Eda didn't feel the o share her thoughts with anyone—she khem herself, and that was enough. Whether it rofessonagall or Dumbledore, her of them would let her act recklessly, nor would they indulge her indefinitely.

  Seeking revenge against the Fowley family was undoubtedly something that would cause ahquake in the wizarding world, and Dumbledore would never allow such a thing to happen.

  Perhaps there had once been a woman who would indulge her, protect her, but on that snowy night in 1977, that woma her behind, her fate sihen unknown.

  The idea of being "born noble" was often ridiculed, yet it undeniably existed. In the wizarding world, it was even more pronouhe Ministry of Magic had existed for turies, yet only one Minister had ever been Muggle-born, and even that Minister had stepped down shortly afterward due to health reasons.

  "It's still a pity we didn't get to do it ourselves," Gee's words broke Eda out of her reverie.

  "I'd really like to pull out Flint's teeth one by one," Fred said, gng at the distracted Eda. "What are you thinking about, Eda?"

  Reining in her scattered thoughts, Eda replied, "Nothing much, just thinking about how Flint's behavior is such a disgrace to pure-blood families. I don't uand what they've been so proud of all this time."

  "We're the ones who disgrace pure-blood families," Fred said, pointing at himself and Gee.

  "The Weasleys are willingly the disgrace of pure-bloods," Gee added self-depregly. "Dad's inability to get promoted at the Ministry definitely has something to do with that."

  Pure-blood families were never limited to just twe. It was simply that only twe remained. tless pure-blood families had been lost in the long river of magical history.

  The reasons for these families disappearing were either squandering their aral wealth and losing their flory or dying out entirely, leaving no oo tend their family graves. Yet the so-called "disgraceful" Weasley family, despite being poor, was thriving with members—an irony in itself.

  "If you two weren't the 'disgrace of pure-blood families,' we probably wouldn't even be friends," Eda said.

  "Pftt~" Fred ughed. "That's true. In that case, wouldn't you be pitiful?"

  If the Weasley family adhered to those pure-blood ideals, they wouldn't have befriended someone like Eda, not uhe twins had resisted the family indoation aheir current values.

  "If that were the case, you'd probably be g your eyes out with no oo fort you," Gee teased. "Just like Moaning Myrtle."

  As they chatted, the three of them made their way back to the on room. It wasn't too te yet, so they settled into their usual spot and tialking.

  "Humph! Have you ever seen me cry?" Eda rolled her eyes. "Before anyone mao make me cry, I'd make sure they regret living."

  "Let's hope you don't end up g tomorrow when Professonagall scolds you!" the twins said in unison.

  If the professors found out what Eda had just dohe twins were sure Magall wouldn't let her off easily. That was why they'd inally suggested the three of them act together—so they could share some of Magall's wrath.

  But that suggestion had been ftly rejected, and the reasoning was irrefutable: the Quidditch Cup was right around the er, and Gryffindor couldn't afford to lose their Beaters.

  When Charlie was injured, Eda had already decided to ha herself. Even if she did nothing, the twins would undoubtedly cause trouble for Flint. It was better for Eda to take it all on aloer all, Charlie had been very kind to her.

  If the twins also got suspehey'd better prepare to fa angry, recovered Charlie ter!

  Besides, Eda had already tested Professonagall's limits and figured her as were still within the professor's tolerance. She doubted the scolding would be too harsh.

  "Looks like I'll o order some ip for tomorrow!" Eda joked with the twins. She had mentally prepared herself for what might e and could still banter lightheartedly.

  The day was Sunday, meaning no csses or Quidditch matches.

  With the weather growing colder, Eda no longer veo the Bck Lake in the ms—Hogwarts weather wasn't something to be trifled with.

  Leading a wagging Garlon, Eda left the castle. By now, Garlon was about six months old and much bigger than when she had brought him back to the Burrow. Though not particurly gy, Garlon was obedient and didn't require much effort to manage—something Eda appreciated most about him.

  At breakfast in the Great Hall, Eda didn't see Flint, and the Slytherins didn't look at her in any unusual way. As usual, they treated her like she was invisible.

  Up at the staff table, Professonagall was chatting happily with the other professors, and Snape showed no signs of wanting to reprimand Eda.

