A Small Accident

The force was just right—enough to knock him out without damaging his brain.

Much like Lockhart, who slept soundly on the dueling platform, the professors and students below were all dumbfounded.

The young wizards were utterly bewildered. Had Lockhart and last year's Quirrell both gone easy on them, or had Kane and Dumbledore made some kind of shady deal?

What exactly was that twisting, writhing shadow beneath Kane's feet? They wanted to learn it too!

And was using a dagger-shaped wand to attack Lockhart at close range, then smacking him unconscious with a book, really something a wizard's mind could come up with?

Were you even a wizard?

The professors' thoughts, however, were not nearly as complicated as the young wizards'. Most of them knew that Kane and Lockhart had traveled together for a while during the holidays. Could it be that, because of some bizarre deal, Lockhart had put on such a grand show and utterly disgraced himself just to help Kane show off in front of everyone?

That didn't seem right. Kane had no remarkable background; he was just an orphan. Surely he wasn't genuinely so absurdly strong that he surpassed even seventh-year students?

Don't make your professors laugh.

Unlike the storm of thoughts below the dueling platform, Kane was busy with some handiwork.

After wrapping the unconscious Lockhart in a cocoon of shadows, he waved at Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, Lockhart seems a little strange."

At that moment, Dumbledore still sensed nothing unusual. He simply rose with a smile, intending to take Lockhart to the Hospital Wing for a proper nap.

"Lockhart has indeed grown much stronger, but Kane, we cannot assume a person never changes. We should congratulate Lockhart on his progress, not slander him," Dumbledore said gently.

"Uh, thanks for the lesson, but I mean Lockhart