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  Eda walked out of the Defense Against the Dark Arts , feeling a lingering sense of fear. A few seemingly casual words from the haggard-looking Fawley still mao exert a strong pressure on her.

  "What did Fawley want from you?" Fred asked, standing at the door.

  "Have you mao anger another professor after S's not a good idea to mess with Fawley right now," Gee said, taking the books from Eda's arms and putting them int.

  "Uh... no, I'm not like Professor Snape, who's an expert at offending people. Fawley just asked me to return some books to the library," Eda said, pointing to the books Gee had stashed in the bag.

  "True, in his dition, it's better if he doesn't move around too much," Fred remarked.

  "We're ting on him making it to June!" Gee added. If anyone in the school wanted Fawley to stay healthy, it was defihe twins.

  "I think it's doubtful," Eda replied. She wished Fawley would leave Hogwarts immediately, as she might already be exposed in front of him.

  "Don't say that. If he really succeeds..."

  "...we'll cover all your snacks for your sed year."

  The three of them went straight to the library aurhe books Fawley had borrowed. Eda casually flipped through them; they were ordinary books, both on the history of magic.

  After returning the books, Eda went back to the dormitory, wanting to take some time to think.

  She hought of herself as someone capable of maniputing others. She used to be an ordinary person, and after graduation, most of her days were spent bedridden, g these kinds of experiences.

  Moreover, after being tricked by Professonagall, Eda realized the gap between herself and these old foxes.

  Therefore, she had always been very cautious in monit Fawley, not showing any special behavior in his presence.

  However, this person, who came to Hogwarts with an agenda, still became suspicious of her.

  Eda knew she o be extra careful now. All rule-breaking behaviors had to stop, and she couldn't let Fawley find any more suspicious signs. She also couldn't be alone anymore.

  At first, Eda worried she might end up like Daniel. But she soon realized this situation was actually better. Knowing she might be a target of Fawley, her vigince was heighteo a great degree.

  As long as she didn't lose her cool and give Fawley an opportunity, she would be retively safe.

  Fawley couldn't possibly make a move on her in front of so many people!

  From then on, Eda tinued with her daily activities as usual. She attended csses, went to the library at her usual time, and behaved just like any ordinary first-year girl, with perhaps a slightly more curious nature.

  This way, Eda wouldn't stantly be in danger. She was always surrounded by cssmates, and her behavior wasn't drastically different from before, avoiding unnecessary suspi.

  A few days ter, Fawley found himself ba the hospital wing; he had broken his ribs while sneezing. stantly shuttliween his offid the hospital wing, Fawley seemed on the verge of dying from various acts at any moment.

  Despite Fawley's seemingly preoccupied state, Eda remained on guard. She felt like she was in a race against Fawley, having already taken the lead. Now, she just had to hold on until the curse finally defeated Fawley.

  Hang in there; perseverance is victory!

  In mid-April, the position of Minister fic was finally settled, with elius Fudge, the Head of the Department of Magical Acts and Catastrophes, officially taking offibsp;

  Acc to some rumors, elius Fudge only mao stand out and bee the Minister because he received Albus Dumbledore's support.

  Fudge's appoi as Minister didn't cause much of a stir at the school since such matters were still too distant for the students.

  However, a within the school quickly spread to every er within an hour: Professor Be Fawley, the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, had resigned.

  The resilie pitiful professor finally couldn't withstand the torment of the curse. His frequent injuries had sapped his will to tieag. He submitted his resignation to Dumbledore, ted it.

  The corridor outside the hospital wing acked with girls holding flowers and gifts, ing to bid farewell to their former crush.

  Although his teag had deed, Fawley remained popur among the girls, and his tragic experiences ier half of the school year had only heighteheir maternal instincts.

  Fawley, lying in bed, did not see these girls as he o rest. Madam Pomfrey kindly asked everyoo leave the corridor, but the girls left their gifts on the ground outside the hospital wing before departing.

  Humming a tune, Eda ehe on room, having learned of Fawley's resignation from his fan club while returning from the library.

