Chapter 307: Surging Love

All day long, Lockhart's little cupid would be running up and down the corridors, or slamming open classroom doors during school hours and thrusting greeting cards into the hands of awkward-looking recipients as professors and classmates watched.

"What a shame, I don't see any discipline." Anthony heard Umbridge say to Professor McGonagall after class.

Professor McGonagall's answer seemed to dissatisfy her, because Umbridge then insisted delicately: "I'm afraid they are too young, dear Professor McGonagall, too young to be qualified to come. Determine what’s really good for them.”

She paused briefly and stared critically at the two students who were exchanging chocolate frog cards, until they looked away, confused.

"This is why the Ministry of Magic recommends teaching in accordance with curriculum standards." Umbridge continued, "Of course, we also recommend improving Hogwarts' existing rules and regulations, punishing those who violate the rules, and educating people to abide by the rules. ...In this way, everything can be organized, right? If the class is always interrupted by such trivial matters, and students' heads are filled with things like fun and love, how can they study seriously? "

As they talked, they walked along the corridor in the direction of Anthony.

Before Anthony could decide whether he should say hello or leave immediately, he heard Professor McGonagall say to Umbridge very politely: "That makes sense, Dolores, but I think the professor and students are used to it in class." Being interrupted constantly - after so many rounds of investigation."

Umbridge's eyebrows immediately rose. As soon as Anthony took a step in their direction, he was bumped by the student behind him.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." The student muttered and rushed forward with his head buried in the air.

Anthony watched helplessly as the other party ran towards Umbridge and Professor McGonagall in a panic. Immediately afterwards, a little cupid with an angry face chased after him, holding a greeting card and running after him like a hunter. The students in the corridor stopped and looked at them with interest.

"Careful, McLaggen!" said Professor McGonagall sternly.

The student glanced in her direction and stopped hastily. The dwarf took the opportunity to catch up and tugged on his sleeve and announced: "I have a message to deliver to Cormac McLaggen."

"Shut up!" McLaggen shouted, his face flushed, and he flailed his arms to take back his sleeve. Anthony vaguely remembered that he was a third year Gryffindor.

The dwarf recited without resistance: "You took my love and therefore my heart. Give it back to me, Cormac McLaggen, as you promised three months ago, I I urge you to return it."

Amid the snickers, the dwarf took out his harp from behind and sang hoarsely: "Give me back, give me back, fifty, fifty, fifty galleons, my fifty, fifty, fifty galleons." Long."

McLaggen looked like he wished the walls around him would collapse and bury him inside. But all he could do was lower his head deeply, muttering "I'll pay it back, I'll pay it back", quickly squeezed through the crowd, and disappeared at the top of the stairs.

Professor McGonagall stood by the wall, her expression not very good. In contrast was Umbridge's triumphant smile.

"It's like I said, Minerva," she said softly, "Only by reawakening people's respect for rules can this ancient school get out of its temporary chaos and regain its proud glory... …”

The dwarf took off a parchment roll from his waist, unfolded it, looked at it, and punched it hard with his little finger, poking another hole in the roll that was already full of large and small holes.

"McLaggen..." he muttered, "Next...oh." He stopped in front of Umbridge and Professor McGonagall, "I also have a musical message for Dolores Jane. Umbridge."

The smile on Umbridge's face suddenly froze.

"You must be mistaken," she said.

The dwarf said stubbornly: "It's you."

Umbridge looked down at the dwarf condescendingly: "Then, I won't accept it, so save your time." She turned her head arrogantly and said to Professor McGonagall, "I really don't understand what Professor Lockhart is thinking. , bringing a group of dwarves into Hogwarts and running around!"

"I will talk to Gilderoy," Professor McGonagall said coldly and perfunctorily.

"That's very kind of you, Minerva." Umbridge said, "But I will tell him personally." She held her head high, as if she hadn't seen the little cupid, and continued walking forward.

But no sooner had she taken a step than the dwarf sprang up and seized her by the waistband. Umbridge was staggered by his sudden movement and glanced in disbelief, her cheeks shaking horribly with the sudden anger.

"Let go!" she ordered in a sharp voice, and pulled out her wand, "How dare you touch me! I'm warning you, I am the Senior Investigator of the Ministry of Magic——"

The dwarf loosened her belt and sang: "Her presence makes my heart beat wildly, and her voice makes me want to pass out. Oh, it's like finding a booger-flavored Bean, I can't help it. Stop screaming.”

Umbridge stared at him, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. Several students couldn't help laughing, and when Umbridge looked over, they quickly covered their mouths with their hands. Anthony pushed the watching students beside him and motioned them to leave quickly before Umbridge could fully react, but they were too immersed in this rare sight, and no one was willing to move.

"There is an additional action." said the little cupid.

He stood in front of Umbridge, lowered his head, and dug in his pocket for a long time. During this period, it was extremely quiet. All the students stood in place and did not dare to express their anger. In the presence of Umbridge, Professor McGonagall and Anthony Looking back and forth - Anthony and Professor McGonagall exchanged glances, Umbridge raised her wand, her lips trembling, as if hundreds of curses were piled in her throat, so that It was stuck for a while and could only make strange noises——

The dwarf took out a large handful of rose petals from his pocket, raised his hand and sprinkled them into the air.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he said darkly, unrolling the parchment roll again and poking at it with his pinky finger.

Not punctured. He put his little finger into his mouth, dipped it in some saliva, and poked it hard. There was a hole in the parchment.

