"M-Mr. Lockhart, I, I..."
"Miss Brown, don't be shy. Admiring a handsome, dashing, exceptionally gifted and widely experienced recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class is nothing you need to keep secret."
"S-Sir, I wanted to say that I didn't write that letter. That hug this morning was my biggest gesture of thanks!"
For a moment, Lockhart's smile froze as though someone had flattened his head with a brick.
"Er, I'll wager there was nothing tucked inside that thick book on the desk before you knocked on the wooden door, and no one came in after you left... All right, I stepped out for a little while, but I came back very quickly. Less than two minutes, I'd say."
"Since no one will admit to it, then... I'll open this letter. I imagine there'll be a signature on the last line. Don't worry, I know where to draw the line. I won't read anyone's name aloud. Here, I'll open it now!"
Lockhart tore the seal off with his fingernail, pulled out the letter, unfolded it, and read, "Dear Mr. Lockhart, I hear you received the Order of Merlin, Third Class and have defeated ghouls, werewolves, house-elves... hags. This has kindled my fighting spirit. Might I have the honor of challenging you to a duel?"
"Tsk, a feisty little fellow who admires strength. Let me see who he is. I can't tell you his name, but I need to know... Ah!"
Lockhart flung the paper away as though he had seen a ghost, losing all control of his expression.
His lips turned as white as flour. With his forearms braced on the desk, his legs kept slipping beneath him. Luo Bin reckoned that without the desk supporting him, he would have collapsed onto the floor.
"Well, well! The great, widely