Warning: Non-Beta, pardon me for the typos or the screwed up grammar because English isn't my mother language.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any franchise in this story!

"Are you sure you don't want to visit my home, Holly?" Su Li inquired as she walked beside the Girl-Who-Lived. Her obsidian-like dark eyes peered to the smaller girl walking beside her, "I don't think my parents will have problem with it."

Holly Potter shook her head slowly. Her cold, indifferent green eyes moved to the right and met Su's eyes.

"I am sure of it, Su," she said. "You needn't worry about me."

Su watched her friend silently; her eyes searched for any trace of deceit from Holly's and she nodded her head as she found none.

"If you're so sure," she said as she shrugged her shoulder, "But, remember that you can still go with me if you change your mind."

Holly nodded her head and then turned her face ahead.

It was hard to understand what the Girl-Who-Lived was thinking inside her head. Her indifferent expression and cold disposition made her hard to read. Moreover, after she succeeded created her most basic Occlumency barrier, her expression seemed to be frozen over.

Holly had started learning Occlumency immediately after she found out a book about Occlumency in the library. It wasn't something high-leveled or out of ordinary. The book only explained about the basic Occlumency. For the book with extraordinary mind art written in it had been moved into the forbidden section long time ago. Although Holly wanted to upgrade her Occlumency mastery to higher level, the trouble coming with asking the permission to enter the forbidden library wasn't worth after she weighed it in her mind.

It had been a few months since the Halloween. Christmas, or Winter Solstice Holiday, also known as Yule Break, would arrive soon.

Being the ever thoughtful friend, Su Li had invited Holly to visit her family's house in Britain for the Yule Break.

As a reclusive individual who disliked being indebted to others, Holly had declined the offer 'politely.' She was quite content to spend her Yule Break in the Hogwarts Castle. Everywhere that wasn't Number 4 Privet Drive was a good place for her. In fact, Hogwarts was a better place to spend her first proper Yule Break. Other than that, she acknowledged the fact that it would be rude to visit and sleep over in Su's place in Yule Break.

"I wonder if he will stay in the castle too," Holly mused in her head suddenly, the image of blue eyed, blond haired boy appeared in her mind and she realized that and cleared her mind in hurry.

Speaking of her intrigue's target, Holly had rarely seen him lately outside the class. Seeing the boy's shadow was really hard. He seemed to disappear constantly when he had a free time, leaving her alone with either Padma or Su, much to her chagrin and confusion. She was curious why he was constantly disappeared like that. For someone who said he never tried to be mysterious, his action was contrast to his words.

"Say, Su," Holly called Su who had become silent as they walked together to the Library.

"Yes?" Su replied as she turned her attention to Holly.

"Have you seen Lustburg lately?" Holly inquired openly. Su stopped and then stared at Holly in surprise. At that, Holly stopped her stepsand turned her sight on Su. She could feel Su's incredulity and became annoyed by it. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Who are you? What have you done to real Holly?" Su feigned her wariness. It was almost unheard of for Holly to seek out the enigmatic first year.

Holly showed how she was unamused, stared blankly at Su, then pressured the Asian witch with deadpan expression.

Su caved in and sighed in exasperation. "You're not fun," she pouted playfully. When she found out Holly's expression didn't even twitch, she replied Holly's question with her own: "Why are you asking that question to me?"

"You seem to be around him lately," said Holly. She didn't know why she felt bitter when she realized about that fact.

Su and Dias had become closer after the Halloween feast.

That night, a while after the flock of Ravenclaw was escorted back to the common room by the Perfects, they returned together to the common room with Professor Flitwick as their escort. Before that, Dias had slipped away from the flock when a troll was supposedly gallivanting inside the castle.

At that time, Holly didn't understand why she felt so alarmed and anxious for the boy's safety and had urged Su to keep an eye to the meddlesome boy. However, she had regretted her decision not to follow the boy herself and asked Su instead. Because of that, Su and Dias seemed to get closer and spent discussing something that they kept private from other.

Did she feel jealous? She didn't know the answer.

The question itself was confusing.

Why she felt jealous? To whom she felt jealous? She didn't know why she felt jealous and why she felt such an emotion to Su because the Asian witch had become closer to Dias. If she felt jealous to Dias because he'd hogged her closest friend's time for himself, she would understand. However, she was jealous for Su because the Asian witch had become close to Dias. That was why she felt confusion and uncertainty.

