Scarlet had grown aced to her life in Hogwarts.

  Her day started with an hour of training in her private training room, located not far from the Hufflepuff dorm - just a few flights of stairs to climb. She began at six in the m, followed by breakfast in the Great Hall at eight, where she sorted through the letters delivered by owls. Oh, how she wished Hogwarts had Wi-Fi and the i, she could handle everything so much faster on a ptop.

  Ron had pleted and submitted his questionnaire, seg his pocket money. Besides Ron and Neville, Scarlet handed out a few more questionnaires, steadily building her list of “paid assistants” through versations. Neville, despite his timidity and fetfulness, was doing a great job.

  After breakfast, she attended csses, finished her homework, a with her business affairs during her free periods. Evenings were spent studying her Muggle textbooks until dinner. She enjoyed light versations with her friends and housemates during dinner and after meals, and ter, she returo her training room until nearly ten at night. Sometimes she trained, other times she spent part of the time drafting her novel, but she always finished her days by reading the news summaries. Finally, she’d return to her dorm, take a shower, ao bed.

  Her weekends were entirely dedicated to studying high school subjects which she po take exams for during school breaks, with m and evening training sessions as usual. Others would be shocked if they knew about her physical training, but for now, only the professors and the Weasley twins were aware of it. Hermione might have suspected, but not just yet. For now, her friends and cssmates all believed she had a quiet room specially reserved for writing her books in pead fidentially. Her fans eagerly awaited her book, especially Justin and Maya.

  “Wow, you have such a full and busy schedule,” Amelia remarked as the three of them had their usual pillow talk before bed, “I ’t imagine keeping up with all of that.”

  “I think it’s fine. Not that busy, really,” Scarlet replied, mentally reviewing her schedule. “If I skipped reading the news, I’d actually have more free time.”

  “What kind of news are you reading, anyway?” Amalia asked, curious. “I’ve seen Muggle neer before – they look so dull. The pictures don’t even move!”

  “If you mean Muggle news, I mainly focus oest teology and gover updates, both local and iional. It helps with my iments.” Scarlet’s thoughts raced, when will the i and Wi-Fi bee widespread? What about those artups fog on tech - when will they take off? Oh, and fsh drives! If I i early, the returns could go towards funding R&D for pstic waste problems. She remembered how damaging pstic was to the enviro, yet there hadn’t been much funding for it because solutiooo tedious and weren’t seen as profitable.

  Scarlet tinued, “As for wizarding news, I just like to keep an eye orends so I’m not pletely in the dark.”

  In truth, most of the Ministry’s news seemed like a farce to her, full of cover-ups and only promoting the good stuff. The fashion trends baffled her, and she wasn’t really a fan of them. But at least she stayed informed.

  Amelia and Maya shared details about their days at Hogwarts, too.

  Amelia was more ied in fashion, crafting tris and accessories that she’d roudly. Her creations attracted irls with simir tastes from all four Houses. Of course, every time Gryffindors and Slytherins were involved, they’d end up sneering at each other, often leading to intense arguments that would draw the attention of any passing professor. But Amelia e all the same.

  Maya, oher hand, was a bookworm – specifically a lover of novels. She devoured adveories and love tales, whether written by Muggles or wizards. She had her own group of book enthusiasts, sharing novels and thus, spreading Scarlet’s name across the school. Scarlet even gained a subtle fan in Slytherin, who shyly asked for her autograph when no one was around.

  Occasionally, Hermione would meet up with Scarlet in the library to vent about the silly things the boys had done, especially Harry and Ron – though Neville was always excluded from these pints, as he’d been a very responsible assistant and hadn’t joined in on the boys’ mischief. Neville could have quit being Scarlet’s assistant by now, having earned enough money for his ool: a ade wristwatch from the Weasley twins that recorded reminders, pared his schedule and outfit with others, and even reminded him t his dragon-hide gloves for Potions, even when he fot to ask. A great saviour for him.

  When Scarlet asked why he hadn’t stopped w for her, Neville replied fidently, “I think I learn more by helping you. You always give me sucredible insight. It’s worth more than Galleons.”

  “Well, I’m gd to be of help.” Scarlet patted his shoulder with a smile.

  Everything seemed to be going smoothly, but there were still three things on her mind - three issues she wasn’t sure she should get involved in: Ron’s rat, the soul fragment in Harry’s forehead, and the soul fragments attached to Professor Quirrell’s head.

  She rented Ron’s rat for a week, which Ron happily agreed to - he seemed like he’d prefer a differe if given the ce. She kept detailed observation notes, writing in the nguage from her previous life to ensure no one, especially not the rat, could uand. She suspected the rat might try to escape the cage and sneak a look at her records.

  Her observations didn’t focus o’s physical appearahough that one missing finger was noticed - but on its soul. What she saw was filthy – there was hardly any bravery or justi it. Instead, the soul radiated ing, low self-esteem, and occasionally, s her, as if he khat if he had power, he would exploit others. It was not the soul of a good person from any perspective. Dark in hue, almost bck, with greyish spots, the soul’s aura left her uled.

