The third task of the Triwizard Tournament was scheduled for May 13, the same day final exam results would be released at the end of term.
Now that it was March, spring was starting to warm Hogwarts noticeably.
"What are they giggling about over there?" Anne asked as she rummaged through her bag for a textbook.
Malfoy, Goyle, Crabbe, and Pansy were clustered around a small table, cackling non-stop.
Fanny glanced over and shook her head. "Not interested."
"Oh? Where's your curiosity, Fanny?" Anne teased. It was rare for Fanny to ignore gossip like this.
"They're either making fun of someone or planning to make fun of someone. Boring," Fanny replied flatly. "I'm more interested in your story."
"My story?" Anne laughed. "What story could I possibly have…" But her heart skipped a beat.
"You and, "
"They're coming! They're coming!" Pansy shrieked gleefully, full of mischief.
Everyone in Slytherin turned toward the classroom door, eyes on Malfoy. Fanny stopped mid-sentence and looked, too.
Standing in the doorway were Harry, Ron, and Hermione, clearly unaware of what they'd just walked into.
"You'll definitely find something interesting inside, Granger!" Pansy shouted mockingly as she tossed a magazine toward Hermione. Caught off guard, Hermione reached out and grabbed it, visibly uneasy.
"Sit down!" came Professor Snape's sharp voice.
"Witch Weekly?" Fanny muttered under her breath. She said no more, Snape was already striding across the classroom, chalk in hand, ready to write the day's potion recipe on the blackboard.
Anne tilted her head to glance toward the back of the room, where the trio always sat. Hermione had opened the magazine and was trying to read it discreetly, but Harry and Ron had both leaned over, peering in as well.
Seriously? Anne rolled her eyes. The three of them always took such bold risks.
She glanced at the blackboard, Snape still had his back turned.
Hopefully Hermione finishes quickly and puts it away, Anne thought, then returned to crushing a bowl of dried beetles for the next potion step.
Just as she was grinding the second ingredient, Snape's cold, cutting voice echoed through the room.
"Miss Granger, however colorful your social life may be, I must remind you that whispering in my class is not allowed. Ten points from Gryffindor."
The room went dead silent.
"Oh? Reading magazines under the table now?" Snape said mockingly as he snatched the magazine from her hands. "Another ten points from Gryffindor. But of course…" His gaze landed on the article by Rita Skeeter, titled "The Heartbreak Behind the Boy Who Lived". His dark eyes gleamed. "Potter needs to collect clippings now, does he?"
Malfoy and his gang burst into loud, taunting laughter.
But what Anne didn't expect was Snape's next move, he gave a wicked grin and started reading the article aloud.
"The Heartbreak Behind the Boy Who Lived
He may be a boy like no other, but even he suffers the emotional turmoil of adolescence," reports Rita Skeeter.
After the tragic loss of his parents, fourteen-year-old Harry Potter believed he had finally found comfort in the arms of his ever-present companion, Muggle-born Hermione Granger.
But little did he know, even in a life already filled with pain, another heartbreak was on the way.
Miss Granger, a plain-looking yet fiercely ambitious girl, seems to have a weakness for famous wizards. One Harry Potter was apparently not enough.
Ever since Viktor Krum, the Bulgarian Seeker and World Cup star, arrived at Hogwarts, Miss Granger has been toying with both boys' affections.
Krum, clearly enchanted, has already invited her to visit him in Bulgaria this summer and insists he's "never felt this way about any other girl."
But it's not likely that Miss Granger's charm lies in natural beauty.
"She's actually quite ugly," says Pansy Parkinson, a lively and attractive fourth-year. "She probably brewed some sort of love potion. She's smart enough to do it, I really think that's what she did."
Love potions are, of course, banned at Hogwarts. One can only hope Headmaster Albus Dumbledore will investigate this matter seriously.
Meanwhile, those who care about Harry Potter can only hope that next time, he gives his heart to someone more worthy."
Snape paused dramatically between each sentence, giving Malfoy and the Slytherins time to burst out laughing again and again.
"...someone more worthy," Snape repeated with biting sarcasm as he rolled up the magazine. "Touching, isn't it?"
He gave Harry, Ron, and Hermione an icy glare.
