Mysterious Journey

Chapter 1305: A Cross-Century Magical Speech (Part 1)

Chapter 1305: A Cross-Century Magic Speech (Part 1)


Judgment Day, Hogwarts, the trial platform in the center of the Quidditch pitch.


Gilderoy Lockhart stood on the stone platform, raising his head to look at the countless faces above.


Many years ago, on that night he inscribed his name on the pitch, he had also looked up like this.


Compared to the young and naive self of that time, he had clearly grown a lot now, yet it felt as if nothing had changed.


McGonagall was right, he was someone who desperately craved the attention of others—but the gaze he truly desired was not this fleeting curiosity, but the attention that the Fool Miss spoke of, which could last for thousands of years, cross forests, plains, and seas, and be imprinted in the legends passed down through generations and the progress of civilization.


“The world is fair and cruel, Mr. Hanged Man. If you want to gain something, you must give up another part…”


Eileen's voice echoed in Lockhart's mind. He continued to let his gaze linger above, finally landing on a woman in a white coat in the corner.


He hadn't fully told Arcis about the subsequent plan of this speech, or rather, he hadn't told her the full decision of the Great Arcana Council.


The magical world lacked a spiritual leader to ignite the fire, but Lockhart could only serve as the igniter, not become the leader.


In a sense, this might be his last speech in front of the world.


“What exactly do you want to do?! Gilderoy Lockhart!”


Just then, Kingsley's angry roar came from the front.


The time… had come.


Gilderoy Lockhart reluctantly retracted his gaze, closed his eyes, and breathed a sigh of relief.


Now, he would personally sever the past and ignite the spark of the new era.


“Ladies and gentlemen, members of the Ministry of Magic, members of the International Confederation of Wizards, and of course, my colleagues and students…”


Lockhart reopened his eyes, a brilliant smile blooming on his face, his white teeth gleaming in the sunlight.


“I am very sorry, I have been deceiving everyone for a long time.”


“Yes, the Ministry of Magic's accusations and those rumors are not wrong. I am a big liar.”


“The protagonists of the stories I wrote are not me. Some are old American wizards, some are Yorkshire witches, and some are Armenian demon hunters.”


Lockhart said unhurriedly, looking ahead frankly, his back straight, with no trace of guilt on his face, his voice steady and proud.


“That's right! I secretly attacked them, stole their memories, and wrote those wonderful autobiographical novels.”


“As for the reason? Oh, obviously, no one would want to read stories about ugly old witches or tasteless demon hunters—”


Accompanied by Lockhart's voice, there was a sudden uproar on the surrounding stands, and many people uttered angry and contemptuous curses.


Cornelius Fudge, on the other hand, had a confused expression on his face. He didn't quite understand what Lockhart was trying to do.


However, he quickly calmed down and took the initiative to respond to Lockhart's words… He should be the protagonist today, not Lockhart!


“Very well, Mr. Lockhart, it seems you have admitted to all the charges, so—”


“No, Mr. Fudge, not all…”


Lockhart shook his head with a smile, held up a finger, and corrected earnestly.


“In literary creation, the prototype may belong to someone, but the core of the story belongs to the author himself.”


“Those insights, thoughts, and wishes in the novels are my own. That is the author's expression.”


“…This is not a grammar class, Mr. Lockhart. I'm sorry, I'm not interested.”


Cornelius Fudge frowned and interrupted Lockhart rudely.


He took out a document from his pocket and glanced at it, clearing his throat.


“Then, Gilderoy Lockhart—I think you'd better keep quiet now and wait for your sentence.”


“As Minister of Magic, I announce that you will be sentenced to Azkaban for life for intentional assault, fraud, disturbing society, improper profit, colluding with dark creatures…”


Cornelius paused slightly and turned his head to look at several senior magical commissioners from the International Confederation of Wizards.


“Uh, and, repeatedly attempting to violate the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy and incite war…”


“A total of seventeen charges, sentenced to life imprisonment in Azkaban—”


“I said just now that I agree with all the penalties.”


Before Cornelius could finish speaking, Lockhart suddenly said.


His voice was calm and composed, but it had a power that made people quiet down unconsciously.


“Obviously, from a moral and legal perspective, there is nothing defensible about my past behavior.”


“If villains like me are not put in prison, then that is the biggest stain on the magical social order.”


Lockhart took a long breath and stood up straight to look at the countless faces above.


“However, the significance of legal judgment lies in deterrence and warning…”


“As a former professor at Hogwarts, a well-known writer in the magical world, and the winner of Witch Weekly's Most Charming Smile—”


Lockhart grinned, revealing a hearty smile, and said earnestly to Cornelius Fudge and others.


“I hope to say something before going to prison, lest they become as foolish as I am now.”


“…Hmph, anyway, I can't stop you from speaking now, can I?”


Cornelius Fudge snorted in dissatisfaction.


His gaze swept over the “amber” barrier next to Gilderoy Lockhart.


However, with Lockhart's voice, his expression improved slightly, and Fudge nodded to Kingsley, signaling him to retreat temporarily.


Anyway, Lockhart had pleaded guilty. When the “amber” disappeared, the Aurors of the Ministry of Magic could arrest him on the spot and send him directly to Azkaban prison.


“Thank you—”


Lockhart nodded elegantly, raised his head, and looked beyond the sky.


A few seconds later, he retracted his gaze and stood up straight.


“I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to return here, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry—”


“Here, to witness a fair, solemn, and free trial with everyone.”


At the same time, Eileen gently tapped the crystal shard on her seat.


Invisible magical ripples spread out along the sky, and the magic network was officially activated.


Hogsmeade Village, Diagon Alley, Lipps Magic Street, Magic Radio, the Leaky Cauldron…


The magic crystal balls that had been placed in advance lit up one after another, projecting somewhat blurry light and shadows in mid-air.


As the magical ripples spread, a magical video and audio with a five-minute delay appeared in all public places in the magical society.


…………


“Eh, what's that—”


“Old John, does the Leaky Cauldron have new features again?”


Diagon Alley, the Leaky Cauldron, a London institution.


A drunken patron frowned slightly as he looked at the magical light and shadow in mid-air.


“Wait, I know him—isn't that Gilderoy Lockhart? That big talker?”


“Oh, maybe. Just treat it as a show.”


John Aybo wiped a glass and slowly looked up at the light and shadow, responding casually.


“The Ministry of Magic Aurors came here a few days ago and installed this for me for free, saying they wanted to promote the trial of some criminal…”


“Well, that's no ordinary criminal—he almost became Minister of Magic.”


Another old witch said, tapping her shriveled pipe and chuckling.


“If you ask me, the Ministry of Magic is going to have some fun this time…”


“Where else can you find a criminal as handsome and sunny as him?”