"Well," Su began carefully, "Although we have some interesting discussion lately, his business is something unrelated to me. To be honest, I'm also curious of that. Haven't you asked him that question yourself?"

Holly made a face that spoke her perplexity. She questioned Dias? She was still unsure how she should act around him. In the end, she shook her head wordlessly to answer Su's inquiry.

"If you're curious what he has been doing lately, you should ask him," advised Su with a light tone.

"What about you? Aren't you curious about it too?" Holly inquired.

Su smiled easily at that.

When Holly saw Su's smile, which created a dimple on each cheek, she felt envious because Su looked cute when smiling. She was sure that Su would grow up into a graceful and lovely lady, unlike her who couldn't even dream to make other appreciate her look.

Her distorted mind translated the interest the others had for her was solely because the fame she wanted to get rid of. It was normal for girl or mature lady wanted to be appreciated because their beauty and Holly wasn't any different. As faint as it was, she still had her feminine part deep in her scarred heart. She didn't realize the fact that she had her own charm that put her above others, bar a few girls.

"My grandma has shared her wisdom with me in the past," said Su. Her words didn't seem to have any connection with Holly's earlier question at first. "She said that "a good woman is a woman who didn't ask many questions to her man." Well, I just followed my grandma's advice. And to be honest, I'm not interested in it. It was his business and I think everyone has right for their privacy."

When Holly listened to Su, she was confused because the indescribable pang of pain in her chest. She didn't understand why she felt really annoyed when she heard Su unintentionally sounded like Dias was her man.

Hiding her real feeling behind her basic Occlumency barrier, she regarded Su for a moment, before she said "If you don't have interest to it, then forget it."

Su shrugged her shoulders wordlessly. They walked on the stone floor silently. When they were only halfway to reach their destination, they caught the sight of girls walking to their direction. Holly's cold, indifference face turned colder while Su pressed her lips together into thin line.

"The old saying from my homeland that said "enemies often meet" sounds appropriate for our current circumstance, don't you think so?" Su mused softly.

When Holly heard that, she involuntary nodded in agreement.

The five girls with green and silver tie that showed their status as members of House Slytherin were getting closer. The one who lead them was a cute, or could be considered as a budding beauty at least, with straight, lustrous pale blond hair that adorned with emerald colored hairband and a pair of haughty grey eyes that looked down to everyone else.

She was Lyra Malfoy, the Princess of Slytherin because the political clout her father, the Imperiused Death Eater named Lucius Malfoy, held in his grip.

To Holly, Lyra was a Queenbitch. She never thought she would feel disfavor at the same level she had for her relative to someone else.

Holly distaste to the scion of both Black House and Malfoy House started in the first time Ravenclaw and Slytherin had their first Herbology class. The bossy Slytherin rubbed her the wrong way when she openly insulted her friends (Su, Padma, and Dias — as much as she didn't want to acknowledge the last in the list) with mudbloods word, before she invited her into her circle as her underling. The self-centered Slytherin was truly galling in Holly's opinion.

And from that moment, calling them arch nemesis wasn't wrong. They couldn't stand each other's presence when they were in the same room. Lyra wouldn't forget to anger her whenever the Slytherin had a chance. Their existences were like oil and water that couldn't mix well.

Standing to Lyra's right was another girl with inborn beauty that wasn't any less than Lyra's. Her dark hair looked like night and she had dark green eyes, which were less vibrant than Holly's eyes. The girl was Daphnee Greengrass, the official Ice Queen of Slytherin, though she wasn't at Holly's level yet. She was the second-in-command in Lyra's clique.

To Lyra's left was another girl with cute face, though the cruel children who disliked her bossy and haughty manner would call her 'Pug-face' because her cute, small nose. She had dark brown and dark eyes. She was the shortest of the group. She was Pansy Parkinson.

Walking behind Pansy Parkinson was a chubby girl with brown hair and brown eyes. Her position indicated she was Lyra's underling from her authority over Pansy, whose true backer of the chubby girl. Anyhow, this chubby girl was Millicent Bulstrode.

