The Weasley twins failed spectacularly during Scarlet’s lecture, leaving her once again questioning her ability to teach her kind of magic. Fred and George, however, quickly reassured her it wasn’t her fault. Yet, as soon as they left Scarlet’s training room, the doubts shifted onto themselves – they couldn’t help but wonder if they simply weren’t talented enough to master her techniques.
Lee Jordan narrowed his eyes at the pair, “You two? Not talented? The same two who ace their exams and invent all sorts of things with charms and skills that no one in our classes even learns? Pull the other one!”
Fred and George regained their usual confidence but couldn’t snake the lingering curiosity as they contemplated why Scarlet’s magic seemed out of their reach. Alexis, on the other hand, had clearly made significant progress under Scarlet’s guidance. Her incantations during the Duelling Club’s first meeting were entirely unconventional for Hogwarts, and her precise footwork mirrored Scarlet’s style – the same footwork Scarlet had demonstrated so effectively when “teaching” them with a spear against their greatsword.
Weeks of Scarlet’s training had transformed Alexis, who previously had no experience in duelling, into a competent fighter. The twins couldn’t help but imagine how powerful Scarlet herself must be in a wizard’s duel. Their eagerness to learn this form of combat grew with each passing thought, but no matter how determined they were, Scarlet’s techniques seemed beyond their grasp.
Lee Jordan studied his friends’ expressions carefully. “Alright, I won’t pry into whatever secret twin business you’ve got going on, but it’s pretty clear something’s bugging you. Anything we can help with?”
Others in the common room quickly chimed in. “Yeah, stuck on an invention? Too many orders to fill?”
Fred waved off the concern with a light tone, “Nah, it’s just...we’ve been trying to learn non-verbal magic, and, well, let’s just say we’ve had no luck.”
“Scarlet seems to have mastered it,” George added. “She tried teaching us, but...nothing. We can’t seem to figure it out and were just wondering why.”
Percy, sitting by the fireplace with a book, looked up with a sceptical expression. “Non-verbal magic is a sixth-year skill,” he said, eyebrows furrowed. “You’re attempting it too early – that's why.”
Another seventh year added, “Besides, many adult wizards can’t even use non-verbal magic. It’s a skill, not a requirement for graduation. We’re perfectly fine with using incantations, unless you’re aiming for a job like an Auror.”
Fred and George exchange knowing glances but said nothing. They weren’t about to reveal their observations about Scarlet – or Alexis – to others.
The conversation in the common room shifted as others brought up how impressive Alexis had been during the Duelling Club’s first meeting. While most of the students admired her, a few noted her dynamic, almost frenetic movements, dismissing them as lacking elegance.
“Anyway,” Neville piped up, “I don’t think I’ll stick with the duelling club. Combat and fighting aren’t really my thing. I wish there was a club focused on Herbology – I’d love that. What about you, Harry?”
Harry paused, thinking it over. “I’ll go again. If Mr. Shacklebolt teaches us useful stuff, it’s worth attending when I’ve got time.”
“And I’m with you, mate!” Ron said with a grin.
Hermione frowned slightly, torn between her natural inclination for academics and the practical benefits of the club. “Learning duelling skills does seem useful,” she admitted, “but I prefer books...”
Harry and Ron exchange a glance before diving into persuasion mode.
“Like you said, duelling skills are useful,” Harry argued. “And you wouldn’t be there alone. We can learn together!”
Ron gave her a nudge. “A clever witch like you ought to be brilliant at spellcasting, right? The Duelling Club’s a great place to practice charms. Think of it as hands-on learning.”
“Charms that aren’t part of our syllabus,” Harry added temptingly. “And with Mr. Shacklebolt there, you can ask as many question as you like. He’s got real experience catching criminals.”
Ron wrinkled his nose in disdain, “Unlike that shiny Lockhead, who fainted from Alexis’s charm without even trying.”
Hermione had almost thrown out her prized Lockhart books the moment she returned to the dorm after witnessing his humiliating defeat against Alexis’s effortless spell. To her astonishment, Alexis had also held her own in a serious duel against Snape. Now Lockhart’s stories filled her with disgust, and she found herself questioning every word of his autobiographies, including the ones she had excitedly asked him to sign during the autograph session.
Harry’s mention of a real crime fighter piqued Hermione’s interest. She hesitated for only a second before nodding. “Alright. Count me in!”
Fred and George, who had been watching the interaction from across the room, exchanged raised eyebrows. As they mused over the experimental potion recipe they had been drafting, their thoughts drifted back to Scarlet. They might not be able to learn her magic, but they could help ensure she had some peace by keeping a close eye on Lockhart.
They weren’t entirely sure how Alexis had come to suspect Lockhart of stealing adventurers’ memories, obliviating them, and claiming their accomplishments as his own. But Alexis had never lied to them before. Now, all they needed was a way to make Lockhart confess in front of everyone – particularly those with Ministry connections or ties to the Daily Prophet.
