Flying css must have pyed an important role iory, as Scarlet recalled the se where the protagonist flew on a broomstick. After learning that Gryffindors and Slytherins would be attending Flying css together, she thought about the pale boy who frequently passed by Gryffindor’s long table just to prod Harry, the protagonist. She soon realised that something signifit would likely happen today, probably involving Harry and that pale boy, whom she now fidently belled as a rival or bully.

  “Here, here!” Maya tugged Scarlet to a flower bed beside the corridor, where they could observe the students on the field uhe shade. They weren’t the only oaying to watch; many others were scattered around, making ents and giggling as they observed the first years learning to fly on brooms.

  Madam Hooch, the flying instructor, stood between two groups of students who were lined up with brooms ying on the ground. Both Maya and Scarlet couldn’t hear what was being said, but they could see the brooms suddenly jumping up.

  Some jumped into the students’ hands, some just rolled over, and others jolted a few times before lying ft on the ground...Okay, now Scarlet had some idea of what to expeorrow when Hufflepuffs and Ravencws had their Flying lessons.

  She watched as all the brooms finally jumped into the hands of the students, who then got into flying positions. Just as Madam Hooch was about to blow her whistle, a bryffindor’s line suddenly shot into the air. It quickly became apparent that he was uo trol his broom!

  “AHHHhhhh!!” The boy screamed as he asded higher and higher, from teo twenty, his face pale and horrified as the broom twitched and veered sideways, seemingly trying its best to throw him off. Now that Scarlet got a closer look, she reised him as the boy who had been searg for his toad orain...So, was this boy’s role in the book to be aremely unlucky student for the protagonist to save or just serve as ic relief?

  And the supposedly experienced flying instructor didn’t do anything to help? Perhaps the power of the storyli work...Scarlet mused as she watched Neville falling off the broom. However, he nded slowly, cushioned by a sudden gust of wind that prevented him from smag his face directly onto the ground; it was the wind she had summohrough her ts, without aig.

  Though Neville had nded safely, he was so shaken that he threw up and panicked, uo even stand on his feet.

  Madam Hooch hurried to his side, and only then did Scarlet notice that she had her wand in hand, ready to save Neville. But it was clear that Neville’s untrolble ast into the sky had been too fast for her to rea time.

  Tear-streaked and clutg his stomaeville hobbled off with Madam Hooch, who had her arm around him. As they left, he mao catch a glimpse of the students standing in the corridor and spotted Scarlet, but he couldn’t focus on anything before beio the hospital wing to settle down.

  Scarlet’s attention shifted back to the field, where she heard faint ughter from Draco’s gang and saw that Harry seemed provoked. Soon after, Draco picked something up and flew into the air, with Harry - his face flushed in anger – following close behind...Oh, so this is how the story unfolds, eh?

  She mused as she stepped closer to the field, cautiously the two boys chasing each other mid-air, seemingly fighting over a small red bulb. Now that she was nearer, she could hear Harry shouting at Draco, and it became clear that the red bulb beloo Neville. The girls were screaming, the boys were cheering, and Harry erf impressively fancy, highly skilled manoeuvres, almost as if by instinct...Well, she quietly prepared a t on the ground, just in case anythi wrong.

  She felt Maya grip her arm tightly as Harry’s movement grew more dangerous in his attempts to retrieve the red bulb. Then, in an abrupt move, Draco flung the bulb at a random angle areated to the ground. Harry, in turn, sped toward the red bulb, finally catg it in a dangerously precarious position...And that’s when Professonagall’s voice rang out.

  “HARRY POTTER!”

  Loud and clear, it made Harry duck his head and nd with trembli.

  “Never, in all my time at Hogwarts--how dare you!”

  Professonagall’s fury was evident as she silehe other students who tried to speak up, swiftly tugging Harry away at a brisk pace.

  The Gryffindors were all worried, while the Slytherins - especially Drad his ies – burst into triumphant ughter.

  “He’s going to be irouble, might eve detention for hours! Or expelled a back to his Muggle retives!” Draco excimed.

  Ron rolled up his sleeves, clearly ready to do something, but was stopped by ryffindors; they all remained silent, gring daggers at Drad his gang.

  Draco looked around with smug satisfa, raising his eyebrows wheiced Scarlet and Maya standing nearby, clearly having seehing that had just transpired. With a proud tone, he said, “Not so coow, Scarlet Smith? I remember you getting along quite well with Potter. Seems like the sort he gets along with isn’t that great anyway.”

  The way he emphasised the “P” in Potter reminded Scarlet of a meme from her previous life...and she struggled to hold a grin.

  “Well, I wouldn’t jump to clusions so quickly,” Scarlet replied, mentally pieg together the story based on her memory and the current situation. “Professonagall didn’t take any points from Gryffindht away, which is out of character for how she usually haudents she intends to punish.”

  “So?” Draco didn’t seem as fident as before, though he still gred at Scarlet.

  “Maybe she has other pns for him, like...” Scarlet had had enough of the versation and decided to head to the library, “...assigning him as a reserve pyer of the Quidditch team?”

  Draco was momentarily stunned. “Wait, what do you mean by that?!”

  Scarlet merely waved her hand dismissively and walked away, not b to turn her head to respond.

  “Scarlet, is it true that Harry Potter is going to be a reserve pyer?” Maya asked in amazement as they both left the se. “How did you know?”

