HP: Supreme Potion Collector [Original Female Protagonist]

Orli stood frozen, looking back at him. Suddenly, she felt like she had grasped something hidden in his words.

##Orli: "Wait, Professor. How did you find me tonight?" Her mind raced.

##Orli: "Even if you realized I wasn't in my room, how did you know where I was? … Did you put a tracking charm on me?!"

For a brief moment, Snape's face betrayed a flicker of embarrassment, but it vanished almost instantly.

#Snape: "Yes, I cast a charm on you. So don't even think about running away or doing anything reckless—I'll always know where you are."

With that, he Apparated on the spot, disappearing without a trace.

Orli leaned weakly against the fence, her mind too scattered to dwell on anything else. All she could hope for was that Barty Crouch Jr. would be caught and executed—sooner rather than later.

————

The next morning, she woke up abruptly on the sofa.

She had no recollection of how she had entered the house or fallen asleep in the living room. A freshly printed copy of the Daily Prophet, still exuding the scent of ink, was draped across her face. It seemed to have landed on her, waking her up.

#Snape: "Read the latest news."

Snape's voice came from beside her. He stood near the sofa, his presence carrying the damp chill of the early morning. Perhaps he had been working outside all night.

Orli quickly rubbed her eyes, sat up, and unfolded the newspaper to read. The front page headline was an article by Rita Skeeter:

"Quidditch World Cup Descends into Dark Wizard Gathering, Muggle Family Sent Flying." The article was filled with phrases like "Ministry in panic... lax security... dark wizards at large... a disgrace to Britain..."

However, what grabbed her attention even more was a story on the lower half of the page: "Crouch Family Scandal Unveiled: Death Eater Fakes Death, Captured." Though the headline was in smaller print, a massive moving photograph dominated the page.

In the animated image, Barty Crouch Jr. was tightly bound, while Barty Crouch Sr. stood rigidly beside him, his hair disheveled and his beard scruffy, looking as though he had aged a decade overnight. Cornelius Fudge stood at the forefront, gesturing animatedly, seemingly answering questions or delivering a speech.

#Snape: "Barty Jr. has been sentenced to the Dementor's Kiss. Dumbledore and Fudge personally oversaw the execution last night. While it was hardly an enjoyable affair for them, Fudge..."

Snape let out a derisive chuckle.

#Snape: "If he screws up again, his term as Minister will be over."

As Snape spoke, Orli carefully scanned the article. In addition to Barty Jr.'s case, it also reported on the punishment of Barty Crouch Sr.: he was to be stripped of all positions and imprisoned in Azkaban.

##Orli: "So, Barty Crouch Jr. is completely finished, right?"

Orli asked, her tone uneasy.

#Snape: "No one can fool Dumbledore—except the Dark Lord."

Snape replied, casting a warning glance at Orli.

#Snape: "Including you."

##Orli: "Did you tell the Headmaster about last night?"

Orli asked nervously.

#Snape: "Remember this: Barty Crouch Jr. was caught purely by bad luck when Ministry officials stumbled upon him. Last night, you stayed at the Waters' old house the entire time and went nowhere."

Snape said sternly.

#Snape: "Do you understand?"

##Orli: "...I understand."

Orli bit her lip.

#Snape: "Since you've already mastered Occlumency, continue to deepen your practice."

Snape continued.

#Snape: "Don't let anyone find out about Barty's case."

It seemed clear to Orli that it was time to advance her Occlumency training to a higher level.

——————

Notes:

Snape chose to conceal Orli's role in Barty Crouch Jr.'s capture because he was aware of Voldemort's resurgence. If Voldemort discovered her involvement, it would only put her in danger. The fewer people who knew, the better.

Additionally, Snape, out of a personal sense of protection, didn't want Dumbledore to learn that Orli had contemplated killing someone. Such knowledge would only deepen Dumbledore's mistrust of her.

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