In the Slytherin common room, Malfoy was loudly boasting about how he'd challenged Harry Potter to a midnight duel.
Anne and Fanny had just returned from the library when Malfoy's two cronies stepped in to block Anne's way.
Anne was a bit confused, she hadn't done anything to provoke this brat. She glanced at Malfoy, and Fanny, standing just behind her, also looked over in bewilderment.
"Well, look who's back, the traitor of Slytherin," Malfoy sneered, raising his chin.
"What?" Anne replied blankly.
"Don't play dumb. This afternoon, didn't you say Professor McGonagall wouldn't expel Harry? Sounds to me like you're defending him. Planning to snitch on my plan, aren't you?"
"That was me, " Fanny started to speak.
But Anne shook her head at her, stopping her with a slight smile. She wasn't worried, what could a bunch of first-year brats possibly do?
"Oh? You've got a plan? That's rich. I doubt you could come up with anything decent," Anne said mockingly.
Malfoy shot her a glare, then, as if eager to show off, loudly outlined his "brilliant" scheme: he would lure Harry to the Trophy Room for a midnight duel, but instead of showing up, he'd tip off Filch.
When he finished, he looked at Anne triumphantly.
"Wow. What a brilliant plan," Anne nodded with mock seriousness.
Malfoy's chin lifted even higher. "Don't even think about warning him!" he growled. At his signal, Crabbe and Goyle stepped closer, trying to intimidate her.
Fanny looked furious, if either of them dared lay a finger on Anne, she looked ready to step in.
Anne glanced calmly around the common room. Plenty of people were watching the standoff.
"Well then," she said, turning to Malfoy. "Since we've got an audience, let's make this official. A bet."
Malfoy blinked. "A bet?"
"Tonight, I'll stay in the dorm and not leave. If anyone sees me step outside, I lose. But if your clever little plan fails, if Harry isn't expelled, you lose. And if you lose, you're not allowed to call me a traitor ever again. And you have to be my servant for a whole day, bring me tea, carry my books, and the works."
A faint flush rose to Malfoy's already pale cheeks.
"What's wrong?" Anne taunted. "Scared? I thought you said it was a brilliant plan."
All eyes turned to Malfoy. Even Crabbe and Goyle gave him sidelong glances.
Malfoy straightened his neck and barked, "Hmph! Scared? Of course not! Fine! But what if you lose?"
"If I lose…" Anne smiled faintly. "Then I'll be your servant for three days. Bring you tea, carry your books."
Malfoy narrowed his eyes on her. "Fine! You'll regret this!" he said, and then turned to the common room. "You all heard it! You're my witnesses!"
Anne gave a polite smile to the watching crowd. "Thanks, everyone. I appreciate your help." Then she tugged Fanny's hand and returned to the dorm.
Once they were inside, Fanny rounded on her. "Anne, how could you bet with him like that? It was me who asked you earlier! You should've let me explain, he wouldn't dare mess with me."
Anne laughed out loud, surprising Fanny, who glared at her indignantly.
While changing into her pajamas, Anne explained, "It's okay, really. I know Malfoy wouldn't dare touch you, but think about it. Even if we cleared things up this time, he'd just call me a traitor again next time something came up. So I might as well settle it now. Best to put a brat in his place the first time they cause trouble, then they'll think twice before doing it again, right?"
She gave Fanny a playful wink.
"But…" Fanny hesitated, "what if you lose?"
"If I lose…" Anne tilted her head thoughtfully. "Well, that's impossible."
"Huh? Why?"
Because Harry's the main character, Anne thought. There's no way he's getting expelled. Might as well use this opportunity to teach Malfoy a little lesson.
"Well," she said solemnly, "because Malfoy's a bad kid, and you're a good one, Fanny. And good always triumphs over evil, right? So the bad kid is bound to lose."
Anne yawned. "Anyway, I'm really sleepy. Time for bed. You should get some rest too. Night!"
She pulled the covers over herself and quickly drifted off to sleep.
Fanny mumbled, "You talk like you're not a kid yourself… And wait, how is this my problem? Well… maybe it is…"
The next morning, sunlight reflected off the lake and streamed into Anne's dorm.
"Mmm…" Anne rolled over and yanked the blanket over her head, trying to sleep in.
But a minute later, a rather excited voice rang out, and someone pulled her covers back.
"Anne! Why are you still sleeping? Wake up!" Fanny called beside her bed.
Anne cracked open an eye and saw a crowd around her. Fanny stood on the left, looking thrilled.
