The first session of Defense Against the Dark Arts class ended quickly and pleasantly. Once the fear was dispelled, everyone found teasing the boggart to be incredibly fun. In the end, before Hermione, Neville, or Harry even had a chance to face it, the boggart had been played into a thousand wisps of smoke and disappeared without a trace.
Professor Lupin's homework was minimal and allowed plenty of time for completion. Not to mention, he found various reasons to award Gryffindor a total of 20 points. By the time everyone walked out of the staff lounge, they all adored the new professor.
#Ron "That was the most exciting Defense Against the Dark Arts class we've ever had, wasn't it?"
Ron said enthusiastically as they walked back to the classroom to retrieve their bags.
#Hermione "He seems to be a very good teacher,"
Hermione said approvingly,
#Hermione "but I wish I had had a chance to face the boggart—"
#Ron "What are you afraid of?"
Ron chuckled,
#Ron "Too simple homework?"
#Harry "Or perhaps the school shutting down."
Harry laughed as well, but then turned to Orli:
#Harry "Orli, what were you most afraid of at the time? Was it Snape? Or Snape dying?"
#Ron "Obviously Snape. He just punished Orli to stand all morning and made her serve detention tonight. After these two years, I thought he might treat Orli a bit better."
Ron pouted,
#Ron "But Orli, do you secretly imagine Snape dying in 108 different ways when you're free? When the boggart turned into that bloody scene, I was truly startled."
##Orli "I did not!"
Orli shouted angrily at him, her voice so loud it even startled herself.
#Ron "Alright, alright, you didn't..."
Ron was clearly taken aback by her intense reaction.
#Hermione "Orli, are you afraid Snape might die?"
Hermione gently patted Orli's back:
#Hermione "Why do you think he would die? He's a professor, and even within Hogwarts, I believe he's considered one of the more capable ones. Not to mention he's a Potions Master himself. There's nothing that could take his life."
##Orli "I don't know."
Orli gave her a weak smile.
##Orli "Let's hope so."
——————
At eight o'clock in the evening, Orli arrived at the dungeons on time.
She was truly exhausted today. Perhaps only seeing the person inside the dungeon could ease the dull pain in her chest that had lingered all afternoon. But when she pushed open the wooden door to the office, she found that it wasn't Snape inside—it was someone else.
##Orli "Malfoy? What are you doing here?"
Orli frowned, looking at the platinum-haired boy. Draco Malfoy was sitting on the small chair she usually sat on, fiddling with some small potion bottles in his hands.
#Malfoy "Nothing."
Seeing Orli enter, he put down what he was holding and sat up straight, somewhat awkwardly.
#Malfoy "I came to ask the professor some questions about Potions, but he happened to be absent."
##Orli "Then how did you know the password to get in?"
Orli stared at him suspiciously.
#Malfoy "Why do you ask so many questions?"
Malfoy said irritably.
#Malfoy "The professor asked me to tell you to finish processing these Puff Pods before ten tonight."
He spoke while pointing to a wooden barrel beside him.
Orli nodded, said nothing more, rolled up the sleeves of her robe, and carried the wooden barrel to the other side of the office, focusing on her task.
The room was extremely quiet, as if the air had become thick and sticky, with only the faint crunching sound of Orli shelling the pods breaking the silence.
Malfoy sat for a while, squirming slightly in his chair as if his seat had become itchy, then cleared his throat very deliberately. But Orli remained unresponsive, continuing her work.
#Malfoy "Ahem... Waters."
Malfoy couldn't help but speak up.
##Orli "Hmm?"
Orli didn't even look up.
#Malfoy "Are you a pureblood?"
He asked suddenly, out of nowhere.
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