Scarlet leased to see the hat new evidence had emerged, suggesting that Sirius Bck might be proven not guilty, and an iigation was underway.

  Looks like it’s time to deal with the other two problems...Starting with Professor Quirrell, perhaps?

  Halloween arrived soohan expected.

  It wasn’t a holiday Scarlet had ever paid much attention to. In her previous life, she had lived in a more Asian-influenced culture where Halloween wasn’t a big deal. At the orphahe budget was too tight to allow for proper Halloween celebrations, as finds were prioritised for renovations and medical expenses for the ill children. Instead, they focused more on Christmas and New Year’s. Though she knew Halloween was eagerly anticipated by people in Engnd, it hadn’t been on her radar...She e anyway.

  Just as she was soaking imosphere, Professor Quirrell burst into the Great Hall, his face pale with terror, his turban askew. He staggered torofessor Dumbledore's chair, leaned heavily against the table, and gasped, “Troll -- in the dungeons! -- thought you ought to know...”

  Then, he colpsed to the floor, unscious.

  The students immediately panicked, chaos erupting in the hall. But Professor Dumbledore acted swiftly, sending out purple firecrackers that caught everyone’s attention, sileng the crowd as he rumbled, “Prefects, lead your Houses back to the dormitories immediately!”

  The prefects jumped into a, with Hufflepuff’s seventh-year prefects quickly taking charge. “First years, gather and leave first! Emily, Jonathan, you lead the way! Sed years, follows. Seniors, stay behind a an example for the youudents!”

  Notig her friends still looking nervous, scared, and fused, Scarlet raised her voice, “First years, follow me! Follow the redhead!”

  This worked like a charm. Amelia and Maya were the first to fall in behind Scarlet, followed by Justin and the others, all trotting toward the Hufflepuff dormitories.

  Emily, who was leading the way ahead of Scarlet, turned and smiled, “Nice! Ever thought about being a prefect yourself ter on?”

  “oo busy,” Scarlet replied without hesitation, her light-hearted tone helping to calm the students arouhe sense of calm gradually spread among them all.

  “Thought you’d say that.” Jonathan chuckled, “Still busy with your book?”

  “Yeah, I’m reag the climax. Been struggling to e up with a better way to build it up.”

  “’t help you with that, but good luck.”

  “Thanks!”

  They arrived at the dormitory not long after. Emily and Jonathan stepped inside while Scarlet stood off to the side, ting heads as their housemates filled into the room.

  “All present!”

  The prefects let out a collective sigh of relief, and Scarlet stayed behind to close the dormitory door.

  Just before Scarlet could close the door, she sensed something strahe mark she had left on Professor Quirrell’s turban was moving in an odd way. Recalling the yout of Hogwarts, she realised he wasn’t heading toward the hospital wing or the dungeons, where a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor should be during a crisis...No, he was heading toward the forbidden third-floor!

  “Felicia, I fot something important. I o go bad retrieve it,” Scarlet said hastily, tugging at the robe of the seventh-year prefect beside her, who was helping her close the entrance.

  “But Scarlet, it’s dangerous --”

  “I know, don’t worry. You know me, I’ll be fine,” Scarlet assured her quickly, “You know I don’t lie!”

  “Well...”

  Before Felicia could stop her, Scarlet darted out of read sped off, her voice eg through the hallway, “I’ll be back soon!”

  With a swift wind enha cast on her feet and legs, she increased her speed. She didn’t wait for the staircase to shift; instead, she practically parkoured her way straight to the third floor, where she caught a glimpse of the purple turban.

  “Professor Quirrell!” She called out mid-air, startling the already-nervous professor. “Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be in the hospital wing or helping the other professors deal with the troll?”

  She nded in front of the now-open door to the forbidden room, wearing a smile that didn’t quite mask the threatening uone in her voice.

  Professor Quirrell’s face turned ghostly white as he stammered, trying to form an excuse, but Scarlet cut him off.

  “I’m sure Professor Quirrell isn’t up to anything...suspicious, right?” Scarlet said, her voice ced with feigned innoce. She had only vague memory of this part from the film, but whatever was hidden in this room, it was clearly something important, and it definitely shouldn’t fall into the hands of someoh a suspicious soul fragment ging to his head. She had to e up with something fast – something that could keep him from attempting anything else, like tonight’s troll i, to access the room. Smirking, she added, “Actually, I know you’re up to something. I see your little secret...hiding under your turban.”

  Professor Quirrell’s face paled even further. “T-this is not a funny joke, Ms. Hong...”

  “Ms. Hong!” a deep voice suddenly boomed from the room. Professor Sepped out of the shadows. “While I appreciate your efforts in guarding the door for me as I che the security measures, I must remind you to mind yuage when speaking with a professor.”

  Scarlet uzzled for a moment, but she kept her expressioral, smiling as she nodded, “Gd to be of help, Professor Snape. And I apologise, Professor Quirrell, if I was being rude.”

  “I-it’s alright, I-I should joiher professors now...” Professor Quirrell stammered before hurrying aractically running as he left.

  Once Professor Quirrell was out of sight, Professor Snape, gng to ensure no one was around, said quietly, “I believe, Ms. Hong, you have a good excuse for behaving like a reckless Gryffindor instead of remaining with your House in the dormitory?”

