49. Nope.

"What are you doing?" Yue asked, lounging on the sofa as I continued writing my letters.

"Sending letters to the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Daily Prophet, and Dumbledore about Gilderoy Lockhart being a fraud. He's been using Obliviation on real heroes, stealing their stories, and claiming them as his own. If you think I'm going to sit through a year of that peacock strutting around, spewing nonsense, then you're dead wrong. I'd kill him within a week—same with Snape. Then Serenity wouldn't be able to walk straight because I'd reward her so hard!"

Serenity, who had been casually sharpening a dagger, smirked at the comment. "Now that's motivation," she purred, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

Rachel, sitting with a book in hand, gave me an unimpressed look. "You're really that petty?"

I turned to her, dead serious. "I survived a year of Snape's nonsense. You really expect me to deal with Lockhart's delusions of grandeur on top of that? The man can't even cast a basic defensive spell properly. And worst of all, he's completely and utterly incompetent. The students would be better off self-studying than learning from him."

Yue giggled. "So this is all about avoiding annoyance?"

"Absolutely," I confirmed. "If he gets removed before the year starts, I won't have to look at his smug, lying face every day."

Rachel sighed, flipping a page. "Fine. I actually agree with you, but you're ridiculous."

With a smirk, I rolled up the letters and sealed them. "I'll be back in a bit," I said, slipping the letters into my pocket.

~~~~

I walked into the Owl Post office, the scent of parchment and owl feathers filling the air. The shopkeeper barely spared me a glance as I approached the counter. Several cages lined the walls, filled with owls of all sizes and colors, their beady eyes watching me.

I placed the letters down and slid over a few Sickles. "Three deliveries. The addresses are on them."

The clerk gave a lazy nod, taking the coins and attaching the letters to three different owls. With a quiet hoot, they flew out of the open window, disappearing into the London sky.

Satisfied, I left the shop, blending back into the bustling crowd of Diagon Alley. The job was done, and now all I had to do was wait.

A Few Days Later

Breakfast at home was a relaxed affair. Rachel, Yue, Serenity, and I sat around the table, enjoying a peaceful morning—until the mailbox lit up showing a delivery, a copy of the Daily Prophet fell onto the table.

I reached for it and unfolded the paper, a grin forming as I read the front page.

"GILDEROY LOCKHART EXPOSED AS FRAUD—FACES AZKABAN SENTENCE!"

I let out a low chuckle as I skimmed through the article. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement had raided Lockhart's home and uncovered overwhelming evidence of illegal memory modifications. Dozens of witches and wizards had come forward, revealing that their heroic deeds had been stolen by Lockhart, their memories wiped clean by Obliviation charms.

Rachel, sipping her tea, grabbed the paper from my hands and read aloud in a flat tone.

"Sources from the Department of Magical Law Enforcement confirm that Gilderoy Lockhart, best-selling author and recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, has been arrested on multiple charges of memory charm abuse. A thorough investigation revealed that Lockhart used the charm Obliviate on numerous accomplished witches and wizards, erasing their memories and claiming their achievements as his own. Their friends and families noticing the oddity after visits from Lockhart and having them recive medical attention for lost memories. The Wizengamot has sentenced Lockhart to ten years in Azkaban, a lifetime ban from teaching, and the immediate revocation of his Order of Merlin. His books are now under review for removal from bookstores across the wizarding world."

Rachel set the paper down. "Well, looks like you won't be dealing with him this year."

I leaned back with a satisfied grin. "And I didn't even have to lift a finger beyond writing a few letters."

Yue smiled. "So, does this mean Snape is next?"

"One thing at a time, love," I said, taking a sip of tea. "One thing at a time."

Serenity, watching me smugly bask in victory, leaned in and whispered, "I look forward to my reward."

I blinked confused. "But you didn't even do anything?"

Serenity just smiled. "So? That doesn't mean you can't reward me."

Rachel groaned. "I hate all of you."

Yue just giggled.

---

Breakfast continued with an air of satisfaction as the group enjoyed the aftermath of Lockhart's downfall. The news of his conviction and sentencing made for an entertaining start to the day, but Yue, ever the planner, soon turned the conversation to more practical matters.

"So… who do you think they'll bring in to replace him?" she asked, tapping a finger against her teacup.

Rachel, still flipping through the paper, snorted. "Considering Dumbledore's track record? Probably another disaster."

I smirked. "Well, they can't do worse than Lockhart. At the very least, the next professor should actually be able to defend themselves."

Serenity leaned back in her chair, twirling a dagger between her fingers. "I could do it," she mused, clearly amused by the idea.

I chuckled. "You'd be an amazing Defense professor, but I don't think Dumbledore would be too keen on a professional assassin teaching children."

Rachel muttered under her breath, "He let a literal Death Eater run the Potions class, so I wouldn't put it past him."

I couldn't argue with that.

"So," Yue pressed, "who do you think it'll actually be?"

I considered for a moment. "Well, in the original timeline, Lockhart was supposed to be here, and we just got rid of him. So whoever they get, it's going to be a new variable."

Rachel frowned. "Doesn't that make things unpredictable?"

"Yes, but I doubt Dumbledore would bring in anyone outright dangerous," I reasoned. "Worst case scenario, we get some incompetent Ministry pawn or someone desperate enough to take the cursed job."

Yue nodded. "So, do we interfere?"

"Depends," I said. "If they're decent, we leave them be. If they're a problem, we handle it."

Serenity smiled knowingly. "I like that answer."

Yue giggled. "Of course you do."

Rachel sighed. "I just hope it's not someone completely useless again."

I smirked. "If it is, at least we won't have to suffer through a whole year of it."

Breakfast continued in peace, the group mentally preparing for the upcoming school year. With Lockhart out of the way, Lucius dead, the diary in hand, it was looking like it might be another nice and simple school year.