Chapter 46

The moment Tony Stark and Remus Lupin stepped into the corridor, Professor Flitwick—a small man with wild grey hair and sharp eyes—scurried behind them with remarkable speed. Despite his size, the tiny Charms Master kept pace, wand already out, face stern with rare determination.

If what Stark said is true, Then he will not let his guard down.

The corridor buzzed with chatter as students began exiting their classrooms, their eyes immediately drawn to the walking suit of armor. A few gasped. Several Muggleborn students went wide-eyed with recognition.

"Bloody hell—is that Iron Man?" a fifth-year Hufflepuff whispered.

"No way—what's he doing here?!"

Students parted like the Red Sea, too stunned to speak or blocking the way.

At the far end of the hall, Gilderoy Lockhart stood in his usual dramatic pose—chest out, smile dazzling—as he leaned far too close to Harry Potter, who looked uncomfortable and annoyed. Hermione and Ron stood protectively on either side of their friend, eyes narrowing.

Hermione's eyes widened in disbelief upon seeing Iron man, she knew who is it. "What are you doing here?"

Ron blinked. "Bloody hell, what kind of armour is that?! And who is he...?" It's so shiny!

Harry's heart stuttered for a moment. He had no idea what Tony was about to do, but part of him couldn't help but hope it involved explosions—or at least humiliation.

Tony slowed to a stop just in front of the group. He smirk.

"Well," Tony said casually, "thought I'd drop by your charming castle. Lovely stonework. Drafty corridors. Extremely questionable hiring practices."

Remus stepped up beside him, wand out, eyes on Lockhart with utter contempt. Professor Flitwick followed suit, raising his wand as well. Students gasped.

Lockhart's dazzling smile faltered as he looked between the three men. "W-What's going on? Is this some kind of—of demonstration?"

Tony's voice turned sharp. "No, Lockhart. This is called a reckoning. Sirius warn you... I warned too... But it seems like your head is too thick... So, here I am..."

Hermione moved beside Harry, clearly just as confused but sensing something serious was happening while grab his and Ron's hand backing them away. Smart kid.

Tony glanced at her, then at Harry. "Hey, kid. You alright?"

Harry nodded slowly, though his voice was cautious. "You're… you're not going to kill him, right?"

Tony's smirk turned into a grin. "Tempting. But no. Public humiliation will do for now."

Lockhart laughed nervously, raising his hands. "Now, wait a moment—surely there's been some mistakes and misunderstanding—"

"You are the misunderstanding," Remus cut in coldly, his voice razor-sharp.

"And you are a mistake" Tony adds. "Seriously, Remus! Use the first word then second"

Professor Flitwick stepped forward. "Gilderoy Lockhart, you are to come with us immediately. There are very serious allegations that require your full cooperation."

"What allegations?" Lockhart squeaked, eyes darting nervously between the three.

Remus leaned in just slightly. "How about: plagiarism. Memory charms. Fraud. Want me to keep going?"

Lockhart paled.

Students were now whispering wildly. Some from older years were already pulling out their notebooks, sensing gossip gold.

"W-Where's the Headmaster?" Lockhart stammered.

Tony straightened. "Waiting. Along with some very angry professors, and Amelia Bones, the Head of the DMLE. So if you don't want to be dragged by your perfectly styled hair, I suggest you walk."

Lockhart looked to the kids for help, but even his own star-struck admirers looked unsure.

Harry crossed his arms. "I think you should go."

Hermione nodded. "You're not fooling anyone anymore."

He's trap. Fuck, Everything is ending too fast for him! No, He won't go down this easy!

"Well... I think-" Lockhart move to grab Harry and wand out to hold him hostage only to get blast by none other than Tony who didn't hesitate to use his blaster sending Gilderoy on the floor like a bouncing ball, the students screams in shocked, surprised and look where their Ex-DADA Professor landed in uncomfortable position.

Flitwick look awed. "Oh! How did you do that, Mr.Stark?"

Tony smirk at the tiny Professor. "Science"

Remus shook his head. "I can't believe- Oh Merlin, he's so fucking stupid!" He lower his wand and looks at Harry and other two children. "Three of you, head back to your dorms" Then he looks at the rest. "All of you!"

Flitwick shout at the student seeing they didn't move and instantly walks away back to the dorm whispering to each other about what just happened and all. It was gonna be huge gossip and probably wake up call for so call Pureblood seeing what happened before them. Their views of muggles might change. Little bit.

"You didn't kill him, did you?" Remus asked as he moved where Lockhart was knock out on the stone floor.

"Of course not, I made sure it didn't kill him" Tony tells him with offended voice. "Come on! Sure, I want him beat up but dead? Not until I am done with him!"

Remus deadpan said "You and Sirius had great bonding it seems"

"Furry, my friend, I am the influencer, he's just my side kick"

"Of course"

"Gentleman" Flitwick squeak voice got their attention as they look at the professor. "How about we take him back at office first then have a conversation? With Firewhiskey, no?"

