Valentine's Day Surprise

"Honestly..."

Mikel put down his completed Potions Class homework, thought for a moment, and said, "I feel like they're all acting strangely."

Kyle paused for a moment, then asked, "What do you mean?"

Do you know what they usually talk about?

This time, Mikel didn't even do her homework, putting down her quill pen. "Every time I go to their common room, I hear people loudly discussing who the successor is, and saying they want to help him purify the school."

"Ha... help the monster in the Chamber of Secrets purify the school?" Mikel became increasingly angry as he spoke.

"Judging from their tone, it's as if we're all pests. No wonder so many people dislike Slytherin."

One day I couldn't hold back and, taking advantage of someone leaving the house, punched one of the arrogant guys hard. That's when I got caught.

However, those people were too slow, and I left them all behind in just three flights of stairs... Unfortunately, I didn't notice my scarf had fallen off while I was running, and a third-year Slytherin recognized me, causing me to lose fifty points instantly."

Mikel slammed his fist on the table in frustration.

Kyle shook his head, amused.

Fortunately, Mikel ran fast; if he had been caught on the spot, the consequences might have been more severe than just a 50-point deduction.

However, hearing him say that allowed Kyle to rule out some suspects, such as Pansy, Millicent Goyle, and Crabbe...

Given these people's personalities, if it really was one of them who released the Basilisk, they would probably have been showing off by now.

Next, we just need to focus on observing the remaining few people.

Kyle thought for a moment, then continued, "Do you know who didn't attend the Halloween dinner?"

"Halloween Feast?" Mikel replied quickly, "They should all be there."

"Their biggest topic of discussion was Filch. If someone hadn't been in the Great Hall, everyone would have asked them about it, but when I went there, that wasn't the case."

However, it's also possible that I arrived too late and they had already asked.

"Is that so?" Kyle frowned, pondering as he returned to his dorm.

For the next period of time, Kyle paid special attention to a few Slytherin every day.

But after observing for a month, he still couldn't find anything wrong; everything seemed normal.

In early February, the snow gradually melted, and the sun began to shine weakly on Hogwarts again.

During this time, no further attacks occurred at the castle, and more and more people gradually believed Lockhart's words, and their mood became more optimistic.

Moreover, Professor Sprout happily remarked during class that the Mandrake had become moody and taciturn, which meant they were rapidly leaving their childhood stage.

If we wait another month or two, those who were petrified will be able to fully recover.

Good news keeps coming.

Lockhart has been acting extremely arrogant lately.

Because of his words at the opening banquet, more and more people began to believe that he had stopped the monster in the Chamber of Secrets, and some people who had previously stopped being his fans became his admirers again.

"To boost morale and erase the bad memories of last semester, I have a surprise for all of you."

During a Defence Against the Dark Arts, he cheerfully said, "It needs to be kept secret for now, so I can't say much, but I think you'll all like it."

Whispers began to fill the classroom as people speculated about what Lockhart's surprise might be.

But they soon found out.

The next day was Valentine's Day.

When Kyle walked into the Great Hall as usual to have breakfast, he wondered for a moment if he had gone to the wrong door.

The four walls were covered with large pink flowers, and many heart-shaped confetti kept falling from the ceiling. On the wall behind the teachers' table, there was a huge heart made of various flowers.

If you add some blessings, this would be a full-fledged wedding ceremony.

"I bet this is Lockhart's surprise." Fred brushed the scraps of paper off his head.

"That's what I think too." Cedric looked up at the table where the professor was sitting.

Lockhart, also dressed in a bright pink robe, stood at the front and waved to quiet everyone.

The professors sitting next to him all had stern faces, especially Snape.

His position corresponds exactly to the left half of the giant heart behind him, while Lockhart stands on the right half.

This strange location, coupled with the surrounding decorations, made Snape extremely gloomy, as if he had been stuffed with a huge Cockroach Cluster.

He was gripping his wand tightly in his hand, Kyle had no doubt that if anyone said the wrong thing, he would smash their head open... with Sectumsempra.

The only one who could still laugh was probably Dumbledore.

He even changed the color of his robe to pearl white, which better matched the surrounding ornaments.

"Happy Valentine's Day, everyone!" Lockhart exclaimed happily. "So far, I've received sixty-five greeting cards, and I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to them... Yes, I took it upon myself to arrange this little surprise, and that's not all!"

Lockhart clapped his hands, and twelve gloomy-faced dwarves entered, each with golden wings and carrying a harp.

Lockhart cheerfully explained that the little gnomes would wander around the castle all day, helping them deliver Valentine's Day cards.

"I know you're all getting impatient, but have a little more patience, this isn't over yet." Lockhart clapped his hands again.

"Everyone, look up!"

Hundreds of owls crowded into the Great Hall, dropping letters and packages to the students.

Slips of paper covered in writing were tucked inside and thrown down with them.

Cedric picked up a card out of curiosity, but his expression changed after just one glance...

His golden hair looked like freshly cooked corn porridge.

His red lips were as tempting as ripe tomatoes.

..."

"What the hell is this thing?!"

Cedric felt a churning in his stomach. He quickly threw the note away and rubbed his hands together vigorously on the stool.

"I know that some of you may not have experience writing greeting cards, so I specially selected a portion from the letters I received to send to you..."

Lockhart flashed a bright smile, "If you don't know how to write it, you can always refer to something... you can just copy it."

"Of course, if you have other ideas, that's fine too."

Professor Snape was a master at brewing Amortentia; he never failed at it.

And Professor Flitwick, he's more skilled in psychedelic magic than any wizard I've ever met, that cunning old dog!

Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands, almost crawling under the table.

Several veins bulged on Snape's forehead as he raised his wand several times.

"I dare say Professor Snape must have had a very hard time holding back."

Cedric looked at the dwarves, then seemed to suddenly remember something, turned around and said, "Kyle, I remember you can use the Disillusionment Charm..."

Kyle nodded.

"Could I borrow that Invisibility Cloak for a day?" Cedric asked hopefully. "I'd give any amount of money for it."

"No need for the money," Kyle laughed. "The Invisibility Cloak is in my dorm; I'll go back and get it for you after dinner."

"No problem." Cedric breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he doesn't know if anyone will give him a greeting card today, it's better to be safe than sorry. If he gets bothered by these little dwarfs in a crowded place... that would be really scary.

He didn't want to leave Hogwarts and transfer to another magic school just yet.