Harley closed the book and casually set it aside, then rose lightly to her feet.
She turned around and smiled sweetly at Lockhart.
"You've made it so obvious that you've got me in your sights. If I still pretended not to notice, wouldn't that be disrespectful to you?"
Professor Lockhart tipped his top hat slightly, the corners of his mouth curling upward. "No wonder dear Tom Riddle thinks so highly of you.
"So that's how it is. You really are quite extraordinary, dear Miss Harley Potter."
"Tom Riddle? Who's that?" A curious expression appeared on Harley's face.
"Oh, oh, sorry, sorry. I just remembered—you might not know this fellow very well."
Professor Lockhart clasped his hands together and bowed slightly, striking an apologetic pose he had learned from someone,
"Then let me introduce you to a new classmate! Tom Marvolo Riddle, the only surviving descendant of Slytherin in Britain.
"Of course, he also has a name everyone knows—Voldemort."
As he spoke, Professor Lockhart stared intently into Harley's emerald eyes, hoping to catch some unusual reaction.
But Harley still wore a gentle smile. Somehow, though, her face had taken on an alluring quality, making people want to fall to their knees and lick her shoes.
Professor Lockhart, however, was completely unaffected. He only looked surprised.
"Well, this is unexpected, Miss Harley. You're not afraid of that name.
"And this kind of mental allure, too. So you're just like me, aren't you?
"We're both geniuses. We'd never be like those foolish ordinary wizards, who are inexplicably afraid of the name 'Voldemort'..."
Professor Lockhart got caught up in his own rhythm, chattering on and on, repeatedly emphasizing how special and great he was.
Even as he spoke, however, he stayed on guard, gripping his wand tightly.
Harley sighed, abandoning the idea of a