Scarlet had little i in Quidditch, but she suspected Quirrell might try something, so she o be present just to keep an eye on him.

  Scarlet sat beside Maya, atg her first Quidditch match. Amelia was busy expining the rules and showing Maya how to use the binocurs. They both uood that Scarlet wasn’t ied in the game, so they didn’t bother her much, except when somethiing happened. Scarlet was tent with her er seat, where her calm demeanour went unnoticed.

  Her eyes mostly stayed oaff and guest table, where the best view was, and she soon spotted Quirrell sitting in the back, where few would pay attention to him. His frowning expression suggested he still hadn’t healed from his injury.

  The crowd cheered and gasped with every move the pyers made. Suddenly, Maya gasped, “Potter’s broom is jerking - is that normal?”

  “No! Something’s wrong with his broom!” Amelia cried out.

  Scarlet quickly noticed Quirrell’s ulingly intense gaze fixed on the field. But she also saw Professor Snape, silently muttering something...likely trying to stabilise Harry’s broom.

  Reag swiftly, Scarlet sketched a few runic characters in the air. Hidden within a gust of wind, a sharp wind bde sliced through the air, unnoticed by the crowd, and nicked Quirrell’s hands as they csped in front of him, as if he were simply enjoying the game.

  Startled, Quirrell flihe cut wasn’t deep, but it was enough to draw blood and break his tration. He began sing the audience, searg for the source of the attack. Scarlet quickly ducked uhe bench, pretending to tie her shoeces.

  “How’s Potter now?” she asked Maya, her head still lowered.

  “He’s mao steady his broom. Maybe it was just some error after getting hit by another pyer.”

  “Good,” Scarlet replied, rising as she resumed watg Quirrell. He was still sing the crowd, but then his eyes locked on hers, as if trying to remember something. Their enter on Halloween at the third-floor corridor must have left an impression, but he soon looked away and tinued searg...He didn’t take the bait.

  A pity. If he had took the bait and attacked, she could have reported him to the headmaster, dealing a signifit blow to his pns and redug his ces of going after Harry.

  The crowd erupted in cheers as Harry caught the Snitch, ending the game with a spectacur move. Even Maya, normally so reserved, screamed iement for him. Well, this’ll just add to his fame, Scarlet thought, amused.

  Quirrell made a quiet retreat as the game e to a close, seemingly uo make any further moves. Scarlet had already given pendants to the taurs, blog his attempts to heal through the unis. Since his pn seemed to involve knog Harry off his broom – likely to injure him and keep him in the hospital wing – he robably aiming to kill two birds with ooeal healing potions, and eliminate Harry.

  Now, what’s his step...Scarlet mused. With Christmas approag, Quirrell wouldn’t have many opportuo get near Harry since Harry would be away from Hogwarts. Then she paused, sidering something. Wait, he could follow Harry to his godfather’s pce... or tail him right after he leaves the station...

  Scarlet’s thoughts were interrupted when she bumped into Professor Snape, who fixed her with a calg look and gave a subtle indication for her to follow.

  “Nothing has been taken from my office,” Professor Snape said in a low, guarded tone. “But several potions have gone missing from the hospital wing.”

  “During the chaos when Madam Pomfrey was busy treating the iudents after the match?” Scarlet replied, smiled knowingly. “I suspected as much. If Harry had ended up in the hospital wing, Quirrell would’ve definitely visited him at night. Who knows what he might have dohen.”

  Professor Snape’s gaze sharpened. “So, Ms. Hong, recisely do you propose we do about it?” he asked, his voice edged with scepticism.

  “Well, Quirrell won’t have any more ces to get near Harry or the unis while he’s at Hogwarts. I’ve already put protective measures in pce. His move will likely be during the Christmas holidays when people are distracted,” Scarlet replied with a slight nod, “He’ll either follow Harry to find an opportunity, or focus oem guarded ohird floor. I’ll keep an eye on Harry over the holidays, but as for the third floor...”

  “The third-floor,” Professor Serrupted shapely. His eyes fshed with irritation. “I am well aware of the risks and require no assistance from an overreag first-year. As for you, see that you don’t make reckless promises you ot keep.”

  “Of course.” Scarlet bowed slightly in aowledgement before adding, “Ially, Professor, thank you for your over how I derived my essay today. The Professor found it inappropriate, but acceptable - he warned me not to ‘ence bad habits’ among the other students.”

  Professor Snape’s expression hardehough his tone dipped with mock appreciation. “Indeed, Ms. Hong. A brilliantly unventional approach,” he said dryly, pausing before adding, “I’ve already taken the liberty of making copies of your essay for the css – though, unlike you, most will struggle with such ‘creativity’. They’ll have until the end of week to meet these...elevated standards.”

  “What a siderate arra I fought for them, ensuring it doesn’t start from our css,” Scarlet gave a brief nod, exiting the room, unaware the gleam of amusement in his gaze.