Lagged behind Daphnee was another girl, once again with inborn beauty, with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. She was the lowest in social status because of her Half-Blood status. Fortunately, she was Daphne's childhood friend and confidant. Her name was Tracey Davis, the little sister of third year Ravenclaw Roger Davis.

Holly and Su tried to ignore her and continued their stroll. But, Lyra suddenly stopped in front of them with haughty sneer on her face.

"My, oh my, a coincidence to meet you here Potter." Lyra feigned surprised expression that looked clearly faked, then glanced at Su with clear disgust in her eyes. "I see, today you bring your Asian breed pet for a walk. Speaking of which, where're your other pets?"

If Holly and Su were offended by the blatant insult thrown by Lyra, they didn't show it. Holly blinked her eyes, feigning a bemusement which was better than Lyra's horrible acting skill, then turned her face to face Su and said "Sorry Su, do you hear sound of a barking dog?"

Su immediately understood Holly ploy, then joined the fun. The coldness in her dark eyes melted as the vindictive gleams filled them. "Now that you said it," said Su. "I heard barking sound. But, are you sure it is a dog?"

"Whatever you mean, Su?" Holly questioned back.

"The sound sounded high pitched, don't you think so?" said Su.

"You're right." Holly feigned surprised expression. "The sound was oddly high pitched, isn't it? Then, it should be a little bitch, instead of dog. Oh my, how can I mistake a bitch's sound for a dog's?"

"You're correct my dear friend. T'was little bitch's sound, a little bitch's was barking about something. I wonder why the little bitch was barking. Maybe, the little bitch was starved for attention? Oh my, what a poor little bitch," said Su as she feigned a pitying look in the end.

The gleams in Holly's and Su's eyes had become unholy. They were holding back their giggle from their play. Meanwhile, Lyra who was being ignored and called 'a little bitch' had turned purple in rage.

Holly turned her face to Lyra and then feigned a surprised look, which was somehow still retained Holly's stoic mannerism. "Oh my, Malfoy, when have you appeared? I was sure there was nobody before. Oh, are you taking your pe—ehem, I mean friends for a walk? Please continue what you are doing. It must be very tiring to care so many pe—I mean, friends like that," said Holly evenly.

Couldn't take the insults from her arch nemesis, Lyra exploded, then screamed "POTTER! HOW DARE YOU?!" loudly. It sounded like a banshee's shriek than the actual eleven year's scream. Both Holly and Su flinched because how loud the scream was. They were sure Lyra's scream could be heard from the library that was only less than minute walk from their position.

Lyra fished out her wand and then pointed the tip to Holly. Before she could speak the first syllable of her spell, a red jagged light hit her from behind and her wand was wrenched from her hand.

Surprisingly, the one who had sent the spell was the Percy Weasley the Gryffindor Perfect. He was walking in hurry to their spot as he held Lyra's wand in his hand.

Lyra had lost her reason from the insults and the Ravenclaw duo's treatment as if she didn't exist to begin with, then she shrieked "You 'Blood-Traitor!' Return back my wand now!" to the Perfect.

Percy was appalled when he heard that, if his reddening face and wrinkling forehead was any indication. "Fifty points from Slytherin from cursing Perfect!" he said loudly halfway to their position. Percy's announcement seemed to snap Lyra from her rage. The Princess of Slytherin seemed aghast because her folly had costed her house a big sum of points.

"At first, I wanted to know what happened here," said Percy as he stood before Lyra. "But, I don't need to know anymore after what I heard. It's clear you're the one in the wrong Miss Malfoy. Please follow me to see your Head of House and explain to him why Slytherin lost fifty points."

Lyra and her gang tried to protest, only to close their mouth with audible 'click' because the look in Percy's eyes. They knew a losing battle and decided to not waste their breath. They followed Percy the Gryffindor Perfect. Lyra didn't forget to throw a last venomous glare to Holly and Su.

"I heard he's a pompous ponce, but hearing the rumor and watching it with my own eyes is different experience," Su mused loudly, after the Gryffindor Perfect and the Slytherin first years left. When she didn't hear any stolid yet witty reply from her roommate and best friend, she turned her head to face her and then found Hollylooked gloomy. It was subtle shift in her attitude, and Su was one of rare people in the castle who could feel the subtle thing. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing," said Holly curtly, then she walked ahead, leaving Su behind.

