Notig how crowded the front partments were, Scarlet headed straight towards the end of the train and finally found ay ohe back.

  She quickly tugged her luggage into the train aled in. The partment was quite spacious, so she sat he window to leave room for anyone who might e in to share. Not long after, she heard someoer a pained “Ouch!” and the thudding sound of luggage hitting the flht outside the partment door she had just entered.

  She exited and saw the protagonist struggling to heft his belongings, failing to lift them into the train.

  Well, ’t expect a skinny boy to lift such huge luggage, eh? “Hi, mind if I help?” Scarlet approached and asked. Just as she spoke, Fred and Gee seemed to notice the boy’s struggle and came closer.

  Hmm...seems like I’ve bumped into the storyline, Scarlet mused. The twins themselves are adorable; it does seem like a great element to add to the story. The protagonist could gain help and friendship through them...So, should I back off and not interrupt the storyline?

  “Oi, look who it is! Our long-lost sister!” one of the twins called out with a grin.

  “We were going to invite you to our partment --” the an.

  “--but it’s a bit of a madhouse in there. Thought you might fane pead quiet,” The first one finished.

  Yup, definitely some important characters iory. Scarlet thought. She smiled and nodded, “That’s thoughtful of you. Now, shall we help him with the luggage?”

  “Right you are!” owin excimed.

  “Always happy to flex out muscles for a damsel in distress.” the other added with a wink.

  The twins were about to lift the trunk, but Scarlet patted one of the trunks twid lifted it with ease, as if it were light as a feather. She brought it into the partment in the blink of an eye, leaving the twins and the protagonist in awe.

  “Blimey,” one of the twins muttered, “did you see--”

  “Yes, I see...”

  Scarlet poked her head out from the partment, “Need any help?”

  “Nope!”

  “in’ right there!”

  After the protagonist’s belongings were settled in the er of the partment, Harry thahem while wiping sweat off his forehead, exposing his scar.

  “What’s that?” said one of the twins suddenly, pointing at the exposed scar.

  “Blimey, are you--?” the other twin added.

  “He is,” the first twin looked at the protagonist, “Aren’t you?”

  “What?” the protagonist seemed puzzle, and Scarlet, who stood beside him, khis must be an important se, so she remained quiet.

  “Harry Potter,” the twins said in unison.

  “Oh, him,” The protagonist obviously uain about how he should react, blushed uhe twins’ gaze, “I mean, yes, I am.”

  Just as the two boys were about to say something, Mrs. Weasley’s voice came from outside the train, “Fred? Gee? Are you there?”

  “ing, Mum.”

  They gave the protagonist a st look before hopping off the train and rushing to their mother’s side.

  Scarlet motioned for the protagonist to settle in, “Have a seat, make yourself at home.”

  “Thanks,” The protagonist said timidly, as if he wasn’t used to such a wele.

  “I’m Scarlet Smith, and you are?”

  “I’m Harry Potter.” Harry, the protagonist, said with a slight stutter. The sound of the Weasleys bidding goodbye was just outside their window.

  He g them subtly, and Scarlet noticed the admiration hidden in his eyes; he was longing foodbye like the Weasleys had. Scarlet frow this realization; now that everything had settled down, she noticed Harry had e alone.

  Skinny, oversize clothes, aloh no family bidding goodbye to a boy who’s just 11 or 12 years old...Orphan? Scarlet mused, well, if that’s the case, at least he seems to have a proper pce to stay. No visible bruises, better than most poorly managed orphanages where children have te for food or face bullying from local troublemakers. But the twins seemed to know him, so he’s famous somehow? Wait a minute...

  Scarlet’s gaze fell upon the boy’s scar, and the power bestowed upon her sensed something odd.

  She half-covered her eyes to hide her purpose and focused her stare on Harry’s scar.

  Queen Scáthach of the Isle of Skye, may the power of the Shadowy Oh me, she silently recited the ts. She seldom used this t as most of the time she could witness oddities without it, sine of the abilities bestowed upon her by the Queen of the Shadowy Land was to witness death and soul. But this time, it felt...very odd.

  And indeed, she was surprised by what she saw through the gaps of her fingers - there was a fn soul fragment attached to the boy’s scar!

  No wo felt odd; the soul fragment was too weak for her to notice at first gnce!

  Before she could delve deeper into her thoughts, the partment door slid open, and the you Weasley boy came in, “Er, is there room -- Oh, it’s you, Scarlet.”

  “Hi, Ron. Want to join us?”

  Ron nodded, looking relieved, “Everywhere else is full.”

  He sat beside Scarlet, sneaking g Harry before averting his gaze and turo Scarlet, “Bit weird, isn’t it? Never seen another redhead e outside the family.”

  “I was surprised to see you all as well.” Scarlet replied.

  Harry, sitting across from them, looked puzzled, “Aren’t you siblings?”

  Scarlet smiled, “Though I’d love to be, we’re not reted.”

  “But we could be siblings!” The partment door slid open again, the twins were back, “Hey, Ron.”

  “Listen, we’re heading to the middle of the train -- Lee Jordan’s got a giant tarantu down there.”

  “Right,” mumbled Ron.

  “Harry,” owin said, “did we introduce ourselves? Fred and Gee Weasley. And this is Ron, our brother. Oh, and that’s our honorary sister we’ve just adopted!”

