Perfectly Imperfect || C. Diggory

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 || 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐩 *

Finally, the first week of school had come to an end. Although it didn't feel much like a weekend; everyone had piles of homework. It was finally time for the fifth years to have O.W.Ls and seventh years to have N.E.W.Ts, so the homework load had skyrocketed.

"What've you guys got left?" Jenn asked the group. We sat at a round table in the library, parchment scattered around the table, everyone's own work getting jumbled in with someone else's due to the amount of stuff everywhere.

The entire library was filled to the brim with students trying to finish up their work so they could enjoy the rest of the weekend. Cedric was moving even faster than everyone else, having to juggle homework, coaching the new Hufflepuff quidditch team, and Head Boy duties.

"Snape's veritaserum essay, Charms practise, 30 pages from the Defense textbook, and I've got to scrounge around outside and collect a handful of Scurvy grass for Herbology." I groaned.

"Same for me." Cedric replied.

"Try that, and Divination homework." Olivia added with a huff.

"Just make something up, for crying out loud! That's the easiest of them all. We all know Divination is a load of rubbish." Steve snapped. "Sorry. Stressed."

Jenn rubbed his back slowly as he turned back down to his essay he was working on. I sighed exasperatedly, staring down at my notes from the Defense textbook. I thought I might retain more information if I were to take notes while reading. Only twelve pages left... twelve pages... twelve...

I dropped my head onto the table, unable to properly think anymore. "Can we take a break guys? I literally have point five brain cells left and I've got a splitting headache. Let's just come back to it in like three hours. I mean, it's only eleven."

"Yes, please." Steve agreed. "I need a butterbeer. Or a firewhiskey. Definitely a firewhiskey."

"Yeah, come on, Ced, it's time to take a break." I said, taking his face in my hands to look at me. "We're all exhausted as hell, and you've got ten times more responsibility than us, so you must need a break too."

"Yeah, let's go to Hogsmeade for lunch!" Olivia exclaimed.

"Alright, alright. But, we're getting back to homework right after." Cedric said, grinning.

***

I wrapped my corduroy coat around myself tighter as a gust of piercing wind drove through me. Luckily, the warmth of the Three Broomsticks regulated my temperature as we went to find seating. It was unusually calm inside. Since everyone was stuck at Hogwarts doing homework, the pub was nearly empty; the only people inside were local witches and wizards who were too old to cause any ruckus.

Every time I took a breath, I inhaled the rich scent of butterbeer and a hint of stuffiness, but that's just how it always was in there. Wood dragged against wood as all five of us pulled out chairs around the big table next to a crackling fireplace.

Taking a seat, Steve exhaled a deep sigh while cracking his fingers. Olivia winced, hating the sound. Jenn waved over one of Madam Rosmerta's employees; the Three Broomsticks was becoming too popular to manage on her own anymore.

"Afternoon," she greeted, pulling a notepad out of her pocket, "what could I get you all started with?"

"Two firewhiskeys," Steve ordered for himself as well as Cedric, "and... butterbeers for the ladies?" Jenn, Olivia, and I nodded in unison.

"Alright, two firewhiskeys, and three butterbeers coming right up, and I will come back around for the lunch menu. Madam Rosmerta added a few things that sound pretty tasty." she smiled, turning around, but swung back on her heel, remembering something. "What year are you boys in?"