The Chinese witch immediately ran to catch Holly. She was curious why the Girl Who Lived suddenly started to brood. She made a mental note to tell Dias about this, and maybe, the peculiar boy could shed the light to her muddy mind.

—

Time continued forwards, dragging everyone else kicking and screaming; the Yule Break finally arrived; the students who had a plan to leave the castle on break were busy packing their effects. While it was only small insignificant efforts as wizards and witches could pack their belongings, efforts were still efforts.

I wasn't excluded just because I had nigh omnipotent power in my disposal, though my effort was significantly less than the others. I'd requested to one of my house-elves, Barmy, to pack my 'belongings'. My belongings were nothing much; only a few set of clothes and the copies of grimoires I deemed important for my progress that contained information my house-elves had copied from the books in the Room of Requirements.

Why should I pack my effects myself if I had my ever loyal underlings who would happily oblige to my mere whim? I could only watch in amusement as my roommate, Terry Boot, was stuffing everything he deemed important to his trunk.

"Lustburg, are you going to stay in the castle?" inquired Terry Boot in the middle of his packing.

I shook my head calmly while flipping the page of interesting ancient grimoire about enchantment which was written by Rowena Ravenclaw herself. "I'm going home," I said. "I've promised my caretakers and some orphans in my orphanage that I'll return back for Yule Break."

Terry looked at me pointedly in puzzlement because he'd seen me pack my personal effects.

Knowing why he looked at me like that, even though I didn't raise my face to face him, I inquired something, which didn't seem to have relation with the topic of our small chat whatsoever, to him.

"Say, Boot, you're a pureblood, right?"

Terry nodded his head proudly, right before he sent an inquisitive look to me.

"What's it?" He probed curiously.

"Since you're a pureblood like you have claimed to be, I take it you know about the house-elves, right?"

"Of course," Terry Boot sniffed haughtily. "My family own one after all, Willy is his name, a hard worker one he is." He gave me another look, "Why were you asking that question?"

Finally, I raised my face from the book and faced him; my deadpan face made him self-conscious.

"If you're a pureblood who owns at least one house-elf, pray tell me why are you packing your things yourself like bloody plebs?"

Terry Boot stared at me silently, dumbfounded. He was sorted into Ravenclaw for a reason, alright, as he understood what I implied quickly. He palmed his face and then groaned softly. I felt amused at that yet I maintained my calm expression.

Terry Boots, one of the Ravenclaw first years, when I used my Observation to him in the past, I got:

Terry Boots
- Race: Wizard
- Level: 11
- Health: 100
- Willpower: 300
[Strength: 10] [Agility: 9] [Mind: 12] [Magic: 12]
- Details: the scion of Noble Boots House, he is member of Ravenclaw House who was sorted in 1991. At first, he was arrogant kid because his self-entitled feeling as a pureblood youth. However, he'd mellowed down after his anomalous housemates, Asmodias Lustburg, sorted out him and other dozens of children at once in the Ravenclaw Tower.

"Bloody hell, Lustburg, you should tell me sooner!" Terry Boot complained with an annoyed tone.

"Well, maybe, you should strike a conversation with me sooner," I replied back wittily with a calm tone.

My pureblood roommate made a face, which explained his discontent. He sighed before he contemplated whether he should call his house-elf or not.

Understanding what he was thinking, I shook my head helplessly. The pureblood was a lost cause. Even those who were sorted into Ravenclaw — the house of the smarts and wits — seemed to be incapable of simple rational thought.

Taking pity, I decided to lend my counsel, only for this instance, and then said: "You know that Hogwarts has hundred house-elves, right?"

"Yes?" Boot looked at me unsurely.

I was sure if I didn't have my 'Gamer's Mind', I'd have lost my patience long ago when dealing with these dull-witted inbreeds.

"And you should have known that Hogwarts house-elves exist to support the students live in the castle. You can call them to assist you completing menial things without wasting your energy, you know. Hogwarts' house-elves live with the support from leylines under the Hogwarts castle, their masters and mistresses are the students themselves. If you're aware of it, you should've called them earlier."

