Glamour

Study

Taking his studies more seriously was easier said than done. Between his detentions with Umbridge, which had thankfully ended the day before, and quidditch responsibilities, Harry often found himself too tired to do more than hastily write whichever essays had been assigned that day. Casting took too much out of him, and he was beginning to feel like Seamus with the amount of times he had caused a small fire or explosion.

Ron hadn't been helping either. He took Harry's newfound interest in his studies as an offense, this evening complaining when Harry said he would only play Exploding Snap after he had done his homework. In protest he had gone to join Seamus and Dean, who still refused to talk to 'the-boy-who-lied', at the other side of the common room, occasionally shooting annoyed glances at Harry and Hermione who were sat at the sole study table.

Harry knew his best friend's friendship was dependant on Harry playing along to Ron's expectations. He had finally figured it out last year during the Triwizard tournament and had since taken care to not rock the boat too much lest he loose one of his few friends again. For now, he could only hope that once again Ron would figure out that this was not a slight against him.

If last year was any indication, it would take a while.

Finishing the latest entry for his dream diary (why had he taken divination?), Harry yawned before packing his stuff away. He still needed to practice the vanishing charm for Flitwick, but already knew that he was too tired to do anything more than possibly cause a small fire. Sighing to himself he bid goodnight to Hermione, waved to Ron and headed up the spiral stairs to his dorm.

The next morning Harry woke to the gentle snores of his dormmates and the gentle glow of the dawn light through the window. Casting a quick tempus, he saw that it was still too early for breakfast, but he didn't feel like lounging around for the others to wake. Quickly dressing in some of his less scruffy cast-offs, he took his bag and returned to the study table in the common room. He could take advantage of the morning calm to make headway on McGonagall's essay that he forgot last night.

An hour later, Harry groaned dropping his head to rest on the table. He had been attempting his transfiguration essay for the best part of the hour and was no further than the title. The standard book of spells grade 5 and his copy of Magical Theory had not provided any insight, and he was regretting his lacklustre notes on the energy requirements between single and multi-step transfigurations, which were sorely needed for him to have any hope in completing the essay. Sighing he put down his quill and glanced around the common room, spying Hermione, he got an idea.

"Hey 'mione, have you done the transfiguration essay yet?" He asked walking over to where his friend was sat with her head in a copy of Magical Defensive Theory. Harry wasn't sure why she was still reading that rubbish, Umbridge would only assign more chapters for them to read in the lesson anyway. She would have been better off trying to find the books previous teachers had set them.

"I told you last night Harry, I won't let you copy off me anymore, if you want a good grade on your assignments you have to earn them yourself" Hermione didn't even bother looking up as she admonished him. Harry wasn't too surprised, she said something of a vaguely similar nature to both him and Ron at least twice a week.

"Uh it wasn't that. I was wondering which text books you used. Magical theory and the standard book don't really go into enough detail for me to understand"

"Oh really Harry, if you had been paying attention on Tuesday instead of moping around, you would have heard Professor McGonagall say that supplementary notes for the lecture can be found in Intermediate Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffing, Although I did also find his book on the Fundamental Laws of Magic to provide some good context, although it did take my essay over the required two feet.."