Having gotten nothing out of Snape, Eda had no choice but to leave, followed by a little "tail." As Eda's figure disappeared, Snape left the underground and headed toward the seventh floor of the castle, thinking it was time for a serious talk with Dumbledore.

  Eda walked ahead, with the house-elf Winnie following respectfully behind.

  "Winnie, how long have you been at Hogwarts?" Eda turned around to chat with the house-elf Winnie.

  Winnie lifted her head, her rge, tennis-ball-sized eyes blinking. She replied, "Miss, Winnie has been at Hogwarts since birth, for eleven years now."

  "Then tell me, has Professor Snape always been like this?"

  "Miss, Winnie is useless; Winnie doesn't know about Mr. Snape's situation. Winnie only handles ing duties at the school," the house-elf Winnie replied self-reproachfully, her rge head drooping, as if she might start g at any moment.

  "It's not your fault. Snape really is hard to uand. If he were like Hagrid, he'd just give me a straight answer, and I wouldn't have to guess," Eda said.

  "Hagrid always leaves the castle in a mess..."

  Eda also thought of Hagrid's usual demeanor. It erfectly uandable that the house-elves didn't like him. However, Snape's greasy long hair might also be something that bothered the elves.

  Upoering the on room, the house-elf Winnie handed Eda a tray filled with food and a jug of juice. After bowing to Eda, she left.

  On Saturday, Gryffindor's Quidditch match began. Gryffindor students gathered together, holding various banners and making loud o cheer for their team.

  Eda and the twins mingled with the crowd, shouting their cheers and giving their all.

  The match was thrilling and intense.

  Thanks to Charlie's efforts, Gryffindor's offense was smooth, seg an early lead. Charlie, as expected of the captain, not only dispyed exceptional skills, sg on his own but also used his preseo create opportunities for his teammates.

  He effectively ahe other pyers, bringing the whole Gryffindor team together as a cohesive unit.

  Goalkeeper Wood also had an outstanding performance, blog numerous difficult shots from Ravend keeping the goalposts safe. It was thanks to his stelr py that Gryffindor maintaiheir lead throughout the matever allowing Ravencw to overtake them.

  Every pyer tributed in their ying their respective roles in the game.

  After two hours, the Golden Snitch was finally caught by Gryffindor's Seeker, seg the victory for the unified Gryffindor team. The Gryffindor students iaed in cheers and stomping, celebratihusiastically.

  Luckily, the stands were sturdy enough to withstand the excited crowd. Even Professonagall was eted, g her fist in a rare show of joy, her usual stern demeanone.

  Gryffindor students surrouhe team as they returo the castle, jumping, joking, and ughing all the way, celebrating their victory. Amid Gryffindor's celebratory atmosphere, the Hogwarts kit was "raided," with house-elves bowing as they bid farewell to the triumphant young lions.

  In these days, Eda hadn't fotten about Fawley, who had been unwell. She had been keeping an eye on his every move, not out of for his health but because all her suspis poioward him.

  Especially with ret events, Fawley had ample time during the is of forced entry into the four on rooms.

  After he stopped patrolling the castle, the theft in Ravencw occurred. When Slytherin was robbed in March, Fawley had already left the hospital wing. With his health restored, he could easily have itted the act.

  When Hufflepuff and Gryffindor were visited by an unwele guest, Fawley was in the hospital wing, which could slightly clear him of suspi.

  However, since Eda knew Fawley's secret, this faly increased her suspis rather than alleviating them. Moreover, sidering that Fawley's injuries during that time were not severe enough to hinder his as, and given his caliber as an outstanding wizard, Eda couldn't believe he cked methods or trump cards.

  Eda was unsure about who attacked Daniel and who exactly ehe Forbidden Forest.

  That was why she questioned Snape, but he gave her no answers. Eda could only focus her suspis on Fawley, the most likely suspect, and whether he was actually guilty was not her .

  She hadn't goo Dumbledore to pin, nor had she written to the Ministry of Magic or the *Daily Prophet*, so it couldn't even be sidered snder.

  After all, suspi doesn't o be supported by evidence.

  During this time, Fawley kept a low profile, rarely seen outside of Defense Against the Dark Arts css.

  Eda wished that the Marauder's Map, besides its real-time trag fun, could also record ges over a period.

  Unfortunately, the map couldn't fulfill Eda's wish, and she couldn't keep an eye on it 24/7. If Fawley's as happened when Eda wasn't watg the map, she wouldn't catch him.

  In Defense Against the Dark Arts css, Eda preteo read a book while occasionally gng at Fawley oform.

  Fawley looked pale, either from stant injuries or ck of rest.

  The once handsome and charming professor appeared quite haggard.

  Since Be Fawley was actally injured by a student in css, all practical exercises in Defense Against the Dark Arts had been celed. While Fawley hadn't explicitly forbidden students from using wands, his csses no longer had any practical pos.

  Fawley stood at the le, monotonously reading from the textbook, a stark trast to his previously humorous and engaging persona. He was rapidly being more like Professor Binns.

  Ret Defense Against the Dark Arts csses had either been celed due to his injuries or, like today, had been rather perfunctory.

  While some students pined, seeing his pitiable state made many of them soften their attitudes.

  All hearts are made of flesh, so the students felt guilty about pressing the unfortunate Fawley too hard. As a result, the css had bee a dull, lifeless affair.

  The students were busy with their own activities—some sleeping, some doing homework, and others engaged in various tasks.

  Fawley stood at the front, a detached reading mae, much like the History of Magic css, where her side interfered with the other.

  However, Fawley's ability to put students to sleep was far inferior to Professor Binns's. Those who chose to sleep found the quality of their naps g pared to History of Magic.

  After css, the weary-looking Fawley called out to Eda, who was about to leave.

  "Miss Twist, please wait a moment."

  Eda was surprised to be called and almost felt like she was in Potions css. She turned bad said, "Professor Fawley, is there something you need?"

  "Could you e with me? I need your help with something," Fawley said as he walked into a small room within the .

  Eda frowned, unsure of what Fawley to.

  She wondered if he had discovered her eavesdropping earlier. However, since Fawley had stopped her in front of everyone, he probably wouldn't do anything untoward.

  Eda followed Fawley into the small room, cealing all her emotions so Fawley couldn't read her expression.

  "I borrowed two books from the library a while ago but haven't returhem due to my health," Fawley said, taking two books from a shelf in the small room. "Since you often visit the library, could you return them for me?"

  "Of course, Professor," Eda replied, taking the books. "Please take care of yourself. Everyone supports you." Eda put on an act, pretending to be a supporter of Fawley.

  "Thank you all, I'll be careful," Fawley said with a smile. "My work isn't finished yet, so why would I give up?"

  "Professor, is there anything else?" Eda asked, holding the books to her chest. Fawley's words had given her a few ideas.

  "Nothing else. You may go," Fawley said, weakly resting on a table as he sat down.

  Eda began walking out with the books, feeling that Fawley's words were yered with meaning, as if he robing her.

  As Eda reached the door, Fawley, still seated, called out, "I heard you were wandering around the castle a lot retly?"

  Eda felt a cold sweat f on her forehead, but she tried to keep her voice steady as she replied, "The whole of Gryffindor was doing it at the time. I just followed them around the castle."

  "I'm not bming you. You were trying to do something for the school," Fawley said. "Go ahead, just be sure not to take the wrong path wheurning those books."

  ______

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