"Oh, it's you! You should have said something sooner. I was this close to waving my wand. Ah, you know how formidable my magical abilities are."
Lockhart knew Luo Bin was aware of what sort of man he was, but at the sight of Harry, the Chosen One, and Ron, he still instinctively boasted about his abilities.
"Everyone else is in the Staff Room. Why are you here on your own? And why are you carrying two big suitcases?" Ron asked.
Lockhart's eyes darted about. "I... I prepared some weapons to hand out to the students so they can defend themselves!"
"Something happened to Hermione. Did you know? She's been petrified. I think you should visit her in the Hospital Wing. She'd be really happy, even if she might not be able to feel it."
"What?!! What happened to Miss Granger?"
"She was attacked by the Chamber Monster in the Storage Room in the Gryffindor girls' dormitory. Mr. Lockhart, I'd like... a few of those weapons. You wouldn't mind, would you?"
As Ron spoke, he approached the two large suitcases with both hands outstretched. Clearly, the moment he touched them, he would undo the clasps and take out their contents. In the past, he would never have done anything like this, but with his sister Ginny at stake, he had to cast his pride aside.
Lockhart guarded the suitcases fiercely. "Ron Weasley, don't be impatient. You heard Minerva McGonagall's announcement, didn't you? Go back to the Gryffindor boys' dormitory. In a little while, the prefects of each house will distribute defensive weapons to every student."
"Mr. Lockhart, I think you've forgotten that Gryffindor House doesn't have a prefect right now. Percy was stripped of his position. Give me the weapons. I need them!"
"Mr. Weasley, even in the direst emergency,