Gilderoy Lockhart, who now spent all day holed up in the Staff Dormitory, worried about three things every moment of every day.
First were Salazar Slytherin's Heir and the Chamber Monster. After all, he had received a challenge from them.
Second was the collapse of his image as a national idol, with millions of fans turning against him and dragging his name through the mud, leaving him without fame or fortune.
Third was the fear that the Dark Lord who had ordered him to steal the Muggle-born Student List would learn that he had spilled the secret and send someone to retaliate.
In short, someone was having a very rough time!
Recalling Lockhart's unkempt, scruffy appearance when he had seen him the previous night, Snape gave a contemptuous chuckle.
"Professor, does that laugh mean... you're allowing me to visit Mr. Lockhart?"
"Miss Granger, Lockhart needs peace and quiet to recuperate. He doesn't want his adoring young fans to see him in such a poor state."
All of Lockhart's fans knew how much their idol cared about appearances, so Hermione readily accepted Snape's explanation. "Then... all right, Professor. If you see Mr. Lockhart, please tell him we all miss him and hope he gets better soon. Especially Hermione Granger!"
"I will pass that along. How he feels about it is beyond my control. Luo Bin, come to my office!"
"Yes, Professor!"
Luo Bin was not remotely surprised to be singled out. The instant Snape had announced that Defense Against the Dark Arts would become a self-study period, he had realized the professor had something urgent to discuss with him!
The Potions professor's office!
A hemispherical iron case the size of a table tennis ball slid across the desk and shot toward Luo Bin!
"This is..."
Luo Bin picked up the black