Chapter 812: Side Story — Cassandra 8

Hogwarts had finally returned to normal.

Lockhart had organized a Duelling Club.

The first match was between the Head of House and Lockhart.

Watching the stupid guy's worried gaze and the apprehension on his face as he looked at their Head of House, Cassandra was speechless.

Did the Head of House really need him to worry?

She couldn't speak for anyone else, but the Head of House was absolutely going to be fine against Lockhart.

Moreover, she didn't know if she was imagining things, but when the stupid guy said he was worried about the Head of House, she thought she caught a smug, unmistakable gleam in the professor's eyes.

Of course, she didn't look again. Perhaps she'd been mistaken?

Cassandra wasn't entirely sure.

Then Lockhart went flying.

Yes, Lockhart's spectacular flight through the air amused her.

Watching the stupid guy rush over anxiously to help him, Cassandra approached with interest.

She wondered whether the stupid guy would finally realize that Lockhart was nothing but a useless show-off.

Huh?

He still hadn't figured it out?

Did the stupid guy genuinely believe Lockhart had simply performed poorly?

Honestly...

This time, even the Head of House seemed a little uncomfortable.

Lockhart went flying again.

The stupid guy was clearly shocked and hurriedly tried to save him.

But then—

Poof!

The stupid guy's spell hit Lockhart.

Looking at Lockhart's contorted expression, Cassandra felt a little sympathy for him.

However, when she saw the stupid guy's panicked, apologetic expression, she couldn't help thinking that Lockhart was being far too dramatic.

It was only a little bump! He hadn't even fallen apart!

And even if something really went wrong, wasn't Madam Pomfrey still there?

Cassandra thought irritably.

Then she saw Lockhart apparently threatening the stupid guy. He wanted to duel him?

What on earth was wrong with him?

The stupid guy definitely couldn't beat him.

However, since the stupid guy was being threatened, he might deliberately hold back.

Forget it. If he wanted to hold back, let him.

After all, if the stupid guy didn't do something to make up for what had happened, he would undoubtedly feel guilty.

Besides, hardly anyone would believe Lockhart could win a fair fight anyway.

Still, Cassandra had underestimated Lockhart.

It would have been enough for him to accept the stupid guy's restraint and let him save a little face. Instead, he insisted on deceiving a few ignorant girls into believing he was impressive.

And then he even brought up what had happened earlier.

Watching the stupid guy's eyes gradually redden, Cassandra glared at Lockhart.

She was just about to secretly curse the man when she saw him actually attack the stupid guy.

The stupid guy knocked him flying with a casual wave of his wand.

Looking at Lockhart's condition, Cassandra thought he had almost fainted on the spot.

Served him right!

How dare he launch a sneak attack?

Did he think the stupid guy was as useless as he was?

When it came to Darren, there was no need to worry about surprise attacks.

Otherwise, how could he have captured so many Death Eaters all by himself?

But the stupid guy was completely flustered.

He looked as though he was about to cry as he hurriedly tried to take Lockhart to the Hospital Wing.

However, the Head of House stopped him.

The professor looked thoroughly exasperated.

He even threatened the stupid guy by bringing up Lockhart's reputation.

It seemed the rumours about the Head of House disliking Lockhart were true.

Lockhart finally gave in.

He stood up and proposed that everyone duel together.

However, he really shouldn't have mocked the stupid guy again.

The stupid guy had simply been careless. He hadn't meant to do it! Why couldn't Lockhart admit that his own underhanded behaviour had brought this upon him?

Cassandra herself volunteered to challenge Lockhart.

Lockhart saw that she was a girl and underestimated her.

As a result, she cast a spell that covered his body in moss, making him look like a toad.

She had thought it was just a harmless prank.

Who could have expected Lockhart to start shouting abuse? He called the Slytherins despicable and shameless, with Darren being the worst of the lot.

Cassandra instinctively looked at the stupid guy.

He wouldn't think the same way, would he?

Although she was angry with him, he had always been so kind...

Surely he wouldn't approve of such a prank?

Cassandra suddenly felt a little depressed.

She carefully studied his expression.

His face grew more and more serious.

Perhaps he really couldn't tolerate what she'd done.

But...

Cassandra pursed her lips, suddenly feeling terribly wronged.

See? You always think about that guy, but he isn't actually anything like you...

You should have realized that by now, shouldn't you?

You aren't on the same side...

Just as her mother had said, a wolf had fallen in love with a sheep!

Cassandra almost wanted to turn around and leave.

She didn't care what Lockhart thought of Slytherin. After all, that was what everyone thought of them anyway.

But she couldn't help caring about what the stupid guy thought of Slytherin.

Yes, it had been Slytherins who attacked him last time...

And now she seemed to have gone too far herself.

In his eyes, what she'd done must have been unforgivable, right?

But then—

"Professor, I think Slytherins are friendly!"

Cassandra's entire face turned red when the stupid guy took her hand.

She hadn't actually heard what he said after that. She had even forgotten what she'd said herself.

In a daze, she returned to the Slytherin common room.

Before she entered the dormitory, Pansy leaned close to her ear and whispered with unmistakable jealousy, "Someone seems to have been led around by the hand today. Tsk, tsk. Looking at that person's expression, you'd think she was the stupid one!"

"I-I was just so shocked that I forgot to pull my hand away!"

That's right! That was exactly what had happened!

As she spoke, the corners of her mouth quietly curled upwards...

"Just admit it!"

Pansy pouted and walked past her.

Cassandra's fingers curled slightly. It took her a moment to remember that she needed to return to the dormitory.

Christmas was approaching.

The stupid guy was still staying in the dormitory.

She wasn't going home either.

She had told her father that she needed to write something. Besides, she hadn't finished her homework yet.

Wasn't it perfectly normal for second-year students to have a heavy workload?

She thought self-righteously.

Then she saw the stupid guy walk in from outside with Crabbe, Goyle, and Malfoy.

Huh? The stupid guy seemed a little different today.

Malfoy was acting strangely, too.

He secretly winked at her, as though signalling for her to come over because he wanted to say something.

Who did Malfoy think she was?

Would Miss Voray actually listen to him?

She sat in her chair without saying a word, listening to the others tease the stupid guy.

Calling it teasing was perhaps a little unfair. Both the stupid guy and the others understood that, beneath their words, they were expressing concern for him.

But the stupid guy began to cry.

Cassandra frowned as she looked at him.

Malfoy winked at her again. Apparently, he had already sensed that something was wrong.

Could it be a Death Eater?

But this person was behaving so much like the stupid guy. Was she overthinking things?

Even so, Cassandra remained suspicious.

So she let the person enter the dormitory.

She quietly tightened her grip on her wand. If he couldn't get in, that would prove her suspicions were correct, and she could capture a Death Eater on the spot.

What?

He got in?

Cassandra was stunned.

The wand in her hand spun around as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Could it really be the stupid guy?

She simply couldn't figure it out. For a long time, she stood there in a daze.

Meanwhile, she listened to Crabbe and Goyle carrying on with their usual stupid clichés...

Wait.

Clichés?

Crabbe and Goyle couldn't possibly be stupid enough to keep repeating the same things, could they?

And...

Their faces were beginning to change!

Polyjuice Potion!

The thought came to her almost instinctively.

And then she realized, to her annoyance, that the person disguised as the stupid guy seemed to be that know-it-all girl.

Unbelievable!

The stupid guy had actually given his identity to someone else?

Had he even asked her permission?