  The other twin turo Scarlet. “Speaking of which, we should catch up once you’ve settled in at school. Lots to discuss about being an honorary Weasley and all that.” He patted the partment wall twice, sending a hint that Scarlet instantly noted.

  “Sure, sounds good.” Scarlet nodded, surprised that the twins were perceptive enough to sense her a just now.

  “Right then, we're off.” The Weasley twins chorused.

  “Bye,” said Harry and Ron, while Scarlet just waved.

  After they left, Scarlet expined, “We just met at the ptform. I think they were curious because of my hair.”

  Harry nodded uandingly.

  “Are you really Harry Potter?” Ron blurted out. Harry nodded.

  “Oh - well, I thought it might be one of Fred and Gee’s jokes,” said Ron. “And have you really got -- you know...”

  He poi Harry’s forehead.

  Harry pulled back his frio reveal the lightning scar. Ron stared. “So that’s where You-Know-Who...”

  “Yes,” said Harry, “but I ’t remember it.”

  “Nothing?” said Ron eagerly.

  “Well -- I remember a lot of green light, but nothing else.”

  “Wow,” said Roared at Harry for a few moments, then, as though suddenly realizing what he was doing, quickly looked away and noticed Scarlet was deep in thought. “Scarlet?”

  “Oh.” Scarlet snapped back to attention and shook her head, “Nothing, I was just curious...It seems like Harry’s a famous person?”

  “Blimey, you’re having me on,” Ron said, his eyes wide, “How you not know about Harry? He’s the one who defeated You-Know-Who!”

  “Well,” Scarlet rested her on her palm, “I suppose this is something wizards know but Muggles don’t? To be ho, I had no idea such a magical realm existed before the acceptater arrived at my doorstep.”

  “Oh...right,” Ron’s ears turned pink as he remembered their versation with Ginny. “Sorry, I fot you’re o all this...”

  “It’s okay.” Scarlet pondered for a few moments before taking out her purse, “Want to earn some pocket money?”

  “What?” Ron looked bewildered, as did Harry.

  “I need someoo guide me through the wizarding world, someone I turn to whenever I have questions - at least for this month. I’d rather not bother too many people with stant inquiries, so I thought it best to hire someone.” Scarlet took out ten gold Galleons, “This is for your time in answering my questions this month. I’ll likely find other ways to get answers month that won’t trouble anyone...Would you be willing to spare your time? I could add more if you think it’s necessary.”

  “Ten Galleons? Just for answering questions?” Ron’s jaw dropped, “That’s...”

  “Well, I think it’s worth it,” Scarlet showed him the s, “So, do you accept it? No worries if you dee, I find someone else.”

  “Bloody hell, yes!” Ron excimed, carefully taking the s, “I mean, yeah, I’ll do it. I'll tell you everything I know. And if I don’t know something...”

  “Yeah?”

  “Well, I’ve got five older brothers,” Ron said, puffing up a bit, “I’m the sixth in our family. And Ginny too, if you o know girl stuff.”

  “Sounds great!” Scarlet was about to ask something when Harry, looking a bit hesitant but curious, spoke up, “Erm, do you think I could join too? I mean, if it’s alright...I’ve got loads to learn as well.”

  “Of course, but there’s o pay since we’ve made the arra. In fact, I think I’ll ask most of my questions in writing, if that’s alright - I prefer to jot down notes.” Scarlet said, pulling out a palm-sized notebook and a fountain pen.

  Ron’s eyes widened, “Blimey, you’re like a proper businesswoman with all these deals!”

  “I am, actually,” Scarlet replied matter-of-factly.

  “What?” Ron and Harry excimed in unison, looking gobsmacked.

  Scarlet tapped her as she chose her words carefully, “Well...my family owns some pahey’ve given me shares and funds to i. Of course, I ’t make decisions directly, being underage and all, but I work through a manager. So, in a way, I do have my own business.”

  Seeing their awestruck faces, she tinued, “To be ho, Hogwarts wasn’t my first choice. I nning to skip a few years ahead in Muggle school, aiming for uy. That’s where I’d learn most of what I need for my career. But now I’m at Hogwarts, and their magic is o me, I’ve got to juggle magical studies and business. Make sense?”

  Both boys shook their heads, looking bewildered.

  “Right, let me put it this way,” Scarlet said, tig off points on her fingers. “I’ll need lots of owls flying bad forth. tracts to sign, decisions to make, market news, importas...It’s a lot to mahat’s why I’m willing to pay for help with smaller tasks. Ron, if you or your friends want to earn some extra pocket money, I could really use the help, at least for the first few months.”

  “Blimey, I’ll definitely help,” Ron agreed, still looking a bit dazed. “You must be dead busy, eh?”

  Scarlet shrugged, “It would be easier if I weren’t attending Hogwarts. Bae, I’ve got assistants and tacts to help out.”

  Harry spoke up hesitantly. “Scarlet...you’re from a Muggle family too? But you seem so ...calm about all this. I wish I could be more like that...”

  “Don’t worry, Harry. You’ll be fine,” Scarlet reassured him with a smile. After all, you’re the protagonist, you o be fine or else the story would have a bad ending, she mused. “I’ve got a few secrets that expin why I be calm. Perhaps I’ll tell you ter, but for now, just enjoy the excitement of starting school. It’ll be brilliant, I’m sure.”

  “Thanks.” Harry replied with a shy smile. Meanwhile, Ron could barely tain his eagero provide his services worth ten Galleons a month.

  Qiya