## Orli
"Wait, what's going on? Why do I have a third of it?"
Orli was utterly baffled.
# George
"We've always wanted you to have a share. From the money we earned thanks to you, we set aside a portion as your stake."
George smiled, though he refrained from patting Orli on the head.
# George
"Actually, we've been planning this for quite some time. To be fair, we owe it all to you breaking Fred's broom."
Orli flushed as she recalled her first flying lesson, unconsciously picking up a piece of candy and popping it into her mouth. As she chewed, a sudden sting hit her nose, and a warm liquid gushed uncontrollably from her nostrils.
# Hermione
"Orli! You're bleeding!"
Hermione exclaimed in alarm.
Orli wiped her nose with her hand, only to find it smeared with blood.
# George
"Oh, looks like you tried one of our Blood-Nougat Candies."
George chuckled, explaining.
# George
"This pile here is all part of our Skiving Snackbox inventions. We've got all sorts: Fainting Fancies, Fever Fudge, Blood-Nougat Candy, Puking Pastilles, and Nosebleed Nuggets..."
# Fred
"Just plug your nose; it'll stop bleeding in about half an hour. We timed it perfectly for skipping class."
Fred handed Orli a wad of tissues.
# Hermione
"This is against school rules!"
Hermione glared at the colorful candies in disapproval.
# Harry
"Shh, don't let Percy hear."
Harry gestured for her to lower her voice.
---
That evening, the Hogwarts Christmas Feast was a grand affair. The Great Hall was adorned with over a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees, crisscrossing mistletoe, and enchanted snow that fell warmly and dryly from the ceiling.
Dumbledore led them in singing a few of his favorite Christmas carols. Hagrid, after downing several cups of eggnog, grew louder and more boisterous. Percy, oblivious to the fact that Fred had enchanted his prefect badge to read "Dunderhead," kept asking why everyone was laughing.
Orli glanced towards the professors' table—Snape was absent. She didn't know where he was, but the Christmas gift she had prepared for him had already been delivered by Dryncorpse the previous night. If all went well, it should have reached Snape by now.
The gift was a pair of dragon-hide gloves, designed to protect the hands during potion-making and material preparation. They were exquisitely crafted, durable, and understated in style, appearing to be an ordinary pair of plain black gloves. Orli had removed all the labels to make them look less expensive.
Perhaps she might receive a return gift tonight, just like last year—if Snape happened to be in a good mood.
Orli pondered while absentmindedly poking at the Christmas pudding in front of her.
# Harry
"Orli, are you done?"
Harry asked in a hushed tone.
# Harry
"We should head to the girls' restroom."
Orli blinked, snapping back to reality. Yes, the four of them had planned this—sneaking into Moaning Myrtle's bathroom tonight, while everyone else was busy celebrating Christmas, to coax some information out of her.
With everyone stuffed and drowsy, no one noticed four second-year students quietly slipping out of the Great Hall.
Moaning Myrtle's bathroom was undoubtedly the most dilapidated in all of Hogwarts. A row of broken stone sinks lay beneath a cracked and grimy mirror. The damp floor reflected the faint candlelight, and the wooden doors of the stalls were peeling and scratched. One door's hinge had come loose and was hanging precariously.
Hermione placed a finger to her lips, signaling everyone to remain silent. Then she and Orli cautiously approached the sinks.
## Orli
"Hi, Moaning Myrtle, how are you?"
Orli ventured cautiously. Ron and Harry followed closely behind.
Moaning Myrtle was floating above a toilet tank, touching her face as she gazed into the mirror.
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