Over the following weeks, Orli had been frantically catching up on all the coursework and assignments she'd fallen behind on.
Although she'd appeared calm enough during the crisis, you couldn't expect her to concentrate on studying under those circumstances. So after Professor McGonall issued a warning about the quality of her homework, she had no choice but to buckle down and review everything she'd missed.
The search for Avery wasn't progressing well either. Neither Snape nor Dumbledore had any new information, which meant the Death Eater was likely still lurking nearby, waiting for his chance to strike.
One thing Orli was grateful for was that without Quidditch this term, and with Harry emerging uninjured from the first two tasks, even if Avery was right beside them, he couldn't get hold of Harry's blood.
She was even more relieved that after the recent turmoil, Snape hadn't distanced himself from her. That meant everything to her.
Beyond relief, there had been some delightful surprises—like the weekend she'd visited the Potions office with a scratchy throat and coughed a few times. Snape had actually brewed her a potion on the spot, adding blackcurrant and cider—making it sweet. She was genuinely touched by the gesture.
Snape clearly realized this behavior was rather out of character for him.
"If you've finished that, take this month's potions to the Hospital Wing," he said, turning away the moment she drained the bottle and placing a tray of small vials before her.
Orli reluctantly left the Potions office, carrying the tray upstairs. The sweet-and-sour taste lingered on her lips, putting a spring in her step.
"Madam Pomfrey?" Orli knocked on the Hospital Wing door, but received no answer.
She pushed inside to find Madam Pomfrey lying on one of the beds, clutching her head in agony. Her face was deathly pale, eyes squeezed shut, forehead beaded with sweat.
"...No... I can't... I won't do it..." Madam Pomfrey muttered under her breath, as if arguing with an invisible presence.
"Madam Pomfrey?!" Orli quickly located a bottle of Invigoration Draught from the tray, pried open the woman's jaw, and poured it down her throat.
Finally, some color returned to Madam Pomfrey's cheeks and her expression softened.
"Are you feeling better, Madam Pomfrey?" Orli gently helped her sit up. The woman's eyes opened at last, but she looked utterly bewildered, as if trapped in a dream from which she couldn't wake.
Orli knew she should summon help, but she couldn't leave Madam Pomfrey alone in the Hospital Wing. Thinking quickly, she cast the Patronus Charm, sending her silver leopard racing toward the dungeons.
Sure enough, Snape arrived within minutes. He'd seen her Patronus—that silvery leopard—during the previous summer holidays.
"Professor, please look at Madam Pomfrey!" Orli said urgently.
Snape strode to the bed and began examining Madam Pomfrey with his wand. His brow furrowed almost immediately. Just then, Madam Pomfrey became more lucid. Her first words sent both Orli and Snape into shock.
"Severus, Orli, stay away from me—someone's placed me under the Imperius Curse!"
"What?" Snape immediately stepped in front of Orli, shielding her. He looked ready to raise his wand, then suddenly hesitated.
"Waters, use your Patronus to fetch Dumbledore from the Headmaster's office," he instructed her.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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