Lockhart of The Kaleidoscope

The shadows of the castle lengthened as evening descended on Hogwarts, casting an eerie glow over the ancient stone corridors. Gilderoy Lockhart had spent the past few days deep in thought, weighing the consequences of his latest actions. He had navigated the dangerous waters of Kuoh City, secured a powerful resource, and returned to Hogwarts with a treasure that few in the wizarding world could have access to—Phenex Tears. But now, the time had come to lay the groundwork for the next phase of his plan.

It wasn't long before he received an opportunity to engage with the very students who seemed to be at the center of everything strange happening at Hogwarts: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley—the so-called Golden Trio.

They entered his office as they had many times before, expecting another mundane meeting. Harry's eyes were wary, Hermione was clutching a book, and Ron seemed a little more relaxed, though the tension in the air was palpable. Gilderoy, as always, was wearing his most charismatic smile, though this time, he had something far more serious on his mind.

"Ah, Harry, Hermione, Ron!" Gilderoy greeted them with the usual enthusiasm, gesturing to the comfortable seats around his desk. "I'm so glad you stopped by. I've been meaning to have a word with you about something quite… delicate."

The trio exchanged glances. They had come to ask him questions about the Chamber of Secrets, which had once again become a topic of concern in the school, but the sudden seriousness in Gilderoy's tone piqued their curiosity.

Harry spoke first. "Professor, we wanted to talk to you about the Chamber of Secrets. We've been hearing things—rumors, mostly—but we need to know what's really going on."

Lockhart leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from jovial to thoughtful. He tapped his chin, as though pondering how much to reveal. Then, with a sigh, he leaned forward, placing his elbows on the desk.

"The Chamber of Secrets," he began in a low voice, "is not just a legend, Harry. It's very real, and it holds a dark, dangerous secret within its walls."

The three students leaned in, listening intently as Lockhart continued.

"You see, the chamber was built by Salazar Slytherin himself, one of the four founders of Hogwarts. It was designed to be a safe haven for something… far more dangerous than most people realize. Not just a beast, as some rumors suggest, but a dark power—one that can corrupt the very magic we rely on."

Ron's eyes widened, and he exchanged a nervous glance with Hermione. Harry remained focused, his brow furrowed with concern.

"But there's more," Gilderoy added, his voice lowering even further. "It's possible that the Chamber has already been opened."

Hermione's hand shot up in typical fashion, her eyes filled with a combination of dread and curiosity. "But, Professor Lockhart, if the Chamber has been opened… who could have done it? And why?"

Gilderoy's gaze flicked toward the door as if ensuring no one was eavesdropping. He took a deep breath before speaking again.

"That's the question, isn't it?" he said quietly. "You see, it wasn't supposed to be opened at all. But I have reason to believe that a Death Eater—perhaps one who has remained hidden all these years—may have found a way to unlock it. There are whispers, faint rumors, that this Death Eater is working in the shadows, trying to bring back a terrible power. One that bring back there old master..... Voldemort ."

Harry stiffened at the mention of Voldemort, and Hermione's eyes widened with fear and curiosity. Ron, who had been slouched in his chair, now sat upright, his face pale.

"But how can we stop them?" Harry asked, his voice tinged with determination. "If a Death Eater has opened the Chamber, what are we supposed to do?"

Lockhart smiled gently, admiring Harry's bravery, though he had no intention of letting the boy confront such danger without some sort of advantage. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the moment to sow trust and secure his position as the trio's unlikely ally.

"Don't worry, Harry, the professors will do everything in there power to protect their students. You and your friends don't need to do anything." Lockhart said softly. "but if some unforeseeable circumstances arise I have something that may help. You see, during my travels, I've come across certain… magical artifacts. Powerful, rare things that can protect you from almost anything."

He reached into his robes and pulled out three small vials, filled with a shimmering, golden liquid. He placed them gently on the desk, pushing them toward the trio.

"These," Gilderoy continued, "are vials of Phoenix Tears—extremely rare. They were given to me by a phoenix during one of my many adventures. The tears of a phoenix are known to heal any wound, cure poisons, and protect against dark magic. I'm giving these to you for protection."

Hermione's eyes widened in awe as she studied the vials. "Phoenix Tears?" she whispered. "But, Professor, phoenixes are so rare. How did you—?"

Gilderoy waved a hand dismissively. "Oh, it was during one of my expeditions, of course. I had to track down an ancient phoenix—an elusive creature, but one that I managed to charm into helping me. They aren't easy to come by, but I knew that you three might need them more than me. especially you Harry"

The trio stared at the vials, clearly impressed and grateful, though Hermione still had questions. "How do we use them?" she asked. "Are they for emergencies?"

"Exactly, Miss Granger," Gilderoy replied smoothly. "Each vial contains enough Phoenix Tears to heal even the most grievous injuries. But remember, they're rare. Only use them when absolutely necessary."

Harry took one of the vials, turning it over in his hand, marveling at the golden liquid inside. "Thank you, Professor," he said quietly, clearly unsure how to feel about the sudden generosity.

Ron, however, was less suspicious. "Blimey, these'll cost a fortune in the market"

Lockhart smiled, but inwardly, his mind was racing. He had lied, of course. The vials didn't contain Phoenix Tears at all—they held the powerful Phenex Tears he had obtained in Kuoh City. He had fabricated the story of obtaining the tears from a real phoenix, knowing that it would be easier for the trio to believe. After all, they trusted him—at least, for now.

The Phenex Tears were powerful, yes, but they were born from devil magic, not the purity of a phoenix. And while they could heal wounds and offer protection, their true nature was something Gilderoy intended to keep hidden. If Harry, Hermione, or Ron ever learned the truth—that these vials were the product of his dealings with devils—it could cause him a lot of trouble especially knowing wizarding world's stupid view about what's dark and what's light.

Harry pocketed the vial, his face set with determination. "We'll be careful, Professor."

Lockhart nodded solemnly, though inwardly, he was calculating his next move. He needed the trio to trust him, to see him as their ally in the coming days. But he also needed to keep his true motives hidden. The Chamber of Secrets, with its dark power and ancient magic, was a mystery that even he wasn't entirely sure he wanted to solve.

But chaos was something Gilderoy Lockhart thrived in.

"Good," he said finally, his voice calm but firm. "Remember what I've told you, and stay vigilant. The Chamber holds more than just a beast. There are forces at play that even we are still uncovering."

The trio stood to leave, their expressions serious but determined. As they walked toward the door, Lockhart's smile returned, though this time, it was tinged with something darker—something more calculated.

"One more thing," he called after them, stopping them in their tracks. "Should you encounter anything about the Chamber—anything beyond your control—come to me. I have… other resources at my disposal. We'll face it together."

Harry nodded, though his eyes held a trace of suspicion. Hermione, ever the thinker, gave Lockhart one last glance before following Ron out the door.

As the door clicked shut behind them, Lockhart leaned back in his chair, staring at the empty room. The vials of Phenex Tears had been given, the seeds of trust had been planted, and now it was only a matter of time before the Chamber revealed its secrets.

But Lockhart wasn't just concerned with the Chamber or even the Death Eater he had fabricated. He was playing a larger game—a game that stretched beyond Hogwarts and into dimensions no one else here could even dream of.

And as the days passed, Gilderoy knew that he would need more than just phoenix tears and stories to maintain his grip on the situation.

He would need power.

And power, as he had learned in Kuoh City, came with a price.