Afterglow, James Potter

3, Confundo

double update 

That evening, Penny, Clare, Tara and Hana voyage into the depths of the Hogwarts Library in a pathetic attempt to get ahead of the piles of homework that's piling up around them. It's mostly Hana's idea - Penny usually does accompany her, but this night it's a little more unwillingly than usual. Clare's dragged along by Tara, who doesn't need the library, but test subjects for her Divination.

"Come on," Tara moans, staring at Clare. They're at a table in the library, Clare and Tara sitting beside each other, with Clare half lying down, her feet propped up on the chair opposite her. Both Hana and Penny are searching the shelves for information on Nogtails, considering they need eyewitness accounts.

"I'm not doing it," Clare groans stubbornly, her eyes half closed. To an outsider, she might seem to be asleep.

"I need two test subjects. Please?"

Clare's usually incredibly stubborn about this kind of thing, but Penny's amazed to see her soften slightly, grudgingly muttering "Fine," before sitting up. Her Slytherin robes are abandoned on the back of her chair, her tie with them, which Penny is resisting the urge to fold. Hana's also frowning at the crumpled clothes.

"Don't worry, Clare," Hana says snootily. "Divination is such a scam. Everyone says Dumbledore's considering cutting the subject. You know he wouldn't allow people to take it as a N.E.W.T? Our year's the only one being taught it."

Clare, the greatest Divination hater there's ever been, opens one eye to say "At least Tara's skills will be unique. Unlike you, Hana, who's doing the six most popular N.E.W.Ts."

"Wow," Hana draws herself up to her full height, glaring at Clare, who's still slumped in a chair. "That was uncalled for, you little - "

Penny shushes her. "We're in the library, remember. Talk quietly."

Tara, bursting with energy now Clare has agreed to have her future diving, sends a glowing smile Penny's way. "You first, Pen. Clare can sleep."

"Thanks," Clare mutters, eyes still squeezed shut.

"You're going to fail your N.E.W.Ts," Hana says, walking by with a large pile of books cradled in her arms.

"Urgh," Clare sighs in response. "Like I care. I don't know why you care, either, considering how rich your parents are. What do you need to pass for, it's not like you'll need to find work."

Hana sticks her nose in the air, settling into the seat opposite Clare, shoving her legs off it. "I'm going to make my own way in the world. I'm not working in that corrupt Ministry, I'll be doing some real good as a Healer, helping to improve people's lives and having a day-to-day - "

"Is this memorised from your application for an apprenticeship?" Clare drawls. Hana kicks her under the table.

"Let me see your palm, Pen," Tara says eagerly, grabbing a piece of parchment and an inkwell. "Now, I'm going to keep this anonymous, in case I find out something you'd prefer to keep private."

"I don't think you need to worry about that," Hana says.

Penny shakes her head. "Keep it anonymous anyway."

Tara writes in huge capital letters, Subject A. It makes Penny sound like she's taking part in an eerie and illegal scientific experiment, not having her palm read. Nevertheless, she holds her right palm out for Tara to read.

"You have a long, arching life line," Tara notes. She checks her book. "That's nothing to do with the length of life, it just means you're energetic and vibrant, and - " she checks again, "-good at sports."