November at Hogwarts marked the Quidditch season, though Scarlet couldn’t quite uand why a wizarding school without any physical education would choose to have its students pete for the Quidditch Cup during such a freezing month. To be fair, most Hogwarts students fit the stereotypiotion that “while they may be clever, most magic users are physically frail”, much like how wizards are portrayed in D&D or video games. The only exception seemed to be the Quidditch pyers.

  Even then, when she looked at Harry, he didn’t strike her as particurly athletic. But, of course, he was the protagonist - so it wasn’t her anyway.

  Quirrell was absent at breakfast that m. The curse from her spear must have caused him quite a bit of trouble.

  She finished her breakfast quickly, packed some food into a lunch box in case she got hungry ter, and made her way to the Potions Master. “Good m, Professor Snape. I’ve e across some difficulties with potion brewing and was hoping to ask for your insight to help me approach it better.”

  Professor Snape shot her a stern gre, wiped his mouth, and stood. “Follow me,” he said curtly, striding away at a brisk pace.

  His steps were so quick his robe billowed behind him like a fg, and Scarlet had to be careful not to step on it actally - choking the Potions Master would certainly cost her House some points.

  They soon reached his office, where he immediately locked the door with a flick of his wand. “Ms. Hong,” he began in a low, foreboding tone, “if this request for my ‘insight’ involves any reckless endeavours, I’ll have little patience for your excuses.”

  “I know my limits, Professor,” Scarlet replied quickly, sensing his suspi. “I entered the soul fragment in the Forbidden Forest.”

  Professor Snape’s eyes narrowed, though he didn’t interrupt, waiting for her to tinue. “I sensed Quirrell leaving the castle, so I followed him. But instead of Quirrell, I found a cloaked figure with a threatening aura hunting unis. I fought him, and mao strike his shoulder with my spear. He’s injured, and the cursed wound won’t heal easily. He’ll either seek out you or the hospital wing for a remedy.”

  His face remained impassive, though he scrutinised her closely, as if weighing her words for truth. “Why would a first-year student even sider following a professor?” he asked with a raised eyebrow. “Do you uand the level of foolishness you’re describing?”

  Scarlet hesitated but held his gaze. “I sensed a dark magic – a powerful, dangerous one. As for the details...it was something I o firm.”

  Snape’s expression softened slightly, though his scepticism didn’t fade. “I’ve heard you’re studying the magic of death and soul?” he pressed.

  “Yes,” Scarlet firmed, then tinued, a note ret ione, “but he’s far too skilled for me to handle. His reas were quick, he showed no fear, and he cast non-verbal magic - spells or curses I don’t reise yet. I’m still learning the basics. Otherwise, I would’ve captured him on the spot.”

  “Captured?” Professor Snape echoed with a darkly amused look. “You overestimate your capabilities, Ms. Hong. Who precisely do you think you are dealing with?”

  Scarlet gave a slight nod, g the point. “True, I ck the skills. But I doubt Quirrell’s a simple follower. I suspect he has multiple soul fragments.” Her words startled the Potions Master, though he cealed it with a slight frown.

  “There’s one in Harry’s scar, one on Quirrell’s head, and I remember something about a diary... likely seven fragments in total,” She vaguely recalled seven films in the series, which likely meant seven fragments.

  Professor Snape’s expression turony, his voice dangerously low. “What do you mean by ‘one in Potter’s scar’?”

  Scarlet blinked, realising how shog her words mush have sounded. “I’m irely sure how it happened – perhaps uional – but I believe a fragment of soul resides within Harry’s scar. I've sidered ways to remove it...”

  “Remove it?” Professor Snape’s voice cut through sharply, his disbelief evident. “And what exactly qualifies you to even sider such a thing?”

  “Calm down, Professor Snape.” Scarlet raised a hand, trying to ease his tension. “Harry still has some kind of proteagic left by his mother; if my senses are correct. It should st a few more years. Besides, I’m not certain Professor Dumbledore would approve any immediate a, would he?”

  She vaguely remembered reading online in her previous life about Dumbledore critics acg him of being a master maniputor, treating everyone as mere pieces in his game. They argued that even his love for Harry was just because Harry was his on against the dark wizard, and that Snape’s death art of his grand pn...or something like that, she wasn’t sure how accurate that was – she hadn’t kept up with the ter parts of the series due to being busy handling other cases caused by reckless casters.

  Professor Snape’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Dumbledore...has his reasons, I’m sure,” he muttered, his tone ced with something close to bitterness. “If indeed you have discovered fragments, then you realise the risks involved.” He looked at her sceptically. “Yet you cimed you’re simply a first-year. Tell me, where have you obtained such...advanced insights?”

  Scarlet shrugged, feigning nonce. “A magid a few clues here, some readings there. My only real now is the fragment on Quirrell’s head. It move, take a, hunt unis, and is after whatever’s being guarded ohird floor. It’s far more dangerous and uable.”

  Professor Sched her in silence, his suspi lingering but tempered by thoughtfulness. After what felt like a long silence, he finally unlocked the door with a flick of his wand, “I’ll sider what you’ve shared. This versation is not to be discussed further.”

  “Of course, Professor,” Scarlet replied, keep her tone polite. “In the meantime, I’ll do my best to keep Quirrell’s attention ohough I think his focus will remain with Harry. Thank you, Professor, for yuidaoday, I’ve learned so much about the Sleeping Draught.”

  The Potion Master gave her a curt nod in respoo her excuse, and Scarlet headed to her css. Her housemates were quick to praise her for having the ce to speak to the intimidating Potion Master in private.

