Then Caesar quickly put on an expression of slight helplessness and confusion and met Luna's gaze.
"A secret? Miss Lovegood, I think everyone has things they don't want to tell other people."
Hermione paid no attention to them. She merely thanked Rojie Venus hastily, then lowered her head and hurried past Harry and Ron, leaving Ravenclaw Tower without looking back.
She didn't even glance at Caesar. After all, in her eyes, this bottom-of-the-class student was nothing more than a name.
Harry and Ron hurried after her, leaving Rojie Venus bewildered and Luna still watching Caesar with that ethereal yet piercing gaze.
Seeing this, Caesar turned and left too. His back was straight and his pace steady, as if that brief, seemingly penetrating stare had never happened.
But the next moment—
"Your secret," Luna continued, her eyes fixed on Caesar. "It has something to do with what that student is looking for, doesn't it?"
"I..." Caesar began, his voice as calm as still water. "I don't know what you're talking about."
Luna gave a slight shake of her head, making her Cork Necklace sway. "You're lying. Your eyes are lying."
Caesar didn't bother explaining further. He simply left.
Over the next few days, life in the castle seemed to return to normal.
Hermione was still downcast, but at least she attended class and finished her homework. She was simply much quieter than before.
The Quidditch season was in full swing, and the match between Gryffindor and Slytherin was just around the corner. Most of Harry and Ron's energy was taken up by training and excitement, and they paid a little less attention to Hermione's unusual behavior.
Caesar, meanwhile, used every spare moment to continue making preparations.
In addition to regularly taking the improved version of Longmu that he'd brewed for himself,