HP: Supreme Potion Collector [Original Female Protagonist]

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Time always flies when people are busy.

Orli had endless classes and homework to complete, plus her work-study at the Potions office every Sunday afternoon. She also had to meet with the twins regularly to help them with system tasks and collect their potions.

The twins' savings were growing steadily, while both Orli's Galleons and system contribution points increased daily. Soon, their combined money would be enough to buy a new broomstick!

It wasn't until the castle corridors were filled with the sweet aroma of roasted pumpkins that Orli realized she had been at Hogwarts for almost two months.

The troll! The troll in the girls' bathroom was about to appear! Orli panicked a bit.

Although she desperately wanted to avoid getting involved in the protagonist trio's storyline, given her current streak of bad luck, it seemed unlikely.

Initially, she hadn't wanted to meet the protagonist trio, but the twins had pushed her into the same compartment with Harry and Ron.

Later, she hadn't wanted to be in Gryffindor, but the Sorting Hat hadn't given her a chance to object.

Then, she'd been targeted by Snape along with Harry, and mysteriously ended up in the air during flying lessons.

Even when Malfoy challenged Harry to a duel, she'd been dragged into it and got stuck outside the tower. Though she hadn't seen the three-headed dog herself, she'd still spent half the night freezing.

It seemed like some mysterious force kept connecting her to the main plot.

And when Flitwick's Charms class began, she even wanted to ask if the professor had a matchmaking obsession. Why did he suddenly require boy-girl pairs???

Harry was pulled away by Parvati, Neville looked hopefully at Orli. And Hermione didn't even get to choose - Flitwick assigned her to Ron.

Hermione looked extremely displeased, and Ron wasn't any happier.

By the time Neville had sent the feather flying for the third time, Orli could clearly hear their argument from behind.

"It's Wing-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, not Wing-gar-dium Levio-sar!" Hermione criticized Ron harshly, then waved her wand, making the feather rise gracefully. Professor Flitwick immediately praised her loudly, while Ron let out a heavy snort.

As soon as class ended, Ron immediately went to join Harry, muttering complaints. Orli quickly ran to Hermione's side, patting her shoulder reassuringly.

"Ignore him," Orli nodded toward Ron and Harry. "He's just being childish."

"I want to hear what he's saying about me behind my back," Hermione's face was tense. Without looking at Orli, she strode forward.

Orli hurried after her, only to see Hermione run away crying while Ron kept going:

"She must have noticed she hasn't got any friends. Even Orli can't stand her anymore - she's been hanging out with Fred and them lately."

Orli wanted to take her thick textbook and smack Ron hard on the back of his head. Had Mrs. Weasley hit his head too many times when he was young, causing him to short-circuit? Why did he always have to be so tactless?!

"Ron!" she shouted at him in frustration. "What has Hermione done to deserve such hurtful words?"

"Isn't it obvious? She's nosy and nitpicky, only cares about studying and earning House points, and always acts so high and mighty. Am I wrong? Even you hardly go to the library with her anymore."

Ron glared stubbornly at Orli.

Orli couldn't argue with that. She stamped her foot in frustration and hurried after Hermione.

To be fair, she had been busy lately with the potions business trying to make money, and had somewhat neglected Hermione. Perhaps Ron wasn't entirely wrong, and realizing this made Orli feel even worse.

She knew she could have had a chance to help Hermione avoid the Halloween troll attack, but now Hermione must be heartbroken from Ron's words, and her own recent behavior had probably twisted the knife deeper.

"The girls' bathroom - which girls' bathroom was it?" Orli ran through the castle. She only remembered that Hermione had hidden in some bathroom to cry before being attacked by the troll. But now, with dozens of girls' bathrooms in the castle, how could she find the right one?

Night had fallen, and the Great Hall's bells were already tolling. The Halloween feast must have started, and Orli was nearly crying with anxiety.

The troll might have been released by now. She felt both nervous and scared, trying to run while staying close to the walls, as if that would give her some extra safety.

She was almost tempted to run to the Great Hall, back to the crowd. But her concern for Hermione wouldn't let her retreat.

Finally, she heard faint crying from inside one bathroom. But when she rushed in breathlessly, Moaning Myrtle doused her with water.

"Damn it! Why does this castle need so many bathrooms?!" Orli was nearly beside herself with frustration.

Suddenly, someone grabbed her hood from behind. Orli nearly screamed in shock, but a hand quickly covered her mouth.

"Waters, what are you doing here!" Snape demanded.