Skofot sat there quietly, the faint smile at the corners of his mouth—the one that had seemed welded to his face ever since he drew the [Level 2 Leader] card—carrying an air of distance and scrutiny.
He made no additional expression or movement. He merely watched Ron, his gaze calm and still, like two bottomless pools of icy water.
Ron froze, forgetting to chew the sausage in his mouth.
That smile...
It clearly did not look malicious. It could even be called "standard," yet it made the hairs on his neck stand on end.
He remembered Skofot bending iron bars with his bare hands last night, and the casual tone he had used when talking about "wandering" in Diagon Alley...
A muddle of confusion, embarrassment, and inexplicable fear welled up within him.
Why was Leoqi staring at him and smiling?
Had he done something wrong?
Ron instinctively avoided his gaze and lowered his head to stare at his plate. He felt uncomfortable all over, and even the delicious breakfast no longer seemed quite as appetizing.
He secretly nudged Harry beside him with his elbow and whispered, "Hey, Harry... is Leoqi looking at me?"
Harry looked up at that and saw Skofot's trademark smile as well.
He frowned, feeling something strange too, but still reassured Ron, "Maybe... he was just looking around?"
Hermione also noticed the commotion. She glanced at Skofot, then at the clearly uneasy Ron. Her lips pressed together, and though she said nothing, there was an extra trace of thoughtfulness in her eyes.
[Emotion Points +25]
Amid this eerie atmosphere, hundreds of owls suddenly poured in through the open windows like a gray cloud, bringing letters and parcels.
They circled above the long tables of the various Houses, searching for their targets.
One particularly conspicuous scarlet