I thought I'd get to see a sweet moment in person

After getting a jam jar from the Kitchen, Su Er ambled back to the Hufflepuff Common Room.

He was in luck: there was still an empty sofa by the fireplace.

He sank his whole body into the soft sofa and let out a contented sigh.

In the warmth of the roaring fire, Su Er drifted off to sleep. Justin did not wake him until dusk.

The cold air on the basement level chased away the last trace of sleepiness. Tightening his cloak around himself, Su Er hurried up the stairs toward the Great Hall with his roommates.

Besides providing light, the thousands of candles in the Great Hall gave off considerable heat, keeping the entire hall warm and cozy.

Fred and George did not finally turn up until Su Er had finished eating. Harry was with them. When Su Er looked over, Harry waved at him and pointed to Fred and George. It seemed he had successfully passed on the message, though the twins looked rather unhappy.

"Don't even ask. Wood flew into a rage because the news got out."

"We have to spend the whole evening practicing on the pitch."

"In weather this cold."

"He's completely mad."

"I heard from Amoxicillin-Wood's roommate-that Wood talks in his sleep."

"He must have let it slip in a dream."

When Su Er reached the Gryffindor table, Fred and George were complaining to a lively black boy, looking thoroughly miserable.

Only after the boy alerted them did they notice Su Er. Fred and George looked at him curiously, taking turns speaking:

"Hey, I remember you."

"Harry told us a Hufflepuff was looking for us."

"Was that you?"

"What do you need?"

Su Er looked at George-or was it Fred?-and Fred-or was it George? He was getting a little dizzy trying to work out who was who. After one attempt, he gave up on telling them apart. When twins looked this alike, even their own mother probably couldn't distinguish them.

Well, that did seem to be the case...

Business first.

"I heard you sell some interesting little things?" Su Er asked.

The brothers exchanged a glance and nodded in unison. "Yes."

George, on the left, began his sales pitch:

"We have plenty of interesting products. Cheap, with all sorts of uses. Take our Dungbombs, for example. I guarantee that if someone gets caught by one, they'll be stuck with that smell for the entire day."

"You know what I mean." Fred, on the right, gave a wicked grin. "Dungbombs are the product we're proudest of."

"For just one Silver Sickle."

"You can get a whole box."

"And become a valued member of our little shop. We'll let you know as soon as we have new products."

But Su Er had not come to listen to their sales pitch.

"I'm very interested," he said. "But I'm here to bring you money."

"Oh?" George raised an eyebrow.

"You want to invest in us?" Fred's eyes lit up. "I knew someone would recognize our little shop's potential sooner or later. How much do you want to invest?"

"I'm not here to invest in you, either." Su Er shook his head. "I want to work with you, but not on your products. I'm certain what I have can help you quickly build up a fund to develop new products."

"What do you say? Interested?"

George and Fred exchanged another glance, then both looked at Su Er.

"Sounds interesting."

"Could you show us the product?"

"Of course." Su Er nodded. "But this isn't really the right place. How about tonight, where we first met? I'll show you then."

"Then it's settled. Tonight... hmm, eleven?"

"Wood will probably keep us practicing until curfew."

"A little late-night snack then would help us sleep better. What do you think, George?"

"Brilliant idea, Fred." After muttering to each other for a moment, they looked at Su Er.

"Of course." Su Er readily nodded. The Hogwarts Kitchens were only a few steps from the Hufflepuff Common Room, anyway.

Despite complaining about Wood working them to the bone, George and Fred still sped up their dinner, then hurried away.

After chatting with Su Er for a little while, Harry and Ron followed George and Fred.

Ron really was a die-hard Quidditch fan, even if all he could do was shiver in the stands or throw balls on the pitch in the cold wind.

"Here..." Hermione handed Su Er the book written in runes. "Madam Pince would only let me borrow it for a month at most."

"That's fine. A month is enough." Su Er handed the book back to Hermione. "You can keep it with you."

"All right." Hermione nodded casually, spooned a piece of pudding into her mouth, and narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

"Su Er..." Neville's voice came from beside him. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, Neville. What can I help you with?" Su Er turned to look at him.

Under Su Er's gaze, the boy seemed at a loss. His round face was flushed with nerves, and both hands were under the table. From the creases in the sleeves of his wizard robes, Su Er could tell Neville was wringing his hands beneath it.

"I... I'd like you to deliver something for me."

"Why me?" Su Er looked at Neville in confusion.

"B-because..." Neville seemed even more nervous. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Hannah's in Hufflepuff, and you're in Hufflepuff too... so..."

"But don't you know Hannah? Why not go yourself?" Su Er was even more puzzled. Just a few days ago, he had seen Neville and Hannah looking things up together in the Library.

Neville had not been nearly this nervous then.

"Um... um..." Neville opened his mouth. His face grew even redder, and steam actually began rising from his head.

"All right... what is it?"

"Th-this..." After fidgeting for quite a while, Neville finally brought his hands out from under the table. He was holding a note, and it was pink.

Su Er raised an eyebrow. "Is this..."

"A love letter?"

Hermione's eyes instantly changed, becoming a little... well... eager for gossip.

"N-no..." Neville shook his head frantically. "It's not a love letter. It's... it's..."

"Give it to me." A pale hand reached out.

Neville stared blankly at Hermione and instinctively handed her the note he had crumpled in his grip.

"I'll deliver it for you!" Hermione said brightly. "I think I'm better suited to this than Su Er. What do you think?"

"Uh..." Neville looked at Su Er.

Su Er: ??? Why are you looking at me?

"It's the girl with the blonde braids, right?" Hermione glanced back toward the Hufflepuff table. "The one sitting with Susan. Susan's her roommate."

Neville nodded blankly, then watched Hermione stand up and head excitedly toward the Hufflepuff table with the note in hand.

"Are you sure it's not a love letter?" Su Er nudged Neville with his elbow, grinning mischievously.

"It really isn't!" Neville shouted in embarrassment.

"It really isn't." Hermione's voice sounded behind them. "Hannah opened the note as soon as she got it. She asked me to thank you."

"It's a note from Professor Sprout." Hermione gave Neville a puzzled look. "That's perfectly normal. Why didn't you deliver it yourself?"

"I... I was worried everyone would get the wrong idea," Neville said. "And... it's pink, too..."

Oh, fine. Su Er pursed his lips. I thought I'd get to see a sweet moment in person.