"I think Harry must really want to find the Chamber of Secrets. Everyone is saying he's the heir of Slytherin, and it's making him feel so wronged." Alicia strolled through Diagon Alley with Cho and Nolan, watching from a distance as Eve and little Bai Chang ran around, playing.
"Potter will find a way," Nolan nodded. "He's got the clever Granger by his side."
"Right, Granger and Weasley both stayed behind at Hogwarts. They must be plotting sothing," Alicia mused before adding, "I heard the Weasley family was supposed to go to Egypt, but those redheads clearly weren't interested. In the end, they all stayed at Hogwarts. And poor little Ginny—she must be terrified. Ever since her little friend Colin got petrified, she's been sick nonstop."
"That's awful," Cho agreed.
"I gave the youngest Weasley a few potions, but they didn't seem to work." Nolan frowned in thought. "I'm starting to doubt my own skills in potion-making. Either my potions are ineffective, or there's sothing wrong with the youngest Weasley. Is she really just suffering from a cold?"
Neither Alicia nor Cho could provide an answer.
"Also, Percy stayed at Hogwarts too," Alicia suddenly chuckled mischievously. "I bet anything he wants to be the one to catch the monster in the Chamber of Secrets and make the front page of the Daily Prophet. Last ti, his little brother flew a stolen car across half of England, humiliating their family in front of the entire Ministry of Magic. Now, the Weasley family needs to do sothing to restore their reputation. Percy must think this is his chance."
"So, that big Weasley stayed at Hogwarts as well?"
Alicia nodded, then leaned in conspiratorially. "Actually, Percy really wanted Penelope to stay at Hogwarts for Christmas too. By now, everyone knows—Percy is pursuing Penelope."
"What? Really?" As a witch, Cho was naturally interested in gossip. "Has he succeeded?"
"I don't think he stands a chance," Alicia grinned like a mischievous rat. Gossiping about Hogwarts relationships was one of their favorite pastis. In the past, Nolan himself had been the main topic of discussion, but since he was standing right there, Alicia wisely avoided ntioning him. "Anyone with eyes can see that Penelope has no interest in Percy. And honestly, everyone thinks Percy is boring and stiff. What girl would want to date him? Even if soone did, it'd only be because he's a prefect."
Nolan clicked his tongue. At this mont, Penelope was probably still lying stark naked in his coffin, catching up on sleep. The thought made him feel strangely unsettled.
Still, sothing else caught his interest. "You witches care a lot about the prefect position?"
Alicia seed flattered that Nolan had asked her a question and took a mont to compose herself before answering in a high-pitched voice, "Of course! Being a prefect ans you're one of the outstanding ones, doesn't it? I heard that when applying to the Ministry of Magic after graduation, having been a prefect can help you secure a better position!"
"Outstanding, huh…"
It made so sense. But in Nolan's year at Slytherin, there were only five boys, so when fifth year ca, the prefect would simply be chosen from among them. For the girls, there were only four to pick from. What was so 'outstanding' about that?
In any case, in his year, the future Slytherin prefects would most likely be Montague and Alicia. Neither he nor Eve were suited for the role.
After that, Alicia shifted the topic to Christmas gifts. She ntioned that she had given Nolan so caral candies… In fact, most of the witches at Hogwarts had sent him gifts. As for his return gifts, they were all Miss Theresa's signature pastries.
"Alicia is such a good girl. She seems to have endless energy," Cho mused as she watched Alicia's retreating figure.
Nolan pulled a wry face. "Lacking energy? You? Two years ago, I hardly t a more energetic kid than you."
"Stop talking!" Cho panicked. "That's embarrassing!"
"Honestly, I think tomboys are great too. Why do you insist on acting all ladylike?"
Nolan couldn't quite understand it.
anwhile, on Bai Chang's end, she was doing her best to drag Eve into Ollivanders' Wand Shop.
"Just for a look, just one look!" Bai Chang, though only a year younger than Eve, still acted like a child, pleading, "Maybe there's a wand that's ant for ! My father is a wizard—I must have inherited his bloodline! Maybe Hogwarts just made a mistake and didn't realize my magical talent!"
Eve, unable to resist, allowed herself to be pulled inside. There, they ran into two fourth-year Hufflepuffs.
The mont Eve spotted the unfamiliar boys, she imdiately retracted her smile, her expression turning cold and unapproachable.
The two Hufflepuffs, on the other hand, beca visibly excited at the sight of Eve, whispering among themselves.
"Eve Stock! She's getting more beautiful by the day. Next year, Penelope's title as the school beauty might not last."
"That icy deanor is so alluring… Do you think if we invited her for tea, she'd say yes?"
"But isn't she dating Von Draugr?"
"That could just be a rumor. A witch like Stock wouldn't tolerate a boyfriend who cheats. Even if they are dating, maybe she's already grown tired of Von Draugr's flirtatious ways and dumped him. Look, she's not with him today, is she? This is our chance!"
The second Hufflepuff seed convinced. The two of them approached Eve just as Bai Chang was practically drooling over the wands displayed in the shop.
"Stock?" The bolder of the two boys greeted her casually. "Hey, what a surprise! Didn't expect to run into you here."
Eve swept a cold gaze over them, then silently took Bai Chang's hand and moved further into the shop.
"Wait, hold on, Stock!" The Hufflepuff took another step forward. "We just wanted to say hi!"
"You've said it," Eve replied icily.
"Uh, I was also thinking, maybe… we could grab a cup of tea together?" The boy racked his brain, trying to sound lighthearted. "Just a warm drink—it's freezing outside, and you must be tired from walking with your sister. Our treat! You can order anything you like, right?"
The other Hufflepuff hurriedly nodded in agreent.
"Apologies," Eve said lightly.
"Oh…" The two Hufflepuffs slumped in disappointnt.
"Sorry, I didn't make myself clear," Eve continued, her voice calm. "I don't like Hufflepuffs."
The two boys looked stunned.
"You lack the courage of Gryffindors, the intelligence of Ravenclaws, and the ambition of Slytherins," she continued smoothly. "Nolan once told that Hufflepuff has its own rits—that it isn't just Hogwarts' garbage disposal. I usually agree with his opinions, but in this case, he was wrong. Hufflepuff is a garbage disposal, and you two are trash. Now, can you stop bothering ? My boyfriend is just outside the shop. Do you lack even basic observational skills, hmm?"
Eve Stock. The Snow Witch—living up to her na.
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