"I think it's best to separate the three of you. That way, maybe you'll focus on potion-making instead of this absurd romantic nonsense. Weasley, stay where you are. Miss Granger, go sit next to Miss Parkinson. Potter, you're at the table in front of my desk. Move. Now."
Hermione began packing up her cauldron and ingredients. But as she approached Pansy's table, Pansy, Millicent, and Thalia quickly spread out their belongings, covering every inch of space.
There was only a tiny open corner left. Millicent shifted her chair a fraction, making it impossible for Hermione to sit down.
Pansy sneered loudly, "Oops! No space left for Little Miss Know-It-All!"
Millicent, Thalia, and the others burst into cruel laughter.
Snape said nothing. He didn't even glance Hermione's way as she stood there, face flushed, being openly mocked.
Anne raised her hand and spoke calmly, "Professor, there are only fifteen minutes left in class."
Snape looked over at her. Even through Malfoy's laughter, he had caught Anne's quiet but clear words.
"Miss Granger, go sit next to Miss Reever," he said curtly, then turned back to the blackboard.
Hermione made her way over with her cauldron and books. As soon as Snape's back was turned, she gave Anne a grateful smile.
Anne nodded slightly, then bent her head and returned to grinding her ingredients. Fanny, meanwhile, gave Hermione a cheerful grin, clearly enjoying the drama.
When the bell finally rang for the end of the period, Snape tapped the lectern. "Bottle your potions and bring them forward."
Anne had finished hers long ago. She walked to the front, handed in her vial, and left the classroom with the others.
"Rita Skeeter really doesn't waste time," Fanny muttered as they stepped into the hallway.
"Anne, something's weird about this," Hermione said, looking troubled. "How did Rita Skeeter know?"
"Know what? Wait… Hermione, are you seriously saying you did brew a love potion?" Fanny gasped in mock horror, then quickly shook her head. "Nope, it doesn't add up. If you had, someone would've figured it out by now…"
Hermione turned red and shot a quick glance at Anne, but Anne hadn't heard Fanny's teasing. She looked distant, distracted.
"Anne?" Hermione called gently.
"Huh?" Anne blinked and returned to herself. Both girls were staring at her.
"I was just thinking about what Karkaroff wanted from Snape before class ended," she said slowly. "I feel like it was something I saw in a movie once, but I can't remember…"
"Forget that for now," Anne added quickly. "Hermione, what were you saying was weird?"
Hermione looked away. "It's just… how did Rita Skeeter know that Viktor invited me to visit him this summer?"
"What? When did he do that?" Anne asked sharply.
"He… um… after the second task. As soon as I came out of the lake and woke up, he was already back to normal. He asked if I had plans for the summer, and if I'd like to visit him in Bulgaria."
She was blushing furiously now. "He even said he'd never felt this way about anyone before…"
"But the weird part is, we were in the middle of the lake. How could Rita Skeeter possibly know that?"
"You didn't say yes, did you?" Anne asked quickly.
Hermione shook her head. "He barely finished asking before we were already back at shore… and then you wrapped me in a towel."
"Hm. That is strange," Anne said, her voice calm again. "So Rita must have a way of sneaking past the castle's magical protections, and eavesdropping without being noticed."
"That would take some seriously advanced magic," Fanny said.
"But what kind of magic would do that?" Hermione murmured.
Anne thought for a while, then shook her head.
"No point puzzling over it now. It's lunchtime, and food comes first," she said, picking up her pace.
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The weekend arrived quickly. It was a sunny March day in Hogsmeade, and Anne and Fanny strolled casually along the main street, discussing Honeydukes' February profits.
"Hey, isn't that Harry and the others? What are they sneaking around for?" Fanny pointed toward the trio slipping out of a wizarding clothing shop and ducking into a side alley.
Anne shrugged. "No idea."
"Want to follow them?" Fanny asked, curiosity piqued.
Anne shook her head firmly and tugged her away in the opposite direction. "Let them be. Whatever they're up to, it's probably something secret, and it's better not to get involved. Trust me. But if you're really curious, you can always ask them later. Just don't barge in next time."
"Oh, and if you do ask," she added, "tell them not to go sneaking around in house robes. Especially not with Gryffindor-colored scarves and gloves. Way too obvious."
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