The students began to leave, and Orli did her best to act as if nothing had happened, walking out of the classroom alongside Harry and the others.
Hermione, ever perceptive, had noticed something unusual about the little "performance" between Lockhart and Orli during class. But Orli managed to sidestep the topic by bringing up Quidditch.
Tomorrow was the first Quidditch match of the season: Gryffindor versus Slytherin. Hermione had been trying to convince Harry to quit the team recently, citing the still-active contract between Orli and Dobby. She believed Harry should avoid any risky activities. However, both Orli and Ron thought this was entirely unnecessary. And honestly, if Harry really did quit, Oliver Wood would probably murder him first.
Ron and Harry quickly shifted the conversation, taking turns mocking Malfoy for his arrogance during practice and how he had only made the Slytherin team thanks to a donation of brooms. Soon, the oddity during class was forgotten.
Originally, in this match, Dobby would have tampered with a Bludger to break Harry's arm, causing him to fall off his broom and land in the hospital wing. Lockhart would then attempt a botched spell, making the bones in Harry's forearm vanish entirely, leaving it as limp as an empty glove.
But now, none of that was going to happen. Without Dobby's interference, Harry should have no trouble winning the match.
Orli endured the pain in her shoulder throughout the day. It wasn't until nightfall that she finally sneaked a look at it under her bed curtains. Three dark purple marks marred her shoulder, and her left arm was stiff and unresponsive. Any larger movement sent sharp, unbearable pain shooting through her.
The worst part was that whatever method Lockhart had used, the marks didn't look like they had been made by hands. Instead, they resembled the effects of some corrosive potion. Even if she wanted to report him, she probably wouldn't have any evidence. On the contrary, he might even accuse her of fabricating the injuries to frame him.
Of course, Orli could heal herself—she could go to the hospital wing or brew some antidote. But did Lockhart really think she would just swallow this humiliation quietly?
Orli let out a cold laugh, pulled her clothes back on carelessly, and left the wound untreated.
---
The dungeons were as gloomy as ever on Sunday.
At precisely 1:30 in the afternoon, Orli stood in front of Snape's office door and knocked.
There was no response, but the door wasn't locked.
Since the last time Lockhart had cornered her in the corridor, she hadn't found any opportunity to explain the autograph photo incident to Snape. She had even thought he might slam the door in her face today.
With a glimmer of hope, Orli pushed the door open, only to find the office empty. In the center of the room stood three large wooden barrels filled with lively, hopping toads.
Merlin's beard. She had come to assist the Potions Master, but when had it been her job to deal with such disgusting things? Especially since the start of her second year, she seemed to have been doing more cleaning and scrubbing than handling slimy substances.
But today...
She sighed silently, rolled up her sleeves, and went to the cabinet to fetch some measuring flasks. As she reached out, a sharp pain shot through her left shoulder. There was a crack, and a glass flask shattered on the floor.
Orli was about to crouch down to clean up when she thought she heard a faint sound, like someone sucking in air disdainfully.
Her eyes flicked toward a small door on one side of the room, which led to Snape's private quarters. When the flask had shattered, she was sure she had heard a noise from inside.
Testing her theory, Orli picked up another flask, waited for a moment, and then deliberately smashed it on the floor. With a sharp, crisp crack, the second flask broke into pieces.
The small door flew open.
Snape strode out, his expression one of utter exasperation.
# Snape
"Waters! Has your brain been pulverized in a mortar, or have your hands been corroded by herbicide? You have broken—two—flasks!"
# Orli
"Sorry, Professor. It's just that my shoulder hurts so much I can barely move."
Orli lowered her head, putting on a pitiful expression.
# Orli
"It's because I stood up to Lockhart earlier, and now he's deliberately retaliating against me."