"Huh! I never had that, Sure, sounds good! Although you got wine?"

"Yes"

"Perfect, you are adopted"

"....Pardon?"

———

The Headmaster's office had never felt more crowded.

Amelia Bones stood at the center like a storm in a calm, her monocle gleaming with sharp focus. Beside her was Alastor Moody, pacing slightly, magical eye spinning. Professors McGonagall, Sprout, Flitwick, and even Snape lined the curved walls, tension crackling between them.

Sirius and Johnny were patiently waiting for Tony, Remus and Professor Flitwick to return back with the Fraud.

At the far end, Dumbledore sat quietly in his high-backed chair, his expression unreadable. He looked older than usual—perhaps because he knew the fire was coming.

The door swung open, and in walked Tony Stark in his Iron Man suit, follow by Remus Lupin and Professor Flitwick. Tony drag Lockhart and throw him in the middle of the room.

"He's knock out, Can someone wake him up?" He said.

"Already on it" Moody darkly grin and point his wand at Lockhart, he mutter something and the spell hit Lockhart who wakes up in pain and scream.

"I would feel bad what you did just now but I love it" Tony tells him.

Moody just smirk.

"Presenting," Tony said dryly, "the man of the hour."

Lockhart pales upon seeing everyone in the office, he sweats hard. Oh no, he's struck.

Amelia glared at him. "Mr. Lockhart, I suggest you stay right there."

Lockhart stammered, "I—I don't understand. Is this an interrogation?" maybe if he pretend enough, They leave him alone?

Tony stare. "I had JARVIS do a little research. Bought every book you ever wrote. Cross-checked them. You know what I found?"

"Success?" Lockhart offered weakly.

"Stolen lives," Amelia snapped. "The timelines don't match. The events? Word-for-word stolen from obscure witches and wizards who mysteriously forgot everything afterward. Curious pattern."

Flitwick's face was stone. "Some of them were my friends." It was so odd the things Lockhart would tell them at the Great Hall would made Flitwick think of Wizard and witch who done this sort of thing but who knew this fraud stole their spotlight!

McGonagall stepped closer. "You took credit for other people's trauma and paraded it for profit."

"And you were hired to teach children," Amelia said coldly. "That ends today."

"I—this is all very sudden—" Lockhart stuttered, backing up slightly.

"Spare us," Snape cut in with disdain. "Even my Slytherins wanted to hex you."

Tony turned to Dumbledore. "You knew, didn't you? I mean of course you did but did you knew truly about him stealing people's memory and their achievement??"

Dumbledore was silent for a moment. Then he nodded slowly. "I did. I hoped... he would grow into the role. That he might surprise me.... The day I heard of his achievements... one of his said achievements reminded me of my old friend... I pay him a visit and he didn't remember... that's when I did a check and find out his memory was wiped out..."

Amelia looked disgusted. "You hoped? You placed a fraud near Harry Potter and exposed your entire student body to a man who uses memory charms like candy? And you damn well knew?! Why didn't you come to my department?!?"

Moody was fuming. "He should be in Azkaban for half the things he's done."

"I agree," Amelia said. "Gilderoy Lockhart, by order of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, you are hereby suspended from any academic duties pending formal investigation. Your wand, if you please."

"No—please—I can explain—"

Remus walk over to Amelia. "Then explain it to the people you stole from. Under Veritaserum." Then he hand the wand to Amelia he had taken from him before letting Tony drag him like a ragdoll.

Lockhart looked like he was about to cry, He lower his head in defeat.

Amelia gave it to Alastor. "Take him to holding. Quietly. The kids don't need another reason to panic."

Moody nodded and led Lockhart away, ignoring his whimpering protests.

When the door closed behind them, the silence was heavy.

Tony turned back to Dumbledore. "If you knew, why didn't you protect Harry? Do you know how uncomfortable he was? That bastard was trying to help him by teaching him how to properly work with his fame! Like bitch wanted to take control of him! Why no one step forward?!"

"Because I thought I was already protecting him."

Remus scoffed. "You weren't. You never were."

Sirius spoke up, voice icy. "Harry's not your pawn anymore."

Tony simply nodded. "Consider this a wake-up call, Headmaster. You have a lot of rebuilding to do."

McGonagall, for once, didn't defend Dumbledore. Her lips were pressed into a tight line, her loyalty shaken.

Amelia turned to Tony. "Thank you. I'll make sure this is handled properly."

"Appreciate it," Tony replied. "Just looking out for someone who matters. Am gonna check on Harry before leaving, Sirius, Remus, Johnny, you guys coming or what?"

"Sure, it be nice to see my old dorm and get Remus introduce to him"

"Already met him"

"Liar, Not properly"

As he and others turned to leave, the professors watched them go—the door closed behind them. And just like that, the man from another world had done what no one in this one dared to.

He called the truth to the front.