Misdirecting the Disaster

Although Cedric reacted quickly enough, he underestimated the seriousness of the situation... or rather, he didn't realize how famous he was.

The top student in the fourth grade, handsome, gentle and patient... all these qualities combined make him very well-known among the students.

He had barely walked a hundred meters from the Great Hall when five dwarfs came running towards him... Their golden wings swayed back and forth, creating a strangely comical effect.

"Hey, you! Cedric Diggory!" The little dwarf running at the front pushed his way through the crowd with his arm.

Cedric's hair stood on end, and he tried to run, but before he could take two steps, the dwarf caught up with him, kicking people's calves all the way.

Three in front, two behind, completely blocking the road.

"I have a message about the music to deliver to Cedric Diggory in person," a dwarf stepped forward and began to strum his harp with an aggressive air.

Cedric watched as the crowd gradually surrounded him and tried to run away again... but the dwarf was holding onto his clothes and he couldn't move at all.

"Not here..." Cedric pleaded, "I'm going to be late for class!"

But the dwarf acted as if he hadn't heard, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "This is your Valentine's Day gift with a song..."

His grey eyes were captivating, like freshly squeezed Shrivelfig.

His hair was as shiny and black as a crucible that had been used for thirty years.

I want him to be mine, he's really handsome.

He is the perfect gentleman in Hufflepuff.

Cedric's face was completely drained of color; he looked even paler than a legendary vampire.

He tried to laugh along with the others, but all he could manage was a dry groan.

Cedric had thought that the dwarves' way of communicating might not be so friendly, but after actually witnessing it, he realized how wrong he was.

This isn't just unfriendly, it's a nightmare.

And there are four more nightmares to come...

Kyle was standing aside watching the commotion, but Kanna suddenly tugged at his sleeve.

"You'd better run..."

"What?"

Kyle looked up and saw that more dwarves were running towards them.

Exactly seven, no more, no less.

And it seems their target isn't Cedric...

"Hey, Kai..."

"Avis!" Kyle felt a chill run down his spine, and almost instantly drew his wand...

The cedar wand made a loud bang, and a flock of small birds flapped their wings and flew out from the wand's head, surrounding the dwarves and blocking their view.

Without the slightest hesitation, Kyle pulled Kanna through the crowd and ran quickly back to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

After the barrel-shaped door slowly closed, Kyle leaned back on a sofa, panting heavily.

It wasn't from being tired, it was from being scared.

Kanna covered her mouth, laughing so hard she almost cried.

"This is the first time I've seen you so frightened." She shrugged. "You weren't this out of control even when Oren tricked you into the Forbidden Forest."

"You don't understand..."

Kyle wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "If it makes those dwarves disappear on the spot, I'd be willing to go to the Forbidden Forest with Oren again."

"Pfft!" The little witch couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Kanna, don't go too far," Kyle said irritably. "I did help you, you know. Maybe some of those dwarves are after you too."

Kanna wrinkled her nose. The thought of the little dwarfs singing to her, "Your hair is like a freshly fried potato," made her head buzz and sent chills down her spine.

Her good mood vanished instantly, Kanna glared fiercely at Kyle.

"I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense! Those dwarves have been watching you the whole time," she couldn't help but say. "They're clearly looking for you, they have nothing to do with Knut!"

"Who can say for sure... I don't believe you can see the eyes of all the dwarves."

"I saw it!" Kanna exclaimed.

Just then, the door opened again, and Cedric returned, a look of relief on his face.

"Thanks to you, Kyle."

He slumped onto the sofa. "The birds distracted the dwarves, and I took the opportunity to escape."

That's terrifying... If I faked being sick to go to the Hospital Wing, do you think Madam Pomfrey would be able to tell?"

"Fake illness definitely won't work." Kyle shook his head. "If you really have that idea... I have Belladonna here, want a bite?"

"No Belladonna," Cedric thought for a moment and then declined.

He just wanted to hide in the Hospital Wing for a day; risking half his life for it wouldn't be worth it.

When the door to the Hufflepuff Common Room opened again, Cedric walked out alone, looking quite nervous.

There was only one Invisibility Cloak, and after some internal struggle, Cedric finally decided to give it to Kanna.

He glanced to the side and muttered under his breath, "Kyle, is your idea really going to work?"

"Let's give it a try." The wall beside them shook slightly, and Kyle's voice came through. "There are only twelve dwarves. As long as we keep them busy, something like what happened before won't happen again."

Kyle's method is simple... if you can't beat them, hide; if you can't hide, join them.

Others can send them greeting cards, so why can't they send them to others? It's not like they have to sign their names anyway...

For every extra greeting card someone else receives, they receive one less.

"But who are we writing for?"

Cedric was still somewhat hesitant. The method was good, but it was a bit too unethical, and he felt a little embarrassed.

"Fred and George are great," Kyle said casually. "They love this kind of fun and would love to receive greeting cards."

"And Lockhart... give him a hundred first."

"Professor Snape would also work; he probably won't receive any Valentine's Day cards, so we can send him fifty to save face."

As they were talking, a severed arm suddenly appeared out of nowhere and punched Kyle.

"Okay, ten sheets... the rest can be given to Lockhart."

After saying that, Kyle took out a stack of papers covered with writing and distributed them to the others.

These are all things they just made in the common room; the contents are almost identical.

"Add the name, then have the dwarf send it out."

Cedric was still somewhat hesitant. "Are these copied greeting cards really okay? Should we change the content?"

"No need." Kyle shook his head and explained, "Dwarves are usually the Goblin ' assistants when they forge weapons. They're used to mechanical work. Even if the contents on paper are all the same, they'll still do it."

"But you've reminded me, remember to stagger the names so they have to make a couple more trips."