Terry Boot showed a sour expression to me, signifying his dissatisfaction. It wasn't an odd sight for me to randomly poke fun to the apparent lack of logic of these wizards and witches. In fact, my existence was something acknowledged as the subject of despise and gratitude in one package for these young wizards and witches. Of course, I only targeted those who'd wronged me first.

I was the source of annoyance to them, as well as the source of help when they needed my help in study, and other thing. The students, who held dissatisfaction because of my wicked sense of humor, could only hold back their impotent anger without any outlet. They understood that it was high impossible for them to repay their grievances after my heavy-wanded demonstration early on the year. They could only grit their teeth and curse me in their head while they made constipated expression.

After sighing despondently, Terry Boot called one of Hogwarts' house-elves and then commanded them to pack his important effects. The house elf only needed to snap his finger and Terry Boot's effects were sorted neatly inside his standard, a pureblood standard to be exact, the Hogwarts student's trunk.

I had known the discrimination in the wizarding world because of the series. However, experiencing it firsthand was different matter. If not because my 'Gamer's Mind', I'm sure that I'd go for killing spree long time ago. The discrimination was too much if I said so myself. Besides the names calling and scorn for us the muggleborn, the treatments for Pureblood and muggleborn was different.

For a small example were the differences between our trunks. We bought it from the same store in Diagon Alley, if I recall its name correctly, and the price was same. Yet, the quality was different. My trunk was made of simple wood with small expansion charm that doubled its internal space and faded canvas that made it looked like a hand-me-down trunk. Meanwhile, Terry Boot's trunk was basically a top tier quality with expansion charm that quadrupled its internal space and top quality materials such as high quality Oakwood, as the frame and high quality leather.

Realizing how close minded the magical society was and how deep the discrimination ran, I felt this society wasn't worth of my efforts. I might people in a whim, but I wasn't a selfless Good Samaritan who would help others in drop of a hat. My plan to support Holly in her quest to slay Lord Voldemort once for all was for a selfish reason. In the end, everything was for my own interest.

"I thought you were going to stay with how overprotective you were with Potter. If I don't know any better, I would think you fancy her."

My attention was dragged back to reality by Terry Boot's question. I stared at him blankly, making him to feel self-conscious. Many students had told me how K unnerved them when I did that. Of course, their confession fueled my drive to do that even further.

"Did it seem like that?"

Terry Boot nodded his head and then said "Yeah. Other houses thought you and Potter were an item with how overprotective you're to her and how she only spoke to you. But, the claws knew you just try to fix her cold attitude."

I hummed thoughtfully. If one looked at our interaction, it was reasonable for them to mistake my manner around her. I cared for her because she was one of the important key to my easy life. Well, I sounded like a golddigger with how I worded it. It was true that Holly was filthy rich, but I didn't care about her wealth or her fame for I could command my House Elves to go night raid a mafia organization, or even muggle bank, and I was indifferent to fame.

Holly was the key to deal with Lord Voldemort per the prophecy. I didn't believe in prophecy in my past life, but in a world where mysterious phenomenon known as magic existed and as a daily occurrence in this madhouse of a castle, I couldn't ignore it carelessly.

There was many ways to deal with Lord Voldemort problem, but everything would affect my aim in a way or another. The only way to ensure my calm and peaceful future was letting the world to know it was Holly who deals the real killing blow to the Dog Lord.

"By the way, I heard rumors that you have become close with Su Li lately and Granger got close, or at least, she tried, to you too. Were those rumors true?" inquired Terry Boots.

It seems to me that he was in the mood for a small chat, disregarding the fact that I was holding an open book and reading it a while ago. I still wanted to read my book in peace, but I decided to humor him in a whim. Even I would feel lonely without proper social activities for prolonged time.

I contemplated my answer for a moment.

What Terry Boots had stated was a truth. I had spent my time to have discussion about Chinese sorcery with Su Li lately when I wasn't busy with my stuff.

After the whole fiasco with the troll and found out my mysterious stalker was actually her whom Holly had asked to keep an eye to me, I was being open with my interest to her paternal homeland sorcery. Su had told me there were many ranks in Chinese sorcery system, called circle. There were three lesser circles in three great circle ranks. She didn't explain it thoroughly and only gave me a short summary, but she told me that she was only at first lesser circle in second great circle ranks. As the scion of The Most Distinguished Venerable Li Clan which had started in Chinese Qin Dynasty in 221-207 BC and only surfaced in Chinese Tang Dinasty at 6th to 9th century AD. She had passed the first great circle at ten. She was considered as genius amongst her clan's young generations which generally passed the first great circle at fifteen.

