Chapter 38 - Dueling club part 1 (2/2)

Neal wrote, ”can you now tell me about what happened the last time chamber opened? You told me that you were the one who caught the one who unleashed the monster”. Tom Riddle replied, ”It was done by someone who was protected by Prof. Dumbledore. I'll just show you my memory of it”.

After a while, Neal wrote, ”so, are you saying that the monster that was in the chamber was an Acromantula?”. Tom Riddle replied, ”either that or there wasn't a monster in the chamber, to begin with”.

Then Tom Riddle once again offered his help with his studies to which Neal replied, ”I'm currently on a vacation. We'll talk about it after I return to Hogwarts”. Later, after closing the book he thought, ”utter lies. He told that it's just a memory of him.

Then how can memories lie? He probably doesn't know the truth about the chamber of secrets and thought Aragog is the monster in the chamber? That's why Hagrid got expelled?

Hmm, he said they even gave a trophy for catching the culprit which made the school reopen. I think I should try to find his history to see what type of person he was. Tom Riddle told that he even became a head boy, last time, right? Let's check from there. Or should I just ask Dumbledore?”.

Christmas vacation is over. Neal returned to Hogwarts like everyone else.

A week later, Neal and Daphne are walking across the entrance hall where they saw a few people gathered around a notice board, reading a piece of parchment that had just been pinned up. Draco hastened his steps towards them. Daphne asked him, ”what's the matter Draco?”.

He replied excitedly, ”they are going to start a Dueling Club. Tonight is the first demonstration for the first and second years at sharp 8 P.M”. Hearing that Neal simply nodded and went on his way while Daphne ran after him, ”wait for me”.

Draco was confused, ”isn't it good news?”. later, at 8 p.m, the first years are standing on the left side and the second years are standing on the right side of the Dueling platform looking a bit hopeless as they saw Prof. Lockhart and Pof. Snape standing on the platform together.

Lockhart then spoke loud, ”ok, students. Listen up. Now, Professor Dumbledore has granted me permission to start this little dueling club, to train you all in case you ever need to defend yourselves as I, myself have done on countless occasions. For full details, see my published works.

Let me introduce you to my Assistant, Prof. Snape”. With a wide flash smile, he continued to speak, ”he told me that he has a tiny little bit of knowledge about Dueling and agreed to help me with a short demonstration before you begin”.

When the students saw Prof. Snape's expression whose upper lip was curling, they all had only one thought, ”Prof. Lockhart, rest in peace”. As they walk toward the end of the platform and take their stances, Lockhart said, ”ok, on the count of 3,2,1...”

Before he gets to even spell out, Snape fired, ”Expelliarmus”. There was a dazzling scarlet flash and hit Lockhart who was blasted off his feet, flew backward off the stage and smashed into the wall and fell on the floor.

Malfoy looked at the motionless Lockhart who wasn't getting up even after 10 seconds passed and whispered to Neal, ”don't tell me he is dead”.