After the second task concluded, the most exasperating thing was everyone's desperate curiosity about what had actually happened at the bottom of the lake. For the spectators, after all, they'd simply endured over an hour of staring at a monotonous water surface—and the biggest sensation was undoubtedly the massive cloud of blood that had surged up just before Orli emerged.
So once again, Orli found herself the subject of endless speculation and gossip.
Initially, when faced with the Gryffindors she was on reasonably good terms with, Orli had no choice but to give brief, sanitized accounts of the underwater events—several times over. But eventually, she grew so thoroughly fed up that she simply cast a Disregard Charm on herself. However, the charm couldn't be used constantly, especially during lessons—she could hardly have her professors thinking she was perpetually skipping class.
Thus, she still found herself occasionally forced to field irritating questions in the classroom.
She had no intention of revealing anything about Sectumsempra, so she remained deliberately vague about the Grindylows and the blood in the lake. But there were always those who simply wouldn't take a hint—like Malfoy, who cornered Orli for the sixth time during Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures lesson.
"Oh, look who we have here! If it isn't Harry Potter's most precious little treasure!" His voice dripped with mockery.
"What exactly did you get up to at the bottom of that lake?" He circled around Orli like a predator, eyes gleaming with curiosity.
"Did you use Dark Magic?"
"I didn't," Orli replied coolly.
"I think you did!" Malfoy wore a knowing smirk.
"Come on, admit it—you're always lurking around our Head of House. He must've taught you some fascinating tricks, hasn't he?"
"I told you, I didn't!" Orli glared at him fiercely. Well, if he was so bloody determined to dig for answers, fine—she'd give him something to chew on!
"I got my period at the bottom of the Black Lake. Do you understand now? Are you satisfied?" she hissed directly into his ear through gritted teeth. Watching his face turn scarlet with mortification, she felt thoroughly vindicated as she walked away.
March had brought slightly brighter weather, though the bitter wind still stung their hands and faces raw whenever they ventured outdoors. The next task wouldn't take place until late June, which meant they finally had some breathing room to relax.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione had decided to visit Hogsmeade, and Orli—after considerable hesitation—agreed to join them. She didn't want to damage the fragile friendship they'd managed to restore, and she certainly didn't want Hermione caught in the middle, torn between loyalties.
When she arrived in Hogsmeade through the secret passage from Honeydukes, Harry and the others were already waiting at the Three Broomsticks. Ever since his last conversation with Sirius, Harry had been meeting his godfather alone, no longer bringing Orli to the Shrieking Shack to avoid any potential awkwardness.
Orli carefully navigated through the crowd under the Invisibility Cloak and slipped into the booth beside them. She huddled in the corner, removed the cloak, and positioned herself so Hermione could shield her from view. Just then, Rita Skeeter swept through the entrance. She was sporting a banana-yellow robe today, her talon-like nails painted a garish pink, with her portly photographer trailing behind. She purchased drinks and led her companion through the crowd toward a nearby table, chattering rapidly about something that clearly delighted her.
"...He doesn't seem terribly eager to speak with us, does he? Why do you suppose that is?... He's quite the accomplished liar. Has something happened, perhaps?... Reputation in tatters... Now that's a compelling opening—we simply need to find the right story to match it—"
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