She was registered in Hogwarts Book of Name because her British blood she got from her mother.

Besides the ranking system of Chinese Taoist, Su also mentioned their brand of sorcery such as pill concocting as the equivalent to Witchcraft Potion Brewing art, Artefact Crafting, Talisman Creation and Taoism Spells. The way she only explained it shortly and full of suspension made me think she was deliberately baiting me to learn it by my own decision. When I realized that, I was amazed by her cunningness and resourcefulness. I didn't take it as offense. On the contrary, I was grateful to her because she'd made me realized there was more to this world than what I knew from the series.

The rumor of my friendship with Hermione Granger, meanwhile, stemmed out from her attempt to repay my heroic deed in saving her in that Halloween night. At that time, I was reading an interesting book in library, when she found me. After she thanked me, she looked at the book in my hand and became curious. She asked a question about the book. My habit to give a proper answer to the curious children that stemmed out from my days in orphanage started the long academic discussion about magic, and before I knew it, Hermione had become one of familiar face around me. Of course, I still kept my distance because I hadn't honestly had any plan to create any connection with her.

However, I underestimated her dedication and stubbornness. Because I wasn't the type to dish those who never wronged me, I couldn't stop her. In the end, we were often seen together when I was in break from my project and had academic discussion, which was basically her asking something she doesn't understand about magic or wizarding society as the whole.

I wouldn't say I was omniscient, but I had rough understanding of the wizarding world's culture in the beginning and I'd been polishing my understanding of wizarding culture in my free time.

"I'm not so sure about the rumors running in Hogwarts rumor mills, but I would say we're good acquaintances," I answered at least.

Terry Boots peered at me skeptically.

"Really?" He said, "I'm not sure about Granger, but I heard Li's family was quite old and wealthy in her homeland. Her father is also the Chinese ambassador under ICW approval. If you marry into her family, at least, you can alleviate your status. Although our society looks down on foreigners, it's better than how we look on muggleborn." He paused and then hurriedly added, "I hope you didn't take offences from that."

"None taken," I nodded my head to him.

Inwardly, I frowned at the outlook the youth before me had displayed. I'd realized the young purebloods were all almost like this because the early education they got from their parents or guardians. Their outlooks weren't different to the outlook of muggle noble before the Renaissance between fourteenth and seventeenth century. These prepubescents were also aware of something that only adults understand, for example: sex, politic, and other skill that was suitable for a politician to the T.

I shook my head to clear the needless thoughts in my head and then said: "I guess, thanks for the advice. But, I'm still eleven and it won't be a couple of years until I have interest to something like that."

"You're welcome, I suppose." Terry Boots said with an unsure tone, then shook his head and said "Let me give you another advice. It's better if you plan ahead to prepare your life. Although we're only eleven now, but our age won't stop progressing. Just snatch Li or our Patil, since she seems more cordial to you unlike her twin sister in Gryffindor, before someone else snatched them. Use underhanded methods if you must. You're brilliant, though you're very annoying sometimes, but your brilliance is wasted if you don't have a solid backer to sponsor you."

I nodded my head to show my acknowledgments. Terry Boots sighed, satisfied from my reaction, before he stood up from his sitting position. Then, he said "Are you going down for breaks? I won't mind to have company on the way."

I shook my head, politely declining his invitation to go down for breakfast in the Great Hall, and then said "You go down first. I'll join the others later."

"If you say so," said Terry Boots as he shrugged his shoulders, then he left our room to get his well-deserved breakfast.

I watch his back until he disappeared behind the door, then massaged the bridge of my nose. "Bloody hell, what a shitty discussion between two eleven years," I grumbled under my breath.

Discussion like what happened earlier never failed to remind me on how much were the differences between the pureblood children and the innocent boys and girls in my orphanage or the muggleborn first years.

With a quick 'tempus', I checked the time. Then, I stored my book into my Inventory and left my room to go down for breakfast in the Great Hall.

Footnote:
Chapter was fixed at March 28th, 2018