  “Just a guess based on the information we have,” Scarlet shrugged. “It might not be the case, but it’s the best predi I e up with.”

  After finishing her homework in the library, Scarlet paused for a moment before bidding Maya goodbye and heading for the hospital wing, which surprised Maya. “Is he your friend?” she asked.

  “Well, ly, but I helped him look for his toad orain,” Scarlet replied, “He seems fetful and unlucky. I just hope he’s alright.”

  “Oh, yeah, we never want someone we know to have an act.” Maya nodded sympathetically. “Well, see you ter at dinner, I’ll be with Amelia, reading her magazine.”

  “Magazine?” Scarlet asked, “From the wizarding world?”

  “Yeah, she got it this m from her mum – she’s deg whie to subscribe to.”

  Scarlet pondered for a moment and said, “Remio take a look. I might o check those out for my novel.”

  “Sure.”

  Scarlet slung her bag over her shoulder and started trotting down the hallway; she preferred to walk briskly when she was alone – a bit of light exercise tthen her body. Soon, she arrived at the hospital wing and found Neville occupying a bed in the er, still looking pale and nauseous.

  “Hi, Neville,” Scarlet asked softly, mindful that this was a medical ward, and she should keep her voiuch like when visiting someone in hospital. “Mind if I sit here?”

  “Scarlet?” Neville opened his eyes, surprised to see her. He motioned for Scarlet to sit down and attempt to rise from the bed, but Scarlet gently pushed him back by the forehead, urging him to stay put.

  “I think I saw you in the corridor,” he said weakly.

  “Yes, I was watg you all during the flying lesson - just trying to mentally prepare myself for ours,” Scarlet said. “I noticed they were chasing something after you left - a red bulb. Was it yours?”

  Neville’s eyes widened, “That’s my Remembrall! My gra it to me!”

  “Don’t worry, Harry caught it for you. You’ll get it back ter,” Scarlet reassured him, “What’s it supposed to do?”

  “To remihat I’ve fotten something.”

  Scarlet waited a moment, puzzled. “That’s it? It doesn’t tell you what you’ve fotten?”

  “No...It just turns red,” Neville said with an embarrassed expression, “My memory’s not reliable - I keep fetting things.”

  “Well, maybe we find a way to help with that,” Scarlet replied, and mused, something like an AI assistant? Magic should be able to do something simir, right? Maybe something like the S Hat? But I remember the S Hat was made with advanced magic cast by the Founders...That might be difficult to replicate. She tio fort Neville, “I’ve ordered a ade quill from the Weasley twins - you know, Ron’s brothers. Maybe we could have one made specifically for you, to jot down things you o remember...And make it speak whehe Remembrall turned red?”

  Neville’s face brightened as if he’d found his saviour, “Really? They could make something like that?”

  “Well, they’re pretty good at iing things, though their main focus is on pranks and joke items,” Scarlet said, “I’m sure they’d love to ake something for you if you offer them a good amount of Galleons. But you’ll o discuss the issioh them.”

  “That’s good to know. I really need something to help me with my fetfulness,” Neville said, clearly troubled by this issue for a long time.

  “How are you feeling now? Do you o stay ht?”

  “No. Madam Pomfrey said I go back before dinner,” Neville replied. “I’m not injured, just terribly shocked and panicked. She gave me some Calming Draught a me rest here. I’m feeling a lot better now, especially after talking with you.”

  “I’m gd I could help.” Scarlet said.

  They chatted for a while, learning more about each other’s backgrounds. Neville was curious about Scarlet’s Muggle home, while Scarlet was intrigued by St. Mungo’s Hospital.

  “A hospital specifically for wizards?” Scarlet found it hard to imagine what that might be like.

  The Caster Association in her previous life had its own medical tre, but it mostly treated injuries and illnesses caused by abnormalities, and it looked much like any other hospital - just with different treatmehods. But that obviously wasn’t the case here. With Transfiguration being a only used magic, the se in St. Mungo’s would likely be bizarre and beyond imagination...Should I check it out? For the sake of knowledge? Surely my sanity points wouldn’t drop drastically, right?

  However, she couldn’t just drop in for a look unless, iure, a friend ended up in the ward - which she sincerely hoped wouldn’t happen.

  “You seem ied in St. Mungo’s,” Neville remarked.

  “Well, you’ve probably heard about my novel?” Scarlet saw him nod and tinued, “I’m trying to e up with a ory - a braory in a brand-new setting that has nothing to do with my current one. So, I o broaden my knowledge to find inspiration.”

  “And you want to have a look at St. Mungo’s?” Neville’s expression was posed, but Scarlet could tell he was hiding something - it was too obvious. She decided to ig and tihe versation.

  “If possible,” Scarlet shrugged. “Anyway, it’s almost diime. Are you feelier now? Do you need a haing to the Great Hall?”

  “No, I’m fine, just a bit slow.”

  “That’s alright, I’ll walk with you.” Scarlet smiled and apanied him all the way - from being discharged to finally sitting down in the Great Hall. She waved him goodbye before settling in her usual seat with Amelia and Maya by her side.

  She finished her dinner with her usual chat with her housemates, and just as she was about to head for her training room - which she had told Maya and Amelia was a quiet room she’d applied for from Professor Sprout to work on her novel eaight (and they believed her) - Hermione caught up with her, looking troubled.

  “Scarlet, I need your advi something,” Hermione said.