  Saturday was Harry’s first Quidditch match, and he had been on edge ever since learning the date. Not even Hermione and Ron could calm his nerves. On top of that, somethi off, but he didn’t know who to turn to. His suspis sounded ridiculous, and both Ron and Hermione dismissed them as him overthinking.

  Then, Harry noticed Scarlet sitting at her usual spot at the far end of the Hufflepuff table. It was where she often sat when receivis from her assistants and distributing the tasks. Ron always sighed with deep admiration, saying he could never manage something like that. Even Hermione was impressed, sidering Scarlet an inspiring figure who always, seemed to kly what she was doing. They were all the same age, but Harry felt utterly lost in parison, with no clear idea of what he wanted or where he was heading.

  After Scarlet finished distributing tasks and her assistants had left, Harry realised he had wandered over toward her without even notig. She looked up and caught his gaze.

  “Anything I help you with, Harry?” Scarlet’s voiapped him out of his thoughts. Only then did he noticed he was standing right o her. Feeling both frustrated and unsure, he nodded and sat dowo the most reliable friend he had.

  “I think...something strange is happening with Professor Quirrell,” Harry began, his voice low, uain if Scarlet would believe him.

  Scarlet listened ily, nodding for him to tinue. “And what makes you think that?” she asked.

  Harry hesitated, then expined. “There’ve been times when looking at him, my scar starts burning. It’s extremely painful. It doesn’t happen all the time, but over the past few days, it's been happening more and more, especially when our eyes meet. I have to look away...and now Hermiohinks I’m not paying attention in css.”

  Scarlet sidered this for a moment. “Anything else besides that?”

  “Well...he seems paler. He’s been walking slower, too, and I’ve seen him touch his shoulder like it hurts or something,” Harry added, looking puzzled. “He looks harmless, but at the same time, I get this strange, dangerous feeling around him.”

  Just as Scarlet was about to respond, the flurry of owls swooping into the Great Hall interrupted them. Faye, Scarlet’s owl, nded in front of her, and Hedwig, Harry’s owl, arrived with a letter for Harry from his godfather. He took the letter, giving his owl a ge, while Scarlet collected a small package and rewarded Faye with a few treats.

  “iming.” Scarlet said as she opehe package, taking out a beautiful greenish pendant unlike anything Harry had seen before. She muttered something under her breath, words Harry couldn’t quite make out, and traced symbols unfamiliar to Harry in the air above the pendant. Once she finished, she ha to him. “Wear this under your robes, and don’t take it off. It should help with your scar. And remember, stay away from Quirrell.”

  She whispered the st part into Harry’s ear, making him nervously whisper back, “What’s wrong with him?”

  “You’ll know soon enough.” Scarlet replied, patting his shoulder reassuringly. “If anything happens, call me or any of the professors.”

  Harry looked taken aback, “You’re making me even more nervous! I’m already wound up about the match!”

  Scarlet blinked, “I thought you were looking forward to it?”

  “I was, but...I ’t help it. I feel so anxious, I don’t even feel like eating,” Harry admitted, his tone sinking with frustration. “Hermione and Ron have been trying to cheer me up. Roalking about all the Quidditch matches he’s seen, and Hermione gave me a book to study - though the book was taken by Professor Snape...But the feeling won’t go away. It just keeps ing back.”

  Scarlet thought for a moment, then offered, “Well, let’s try a method I use. It’s a bit silly, but it works.”

  Harry’s curiosity iqued.

  “Think of the worst-case sario,” Scarlet said. “Let’s say you lose the Quidditch match. What’s the worst that could happen?”

  Harry’s mind rag as she began ting her fingers, “People might look down on you? Malfoy would s you? Your teammates would be disappointed?”

  “...And I’d end up getting expelled?” Harry added hesitantly.

  “Hmm, I doubt that. But alright, let’s add it to the list,” Scarlet said, holding up another finger. “What else?”

  “I’d have to go bay aunt’s house?”

  “Yes, and?”

  Harry shook his head after a brief pause. “That’s all I think of.”

  “Okay, now let’s go over it,” Scarlet said, “Getting expelled and going back to your aunt’s house...What about yodfather? I heard from Hermiohat Sirius Bck is yodfather. Wouldn’t he step in?”

  Harry’s face lit up. “Yeah, Sirius would definitely help me.”

  “So, do you really care if people look down on you?” Scarlet asked. Harry shook his head, “What about Malfoy? Would it bother you if he s you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Which would be worse – Malfoy sneering at yoing back to your aunt’s house?”

  “Going bay aunt’s,” Harry said slowly. Nothing could top that.

  “Right, so let’s be rational,” Scarlet tinued. “Is it likely you’d get expelled just for losing a Quidditch match?”

  “...No?”

  “Exactly. It’s just a game. You’re not harming anyone, and you’re doing well in your academics. There’s no reason they’d expel you,” Scarlet said, her voice calm and steady. “Besides, even if they did, you still have yodfather to rely on, don’t you?”

  “Yeah.” Harry nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.

  “Do you trust Professonagall?”

  “Yes...?”

  “Well, wasn’t she the one who put you on the Quidditch team? Very few first-years have ever been allowed to py before, but she chose you,” Scarlet pointed out. “You doubt yourself, but don’t doubt Professonagall’s decision. She's taught tless students, a she chose you. Doesn’t that prove something?”

  Harry’s face brightened, “Thanks, Scarlet. I think I know what to do now.”

  “Good.” Scarlet said with a smile, patting his shoulder as she stood. “Don’t fet to wear the pendant, and don’t worry. Leave the rest to me.”

  Yes, after a week of ption, Scarlet had finally made up her mind.

  She would interfere with the storyline. She wasn’t going to let anything bad happen to these students - not even Professor Dumbledore could stop her. Let the kids be happy. As the adult, even if only in soul, she would take a.