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  "Did they catch them?" Eda asked while eating. "I don't know how Hogwarts deals with thieves."

  Fred snatched the cake from Eda's hand and said, "Get a grip, will you..."

  "If they were caught, why would I mention it?" Gee said.

  "Someoole something and didn't get caught... So what exactly was stolen?" Eda asked.

  "The problem is, nothing was stolen!" the twins said in unison.

  Someone was stealing at Hogwarts but didn't take anything. They were discovered but not caught. This move was quite baffling. What was the point of this? Eda finally shook off Snape's shadow and started to think.

  "Who discovered it this time? Was it Filch again?" Eda asked, gging behind on the news.

  "A Ravencw student found that their belongings in the dorm had been moved, but her their cssmates nor their roommates had touched them," Gee said.

  "Then more Ravencw students found the same thing," Fred said.

  "Ravencw?" Eda asked. "Only Ravencw?"

  "Yes, only the Ravencw students were talking about it at dihey also reported it to Professor Flitwick," Gee firmed.

  "Isn't it strahe thief went through so many students' things but didn't take anything," Fred said with a ugh.

  Eda had a thought. "Maybe they didn't find what they were looking for!"

  "What could they be looking for in Ravencw? Other than books, there's not much else," Fred joked.

  Ravencw housed the wise and knowledge-seeking young wizards and witches. It's said they even have a private library with a vast colle of books. On average, Ravencw students own the most books among the four houses.

  The way to ehe Ravenon room is simple: ahe question posed by the bronze door knocker correctly. This applies to students from other houses as well; if you answer correctly, you enter without any password, as long as you're smart enough.

  If this "theft" wasn't an inside job, it at least proved the thief was quite intelligent.

  "I would really love for this 'thief' to visit Gryffindee said, p Eda a gss of pumpkin juice, fearing she might choke on her food.

  Eda took the pumpkin juid sipped it, saying, "Hoping to be visited by a thief—there probably aren't many in Hogwarts who share that se."

  "You'd be surprised. I think there are plenty who feel the same as us."

  "Even though 'Mr. Thief' doesn't steal anything, we could make him a scapegoat!"

  The twins' perspective on things was indeed unique, always thinking differently from others.

  "For example, when Gryffindor is visited, we'll tell Professonagall that our homework is missing!" Fred and Gee said in unison.

  Eda rubbed her temples with her fingers and said to the brothers, "You two never cease to amaze me. Professonagall has really struck gold with you."

  "Even though we know Professonagall won't believe us..."

  "...life should still be full of hope. What if, just what if..."

  After finishing all the food the twins brought back, Eda also took out her homework. She o finish it quickly, as the twins were eagerly waiting for her.

  The day was Saturday, and students went about their business as usual, ued by ret events. The thief's presence was far less intimidating than the person who had attacked Daniel, especially sihis was a "thief" who didn't take anything.

  Some Gryffindor students were even eager to catch the thief themselves. Although they wouldn't get a special tribution award, they might earn some points! If Dumbledore was generous, they might even have a pete for the House Cup again.

  A rge group of Gryffindor students, wearing their red and gold scarves, spread out across the school, setting up a tight-knit surveilwork to monitor the school around the clock.

  No matter where students from the other three houses went, they could see pairs of Gryffindor students, making their presence felt everywhere.

  Charlie Weasley and the other student leaders kept silent about the as of the Gryffindors, even helping tahem a bit. To everyohis small-time thief was already sidered Gryffindor's quarry.

  Eda and her friends didn't participate in the operation. The older students didn't take the first and sed-year kids with them, thinking they might not even be able to "keep watch" properly. They figured it was better to wait until they were older.

  By diime, the rge-scale Gryffindor manhunt hadn't yielded as. As long as this thief wasn't foolish, he wouldn't duct his thievery on a weekend, especially with a rge group of Gryffindors lying in wait.