“You’re sounding suspiciously like a Slytherin right now, Are-chan,” George said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as Alexis voiced her idea in her training room a few weeks before the first Duelling Club’s meeting. Based on her weary expression, she was probably already in the middle of her crash course with Scarlet. She had called them there, saying she had “something gravely important” to discuss.
Alexis blinked, stunned by the comparison. After a moment, she whispered, more to herself than anyone else, “That’s exactly what I said about Sensei! So...Zhuge Liang was actually a Slytherin?”
The Weasley twins exchanged a quick glance before shrugging in unison. They had no idea who Zhuge Liang was, but the name reminded them vaguely of Cho Chang, the pretty girl from Ravenclaw. Their best guess was that it had something to do with something – or someone - Chinese.
“So, Are-chan,” Fred asked, one brow arched. “What’s your plan for exposing Lockhart?”
Alexis frowned, deep in thought. “Well, I don’t have any no proof or evidence. He’s, like, super well-planned, leaving no trace that could catch him red-handed. The only idea I have is...using a truth serum to force him to admit it.”
Fred perked up, intrigued. “What’s a truth serum?”
George made an educated guess. “A potion that forces someone to spill the beans?”
Stolen novel; please report.
“Well...” Alexis paused, trying to remember if truth serum was even a thing in the Harry Potter series. All she could recall was seeing it in crime investigation dramas or random mafia novels. “Truth serum is...well, it’s like a potion that messes with your brain, so you can’t keep secrets anymore. It just makes you spill the hidden truth, y’know? It’s usually used to interrogate someone where the answer is, like, super critical, and there’s no other way to get it...but the people who’ve taken truth serum usually go insane or, y’know, retarded, ‘coz the potion’s just way too damaging.”
Fred snapped his fingers. “I think I’ve heard of that!”
George immediately followed up. “Veritaserum!”
“But it’s illegal for us to use, restricted to the Ministry--” Fred added quickly.
“--And it’s tricky to brew,” George finished.
Alexis waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t need it to be that strong. Maybe we can adjust the recipe – make it more like a prank potion than a full-blown interrogation serum?”
The two red-haired boys’ faces lit up with matching grins, and asked in unison. “Care to elaborate?”
“Well, what if we turn it into a candy or biscuit?” Alexis suggested tentatively. “Anyone who eats it would have to answer someone’s question truthfully to cancel some kind of effect - like getting pimples all over their face.”
The twins lit up with delight, finding this prank idea both amusing and innovative.
However, George narrowed his eyes playfully. “Did pimples personally offend you or something? This is the third time you’ve suggested making people grow them.”
“Because they make us ugly!” Alexis huffed, her nostrils flaring dramatically. "Pimples are the sworn enemies of girls everywhere! You’d make a fortune, like, in galleons if you came up with proper skincare products. Girls would go crazy for you.”
“Really?” Fred asked, his eyes sparkling. He gave a small cough and tried to look serious as he straightened up. “We’ll save that for later. Back to the truth serum biscuits. So, how do you suggest we deal with Lockhart? Force-feed his biscuits?”
“First,” Alexis said, rubbing her chin thoughtfully, “we need the whole school to know about this product. Then, we ‘accidentally’ slip one into his food or drink in front of everyone – but without him noticing. After that, we ask him directly about where he got all his stories, right there, in front of the crowd.”
George nodded approvingly. “Solid plan.”
Fred grinned. “Let’s get started on the serum, then.”
George gestured toward the space around them. “In your room? Or Scarlet’s?”
Alexis paused to consider before replying, “I...I’d like to keep it a surprise for Sensei.”
“Why?” Fred asked, curious. “It’d be easier with her help. She’s got broader knowledge then all of us put together – probably more than any students in Hogwarts.”
“Because...” Alexis flushed slight, “Because I wanna, like, get praised by Sensei. I want her to see that I can totally handle things on my own, that she doesn’t have to, y’know, worry about me all the time.”
The twins exchanged a glance, George, hesitant, said, “Um, we’ve never really seen her worry about you all that much.”
Fred added, “Honestly, we haven’t seen her show particular concern for anyone specifically since the start of term – apart from general worries about Hogwarts’s safety. She’s been patrolling a lot with Shacklebolt and Tonks, probably more concerned about Pettigrew sneaking in.”
“That’s exactly what I mean,” Alexis said with a dismissive wave. “You wouldn’t get it - it’s a girl thing. Just hurry up and start with the prank version of Veritaserum already!”
The twins shrugged, deciding to follow Alexis’s lead. This led to them poring over books on herbs and potions, carefully crafting a recipe for their “truth tonic” tailored for Lockhart. They figured it would be easier to disguise it as part of his mean or drink to ensure he consumed it unknowingly. The twins doubted that a threat like pimples or nonstop farting would faze someone like Lockhart, so they planned something more foolproof for him.
While Alexis and the Weasley twins orchestrated their scheme, Scarlet continued juggling her overwhelming list of duties. Between classes, drafting novels, training with her spear, chanting ancient runes, managing business arrangements, reading news summaries, and patrolling Hogwarts alongside Mr. Shacklebolt and Ms. Tonks.