On the right, Pansy Parkinson stood with arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
At the foot of the bed stood the other two girls from their dorm, staring at Anne with admiration.
Anne rubbed her eyes and sat up, still groggy. "What? Do we have class this morning?"
Fanny practically squealed with excitement as she hugged Anne tightly. Startled, Anne pushed her off. "Fanny, please, remember your lady-like manners."
Flustered, Fanny straightened up, but her excitement was too much to contain. "Anne, you won! You should've seen Malfoy's face at breakfast when he saw Harry sitting there like nothing happened! He nearly started a fight, but Professor McGonagall stopped them. And somehow, don't ask me how, everyone found out about the bet. Now the entire year knows Malfoy has to be your servant for a day. Actually, it's not just our year, all of Hogwarts is talking about it!"
The girls at the foot of the bed nodded enthusiastically.
Anne pieced together what must've happened and sighed. She hadn't meant for the story to spread. She really didn't want to become famous, especially not because of Malfoy.
Wasn't his father on the Hogwarts Board? Or even someone high-ranking in the Ministry?
She considered the consequences of actually making Malfoy act as her servant and shivered.
"Fanny, I've got a few questions. You need to answer them honestly."
"Sure!" Fanny was still basking in admiration.
"You're from a noble family, right? Pretty high status?"
Fanny nodded, but before she could say anything, Pansy cut in with an eye-roll. "You didn't know that? There are hardly any families in Britain higher than hers."
Anne ignored her and continued, "In the wizarding world, are servants transferable? Like, if I have one and want to give them to someone else, can I?"
Fanny answered quickly, "Of course. Servants are considered property and can be given or reassigned."
"Good," Anne said, turning to Fanny. "Then I'm officially transferring the one-day use of Malfoy's servant duties to you. Effective immediately."
The room went quiet. Everyone stared at Anne in disbelief.
After a pause, Fanny finally spoke. "Anne, you…"
"Don't be polite," Anne cut her off. "The rights are yours now." She pulled the blanket back over her head and added, "Now everyone out, there's no class this morning. It's the perfect day to sleep in. I've been looking forward to this all week."
"But… what am I supposed to make Malfoy do?" Fanny asked helplessly.
"Whatever you want, just don't wake me up."
The four girls left the dorm. Fanny was already brainstorming.
Pansy frowned. "Why wouldn't she want Malfoy as her servant? Why make the bet at all?"
The other two girls looked to Fanny for answers.
Fanny suddenly recalled what Anne had told her the night before. Maybe Anne hadn't expected this to go public and changed her mind at the last minute. And she hadn't even known about Fanny's family background…
Fanny couldn't help smiling a little.
At lunch, Anne strolled cheerfully into the Great Hall after a satisfying morning nap.
The moment she appeared at the doorway, the whole hall fell silent, and dozens of eyes turned her way.
Then, the whispering started: "That's her…" "Did you hear…?" "Malfoy…" "The bet…"
Anne stiffened, her hand reflexively closing around the silver Sickle in her robe pocket.
As she walked, all eyes followed her, especially from the Gryffindor table.
She kept her expression calm and sat beside Fanny. They're just kids, she reminded herself. Like a bunch of turnips gawking at me. Nothing to be nervous about.
Still, she thought grimly, who the heck leaked it?
Just then, Malfoy abruptly stood up and stormed out of the hall, Crabbe and Goyle following without a word. He didn't even glance at Anne.
Anne raised an eyebrow and whispered, "You didn't make him do anything, did you?"
Fanny shook her head. "Not at all. Every time he sees me, he just walks away. And…" she blinked innocently, "I don't think you ever planned to make him do anything in the first place."
"Of course not," Anne said, sipping her cappuccino. What kind of adult bullies an eleven-year-old anyway?
With Malfoy gone, the atmosphere lightened. A few students came over to greet Anne.
Harry and Ron made a point of stopping by. "Nice job, Anne!" Ron said, like she'd gotten revenge for them.
Even Hermione spoke to her, though less enthusiastically. "Anne… you know Malfoy's going to hate you now."
Anne sighed. "I didn't think it'd turn out like this. But really… does anyone actually like him? So who cares?"
She was a little worried. Fame brought trouble. The more well-known you became, the more problems found you.
Fortunately, that worry only lasted a day, because it was quickly buried by even bigger news:
Harry Potter had just become the youngest Quidditch player in a century.
Figures, Anne thought. The main character is always the main character.
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