Although Cedric's reaction was quick enough, he still underestimated the seriousness of this incident... or rather, he didn't realize how famous he was.
The top student in fourth grade, handsome, gentle, and patient... all of these combined made him very well-known among the students.
He had just walked out of the auditorium for less than a hundred meters when five dwarfs came running... Their golden wings wobbled behind them, creating an inexplicable humor.
"Hey, you! Cedric Digory!" The dwarf at the front used its arm to push through the crowd, squeezing in.
Cedric's hair stood on end, and he wanted to run, but before he could take two steps, the dwarfs kicked people's calves and caught up to him.
Three in front, two behind, blocking the path completely.
"I have a musical message to personally deliver to Cedric Digory." One dwarf stepped forward and strummed a harp with an imposing stance.
Cedric looked at the people slowly gathering around him and wanted to run again... but his clothes were being held by the dwarf, making him unable to move.
"Not here..." Cedric pleaded, "I'm going to be late for class!"
But the dwarf acted as if it didn't hear and shouted, "This is your Valentine greeting with a song...
His gray eyes are as captivating as a freshly squeezed shrunken fig,
His hair is as shiny black as a cauldron used for thirty years,
I wish he were mine, he is truly handsome,
He is Hufflepuff's perfect gentleman."
Cedric's face was completely devoid of color, looking paler than the legendary vampire.
He tried to laugh along with everyone, but eventually only let out a dry moan.
Cedric thought that the dwarfs' way of delivering messages might not be friendly, but after seeing it, he realized he was way off.
This is not unfriendly; it's clearly a nightmare.
And such nightmares, there were four more to come...
Kael was originally standing on the side watching, but Conna suddenly tugged his sleeve.
"You better run..."
"What?"
Kael looked up and realized that more dwarfs were running toward them.
Seven in total, not more, not less.
And it seemed their target wasn't Cedric...
"Hey, Kael..."
"Flock of birds!" Kael's scalp tingled, and he almost instinctively extended his wand...
The cedar wood wand made a loud bang, and a flock of birds flapped their wings from the tip, surrounding the dwarfs and blocking their view.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kael pulled Conna through the crowd and quickly ran back to the Hufflepuff Common Room.
After the barrel-shaped door slowly closed, Kael leaned back on a sofa, panting heavily.
Not from exertion, but from fright.
Conna covered her mouth, laughing until tears were nearly streaming down her cheeks.
"This is the first time I've seen you so scared." She shrugged, "Even when Oren tricked you into the Forbidden Forest, you weren't this flustered."
"You don't understand..."
Kael wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, "If I can make those dwarfs disappear on the spot, I'd rather go to the Forbidden Forest with Oren again."
"Haha!" The little witch couldn't hold back and laughed out loud.
"Conna, don't overdo it." Kael said annoyedly, "I helped you too, those dwarfs might have been coming for you."
Conna wrinkled her nose, thinking of the dwarfs singing to her: "Your hair is like freshly fried potatoes from the pot" … Her head buzzed, and she felt chills all over.
The good mood disappeared in an instant, and Conna glared at Kael fiercely.
"I warn you not to talk nonsense, those dwarfs' eyes were fixed on you." She said, "They were obviously looking for you, it has nothing to do with me!"
"Who can say for sure... I don't believe you saw all the dwarfs' eyes."
"I did see them!" Conna said loudly,
At this moment, the door opened again, and Cedric came back, with a look of relief after surviving an ordeal.
"Thanks to you, Kael."
He fell onto the sofa, "Those birds distracted the dwarfs, I managed to escape."
Really scary... Do you think if I pretend to be sick and head to the hospital wing, Madam Pomfrey would notice?"
"Pretending to be sick definitely won't work." Kael shook his head, "If you really have that idea... I have belladonna here, want to take a bite?"
"Forget belladonna." Cedric thought for a while, declining.
He just wanted to hide in the hospital wing for a day, not risk half his life.
...
When the door to the Hufflepuff Common Room opened again, Cedric walked out alone, trembling.
There was only one Invisibility Cloak, after much internal debate, Cedric decided to give it to Conna.
He glanced to the side and mumbled softly, "Kael, does your plan really work?"
"Give it a try." The wall beside him slightly trembled, and Kael's voice came through, "There are only twelve dwarfs, as long as you keep them busy, things like earlier won't happen again."
Kael's plan was simple... if you can't beat them, hide; if you can't hide, join them.
Others can send them cards, why can't we? After all, there's no need to sign...
As long as others receive one more card, we'll receive one less.
"But who should we write to."
Cedric was still hesitant, the method was good, but it was a bit wicked, he felt embarrassed.
"Fred and George are good choices." Kael said casually, "They love this kind of fun, can't wait to get a card."
"And Lockhart... send him a hundred cards first."
"Also Professor Snape, he probably won't get any on Valentine's Day, we can send fifty to boost his image."
Just as they were speaking, an arm suddenly appeared out of nowhere and punched Kael.
"Alright, ten cards... the rest can go to Lockhart."
With that, Kael took out a stack of paper filled with writing and distributed them to the others.
These were things they prepared in the Common Room earlier, and the contents were almost identical.
"Add the names, and have the dwarfs deliver them."
Cedric was still hesitant, "Are these duplicated cards really no problem? Shouldn't we change the content a bit?"
"No need." Kael shook his head, explaining: "The dwarfs are usually assistants to goblins crafting weapons and are accustomed to mechanical work, even if the contents on the paper are the same, they'll still deliver it.
But you did remind me, make sure to stagger the names so they'll make more rounds."
...