Scarlet woke up early as usual. She hadn’t sensed any summons from Hermio night, firming there was nothihal about this part of the story, just as she has expected. But now, thinking back, she began to question Hermione’s as...

  Why did Hermione ask for her adviyway? In the inal story, Hermione supposedly didn’t seek anyone’s help and took a on her own, probably in a more assertive manner? She’s a Gryffindor, after all...

  After her m workout, Scarlet headed to breakfast, but just as she was about to sit down, Hermione approached her with a grumpy expression, “Scarlet, I have a moment with you?”

  “Sure...” Scarlet took a glimpse, catg a g Harry and Ron, who both looked sleepy. Oddly, Neville, sitting beside them, seemed just as tired. “After breakfast, I’m pnning to do some resear the library. Would you like to join me?”

  “I would love to, see you ter.” Hermione seemed slightly relieved but still looked grumpy.

  Scarlet settled into her usual seat with Amelia and Maya beside her. They, along with others nearby, were curious about her versation with Hermione.

  “That girl - I heard she’s as brilliant as a Ravencw. Earned loads of House points by being active and answering questions in css!”

  “Did she want to form a study group with you, Scarlet? I’ve heard she spends most of her time in the library, reading all sorts of books.”

  Scarlet shook her head. “No, and even if she did, I wouldn’t join. I have different pns and a different schedule. She’s aiming for better grades, and I’m not - that sets us apart.”

  “You don’t care about gettier grades?” Justin, sitting across from her, looked surprise.

  “Well, do you think higher grades would help me manage my paer?” Scarlet replied, notig a flicker of uanding in Justin’s eyes. Yup, definitely old money, Scarlet mused, he sees value in being a wizard but doesn’t take the wizarding world too seriously - probably has a business waiting for him after he graduate... “Say, Justin, would you be ied in learning Chemistry, Physics, and Biology? Maybe some Additional Maths as well?”

  Justin was stunned, while others asked what those subjects were. Students from the wizarding world, of course, knew very little about them, and even the Muggle-born students were too young to be familiar with them. But Justin, who Scarlet suspected came from a wealthy family - he was supposed to atteon before ing to Hogwarts – clearly uood what she meant.

  “You mean...you’re pnning to hire a tutor and study those during school breaks?” Justin asked in amazement. “Wow, you’re so...hard-w. I feeling ashamed just listening to your pns. But if I may suggest, you should sider some business ma subject - marketing and ating might be useful.”

  “Nope, I’m going to self-study and take the exams during school breaks. The subjects you mentioned are already on my list for after I graduate from Hogwarts.” Scarlet’s words left Justin even more astonished. “That’s why I’m asking if you want to join. We could study together if you like. lenty of time on Fridays since we only have Flying iernoon and Astronomy at night.”

  “Well...” Justiated, “I’ll think about it. I’ll let you know.”

  “Sure.” Scarlet replied with a smile and then expihe subjects they were discussing to others. Their housemates from the wizarding world were particurly curious, especially about Scarlet’s pn to attend uy after graduating from Hogwarts.

  “I think I’m going to get married after I graduate,” one of the girls said. “I hope I find a nice boyfriend here before then.”

  “That soon?” Scarlet was surprised, but she quickly learhat most Hraduates teo marry at a young age pared to that she was aced to in her previous life. It made her wonder if it was worth iigating...Nah, I’m not pnning to form deep es with the wizarding world anyway. This should be the Ministry’s job, not mine.

  She finished her breakfast happily, promised to show her textbooks to those ied when they arrived, gave Hermione - who had been waiting nearby - a nod, and then headed to the library. Today, she’s po study History of Magiot for the grades, but to gain a clearer uanding of how the wizarding world funed and to decide whether she should blend in slightly or stay pletely apart from it.

  When Hermione and Scarlet settled in a quiet er of the library, Hermione immediately began to pin, “Ugh, those boys are so stubborn! You have no idea how stupid they be!”

  “Well, I imagine,” Scarlet replied, quickly uanding her role today; she was there to be Hermione’s emotional sounding board, to listen to all her pints about Harry and Ron, which she didn’t mind. All she o do was offer the occasional “uh-huh, yeah, absolutely, you’re way better than them, you deserve better,” and Hermione would calm down aurn to her usual self.

  Though most of Scarlet’s attention was focused oextbook and some refereerials, she mao grasp the gist of Hermione’s frustrations – especially regarding Harry and Ron antics the previous night - and learned a bit about Hermione’s daily life in Gryffindor. It didn’t sound great; Hermione seemed somewhat isoted, with Percy Weasley, Ron’s older brother, being the only one she got along with reasonably well. Percy, aiming fh grades to secure a position at the Ministry of Magic struck Scarlet as ambitious, but given Weasleys’ financial situation, it was uandable. A gover job would provide financial stability.

