great-warnovel Chapter 164 Split Operations
Chapter 164 Split Operations
Chapter 164 Split Operations
Finally, after flying for another half hour, they landed.
This place is upstream from where we just gathered, a gentle slope of woodland by the river. Because of the broken terrain, it has not become a settlement for Muggles, but it is rich in resources and there are no particularly ferocious aberrant beasts. More importantly, it is not far from the location indicated by the Manifestation Charm on Draco's hand.
However, class still had to be attended first. Lockhart was very responsible, and although there were other important matters to attend to in this class, he had no intention of faking it or just filling in the gaps.
He explained in detail how to find a suitable temporary shelter in the wild, how to set up protective magic, and listed some commonly used ones, such as Peaceful Guardian, All-Encompassing Protection, Muggle Expulsion, and Deafening.
"I should mention that all of Professor Lockhart's spells will be learned before fifth grade."
"And these are all test points!" Flitwick interjected at the right moment, eliciting a chorus of groans.
Lockhart then went on to explain how to use spells to detect the toxicity of food, common edible wild animals, and how to mask the heat and smell of a campfire.
Second-grade students generally don't learn household magic like cooking spells, so they need to learn more basic things like baking food and controlling cooking fumes.
"Most people have mastered the fire-starting spell this year, so the fire-starting activity later will be a temporary test for the Charms class and will be included in the final grade," Flitwick added, and everyone immediately began to silently recite the spell.
Lockhart chuckled helplessly, "Professor, with you doing this, they're all losing interest in the lecture!"
Flitwick laughed and said, "If you're asking me for help, you should at least let me feel like I'm there for you."
Lockhart had no choice but to continue the lesson, explaining in detail how to obtain salt and the variations of the water-making spell. However, this part was a bit beyond the curriculum, because the students had not yet learned the water-making spell. Before the war, this spell was only taught in the fourth grade, and it involved many subtle variations and taboos.
"Alright, that covers most of the key points." Lockhart clapped his hands.
"The next period will be free practice, and as before, we will be in groups of two or three."
'
He glanced at Draco and Hermione without making a sound. "All groups, spread out and search this area for anything that can be used as food, whether it's animals or plants, or go catch fish in the nearby Royal River. But be careful, many of the aquatic creatures there are quite ferocious, don't get dragged down."
He then pointed to Draco and Hermione: "Mr. Malfoy, Miss Granger, you two are a pair."
The students could understand his deliberate division of labor, because no one wanted to be in a group with Draco, and Hermione was too strong; teaming up with Harry and the others would not serve the purpose of training them at all.
"Alright, everyone disperse!" Lockhart called out to everyone.
"Professor Flitwick, would you please come with me to patrol this area? I can't manage on my own once the students disperse," he said, turning to the Professor of Charms.
"Of course, that's what I'm here to do, and maybe even try the kids' cooking." He wiggled his metal hands, seemingly eager to try.
Hermione gave Lockhart a "wait for you" look, then pulled Draco away, their destination clear: the direction the Manifestation Charm was pointing.
"This letter L should stand for Professor, so this direction is the key to the Basilisk and Amycus Caro," Hermione said, recognizing the double-headed snake symbol that appeared on Draco's hand.
"The letter G clearly represents me, Granger, and the key to the door in this direction is Alecto Caro."
"Let's go, let's go to the professor's place first."
Draco asked with some concern, "Are you all okay? The Basilisk, the Death Eaters, and that cursed object specifically designed to target the Professor."
"The professor seems a bit dazed right now." As long as he leaves Hogwarts, Lockhart is constantly affected by the cursed object, and this effect gradually intensifies.
Hermione glanced at him. "Are you worried about us?"
Draco blushed instantly: "No way! I was just worried something might happen to you, and I wouldn't be able to explain it later!"
Hermione smiled confidently and said, "Don't worry, we've made a thorough plan."
"Of course Lockhart doesn't know either." He silently thought to himself.
There were no paths in the forest, and it was full of rocks and fallen dead trees, so they were not moving very fast. As a result, Lockhart caught up with them after a short while.
"Forgive me for being a little late; it took me some time to get rid of those young gentlemen and ladies." He made a lighthearted joke, feigning apology, seemingly completely unconcerned.
Lockhart cultivated a perfect personality for himself, appearing more composed and calm in times of crisis.
"It shouldn't be far, it's in this vicinity." The mark on Draco's hand became more and more vivid, almost jumping off his skin.
Sure enough, after bypassing two huge rocks that blocked their view, they found the key in a hollowed-out part of a giant tree.
It was so easy to spot that the Caro siblings went to great lengths to prevent Lockhart from falling into the trap.
It was a stone statue sculpted using shapeshifting magic, with two girls sitting close together, holding up a book—the first-year defense textbook, "Countering Danger: A Wasteland Survival Guide."
"Are the Carol siblings being sarcastic? The person who wrote the Wasteland Survival Guide ended up being buried in the Wasteland," Hermione joked.
"Heh, they even slipped my sisters' bone fragments into the book, trying to intensify my curse and make me lose my mind and grab it with my bare hands?" Lockhart sneered.
He wasn't in very good condition and was already experiencing some auditory hallucinations, but he still carefully used his wand to extract his sister's remains and seal them away.
He then took out a bottle of potion that could help resist the curse and drank it: "Alright, leave the rest to me, Draco, you take Hermione to her."
But Hermione didn't move. Instead, she turned to Draco and said, "Go find Harry and the other two and take them to touch the other Portkey."
"?" Draco thought he had misheard, and Lockhart looked equally bewildered.
"Wait, Hermione, what do you mean by this?"
Hermione stared into Lockhart's eyes: "I mean, leave the dark wizards to them, and I'll go with you."
"Are you kidding me? How could three second-year boys possibly handle the Carlo siblings, or even just one of them!" Draco shouted.
"That's their trial, just like you have to learn Occlumency in two months," Hermione said to Draco, immediately stunning him.
"Is she really this cruel to her own friends?" Draco thought to himself. He had assumed Hermione had only assigned him this death-or-death task as punishment for bringing the cursed object into the school.
Lockhart looked at the little witch thoughtfully and asked seriously, "Hermione, are you serious?"
"
She nodded and said firmly, "I believe in all three of them."
Lockhart looked at her, then smiled: "Then I believe you too."
He looked at Draco: "Go ahead, follow Hermione's instructions. Let me go with the strongest second-year student in Hogwarts history to confront the Basilisk of Slytherin!"