  The atmosphere at the Gryffindor table was slightly subdued, trasting sharply with its usual rowdiness. The older students discussed their steps and the measures o succeed. A small setback couldn't shake the determination of the Gryffindors.

  Eda looked at the twins, whose eyes were red like rabbits, and asked, "What happeo you two? Did you have a big cry?"

  "We've been watg the Marauder's Map all day," Gee said weakly as he sat beside Eda. "I feel like my eyes are going blind!"

  "If we had discovered something, it would have been worth it. But now it feels like it was all for nothing," Fred added, looking just as miserable.

  Eda, puzzled by the suddehusiasm of the twins, asked, "Weren't you two hoping 'Mr. Thief' would steal your homework yesterday? Why are you so eager to catch him today?"

  "Of course, it's for the points. What else?"

  "It's rare to have su iing way to earn points, so of course, we have to give it a try."

  o sit quietly in css and answer questions or act cute, just catch the small-time thief—this kind of thing naturally attracted the twins. They didn't just love pranks; they also loved iing activities.

  "The on room is crowded on weekends. Who would choose this time to steal something and risk getting caught?" Eda said early. "So, you should just give up. Besides, there are so many people on the map. you keep an eye on everyone?"

  The twins had been staring at the map for so long, they probably hadn't blinked much. Watg all the on rooms would only make it harder; trying to distinguish all the names crammed into the small space was mentally exhausting.

  "Do you think Dumbledore will pensate us for our eyes?" the twins asked in unison.

  "You should go to Madam Pomfrey," Eda replied, silently adding in her mind, Don't worry, you won't go blind. I used to sit in front of a puter all day, and I didn't go blind. You're not even close.

  As Eda was enjoying her dinner, a Slytherin student appeared behind her.

  "Twist."

  Eda turned around to see a Slytherin uppercssman standing behihe uppercssman handed Eda a note and said, "This is from our head of house."

  After delivering the message, the Slytherin walked away. Eda looked at the note, which read: 7:30 PM, Potions .

  The "summons" she had worried about all day had finally e. She had hoped Snape had fotten about her during dinner, but it seemed she had been too optimistic about Snape's kindness.

  The twins wao give Eda a sympathetic look, but their red eyes veyed less sympathy and more jealousy at how Eda could "enjoy Snape's exclusive attention."

  Eda tio eat her dinner without enthusiasm. While she was actually pleased to get extra practi potion-making, having Sanding over her turhe joy into a chore.

  At 8 PM, Eda had already spent thirty minutes in the basement processing raw materials and ahirty mirying to learn from Snape's methods. It wasn't really eavesdropping, just a schor's pursuit of knowledge.

  Siering the , Snape had been sparing with his words, not saying a sihing to Eda. All his instrus were given through gestures and gnces, as if speaking to Eda would be beh him.

  And so, these two people who found each other intolerable coexisted peacefully in the basement . The only sounds were Eda's material processing and Snape's potion-making.

  As her skills improved, Eda became more adept at handling the raw materials, allowio focus more on Snape. a potion master at work up close was a dream for many potion students. Although she couldn't fully uand some of Snape's methods, she still learned a lot.

  As curferoached, Snape had Eda stop. While tidying up her tools, Eda suddenly felt a reckless impulse and decided to ask Snape a question. "Professor, do you know about the theft in Ravencw?"

  Snape crossed his hands and, still sparing with words, replied, "Yes."

  "Do you have any thoughts on it?" Eda carefully chose her words to avoid irritating the old bat.

  Snape said, "What does it matter to you? You may go."

  Eda wasn't disappointed by Snape's guarded response. Not getting any information was expected. After tidying up, Eda turo leave the . Just as she reached the door, Snape called her back.

  "Miss Twist, if you don't want to face me every day from now on, just go back to the on room and don't go anywhere." Snape said the lo sentence of the night, "I really don't want to see you, so you'd better not let me catch you in the corridor or the sed-flirls' vatory"

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