24. Some People Don't Play by the Rules

Scott saw the other girl in the shared dormitory through the glass window.

Morgan Avery, Jasmine Travers's companion.

At that moment, the two girls sat on the edges of their respective beds.

They didn't notice the tiny black bat slipping from Jasmine Travers's sleeve and hiding among the folds of the dark green bed curtains.

Morgan Avery asked with a smile, "So, Jasmine, what did Caitlin say?"

"She'll do as I told her," Jasmine Travers replied confidently.

"You're amazing, Jasmine!" Morgan Avery giggled. "Caitlin, that silly girl from the Rowle family, still thinks she's your best friend!"

"Heh."

Jasmine Travers chuckled.

"I was lucky to meet Caitlin on the Hogwarts Express," she said cheerfully. "Without that silly girl, I wouldn't have been able to recruit those few Ravenclaw Pure-bloods."

"You really were lucky. You only had to complain a little, and she volunteered to teach Jacob a lesson for you." Morgan Avery sighed. "Why couldn't I meet such a lovely girl?"

"Hmph. All you can do is envy me."

Jasmine Travers said it jokingly at first, then abruptly stood and walked over to Morgan Avery's bed. She lowered her head and stared straight at her.

"But I won't let you surpass me, Morgan."

Her voice turned cold. She reached out and lightly scratched Morgan Avery's face with her fingernail.

"You should know that a group can have only one leader."

Morgan Avery looked up at her in a daze. Then she suddenly took her hand and gave a somewhat strained smile.

"What are you talking about, Jasmine?" She tried to force a cheerful smile. "Of course I was joking! I'd never think that way. I'm happy just staying by your side!"

Jasmine Travers looked into Morgan Avery's eyes. Several seconds passed before she finally looked away.

She held Morgan Avery's hand and sat beside her, resting her head on Morgan's shoulder.

"Morgan, Morgan. Since your grandfather followed the Dark Lord from his student days, and your father eagerly joined the Dark Lord's ranks while he was still a student, can't you follow me all your life too?"

"Of course I will!"

Morgan Avery turned her head and looked at Jasmine Travers cautiously.

"We've known each other since we were little, haven't we? Before that, I'd never known someone like you could exist—a genius. I have no doubt you'll achieve incredible things, Jasmine. No, Lady Travers."

"No, keep calling me Jasmine, Morgan."

Jasmine Travers raised her hand again and gently stroked Morgan Avery's hair.

"You're an Avery, a noble Pure-blood, Morgan. I'll never make you kneel to kiss the hem of my robes."

Before Morgan Avery could answer, Jasmine suddenly stood up and walked to the dormitory's glass window.

"You know, Morgan. At the Travers home, the only ones who've been with me since I was little are those fake Magical portraits and lowly House-elves."

Scott listened to the voice in his ear, watching the beautiful girl's face twist behind the glass.

"I've never visited my father in Azkaban!" Jasmine Travers's voice was almost a sigh. "That's the price he had to pay for following someone else. But I'm different..."

She turned to look at Morgan Avery. "I decided a long time ago that I'd make everyone follow me."

"You'll do it, Jasmine." Morgan Avery looked at Jasmine Travers and began to stammer. "I... I mean, you're... you're clever and powerful. And... and we're only a group of younger girls right now. We won't attract Dumbledore's attention."

Jasmine Travers spoke approvingly. "You're right, Morgan. Most wizards look down on witches. They always think they're stronger than witches—let alone when it's just a bit of 'playing around' among little girls like us."

Tsk, tsk...

Just as I thought...

Scott marveled at the scene. Was this really an eleven-year-old girl? He was starting to suspect that another ambitious transmigrator was hiding inside her childish shell.

But then he remembered her usual, hole-ridden schemes and the embarrassingly chūnibyō speech she'd just given, and quickly dismissed the idea.

Miss Travers was still too naive.

Becoming the next Dark Lord wasn't something she could achieve by forming a clique with her sisters and picking on her classmates.

Inside the dormitory, the two girls had finished their "serious" talk and were sitting together, laughing again.

"By the way, Jasmine, aren't you tired of playing with that boy Jacob yet?" Morgan Avery asked with a gleeful smile. "I'm worried his body won't hold up if this goes on. It wouldn't be good if the professors noticed something."

Good grief! What kind of dirty talk was that?

Scott couldn't help straining his ears.

"That's true. I've only used a few minor Hexes to teach him a lesson, but if I keep it up, it could cause problems." Jasmine Travers sounded a little impatient.

Scott breathed a huge sigh of relief.

He'd thought that boy Jacob had been unusually gifted at eleven!

"I'm tired of him already," Jasmine Travers said unconcernedly. "Once he's done that thing for me this time, I won't have to bother with him anymore. There are plenty of lowly Mudbloods at Hogwarts now. I can just find another toy."

Morgan Avery giggled like a little hen.

"You're so mean, Jasmine. If those lowly Mudbloods get your invitation and see how many pretty girls are in our group, they'll jump right in without a second thought!"

"That doesn't matter." Jasmine Travers suddenly darkened her expression. "Scott Trollope—I've always suspected that Mudblood has figured something out. I can't stand the way he looks at me. He's looking down on me! It's a grave insult!"

"All right, don't be angry, Jasmine."

Morgan Avery began to comfort her.

"Didn't we already plan this out? If everything goes smoothly, I think we'll teach Trollope a lesson he'll never forget! Then he won't be able to act so smug anymore!"

"That's right. I don't care whether he's a genius or not."

Jasmine Travers reached out and gripped the bed curtains tightly. Her voice turned shrill.

"Lowly Mudbloods can never look down on noble Pure-bloods!"

Scott listened calmly to their conversation, and even felt like laughing.

He wanted to hear what kind of lesson these two little girls had planned for him.

Then he'd make sure they got a truly unforgettable lesson first. That ought to teach their immature minds just how dangerous the world could be.

After all, in this world, some people don't play by the rules.