35 Chapter 34

'Oh man, I did it again.' I sighed inwardly as I saw Dora's rapidly changing expressions. She looked like she wanted to hug me but... there were a lot of people around the room.

"So, do you accept the bet?" I quickly asked in order to not let Susan and Hannah not notice the complications of the matter.

"Or did I ask for too much?" I asked while sighing sadly.

"O-Of course not!"

"I mean...I-I accept." Dora first answered my second question, but quickly realizing that I might confuse it for the answer to the first question, she quickly had to say that she accepted the bet.

I really had to smile at her cuteness. I was of course, happy for getting a kiss from Dora. Though even if I lost, I wouldn't blink an eye for that much money. It was worth the critical hit that I had just delivered. During these two months, it's not like she hasn't knowingly or unknowingly delivered some critical hits of her own to me. So I'd say we're even.

"W-what did you ask for?!" both Hannah and Susan were very curious about the exchange that happened between us.

"It's something Dora has that I really wanted. But I couldn't ask for it before this." I answered them as I looked at Dora, who actually blushed.

'Ah what a sight to see. I'd gladly miss fighting a troll for witnessing this....Hey! wait! Why did you have to activate occlumency?!'

I sighed, because Dora saw me staring at her intently and quickly activated occlumency to control her emotions.

'Alright! I'm gradually graduating from friend zone to romantic zone.'. I pumped my first mentally.

"But what is it?! You didn't tell us! (Susan)

"Yeah! Is it really expensive?" (Hannah)

"Expensive?" I snorted "It's priceless for me!" I said with a wistful expression.

Dora: "...."

Dora's mind: *static*...*static*...*static*

This time, her hair elongated and covered her face.

Wow... that's quite handy. No need cover your face with your hands in a cliche way.

But...her hair were still changing colours.

She always reacts so cutely...Wait! Am I awakening to something strange here?

No! I think everyone would be fascinated by her cuteness of they actually witness this sight.

After that, I kept talking to Hannah and Susan while Dora tried to cool down.

Then some clients came for business. You know, the usual: They'd ask me to teach them about something and sign the contract. There turn to do homework was now going to come too late. Since the list was already booked for quite some time. So I had started giving out different jobs instead. Like managing my homework for 3 days i.e., Check the calendar and find out whose turn it was that day and tell that person what my homework actually is for that day and get it back to me after it was done.

I had long since started giving this task after my client base expanded to other houses. My house mates had the same homework and we had to submit it together. So there wasn't any problem like this at that time.

After this, there really wasn't anything I wanted from them. So I just had them sign an I owe you. Mostly for homework. I'll tell them about the task two or three days prior. They have the right to refuse if it's not related to homework. But then, they'll still owe me.

Now I'm thinking of finding new tasks which I could have them do for me. I wish I could get ideas from some creative people.->

After I was done with the clients, I decided to leave the Hufflepuff common room for the room of requirements. Today, Dora didn't want to come because she was suddenly feeling a bit under the weather. Though I think she's just embarrassed of being embarrassed by me.

By now, Hannah and Susan had gone to their dorm. So only Dora and I were there.

"Goodnight." I said as I gave her a hug.

"Are you sure the troll would have really been dealt with by now?" She asked. Then she sighed.

"Looks like I have go with you after all." She said in resignation.

"Hey, first of all, I thought someone believed that it was all a sham. Second, the teachers could have easily found the troll three times by now, considering the disgusting smell they produce, which you could smell a mile away. But, I'm glad you're worried about me and I'm glad I won't have to practice alone." I said.

But I think I should first show my friends at Ravenclaw that I've gone to my bed. Earlier, when I was leaving with Dora, I'd signaled them to keep their mouths shut about me. Even if anyone in other year noticed later, they'd know from my friends that I was in Hufflepuff common room. But it'd be a problem if I didn't return at all. Since I daily sleep in the room of requirements. I always show them that I've gone to my room, before going out under disillusionment charm.

"Hey, Dora. I just need to show my housemates that I've gone into my room, then I'll come back out under the invisibility cloak that grandma left me. So, wait outside, alright?" I quickly explained to her how I'll come out. I'll tell her that it invisibility was goit to fade out soon.

"Aha! So that's how you've been sneaking out for so long, huh? I always used to wonder." She said as if she'd finally solved a mystery.

I just stared at her for a moment.

"Tell me, Miss Tonks, would it have been too difficult for you to just ask me directly?"

"Well," she said, looking a bit sheepish, "I really wanted to solve the mystery by myself."

I sighed. 'This girl seems really passionate for becoming an Auror.'

"Oh, so you were playing Auror with me, huh? Rookie Tonks, it seems you're still too green." I said as I entered the common room through the emergency entrance.

I had later learned that there was an emergency passage which was only used by prefects and head boy and girl in cases of emergency. I was then quick to discover the password from them by following them invisible, as they entered. Since then, I'd only enter from there. I'd never wast my time on those silly riddles.

As I said the password, the lock opened and I casted a Concealment charm around the vicinity of the door, so that no one notices it opening. Concealment charms was similar to what future Hermione used to cast in the vicinity of their tent in the seventh part during their run. Then I opened the door and no one noticed anything. I disillusioned myself as I entered. Then I noticed that my friends were sitting in a corner in a group. They had, of course, many books lying around them. I went to the real entrance and opened it. Several people's, including my friend's gazes locked into the door.

I calmly exited the door, still disillusioned, then casted a Concealment charm around the vicinity of the area outside the door, so that tonks doesn't see me, then I removed the disillusionment of myself and officially entered the common room.

'Sigh, the things I have to do to keep my capabilities a secret. Why don't you just die, Dumbledore, you goat-fu*ker.'

As I entered the common room, everyone looked at me, wondering what the f*ck I was doing outside the common room.

I quickly ran into the dorms, to the front of my room, then chantlessly casted a Concealment charm in the vicinity of my door, so that anyone who follows after me would only see a closed door even if the door opens. Then I casted a homenum revelio to confirm that no one was yet in the corridor. Then I casted a disillusionment charm on myself and opened and closed the door loudly, so that the people following after me would think that I've already entered and closed my door. I quickly conjured some words in the air. Then casted a locking charm that wasn't too difficult to cast, but it was not know by any of them. Of course it could be opened, but they'd basically have to break my door to enter. But then I casted an overpowered unbreakable charm on my door. They only know about it if they desperately try to break the door.

The very next moment, I discovered what a bunch of curious (or nosy) bastards the Ravenclaws actually are, as I saw my friends running towards my room, followed by the prefects, followed by the headboy, then followed by....almost half of the house.

"I AM FINE, EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WORRYING ABOUT MY WELL-BEING. I WAS WITH THE HUFFLEPUFFS IN THEIR COMMON ROOM. I CAME BACK TO SLEEP.

PLZ DO NOT DISTURB."

Terry Boot read my message aloud for everyone.

"Aww"

"Damn it!"

"What a slippery bastard!"

"Does he know anything about the troll?"

All sorts of exclamations were made by the students who had followed me upstairs.

I casted a silencing and deodorizing charm on myself as well before making my way back to the now almost empty common room.

"What a bunch of sheep." I muttered.

Some students ran after me, then the rest followed without knowing why.

'Sorry, my friends, but I have promises to keep' I thought as I went to meet up with Dora.

xxxxxx

A.N.: I posted the two biggest chapters today. But the update notification isn't coming to me. Did you guys get it, or did you just happen to check if I updated and found the new chapter?