"Umbridge's over...Next..." He scanned the parchment, "Oh, okay."

The dwarf put away the scroll, turned around and hurried away. The golden wings hung loosely on his back, bouncing up and down with his movements, flapping the harp beside him.

Rose petals were flying in the air, swirling, and slowly falling onto Umbridge's ash-brown hair. Professor McGonagall calmly shook off the rose petals that had fallen onto her robe.

At this moment, Umbridge suddenly acted. She pointed her wand at the dwarf and shouted, "Bind quickly!"

A rope flew out of thin air and wrapped around the dwarf, tying him up tightly.

"Ms. Umbridge!" "Dolores!"

Umbridge seemed not to have heard the shouts of Anthony and Professor McGonagall, and just narrowed her eyes and stared at the dwarf. The dwarf shouted angrily, rolling and twisting on the ground, spitting out a series of obscene words.

"Ms. Umbridge!" Anthony shouted in an emphasis, standing in front of her.

Professor McGonagall waved her wand and untied the rope from the dwarf. The dwarf stood up furiously, raised his bow and arrow, and grabbed an arrow from the quiver behind him. He was stunned for a moment by the bright red heart on the arrow, and then seemed to become even more angry.

Umbridge was even angrier than him: "What do you want to do, huh? Attack me?"

At this time, another group of students poured down the stairs and came into the corridor. Their casual chatter and laughter stopped in shock after seeing the scene in front of them.

"What's wrong? What happened?" came the familiar voice of Lockhart from behind them. He was squeezing his way through the crowd, still wearing the pink wizard robe.

Professor McGonagall said, "Nothing, Gilderoy."

"No, nothing. Professor Lockhart, I think," Umbridge said steadily, dropping her artificial cooing, "that without permission you should It is very disrespectful for students to send letters to faculty.”

Lockhart looked surprised: "What are you talking about, Dolores?"

Anthony explained: "Ms. Umbridge received a... uh..."

"Oh, I know!" Lockhart said loudly, looking at the rose petals on the floor and the heart arrow in the little Cupid's hand, "Oh, oh, Dolores, you have to know that Valentine's Day cards are not What a shameful thing! It's time to throw away your old-fashioned ways.

"Of course I'm not blaming you, but as long as you have read my "Walking with Trolls", you should know that in this book I wrote about the conditions that you must have to become an adventurer. The reason why I can become A slightly famous adventurer - please allow me to say this - in addition to my determination and strength to fight against the forces of darkness, there is also a small condition, that is, I will never disrespect the festival celebrations. You know, if I hadn't gone to their night market, I might not have met that troll at all.

"When it comes to holiday celebrations and Valentine's Day, Dolores, you should know that Valentine's Day cards are very important." He smiled slyly and winked at the students standing aside tacitly, "This Everyone is looking forward to receiving it. You should be happy! Although you just received a greeting card, it is always a good start! But of course, I am afraid it will be difficult for you to get more greeting cards than me... But anyway, Minerva and Henry didn't even get one. Looks like you're the second most popular member of staff at Hogwarts."

He paused, as if expecting someone to respond to his joke. But everyone just stared at him, except the dwarf who grumbled and complained endlessly.

"I've received sixty-seven so far. You guys are so lovely. I'm looking forward to the time when it turns a hundred. By the way, the hundredth person who sends me a blessing will receive one. A special Valentine's Day gift -" Lockhart raised his voice dramatically, "the chance to take a picture with me!"

Amid whispers, Colin Creevey finally squeezed his way out of the crowd. The first-year Gryffindor cherished his camera and smiled expectantly at the classmates who were talking about the reward.

Anthony said in surprise: "You shouldn't encourage students to give Valentine's Day cards to professors, Professor Lockhart!"

"Don't make such a fuss, Henry." Lockhart said disapprovingly, "On such a special day, all love should be given the opportunity to express! Not to mention, the letters from my readers..." He turned his head just right and showed a handsome smile to the students watching. Several students blushed and screamed softly, "I will never turn them away. No, I am not the type who is complacent because of my fame. Every reader is extremely important in my eyes... When they write to me so enthusiastically and seek my help, how can I bear to refuse them..."

Professor McGonagall said coldly: "That's right, Gilderoy."

"Oh, by the way, speaking of group photos," Lockhart said, striding forward and hugging Umbridge, "Why don't we take a group photo, Dolores? To commemorate that we all received Valentine's Day cards?"

"No, thank you, Professor Lockhart." Umbridge said, trying to break free. Against the backdrop of Lockhart's brilliant pink wizard robes, her pink suit looked cumbersome and cramped.

Lockhart accepted the angry dwarf at the same time, as if he had suddenly lost his hearing.

"Come on, take the picture, Creevey." He smiled brightly, "Just don't make us too blurry."

Colin said excitedly: "Of course, Professor Lockhart!"

"Don't--" Anthony said.

"No, Mr. Creevey." Professor McGonagall said quickly.

"Oh, of course, of course, how could I forget you, Minerva, Henry?" Lockhart said, still holding Umbridge tightly under his arm, smiling brightly at Colin, "Take it quickly, Creevey. Minerva and Henry are also waiting to take a picture with me, we can't keep them waiting for long."

Umbridge looked at Colin who raised the camera: "If you dare..."

With a click, a flash of white light. Umbridge was stepping on Lockhart's foot, but this did not affect the perfect smile on his face at all.

"Excellent." He released Umbridge and the dwarf and smiled approvingly and encouragingly at Colin. "Remember to give me a copy of the photograph."