The fmes in the on room's firepce crackled, providing warmth on a cold Hogwarts night despite it being te April. The temperature differeween day and night was still signifit, making the evenings chilly.

  The taur Firenze had shared his prophecy with three clueless first-year students. The message he veyed seemed to have little impact, rendering his efforts seemingly wasted. Why would he do such a thing unless he was out of his mind? However, aside from that segment of divination using the stars, Firenze spoke very clearly and logically, indig that his mind was sound.

  It seemed he was trying to hint at something signifit to Eda and the twins. The ones who were fused weren't the well-iioned taur but Eda and her friends themselves.

  Uo make sense of it, they decided not to dwell on it, lest they end up overthinking and missing the point. Eda and the twins bid each oodnight ao rest, as life had to go on.

  With April nearing its end, Dumbledore left Hogwarts once again to attend Fudge's inauguration ceremony in London.

  Fudge had been serving as Minister for some time and had been busy managing the affairs of the Ministry, appearing as a diligent public servant of the magical world.

  It wasn't that Fudge didn't want to hold an inauguration; such a grand occasion was something few would willingly fo. However, Dumbledore's stant prese the seant he had no time, causing Fudge to dey his ceremony. Fudge had repeatedly invited Dumbledore to London, and the *Daily Prophet* had widely publicized the Minister's gracious invitations, earning him praise and solidifying his position.

  Finally, after being courted with such persistence, Dumbledore left the school to support his "puppet." Since Fudge became Minister, rumors had circuted suggesting that he was Dumbledore's puppet, and various as seemed to firm this specution.

  A few days ago, the twins had carefully pnned a prank on their old 'friend' Filch. However, their p awry, and they were caught red-handed by the furious caretaker. As punishment, they had to the trophy room again.

  With the twins absent, Eda sat o Angelina and Alicia during dinner, and their versation revolved around typical girl talk.

  The headmaster's seat in the Great Hall was empty, as Dumbledore had not yet returned. Snape's seat was also vat, and he did not make an appearahroughout dinner.

  After finishing her meal, Eda left the Great Hall alone.

  Instead of returning to the on room with Angelina and the others, she headed to the kits to fete food so the twins wouldn't be hungry when they returned from their punishment.

  However, just a short distance from the Great Hall, a Slytherin upper-year girl stopped Eda.

  "This is from the professor," the Slytherin girl said. "Make sure you're on time."

  Eda took the note, which read: "Tonight at eight, in the dungeon ."

  The note was written by Snape; Eda reized the handwriting from many previous occasions.

  Snape hadn't summoned Eda in quite some time, and while she didn't know the reason for this meeting, she khat missing it would result in a terrible time during Potions css the day after tomorrow.

  "I really don't know what he sees in you. You don't seem particurly special," the girl remarked cryptically.

  Eda was startled by the girl's voice. Usually, the Slytherins who delivered messages would drop the note and leave immediately without exging a word. So, she was surprised that this girl stayed behind to speak to her.

  The senior student's words seemed to imply that she couldn't uand why Snape would choose Eda.

  Not just her; even Eda herself hadn't figured it out. With a hint of sarcasm, Eda replied, "Holy, I'm not keen on this. If you're ied, you go instead of me."

  Eda hahe note back to the senior, but the girl showed no iion of taking it.

  "Don't be ungrateful! Mud..." The girl's tone was harsh, nearly letting a slur slip from her mouth.

  Leaning closer, the Slytherin girl whispered, "You'd better go early and not keep anyone waiting! I'm not like Avery, that idiot who disgraces purebloods. Even if you don't do as I say, I have plenty of ways to deal with you!"

  After issuing this threat, the seemingly erratiior finally acted normally. She walked away, shooting a look of disdain at Eda before leaving.

  Eda was unfazed by the Slytherin girl's threats; such harsh words had little impact. Eda's own threats could be far more intimidating.

  She po arrive at the dungeon just in time. If the girl dared to cause trouble, Eda would wele the challehe oute of su enter would be uain.

  Ba the dormitory, Eda chatted with Angelina and the others while pleting assigs from various professors. She also wao discuss the "unusual senior" from today with the twins, but they hadn't returned despite the long wait.

  The twins were well-versed in ing the trophy room. They knew Filch's punishmehods all too well, having experiehem many times.

  'The twins had been taken away by Filch after csses ehis afternoon. By now, they should have returned.'

  Eda g the clo the on room; it was nearly eight o'clock. She couldn't wait any longer as she didn't like being te. After entrusting the food to Angelina and leaving a note, Eda hurriedly left the on room.

  As she walked, Eda felt something strange. Snape had summoned her to the dungeon at eight, which was somewhat te. Usually, when Snape called for her, it was at seven or, at the test, half-past seven.

  Hogwarts had a curfew io prevent students from wandering around the castle at night, with an earlier curfew for youudents. By setting the time at eight, Snape left Eda with little time, and she couldn't aplish much.

  There were few students left in the corridors; the warm, inviting on rooms were clearly more appealing than the hallways. Those still in the corridors were mostly older students, while the younger ones had returo their on rooms long ago.

  Students like Eda and the twins, who liked to wander around and break the rules, were in the minority. Most students were obedient; otherwise, Filch would have been overwhelmed long ago, with no time to spar with the twins.

  As she arrived at the dungeon , there were no students in sight. People only came here for csses, as few ehe gloomy dungeon s, and no one would choose to idle around here.

  In the eerie hallway, the flickering torchlight cast shadows on Eda's face. The dim light didn't slow her down; having been summoned by Snape multiple times, Eda khe way well and could find the with her eyes closed.

  When she reached the door, Eda found it tightly shut, which struck her as odd.

  Usually, Snape wouldn't lock the door. He'd typically leave it ajar for Eda, so she could enter after knog without b him to open it.

  But today was different. The dark door remained closed, and when Eda pushed it, it didn't budge. When she khere was no response from ihe .

  Somethi off today. Eda pulled out her wand and knocked on the door with her free left hand, calling, "Professor? Professor Snape?"

  There was still no response from inside, and the corridors oher side remaiy, with only the sound of her knog eg in the flickering firelight.

  She took out the note again; it clearly stated the time and location. She hadn't e to the wrong pce. The handwriting oe was identical to Snape's and didn't seem like a prank.

  Snape wouldn't joke about something like this. Though he had a nasty personality and his caustic remarks often hurt students, he was still a petent professor.

  Besides, it was hard to imagine Snape having a sense of humor for such "jokes."

  Eda decided to leave. The fact that Snape hadn't appeared at the staff table today was already suspicious.

  The scheduled time was eight o'clock, and the locked door of the dungeon added to the strangeness... If there wasn't something fishy going on, she'd wash Snape's hair herself!

  Fag the door, Eda cautiously stepped back, carefully her surroundings. Getting away safely was her top priority now.

  She focused ouation at hand, leaving the question of who might be setting her up for ter sideration.

  Just as she was about to leave, she heard a "click" from the tightly shut door. Eda immediately raised her wand as the door opened from the inside, revealing the dark beyond.

  "Stupefy!" Eda cast a stunning spell directly into the . The spell, glowing with light, shot into the room but didn't hit a was blocked.

  A figure slowly emerged from the dark , a mog smile pying on their lips.

  "Why is it you?"

  _______

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