  It seemed like nothing had happehe twins, feeling less worried, assumed Flint hadn't reported anything to Snape and had instead chosen to "swallow his teeth along with his pride."

  It looked like Eda wouldn't fay punishment after all. Now the twi it was a shame they hadn't joined in on teag Flint a lesson.

  Since he didn't dare tell the professors, they figured they could have gotten away with it too.

  It wasn't until noon that Eda and the twins saw Flint again.

  He was fnked by several Slytherins, his white-and-green scarf pulled up to cover his mouth, his expression grim as he walked into the Great Hall.

  Flint didn't look at Eda or the twins, nor did he gn the dire of Gryffindor at all.

  Instead, he went straight to his seat with his friends. He ate very slowly, remaining silent throughout the meal.

  Iernoon, Eda and the twins visited the hospital wing. Charlie was flipping through a book about dragons, its cover featuring a majestic, Hungarian Horntail breathing fire.

  "You're here," Charlie greeted them, setting the book aside. "Didn't get into any trouble, did you?"

  "Of course not. If we had, do you think we'd dare e here to see you?" Fred retorted, sitting on a nearby bed.

  "We'd be avoiding you like the pgue, not running into the hospital wing to get scolded," Gee added, plopping himself onto Charlie's bed.

  Eda sat on a chair, casually pig up the book Charlie had been reading. She flipped through a few pages and asked, "You've been reading books like this all through the holidays. No wrid likes you so much."

  "We have a lot of on ground when it es tons. Hagrid even wants to raise one privately—any species would do," Charlie said with a soft chuckle.

  Although Madam Pomfrey's skills were exceptional, a fractured rib was still no small matter. Charlie kept his voice low, careful not to strain himself.

  "The Forbidden Forest isn't big enough to house an adult dragon—it would turire pto a wastend," Eda remarked, not surprised at all to hear about Hagrid's dream of raising a dragon, given his fondness for all sorts of magical creatures.

  Hagrid had a particur i in rge, seemingly dangerous creatures. Of course, what seemed dangerous to others was hardly a for him. Eda still remembered her enter in the Forbidden Forest. Although she hadn't seen Aragog himself, she'd gotten a pretty good idea of his size from his offspring.

  "Exactly, which is why I tried to talk him out of that risky idea," Charlie said. "After I graduate, I'm pnning to go to Romania."

  "What?"

  Gee blinked in surprise; this was the first time he'd heard of Charlie's pn.

  "Have you told Mum about this?" he asked.

  "No, not yet. I haven't figured out how t it up," Charlie replied. "I'm thinking of discussing it with Dad during the Christmas holidays first."

  "With Bill off i and now you wanting to head to Romania, that'll just leave Percy at home," Fred ented.

  Charlie ughed. "If you two get on Mum's nerves while I'm gone, I'll fly back from Romania on a dragon and roast you both with dragon fire!"

  The versation turned lighthearted as the Weasley brothers exged embarrassing stories. Most of the tales came from Charlie, who, as the eldest, had memories of the twins' antics from when they were very young.

  One such story involved the twins trig little Ron into making an Unbreakable Vow. They'd been caught just before pleting it, and Mr. Weasley had been so furious that he'd givewins a sound spanking, leaving their behinds sore for days.

  Acc to Charlie, he had never seen Mr. Weasley so furious before. Ever sihat i, Fred's left buttock hadn't been quite the same as his right.

  Eda gained a newfound appreciation for the twins' knack for troublemaking. Truly, they were prodigies of mischief—attempting to make an Unbreakable Vow before even starting school and almost succeeding.

  Fred, notig Eda sneaking g him, turned his head away and raised his hand to block her gaze, his face full of exaggerated indignation.

  The three of them didn't stay with Charlie for too long. After sitting for a while, they decided it was time to leave. Befoing, Eda asked, "Charlie, did anyone visit you this m?"

  Charlie didn't know why Eda was asking but answered anyway. "Percy came in the m, and so did Rupert."

  Eda nodded ahe hospital wing with the twins. As the door closed behind them, Charlie suddenly realized what was going on.

  They must have done something, he thought.

  That's why Eda asked about visitors!

  ________

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