The Aurors operated on a fixed patrol schedule, but to prevent anyone from exploiting their routines, they also conducted random patrols. Scarlet had earned her patrol pass early in September after proving her competence to Mr. Shacklebolt.
“That girl, Everhart,” Mr. Shacklebolt said to Scarlet as they flew across the darkened Hogwarts grounds after the chaotic Duelling Club incident where Lockhart had failed spectacularly. “She used one of your moves against Lockhart. Did you teach her that technique?”
It was well past curfew, and students were confined to their dorm. However, Scarlet, Mr. Shacklebolt, and Ms. Tonks patrolled the school grounds on their brooms, their figures silhouetted against the starlit sky. Scarlet’s trusted broom, Sammy, carried her smoothly as she turned to answer.
“Yes, I’ve been teaching her some techniques,” She admitted. “How did she perform in the hall?”
“Magnificently!” Ms. Tonks exclaimed, her broom sipping through the air as she circled around them with characteristic enthusiasm. “She’s fast and determined, though a bit lacking in creativity with her spells. She kept using the same charms over and over, almost like she couldn’t recall anything else”
Scarlet chuckled softly. “Yes, that’s exactly the issue. She’s only managed to remember a few charms so far. She told me her mind tends to go blank in high-pressure situations, leaving her to act on instinct. So, I’ve been training her to rely on just a few versatile spells – ones she can instinctively use in moments of danger or when panic sets in.”
“That’s quite the practical approach,” Mr. Shacklebolt said thoughtfully, his deep voice resonating against the quiet night. “Perhaps I should incorporate a similar method into our trainee program.”
Scarlet smiled. “Feel free to, if you think it’s useful.”
The three flew along the border of Hogwarts, their eyes scanning the shadows for anything suspicious. Mr. Shacklebolt clutched a magical device that hummed faintly, designed to detect dark artefacts. Yet he doubted Pettigrew could afford such dangerous items; the cost of acquiring one were exorbitant. This patrol might seem futile but it reassured him that he was doing his part to secure Hogwarts and also give him time to train his trainee before passing her on to Moody, the ever-vigilant Auror.
Scarlet’s voice interrupted his thoughts. Her breath turned to mist in the freezing air above Forbidden Forest. “Still no sign of Pettigrew being dead?”
“No,” Mr. Shacklebolt replied, his tone grave. “Our colleagues at the Ministry keep us updated. The detection device there still indicates that he’s alive.”
“What a pity,” Scarlet remarked coldly. “If he were dead, everything would be so much simpler.”
Had any other students her age said those words, they might have sounded callous. But Shacklebolt knew better. Scarlet, with her ancient magic tied to death and souls, viewed life and mortality through a lens few could comprehend. Her time volunteering at a medical facility in Africa – where she likely witnessed numerous death – had only deepened her pragmatism.
The three lapsed into silence, the cold air biting at their faces as they continued their patrol. Above the vast expanse of the Forbidden Forest, the world below seemed eerily quiet, a fragile peace hanging over Hogwarts.
They returned to the castle grounds shortly after. However, something caught their attention.
In the distance, the unmistakable silhouette of two tall figures with flaming red hair strolled through the halls. It could only be the Weasley twins.
“I’ve heard whispers that some students are plotting to get rid of Lockhart,” Ms. Tonks said cheerfully, her tone light despite the seriousness of her statement.
Mr. Shacklebolt furrowed his brows as the thought of the inept Defence Against the Dark Arts professor crossed his mind. “The students’ proficiency in Defence Against the Dark Arts has been steadily declined over the years. When they graduate and join the Auror training program, we’re forced to extend their basic combat training just to make up for the gaps. I never imagined Hogwarts’s choice in professor could be so lamentable.”
“Well,” Scarlet replied with a chuckle, deciding not to call out the twins for breaking curfew – after all, patrollers weren’t there to enforce house rules, “rumour has it the position is jinxed. Poor Professor Dumbledore struggles to find someone willing to take the post, knowing they won’t last beyond a year.”
Tonks blinked and tilted her head in curiosity. “Then wouldn’t it be better to have Aurors like us take turns as substitute teachers like last year? At least we’d save everyone from professors like him.”
Scarlet nodded. “That might not be a bad idea. From what I recall, last year’s lectures with Aurors went smoothly – well, except for the professor who was burned to ashes by backfired dark magic. I didn’t hear any students complaining about having Aurors as instructors.”
“Brilliant! I’d love to teach for at least a week!” Ms. Tonks exclaimed, looking at her mentor with a pleading gaze, “Pleeeease?”
Mr. Shacklebolt chuckled at her enthusiasm. “You’re quite confident those boys are capable of getting rid of him that quickly?”
Ms. Tonks grinned and nodded resolutely, “Oh, I’d put my bet on them any day – they’re nothing short of amazing!”
And as if fate had heard her wish, the time for Alexis’s plan to oust Lockhart was fast approaching. Yet, when the moment finally came, the unfolding events were beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.