  November slipped away, and the holiday season arrived. The school buzzed with excitement as students grew scatterbrained over Christmas, eagerly discussing their pns for the break.

  Quirrell attempted to hunt the unis again, but fled the moment he spotted Scarlet standing in the woods, spear in hand. That enter made Scarlet realise that this soul fragment wao avoid drawing attention at all costs. This unnerved her even more, for a lurking snake was far more dangerous than a r tiger; you could predict what a tiger would do, but not a snake.

  Harry was especially excited, as he’d be spending Christmas at his godfather’s house this year. Ron, oher hand, was dowed; his family – his parents and his little sister – were off to Romania to visit his older brother, Charlie, leaving Ron, the twins, and Percy at Hogwarts.

  Scarlet, busy handing out her newly received business cards to her assistants, overheard the versation. She approached the Gryffindor table and asked the Weasleys, “Would you like to join me and my family for Christmas?”

  Ron looked shocked, while Fred and Gee appeared to seriously sider the offer, surprising him even more – since when had his brotten so chummy with Scarlet?

  “I thought you came from a Muggle family--” Fred started.

  “--won’t it be a problem letting us join your Christmas?” Gee finished.

  Scarlet waved off the twins’ . “My dad’s actually curious about the wizarding world. You share your experieh him, and I bet he’s got some iing stories that might inspire you to i something.”

  “But there’ll be four of us...” Roated. “Oh, wait - Percy probably won’t e. He’d rather have a quiet time studying.”

  “That’s not an issue. I’m living in a manor oskirts of London, with plenty of rooms for anyone who prefers a quiet moment.” Scarlet hahem her business card as well. “Besides, it’d be good to let Mrs. Weasley know about the invitation. Perhaps she could vince Percy to join too? It’s a family season, and I’d feel bad if he was the only Weasley left behind at Hogwarts while the rest of you are enjoying yourselves at my pce.”

  “Good idea! I’ll write to mum,” Ron said, quickly pocketing the little card before pulling out some part and beginning his letter. Meanwhile, Fred and Gee examihe business card with i.

  Fred read aloud, “Scarlet Smith Hong...taumbers...”

  Gee added, “--Local, iional...and an address?”

  Even Harry looked fused. “Director of MapleFox Studio...specialised in rebranding handmade and local product...Eco-friendly...”

  Hermione, passing by at that moment, accepted a card as well. She instantly reised the details “Scarlet, you have a business card? ‘Best ut coal from Africa, handmade soap from third-world unities’...Sounds like a solid business.”

  Scarlet poio a handwritten address and phone the bottom. “And this is my home address and phone number. You visit me during the holidays, but remember to give me a call beforehand. Or if you ’t reach me through this, I’m probably not in Engnd - just tact my office, my manager will sort it out.”

  “I’ll definitely give you a call!” Hermione said excitedly. Harry oo. “I’ll try finding a phone box and give you a ring. But I’ll probably still send an owl.”

  The Weasleys, however, were puzzled.

  “What’s a ‘phone’?” Fred asked.

  “And what do these numbers mean?” Gee added.

  “Why are there local and iional numbers?” Ron chimed in.

  Scarlet grinned, “Well, e to my house, and I’ll show you what a phone is.”

  “Sure thing!”

  “Hurry up, Ronny--”

  “--we’ve got to get mum’s permission!”

  Neville, standing nearby, took one of her cards too, but quietly requested a private pce to talk. They left the Great Hall, walking into a quiet corridor where snow drizzled outside, sending a cold breeze their way. Neville looked a bit embarrassed fgesting the private chat, but Scarlet gently tapped his shoulder, warming him up with a touch.

  Neville always khere was something special about Scarlet’s magiething different from what they lear school. “Thank you.”

  “No worries,” Scarlet said with a shrug. “So, what’s on your mind? Oh, by the way, if you’re staying at Hogwarts for Christmas, I’ll still need your news summaries delivered as usual.”

  Neville shook his head. “No, I’m going home for Christmas.”

  “Well then, no news reports for me during the holidays,” Scarlet teased. “If that’s what you’re worried about, don’t be - I’ll manage.”

  “My gran subscribes to the Daily Prophet and a few azines,” Neville expined quickly. “I could still send you reports through our family owl.”

  “That’s very thoughtful of you, Neville,” Scarlet said with a smile. “But what else is on your mind?”

  Neville hesitated for a moment before finally speaking, “I...I want to invite you to a pce.”

  “Oh? Where?”

  “St. Mungo’s,” Neville said quietly, “That is, if you’re still ied. I remember you mentioned wanting to visit when I was in the hospital wing.”

  Scarlet’s expression softened. “Yes, I did want to visit. But...I didn’t think we could just go in without a reason.”

  Neville’s voice wavered slightly as he said, “My parents are there.”

  Qiya