Time flew by, and everyone at Hogwarts was wrapped up in exams. Hermione kept stirring up anxiety among the Gryffindors, and bits of that anxiety were seeping into the other houses. To make matters worse, Draco Malfoy’s challenge was like pouring oil on an already blazing fire.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t Ron who took the bait, nor even Harry – but Hermione.

“I’ll beat that brat with straight O’s!” she sworn through gritted teeth. “How dare he say I’m just a useless Muggle-born, only fit for the Muggle world with Muggle wisdom, where ‘no magic suits me better’!”

Ron muttered, “Well, except Potions – Snape’d never give an O to a Gryffindor.”

Hermione shot him a furious look. “Are you going to study, or what?!”

“I’m on it, I’m on it...” Ron sighed, exchanging a weary glance with Harry, who looked equally beleaguered by Hermione’s strict study schedule specially arranged for them.

Scarlet, sitting across from them, was far less tense. An A would be enough for her, though she’d prefer an E

Draco passed by their table with Crabbe and Goyle in tow. He nodded to Scarlet in greeting, then looked over at the trio with a sneer. “Well, well, didn’t know you two could read. Thought you just cling to Ms. Knows-It-All here to scrape an A in all your exams.”

“You ruddy--!” Ron started, rolling up his sleeves, with Harry doing the same. This time, neither was willing to hold the other back.

But before a fight could break out, Scarlet quickly grabbed the back of their collars with surprising strength, nearly choking them as she pulled them back into their seats like scolded kittens.

Hermione, still clinging to a shred of calm, retorted, “Arrogant as you are, you’re going to lose, Malfoy. And there’s no way around it!”

“We’ll see,” Draco sneered, his expression one of contempt, like a noble staring down at peasants in medieval time. But when he turned back to Scarlet, his tone softened with respect. “You’d do better hanging around with the right sort, Scarlet. They’re not worth your time.”

The protagonist trio glared daggers at him, but Scarlet merely smiled, understanding that Draco’s words were just a tactic to rile them up, for the becoming-their-rival thing. “But I do enjoy their company. By the way, Draco, could I visit your house over the summer holiday?”

Draco blinked, momentarily surprised. “Why, absolutely!”

“Oh, and I’d like to make an appointment with Mr. Malfoy, if he’s available during the break,” Scarlet added. “Could you pass on my request?”

“Certainly. I’ll let you know once he replies.” Draco gave a final sneer at the trio before heading off.

“Scarlet!” they groaned once he was out of earshot. “Why on earth do you want to meet him?”

“He’s just a brat!”

“A spoiled brat.”

“I can’t stand the way he looks at us with his nose in the air!”

“I thought it was his chin?”

“That’s ‘cause you’re tall.”

“Scarlet, the Malfoys aren’t good people by any measure,” Hermione warned. “Best to steer clear of them.”

Scarlet gave them a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry - I know what I’m doing.”

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The confirmation of her appointment arrived just as exams began. Tension was high, and everyone was cramming for those last-minute revisions.

One bit of news caught Scarlet’s attention - Professor Dumbledore had a lead on the location of the ring. It might be possible to get rid of it along with the locket over summer break. Then, she’d have the upper hand in persuading Lucius Malfoy to hand over the diary.

“What about Dobby?” Alexis asked.

It was another evening in the training room, where Scarlet was deep into her physical routine. She rarely took a break, even during exams, so Alexis always knew where to find her. This time, she’d come by specifically when the twins weren’t around. “I mean, Dobby’s like, super important. If Lucius doesn’t pass Ginny the diary, then Harry doesn’t get it, and Dobby can’t be freed.”

Without missing a beat, Scarlet replied, “I’ll ask for Dobby if I can manage to remove the Dark Mark from Lucius Malfoy’s arm. That is, if he would like it to be removed.”

Alexis’s eyes went wide. “Wait, you can actually get rid of the Dark Mark?”

“Possibly,” Scarlet said as she swung her spear in a practiced arc. “No guarantees until I see it. But based on my research, it should work.”

Alexis looked puzzled. “How’d you even research...Oh! Oh my Merlin, is that why you’ve been heading to Snape’s office?!”

Throughout the second half of the term, Scarlet had been assisting Professor Snape with ingredients prep. Most students assumed she’d somehow earned his favour after he praised her paper’s citation method, which he then required all his student to follow. Other professors quickly adopted the method, forcing every student to add a list of references, proving they’d actually done the research instead of copying.

Many students resented Scarlet for it, finding the extra work tedious. Some even tried to prank her as revenge, though none succeeded. She earned the nickname “The Never-Falling Lady in Red”, a title Scarlet suspected the Weasley twins had coined, though she had no proof.

Only now did Alexis realise the truth: Scarlet wasn’t just assisting Snape. She’d been studying the Dark Mark on Snape’s arm the whole time!

And if Scarlet really could remove the Dark Mark...

“You’ll be a total target for those loyal Death Eaters!” Alexis looked horrified. “They’ll come after you if you start messing with their Dark Marks.”

Scarlet shrugged. “But if I do, I could gain the support of those who are on the fence about following the dark wizard. Of course, I’d have to guarantee their safety first. Once the mark is gone, they’ll be targets, too.”

Alexis followed her reasoning, nodding thoughtfully. “So, like...that whole counter-curse to the Killing Curse thing could be majorly important. Have you told Dumbledore?”

“Not yet. Now’s not the best time,” Scarlet replied, shaking her head. “I think he's cautious around me, maybe wondering if I’ll turn into a second Tom Riddle.”

“Oh, please! You would never be like Tom Riddle!”

“That’s because you know who I am.” Scarlet gave a small shrug. “But have you noticed how the Slytherins act around me?”

“The Slytherins?” Alexis blinked, a little clueless. “Uh, no? How do they act?”

“Wary, I suppose. Maybe they’re connecting my...overly mature actions with those of the dark wizard, and at the same time, I’m a Hufflepuff instead of a Slytherin.” Scarlet shrugged. “Funny enough, it was Draco who pointed it out. Oh, and Percy. I’m not sure what they’re whispering behind my back, but they certainly don’t show any temper in front of me. And up until now, I haven’t heard anything about Slytherins picking on Hufflepuffs.”

“Oh, right!” Alexis’s eyes lit up. “Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen any bullying since I got here – well, except for people jinxing each other in the halls, like right to the face. This totally doesn’t fit my whole ‘Hogwarts’ image. I thought some kids would be getting bullied or something...”

“It’s either that no one’s bullied and school life is perfectly peaceful here...” Scarlet slipped her spear into her jade pendant and checked her pocket watch before deciding to call it a day, “Or, the bullying is so subtle and hidden than no one even notices.”

Alexis thought about it, then nodded. “Yeah, that could be it.”

“If you get a chance, keep an eye out,” Scarlet suggested with a small smile. “I can step in if necessary, disciplining students was one of my expertise after all.”

“Sureee,” Alexis agreed, smiling back. “Noted.”

However, as she settled into bed later, Alexis realised Scarlet had completely deflected her question about how she’d handle being hunted by Death Eaters if she actually freed those who were considered fence-sitter.

She couldn’t help but mutter to herself, “The sorting hat must’ve messed up - she should’ve been a Slytherin, not a Hufflepuff.”

I mean, just look at Hufflepuffs – they’re all sweet and innocent...Okay, maybe a bit wild sometimes. But compared to how clever and sly Slytherins can be? Scarlet’s way too cunning for me to handle. Or...maybe that’s just how great teachers are? Alexis thought of Kakashi, then shrugged and decided to get some sleep.