  Unsure of what to do , she was lost in thought until she overheard a versation about those who had been awarded the Order of Merlin. Professor Dumbledore had received it for defeating Grindelwald in 1945; Sder had been awarded the Order of Merlin, Sed Css, for his work in Magizoology and for writing Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

  “Aer Pettigrew, posthumously awarded the Order of Merlin, First Css, ten years ago because he fronted Sirius Bd was killed along with twelve Muggles during the i. Only one of his fingers was left.”

  One finger?

  Scarlet’s ears perked up. Turning toward the students chatting nearby, she politely interrupted, “Sorry to disturb you, seniors, but could you repeat that? The one awarded the Order of Merlin?”

  “Sure!” they replied.

  Quickly, Scarlet scribbled down the hanked her seniors, and hurried toward the Gryffindor table. She grabbed Ron’s robe, her mind rag. “How long have your family had your pet rat?”

  Ron blinked in fusion but answered anyway. “Almost ten years. A bit more than nine, I re. Why?”

  “Nothing, just o firm that for my notes,” Scarlet replied, patting his shoulder before hurrying off. “Thanks, Ron!”

  She made a beeline for the library and headed straight to the Books for Record. She found the se with Hogwarts yearbook se and started ting back the years. After some flipping, she found it: Peter Pettigrew.

  He looked younger in the photos, much cheerier with other students around, one of them looked amazing simir to Harry. But there was no mistaking it – the soul hiding in Ron’s rat matched this image.

  Awarded for fronting Sirius Bck, a follower of the mighty dark wizard, and dying a hero, huh? Scarlet thought to herself, well, he’s alive. And since he’s hiding, maybe...maybe Sirius Bck was framed? Could he be i?

  The gravity of the situation weighed on her. I should report this to someone – Pettigrew is dangerous, and an i man might be in prison because of him...but how? I ’t just march up to the Ministry and say the rat is the true culprit...

  She didn’t trust them with their ridiculutions.

  Could she rely on Professor Dumbledore? Should I take that risk?

  “Hermione, dear,” she said, finding Hermioucked away in a er of the library. “Do you know any spell that turn a human into an animal?”

  “Temporary or long term?” Hermione asked, gng up from her book.

  “For the long term.”

  Hermiohought for a moment before replying, “You’re probably thinking of the Animagus Transformation. Transfiguring a human into an animal only works temporarily. An Animagus, oher hand, is a witch or wizard who transform into an animal and back again at will. It’s a skill you learn through a sort of ritual process. Professonagall is one of the registered Animagi. Why do you ask? Are you thinking of being one?”

  “No, just...looking into something.” Scarlet replied. In truth, her role as a priestess of the Queen granted her the ability to transform into a bear - an ability more akin to that of a traditional Druid than a Animagus. In fact, she should probably be called a Druid, rather than a priestess, if she was skilled in magid a wisdom, but the Queen didn’t mind the title, as long as Scarlet served her purpose.

  “Thanks, Hermione. See you ter.”

  “Wait, Scarlet...” Hermione called out, but Scarlet had already hurried away, heading toward her training room for some quiet space to think.

  To her surprise, the Weasley Twihere, jumping and cheering, clearly celebrating something.

  “Hi brothers. What are you so excited about?” Scarlet asked, sidering whether she o find another pce to pte her dilemma.

  “The quill, Midy!” the twins chorused, presenting her with a delicate quill.

  “Endless ink,” Fred expined, “You store any colour you want in the feather, and switch between them by ping the coloured part.”

  “The quill capture any colour you see,” Gee added, “Just point the nib at the colour and say the magic word ‘capture’.”

  “It has a voice-to-text funimig your writing style while correg any mistakes.”

  “And the nib is geable!” Gee said enthusiastically. “You imagine any type of nib you want, and the quill will take that shape. Whether you need a broad stroke or a fine line – it'll do it! And--”

  The twins fiheir pit unison, “--it looks pretty! You pin it in your hair or on a hat!”

  Scarlet couldn’t help but smile with amusement as she looked at the quill in her hand. “It's certainly pretty,” she agreed.

  “And it even give you suggestions if you’re stuck while writing.” Gee added.

  “You mean I ...chat with it?” Scarlet asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Exactly!” Fred grinned. “It responds to questions, but be warned - it starts giving dumb replies if you ask too much. We’re w on that part.”

  Well, isn’t this just like the chatbot AI engineers are dreaming of creating? Scarlet mused, her lips curving into a wry grin, “Thanks! Here’s the other half of the payment.”

  The twins accepted the pouch of Galleons with eager smiles.

  “Oh, by the way,” Fred asked, “why are you here so early? You seem worried - those frowning brows say it all. Anything we help with?”

  “I’m not sure...” Scarlet replied, gng betweewins. After a brief pause, she asked, “Do you trust Professor Dumbledore?”

  “Of course we do! Why?” Gee asked, his curiosity piqued.

  Scarlet’s lips twisted into a slight frown. “Because I have something really important...something I think only he handle. I don’t think the Ministry of Magic is reliable enough for this.”

  The twins exged a serious gnce befesturing for her to sit down. “Scarlet, let’s have a talk,” Gee said, his usual pyful tone repced by a more thoughtful one.

  Qiya