  As for Harry, Ron, and Hermione’s little advehey did indeed reach the forbidden third floor, and mao return to their dorm safely.

  However, Scarlet couldn’t help but ask, “Why did Neville go with you guys?”

  Hermione rolled her eyes. “I was trying to stop the dweeb duo, and Neville for the toilet but got curious wheiced we were out, so he followed us. By the time Neville and I wao go back, the Fat Lady in the portrait wasn’t there to open the door for us, so we had no choice but to follow them.”

  “Well, it must have been a rough day for Neville. He’d just e back from the hospital wing,” Scarlet sighed.

  “That gigantic dog ohird floor must be guarding something...We could all have been killed -- or worse, expelled!”

  “Wait, hold up.” Scarlet frowned, “Are you really saying being expelled is worse thaing yourselves killed?”

  Hermio silent for a moment, taken aback.

  “Hermione, look, I know how much you value being at Hogwarts, but you o uand that your life is more important,” Scarlet said gently but in a stern tone, “If, let’s say, you were expelled, you could always go to anical school. I’m not sure where they are, but it’s not the end of the world, Hermione.”

  Perhaps for the first time, Hermione saw the sternness in Scarlet’s eyes, or perhaps she finally uood the point. She nodded and whispered, “Sorry, Scarlet, I was just...too angry.”

  “I know you’re just nervous because a magical school is truly exg, and I uand that,” Scarlet said warmly. “Well, if you ever need anything, just let me know. I’ll see how I help you out. I’ll always be there for you.”

  “Thanks, Scarlet, I really appreciate it,” Hermione replied, nodding with a slight blush.

  Eventually, Hermione finished venting and focused oudies. They both eheir time studying together and even exged parts of their schedules to get a better uanding of each other’s routines.

  Before they packed up their books and headed back to the Great Hall for luneville came looking for Scarlet.

  “Fred and Gee agreed to ake a tool to help with my fetfulness,” Neville said.

  Scarlet raised her eyebrows, “Great! But you seem a bit bothered...”

  “The price is a bit high for me, and I don’t want to bother my gran about it,” Neville admitted, looking a bit embarrassed. “I heard Ron say you were looking for someoo fill out your questionnaire - a paid task. Could I take that on?”

  “Absolutely.” Scarlet took out a set of questionnaires, “Ten Galleons for a pleted set. I’ll pay you after I receive your answers. By the way...do you know how to write a summary?”

  “A Summary?” Neville accepted the papers, though he looked puzzled by the question, “What kind of summary?”

  “I’m busy with my schedule, but I’d love to know what’s in the neers and magazines,” Scarlet expined, sidering if Neville could be a good fit. “I need someoo summarise the tent for me. It’s a loask, kind of like being my assistant...”

  Neville’s eyes widened, “You mean...like a job?”

  “Exactly.” The more Scarlet thought about it, the more she deemed Neville suitable for the position. “Would you like to take my offer? I’m paying five Galleons per week, but you’ll o sehe summary daily after dinner. Don’t worry, I’ll teach you how to do it step by step - you’ll do great. How does that sound?”

  Nevilles hesitated, thinking about the Galleons he needed for the Weasley twins’ tool. “I...I could give it a try,” he said slowly. “I do need some extra money.”

  “Great! How about we start today with the neers and magazines in the library?”

  “Sure.”

  Now that I have an assistant and two freeo help with some of my tasks...Scarlet g the history refereerials, sidering she might need another assistant for that. Well, I’ll just wait and see if I find anyone else looking for some extra pocket money.

  Her Flying lesson was uful, nothing dramatic like what happened yesterday with Harry and Draco. Still, she became the tre of the attention because the broomstick worked perfectly in her hands, and she seemed very adept at man it, even pared to those who had been flying since childhood.

  Scarlet just smiled and accepted the praise humbly, feeling a bit embarrassed by it; she had frequently flown with wind ts in her previous life, and she could perform the same triow. As an adult – at least in soul - it didn’t feel fair to pare herself to these young wizards who didn’t have her experience.

  Astronomy that night was cold. The Hufflepuffs were well-prepared with jackets and all, thanks to Scarlet’s remihey shyly smiled when the shivering Gryffindred at them in the chilly night wind.

  “Scarlet, you could’ve reminded us too!” A few Gryffindors who knew her grumbled, and she responded with a wry smile.

  “Alright, alright, I’ll remember to remind you guys ime, okay?”

  “You’d better,” Ron said, raising his before cag along with others.

  Well, here’s hoping the story doesn’t end up the way I remember from the posters, with dark tones and all that...seemed so sad and tragic, Scarlet mused.

  Qiya