kyle. "It's a simple spell, won't affect your wand."
"No problem," Kyle replied, holding his wand out.
Hadd cast Prior Incantato, and between the two wands, a faint, misty shield appeared in the air.
"It is indeed the Shield Charm," Hadd confirmed.
The results from Lockhart's wand inspection came next. Another Hit Wizard handed it to Hadd. "Memory Charm," he said simply.
"Well," Hadd scoffed, "looks like our friend Mr. Smiley picked the wrong target this time."
He wasn't surprised that Kyle had managed to defend himself. One was the youngest-ever recipient of the Order of Merlin; the other, a fraud who knew little besides the Memory Charm. The result was almost predictable.
"Should we still take him back to the Ministry?" one of the Hit Wizards asked. "He's almost completely lost his memory. Even if we brought him in, it'd be impossible to conduct a trial…"
"A nuisance, that's what it is. Why did it have to be a Memory Charm?" Hadd muttered, thinking it over. "Let's send him to St. Mungo's first. We'll wait until his memory recovers enough for questioning."