"Seriously..."
Mikel put his finished Potion Class homework aside, thought for a moment, and said, "I feel like they're all acting weird."
Kael paused and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Do you know what they usually talk about?"
This time, Mikel didn't even bother with his homework. He just put down his quill and said, "Every time I go to their common room, I hear people loudly discussing who the heir is, and saying they want to help him purify the school."
"Ha... help the monster in the Chamber of Secret purify the school?" Mikel was getting more and more indignant as he spoke,
"From the way they talk, it's like we're all some kind of pests. No wonder so many people don't like Slytherin.
I just couldn't hold back one day and, while someone was leaving the room, I gave this arrogant guy a good punch. That's how I got found out.
But those people ran too slow. I got away from everyone with just three staircases... It's a pity, though; I didn't notice I dropped my scarf as I ran, and a third-year Slytherin recognized it. Instantly lost fifty points."
Mikel pounded the table in frustration.
Kael shook his head, amused.
Good thing Mikel ran fast that day. If he'd been caught on the spot, losing fifty points might've been the least of his problems.
But from what he just said, Kael could at least rule out a few suspects, like Pansy, Millicent, and Crabbe and Goyle...
Given those people's personalities, if one of them had really released the basilisk, they'd probably be bragging about it already.
Next, he just needed to pay special attention to the other remaining few.
Kael thought for a moment, then continued, "So do you know if any of them didn't go to the Halloween feast?"
"The Halloween feast?" Mikel quickly replied, "I'm pretty sure they all went."
"What they talk about most is Filch. If anyone hadn't been in the Auditorium at the time, everyone would definitely have asked about it, but when I went, nothing like that happened."
"Though it might be because I got there late and they'd already asked."
"Is that so?" Kael frowned, thinking as he made his way back to the dormitory.
...
Over the next period of time, Kael paid special attention to several people from Slytherin every day.
But after a month of observing, he still didn't spot anything off—everything seemed normal.
At the start of February, the snow gradually melted, and the sun began to weakly shine on Hogwarts again.
During this time, there were no new attack incidents in the castle, and more people started to believe Lockhart's words, with spirits lifting all around.
Also, Professor Sprout happily announced in class that the Mandrakes had become moody and withdrawn, meaning they were rapidly leaving childhood.
Just one or two more months, and those who were petrified would make a full recovery.
Good news kept coming one after another.
Lockhart had been riding high lately.
Because of what he said at the opening feast, more and more people now believed he had stopped the monster in the Chamber of Secret, and some people who had grown disillusioned with him became his fans again.
"To boost morale and erase the bad memories from last term, I've prepared a surprise for all of you,"
He cheerfully announced in Defense Against the Dark Arts Class, "I have to keep things under wraps for now, so I can't say much, but I think you'll definitely love it."
The classroom began to buzz with whispers, everyone guessing what Lockhart's surprise could be.
But very soon, they'd find out.
The next day, Valentine's Day.
When Kael walked into the Auditorium as usual to get breakfast, for a moment he wondered if he'd gone through the wrong door.
The four walls were covered in huge bouquets of pink flowers, and lots of heart-shaped confetti drifted non-stop from the ceiling. On the wall behind the staff table hung a massive heart, made from all sorts of flowers.
If they added a few blessings, this place could pass for a huge wedding venue.
"I'm guessing this must be Lockhart's surprise," Fred brushed confetti off his head.
"That's what I thought too," Cedric looked up at the professor's table.
Lockhart was, as ever, wearing a flamboyant pink robe, standing at the front and waving everyone to quiet down.
All the professors sitting beside him wore grim expressions—especially Snape.
He was sitting directly in line with the left half of the massive heart, with Lockhart standing on the right.
Their bizarre positions, along with the decorations, had Snape looking about as grim as if someone had dumped a pile of cockroaches on him.
He was gripping his wand so tightly in his hand that Kael had no doubt if anyone said the wrong thing, he'd bash their head open... with Sectumsempra.
The only one who could still smile was probably Dumbledore.
He'd even changed his robes to pearl white, which matched the decorations perfectly.
"Everyone, Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart said happily. "So far, sixty-five people have given me cards, and I'd like to thank them... Yes, I took the liberty of preparing this little surprise for you all—and that's not all!"
Lockhart clapped his hands, and twelve dwarfs with gloomy faces walked in, each with golden wings and carrying harps on their backs.
Lockhart beamed as he explained that these dwarfs would be roaming the castle all day, delivering Valentine's cards on everyone's behalf.
"I know you all can't wait any longer, but be patient—there's more to come." Lockhart clapped his hands again.
"Everyone, look up!"
Hundreds of owls crowded into the Auditorium, dropping letters and packages to the students.
Note after note, covered in writing, fluttered down among them as well.
Cedric picked one up curiously, glanced at it, and his expression changed...
"His golden hair is like fresh cornmeal
His red lips are as enticing as ripe tomatoes
..."
"What kind of crap is this!"
Cedric felt his stomach churn. He flung the note away and frantically rubbed his hands on the bench.
"I know some of you may lack experience writing cards, so I specially selected a collection of the best from what I received to share with you all..."
Lockhart flashed his dazzling teeth: "If you don't know what to write, just use these as inspiration... or copy them, that's fine too."
"Of course, if you have other ideas, that's perfectly okay."
"Professor Snape is an expert at brewing Love Potions—he's never missed a batch."
"And Professor Flitwick, he's better at hallucinatory magic than any wizard I've ever met, that sly old dog!"
Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands, looking like he wanted to crawl under the table.
Snape's forehead was bulging with veins; he'd raised his wand several times already.
"I bet Professor Snape is holding back with great difficulty."
Cedric glanced at the dwarfs and suddenly seemed to think of something. He turned and said, "Kael, I remember you know the Disillusionment Charm..."
Kael nodded.
"Can I borrow your Invisibility Cloak for a day?" Cedric asked hopefully, "I'm willing to trade all my money for it."
"Forget the money," Kael laughed. "The Invisibility Cloak is in the dorm. I'll go get it for you after breakfast."
"Awesome." Cedric breathed a sigh of relief.
He had no idea if anyone would actually send him a card today, but better safe than sorry. If those dwarfs caught him in a crowd... that would be the end of his social life.
He wasn't ready to leave Hogwarts and transfer to another magic school just yet.