"Next time, once I've recovered, I'll definitely beat you," Little Voldemort said bitterly.
Though he never admitted defeat outwardly, he had to acknowledge that Hermione's talent far surpassed his own.
How could a monster like her exist?
Little Voldemort was thoroughly frustrated.
He had never met a wizard like Hermione.
She could completely master the dark magic he had painstakingly developed after seeing it just once, as though she were copying and pasting it.
She could even use it more skillfully than he could.
"Is it really that hard to admit you're not as good as me?" Hermione teased.
"Shut up!" Little Voldemort snapped, mortified. "I just... haven't unleashed my full strength yet!"
He instinctively refused to concede.
Hermione didn't call him out. She knew he needed a way to save face.
After all, he was the younger version of the once supremely arrogant Dark Lord.
Hermione abruptly changed the subject.
"What about Lockhart? How's he doing?"
Little Voldemort curled his lip disdainfully, apparently having quite a few complaints about Lockhart.
"He's got decent talent, but his mind isn't on magic at all."
"At first, he lazed around and refused to put in any effort."
"But then..."
A hint of cruel amusement entered Little Voldemort's voice.
"I hit him with a few Cruciatus Curses, and he became much more cooperative."
"Now he practices obediently every day. He's improving at an incredible pace."
Hermione nodded, unsurprised by the result.
She had assigned Little Voldemort to train Lockhart precisely because he was ruthless enough.
Although she intended Lockhart to be an actor, he would eventually have to climb to the top by stepping over dark wizards.
He wouldn't be facing harmless, kindly souls, but vicious, desperate criminals.
Unexpected situations were bound to arise. Little Voldemort couldn't bail him out every single time.