Chapter 130: Your Approach Makes Me So Flustered

Perhaps handing over the diary directly to Dumbledore could immediately solve the problem, but Lynn was not sure if Dumbledore would truly take action to kill the Basilisk, instead of continuing with his so-called "raising the Chosen One" plan.

Moreover, he had no reason to know about Horcruxes. If Lynn carelessly mentioned the word "Horcrux," he might end up on Dumbledore's suspect list, even though his father had sacrificed himself for the Order of the Phoenix. 

Of course, this could just be his imagination, and Dumbledore might not be as suspicious as he thought. But as he had previously told Irina, this was not a game or a novel, but reality, and he would not gamble with his life.

"Let me keep it safe? But...I'm afraid I might be influenced by the Horcrux, you know, these evil things are always unpredictable," Irina said hesitantly.

Lynn gently waved his wand, creating countless golden streams of light interweaving in the air, forming a shimmering golden runic formation.

As Lynn tapped the diary with his wand, the golden formation slowly descended upon it and merged into the book.

After doing this, Lynn said, "I sensed the life force within this diary. It has not absorbed much from Ginny yet, perhaps not enough for Tom to leave the diary and control others. Also, I have inscribed a sealing formation that will prevent any of its abilities from extending beyond the diary."

"However, this sealing formation has a flaw - the diary absolutely cannot be opened manually. If someone opens the diary, my alchemical formation will be rendered ineffective."

Irina nodded in understanding. "I got it, I won't open the diary. Since there's a sealing formation, I'll carry it with me."

After deciding the diary's fate, the two left the Room of Requirement.

In the following days, everything at Hogwarts castle proceeded smoothly, and the so-called attacks did not recur.

Time quickly passed until February 14th. 

During breakfast that morning, the young wizards were surprised to see the walls adorned with large, vivid pink flowers, while heart-shaped confetti of various colors drifted down from the pale blue ceiling.

At the staff table, Lockhart wore bright pink robes matching the decorations, waving at the students.

Seeing this, Harry and his friends felt disgusted, disliking Lockhart's showy nature despite his incompetence.

"Happy Valentine's Day!" Lockhart stood at the staff table, booming. "As of today, I've received forty-six Valentine cards! My humble thanks! Yes, I took a liberty arranging this little surprise, but there's more!"

Lockhart clapped his hands, and twelve dour-looking dwarfs trooped in from the entrance hall, each wearing golden wings and carrying a harp.

"My friendly, card-carrying cupids!" beamed Lockhart. "They will be traveling around the school today delivering your Valentines! And not just that, I've asked my colleagues to participate as well! Why not have Professor Snape teach you all how to brew a Love Potion? And Professor Flitwick, our expert on Entrancing Enchantments, could share his expertise, the sly old dog!"

Professor Flitwick buried his face in his hands as Lockhart spoke, while Snape looked like he was restraining the urge to hex Lockhart's head off if anyone asked him for Love Potion lessons.

Watching Lockhart on the podium, Lynn's lips curled into a mischievous smirk, as if he had an idea brewing.

All day, the dwarfs interrupted classes to deliver Valentines to students, much to the professors' annoyance. In the afternoon, a dwarf caught up with Harry and sang him an embarrassing Valentine poem.

Harry felt mortified, wishing he could evaporate on the spot when the dwarf sang "His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad."

Nearby, Irina couldn't help but laugh out loud at the cringeworthy lines.

But soon enough, the tables turned on Irina.

"I have a musical message to deliver to Irina Lowell personally!" yelled a dwarf as she left her last class.

Irina's smile froze, while Harry grinned with schadenfreude. Let's see how you like it!

The surly dwarf glared at Irina. "Your approach makes me so flustered, a feeling I've never had before..."

"You're mine, I'm yours, who knows..." 

"One more look and I'll explode, get any closer and I'll melt..."

Irina's eye twitched as the dwarf serenaded her. Her fists clenched as she gritted out, "Lynn!!"

The icy aura made Harry and the others instinctively shrink back.

Before the dwarf could finish, Irina whipped around to leave, but it lunged and grabbed her robes. Books tumbled from her pocket, including the Horcrux diary she carried.

Ginny Weasley, spotting the fallen diary, looked horrified.

"Expelliarmus! Petrificus Totalus! Stupefy!" Irina furiously cast in succession. 

The Disarming Charm blasted the dwarf backwards to slam against the wall. The Full Body-Bind froze it in place as it slid down. Finally, the Stunning Spell knocked it unconscious.

Irina scooped up her books, including the diary, and stormed off to find Lynn for payback.

(end of chapter)

[well what can i even say, now ginny will steal it again]