"And we need to train our new Seeker." Flint's expression was full of provocation and smug pride.
The moment Muya saw the seven little snakes, each holding a brand-new broomstick, she understood why Flint was showing off.
The Nimbus 2001 had come out last month. It flew faster than the Nimbus 2000 and gleamed brightly.
Draco looked coldly at Flint, displeased that Flint was using him to satisfy his petty sense of pride.
"Flint, shouldn't we go train?" He glanced at Flint, who was still flaunting his new broom to Wood.
A shadow flickered in Flint's eyes. He turned and tried to touch Draco's shoulder, but Draco dodged away. Flint did not get angry, merely calling his teammates over to train elsewhere.
"Merlin's socks! He only got onto the team because his father bought all those brooms!" Ron said, staring at Draco's retreating back.
Wood was furious too. The thought of having to train alongside Slytherin filled him with rage, especially since Snape had approved it.
"Oh, Ron." Muya patted Ron's shoulder, signaling for him to calm down.
"That guy really is awful," Fred said viciously as he watched Flint's back.
"Utterly awful," George agreed.
Muya smiled and patted both their hands. "I agree."
The three exchanged a look and instantly understood. It was time to take out their newly developed prank products for a test run.
"What are you two laughing about? Training starts now!" Wood knocked both of them on the head, then drove Hermione, Ron, and Muya toward the stands.
After Ron sat down, he raised his accidentally broken wand and looked at it. Just as he was about to tuck it into his robe, someone grabbed his hand.
"Oh, Ron, what happened to your wand? Can it still be used?"
Ron smiled awkwardly and told Muya that his wand had broken after they were thrown from the Whomping Willow on the first day of school.
"He didn't dare tell his parents, so he tried fixing it himself." Hermione turned around and pointed at the bandages wrapped around Ron's wand.
Ron sighed, then nodded.
Muya withdrew her hand, lost in thought.
Over the past few days, Muya had often seen a first-year little lion chasing after Harry, claiming to be Harry's fan and especially admiring him. She did not know whether that was a good thing or not.
The mirror in her bag suddenly reacted. Muya knew Calori was looking for her, since he had said he would bring her flowers from the sea and lake after school began.
After saying goodbye to Hermione and Ron, Muya took out the mirror once she reached a deserted place. "Hi, Calori. I'm on my way to Black Lake."
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Muya quickly arrived at their usual spot, but she noticed that someone had just been there. There was a young wizard's footprint on the ground; they had probably been looking for somewhere quiet.
Ripples spread across the lake as Calori emerged with an armful of small flowers. Muya opened the basket in her hands, and the two carefully placed the flowers inside.
When Muya raised her head, she realized they were standing far too close. She could see Calori's long pale lashes and light-blue eyes. Her reflection was in them, while the scales on his face glittered.
"Are all Mermaids this beautiful?" Muya suddenly asked.
Calori smiled, his tail flicking against the lake surface in delight. "Not all of them."
"Next time... next time, I'll tell you my story." Calori suddenly leaned close to Muya's ear and said that, then returned to the lake.
Muya blinked and silently thought, Indeed, not every beautiful Mermaid was like Calori, like some kind of succubus.
"Smack!" A sudden sound came from the bushes on the right, like a book dropping to the ground.
Before Muya could walk over, she saw a red-haired girl run past her while clutching a book.
Hmm... that seemed to be Ginny, Muya thought.
Ginny had probably accidentally overheard her conversation with Calori and run away in embarrassment.
Muya shrugged, picked up the basket, and returned to the castle.
Just after entering the castle, Muya walked a few steps and ran into Ginny again. She was about to say hello when Ginny suddenly ran away.
Well, Muya figured Ginny must have something important to do, so she returned to the common room to put down the basket.
She casually picked up three small props she had made with the Weasley twins. They were little balls that could dye someone's hair as soon as they were thrown onto their head, with an effect lasting three days. Muya took a red one, a green one, and a blue one.
She headed back to the pitch, where Slytherin and Gryffindor had just finished training.
Muya took out the items in her hand from the stands and waved at the Weasley twins. The two flew over on their brooms, and George directly pulled her onto his broom.
Muya swallowed and asked them to fly lower. Then she gave them the little balls and took one herself.
The three exchanged looks, then approached Flint with mischievous grins. The three balls struck his head one after another before they quickly flew away.
"Ah! What was that?" Flint reached up to touch the back of his head, only to find something watery. When he pulled his hand back, red, green, and blue colors covered his palm.
"Oho, direct hit."
"Nicely done, Ya Ya!"
"Hehehe."
The three high-fived, celebrating the success of their first team prank.
Muya's legs were a little weak when she got off the broom. Fortunately, Hermione supported her. "Thanks, Hermione."
Everyone except the Slytherin team members had seen the trio's little stunt. Wood was even clapping and laughing.
"Hey, Flint, that hairstyle looks great!" he said, though he could not suppress the upward curve of his lips.
Even some Slytherin team members started laughing at him. Flint's face darkened as he grabbed the broom he had been showing off not long ago and strode away.
Ron thought the prank was excellent too, especially because of who had been pranked.
Harry came out after changing his clothes and looked confused to find everyone laughing. After Ron told him what had just happened, he started laughing too.
"How is the Fever Fudge coming along, Mr. Twins?" Muya entered the Room of Requirement again. Recently, they had been preparing to mass-produce some of their completed inventions.
It was also time to start promoting their products.
"Oh, don't worry. It's all here, our Shareholder Miss." The two snatched the parchment and quill from Muya's hands and checked off an item on the inventory list.
After Muya finished counting everything, she smiled and ruffled the two red-haired puppies crouching in front of her.
"Oh, right, I developed something new too." Muya took out a pale-blue little bottle that looked very much like a cosmetics container.
Before you continue