  “Well, I suppose Professor Snape has already gotten to know me better through Professonagall or Professor Dumbledore?” Scarlet replied calmly. She didn’t recall the exact reasons this character was so beloved by fans in her previous life, but she knew ohing: despite being a double-sided spy, he was ultimately on Harry’s side. Trusting that, she decided to be ho. “I saw a soul fragment attached to his head. It gave me a very bad feeling - dark, oppressive, distorted, full of hatred. Like a snake waiting to strike at the right moment. Thought you’d want to know.”

  She then cast a brief g his left arm. “Somehow, it’s lio the mark you carry.”

  For a brief sed, Professor Snape’s eyes widened in surprise, a rare and telliion for someone who usually maintaihe same stern expression, even when gring at students.

  “Have you informed Professor Dumbledore?” He asked, his voice low, as if he were trying to ceal his shock.

  “Not yet, pnning to. But I o be sure if he’s reliable,” Scarlet replied. “You’re wele to pass along my words, but I suspect he would not take a.”

  “And why do you think that?”

  “He’s training the saviour - the Boy Who Lived. Don’t you think the way he’s guarding the third floor looks more like a test ame rather than a proper security measure?” After weeks of reading up o history and news, Scarlet had a clearer uanding of Harry Potter’s status. “Perhaps he believes Harry will py a key role iing the dark wizard and wants to prepare him.”

  Professor Snape remained silent for a long moment before asking in a whisper, “And you’re certain...the Dark Lord is still alive?”

  “Well, I wasn’t sure at first,” Scarlet admitted, “but the mark on your forearm is still active. He’s alive somehow. Perhaps in fragments.”

  Professor Snape’s eyes narrowed as he stared into hers. “Why are you entrustih this information?”

  She shrugged lightly and replied, “A magic.”

  Professor Snape didn’t respond but instead ordered her to return to her dormitory, which she plied with immediately.

  When she arrived back at the Hufflepuff on room, her housemates greeted her warmly, shoving food in her hands and weling her back. It was enough to make Scarlet to decide to take a break from her usual physical training and instead indulge in the fort of food and friends, relishing the cozy atmosphere.

  The day, news spread rapidly throughout Hogwarts: Harry and Ron had fronted a troll to save the ever-reckless Hermiohe notorious “Miss Know-it-all”. From her pce at the long table, Scarlet observed the trio was finally ing together, just as she remembered from the films. Other boys seemed to be warming up to Hermione as well, though she still appeared tle with making friends among the Gryffindirls.

  Later that day, Hermione found Scarlet in the library and eagerly began reting all the details of the previous night.

  “If it wasn’t for Harry and Ron, I could have been killed. Breaking the rules isn’t as terrifying as I thought – especially since I always win back my points,” Hermione said, though her voice still trembled at the memory of being so close to the troll.

  “Well, I’m happy that you are finally making friends.” Scarlet said.

  “Yeah, they’re good friends, even if they still annoy me at times. Boys!” Hermione rolled her eyes in frustration, but then her gaze nded oebook Scarlet was reading. “What’s that?”

  “It’s Ron’s report on the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest,” Scarlet said, flipping through the pages. “His handwriting’s better than I expected, and the informatiohered is actually det. I was expeg worse.”

  Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise. “His handwriting really is terrible. I’ve never seen him put in this much effort before.”

  “Well,” Scarlet grinned, “it turns out a handsome reward does wonders.”

  “Scarlet, you’ve been spending a lot of mo school,” Hermione said, her tone ed.

  Scarlet shrugged again. “I don’t mind spending, as long as it saves me time. Besides, haven’t you noticed? My spending is actually helping some students.”

  “Helping?” Hermione looked puzzled.

  “Bet you never realised how expehe tuition fees and school supplies are for some students to attend Hogwarts.” Scarlet said. “It’s a heavy burden for some of them, you know.”

  Hermio silent, processing the new perspective.

  “I selectively choose those who need help and are willing to work for it,” Scarlet tinued, “Ron’s one of them. I’m sure you’ve noticed his wand, and his robe? With what I’ve paid him, he should finally have enough money for a new wand. Though, I don’t have many tasks suitable for him, since most of mine require attention to detail, which, well...Ron’s ly known for.”

  Hermione lowered her head, her expression thoughtful, “Scarlet, I feel awful.”

  “Why?”

  “I’ve just been sniggering at Ron’s chipped wand, thinking he looks funny waving it, and I hought about it beyond that,” Hermione replied, her eyes growing red.

  “Don’t beat yourself up over it,” Scarlet said with a casual tone, “Ro want anyone’s pity. He’s carefree about it and still lives with a smile. Just keep treating him the way you always have, and leave the rest to me.”

  “To you? But you’re just a student.”

  “And a businesswoman,” Scarlet added with a wink, “I’ve issioned Fred and Gee to work on some iions. I’m sure they’ll find a way to look after their baby brother.”

  “...wow.” Hermione sighed, clearly impressed.

  Scarlet’s eyes drifted back to the report in her hand, which had flipped to a se describing unis, specifically the properties of uni blood: “Uni blood is famed for its powerful healing properties...despite its life-saving abilities, drinking uni blood es with a severe curse...The blood of a uni will keep one alive, even if they are an inch from death, but at a terrible price.”

  Suddenly, she remembered the odd smell she had noticed beh the overp st of garlic smell...Something foul, like the stench of decay.