  Although Fawley had not yet left Hogwarts, the light at the end of the tunnel was near. Feeling in high spirits, she thought she might treat herself to ara steak at lunch.

  As soon as Eda ehe on room, she was surprised to see Fred and Gee. The weather was oday, so she had assumed the twins would be out having fun.

  She walked over to where they were sitting, but the usually cheerful twins looked anything but happy. Their faces were as long as Mrs. Norris' body.

  "What's wrong with you two?" Eda asked, puzzled. "What oh happeo make you look like this?"

  In unison, they both covered their faces with their hands, looking deeply troubled, then lifted their heads to gaze skyward at a 45-degree angle.

  Eda carefully ied their faces; there weren't any tears. They were putting on this dramatic dispy without shedding a siear; the twins were clearly pying with people's emotions.

  "What oh is going on with you two?" Eda plopped down across from them. "Tell me, and I'll help you figure it out. It's not a big deal."

  "Fawley resigned," Fred said, dejectedly.

  "We lost," Gee added, equally downcast.

  "Oh, I thought it was something serious! Plenty of people lose; it's not just you two," Eda replied, thinking it was nothiraordinary.

  Fred leaned forward, staring at Eda with a fierce expression. "It's different, pletely different!"

  Gee leaned bad slumped against the backrest of the armchair. "We lost everything; we've been saving for a year!"

  "Oh, Shit!"

  Powerless, uo help, at a loss—these words perfectly described how Eda felt at that moment. heless, she tried to fort the twins. "Money be earned back; don't let it weigh too heavily on you."

  "It's easy for you to say!"

  "If it were you, you'd be even more upset!"

  The twins knew Eda well; to her, a Galleon was never just a Galleon—it was her lifeline.

  "Fawley hasn't left yet; he's still in the hospital wing. If you get past Madam Pomfrey's defenses, you might be able to see him," Eda began giving the twins some lousy advice, "You could try persuading him to ge his mind and withdraw his resignation."

  Their eyes lit up simultaneously. Fred said, "You really are the smartest witch!"

  Gerabbed Eda's hand and early said, "From now on, you're our Merlin!"

  "No way, I was just joking to fort you guys. Do you really think you persuade him?" Eda struggled to free her hand. "ving him to stay doesn't seem right, does it?"

  "We've got to try; it's our st ce," the twins said in unison. They stood up together and hurried out.

  "I was just kidding, don't take it seriously..." Eda called after them, but they were already gone from the on room before she could finish her sentence or eveure for them to e back.

  Setting aside whether the twins could even see Fawley, Eda didn't think they could persuade him to ge his mind if they did.

  Resigning must have been a decision Fawley had thought over for a long time; it wouldn't be easy to sway him.

  Eda adjusted her sitting position to make herself more fortable, then took out a book to pass the time, waiting for the twins to retury-handed so they could all go eat together.

  In just a short time, the twiurned with their heads hanging low, slumping bato the armchairs, looking like a couple of defeated souls.

  "Why are you back so soon?" Eda didn't look up, still absorbed in her book.

  "We didn't even make it out of the tee replied weakly, pletely g any energy.

  "We couldly tell him to stay and wait to die, could we?" Fred sighed as he spoke.

  Everyone knew about the curse on the Defense Against the Dark Arts position; it wasn't just a saying that no one could hold the post for a full year. Persuading Fawley to stay could genuinely endanger his life.

  Eda put down her book and said, "Why don't we think about what's for lunch? Thinking about it will cheer us up."

  "Crushed dreams, the world is gray."

  "There's not a speck of light, life has lost all meaning."

  "Well, I have a way to help you see the light again. Do you want to hear it?" Eda offered.

  Fred, still lookied, said, "Are you going to pensate us for our loss?"

  "Not likely. She'd split a Knut in half to save money," Gee chimed in, "Every Knut is practically tied to her rib cage..."

  If Eda had a vault full of Galleons at Gringotts, she wouldn't treat money like it was her lifeblood. Does Eda have that? She doesn't, so she has to be frugal.

  "So, do you want to hear it or not?"

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