Hogwarts: What Bad Intentions Could a Little Hufflepuff Possibly Have?

Dobby had yet to answer.

Mr. Lovegood's voice came from outside the door.

"It's fine, Luna. Go play at Black's place. Dad is completely at ease with you being there. Just have fun. It's all right even if you don't come back tonight."

Silence.

Yes, after hearing Mr. Lovegood's words, everyone on both sides of the Dimensional Door fell silent. Only the Printing Press continued chugging away industriously.

What father would be so unconcerned about his daughter playing at a male classmate's house? Strictly speaking, at eleven or twelve years old, they would be middle school students back home.

And middle schoolers were hardly ignorant when it came to feelings. Who hadn't secretly liked someone in their youth?

That was true even in relatively conservative China. Let alone abroad, where different education made children mature earlier.

So Mr. Lovegood encouraging his daughter to stay overnight at a boy's house was rather outrageous.

A normal reaction would be to treat a blond boy like Black as though he were a thief, just like Mr. Worley did!

But... Black certainly wasn't about to object!

There was such a good thing? Thank you, nature, for your gift!

After a moment of silence, Black barely managed to control his expression and suppress the upward curve of his lips...

"Sure," he said "calmly." "But we're visiting Mr. Scamander tomorrow. Since Luna already wanted to come with us, why not... bring her luggage over now?"

Black's little scheme was so obvious that even Dumbledore, far away at Hogwarts, could hear it loud and clear. Even Dobby understood what Black was thinking.

Nagini couldn't help tugging at Black's sleeve, hoping he would rein himself in and not reveal his true nature so blatantly.

"Of course! I'll go get Luna's suitcase right away," Mr. Lovegood said happily. Dobby