An American At Hogwarts: Book Three

Chapter Fifty-Six

After another hour and a half of working in the library, my brain was completely fried. I started going through the process of closing my million tabs and packing up my things, then leaned back with a sigh and looked up at David and Jackson once I'd finished.

"I'm going to call it a night. You guys?" I asked. Jackson stretched his arms above his head and yawned, while David ran a hand through his hair.

"We... probably should, shouldn't we?" mused David. He sighed, then started his own process of gathering up his things. "Thank you for all your help, Jackson."

"Yeah, sure thing," he said, brushing it off like it was nothing. I smiled and shook my head. Where was this modest Jackson when he talked to me? "My mom... well, I learned a lot about this stuff from her."

I tried to wrestle the sympathetic expression off my face lest Jackson kill me. He met my eyes, though, and a little understanding passed between us. For the first time, more than before, I realized just what coming to terms with everything she'd done really meant for him. For my entire life, my dad had been responsible for teaching me about math and science, engineering and physics. Most of what I knew and basically all of my love for it came from him. I couldn't imagine trying to come to terms with that love and knowledge remaining if my dad turned out to be a supervillain who didn't care about me.

Jackson cleared his throat, ending the moment almost as soon as it had started, and shouldered the book bag he'd left laying on the floor as soon as he'd gotten sucked into working with David. David and I stood to join him, and the three of us headed out of the library together side by side. Jackson went one way, heading for the Slytherin Common Room in the dungeons, while David and I headed up the stairs to the towers.

"So, I take it you guys made some progress tonight?" I asked as we walked. David nodded, absolutely beaming at me.

"Yes, we did. I think he helped me through one of my more major road blocks. I only wish he was interested in helping me with the project all the time."

"Well, I promise to do my best to help rope him in whenever he comes to visit in the library."

"Thank you, Alexa." He glanced over to give me a smaller smile, then continued. "So, what about your project? Did you make much progress?"

I sighed. "No. There's just so much information to wade through, and basically no way to tell if it's reliable. No primary sources from the cultures I'm trying to learn about, nothing. Learning mermish is the only thing I've been making any kind of meaningful progress on."

He hummed thoughtfully, then turned to me as we paused before splitting off towards our separate Common Rooms.

"You know we've got a new Divination teacher, don't you?"

"Yeah... Fred and George told me Dumbledore walked in the door with someone after Umbridge fired Trelawney."

"And you know he's a centaur, right?"

I froze. I vaguely remembered hearing something about the new Divination teacher in connection with a centaur, but I'd been so busy I'd completely missed putting the pieces together. I surged forward and wrapped David in a bone-crushing hug.

"David you're a GENIUS!" I cried. "I can't believe I missed that. Holy shit. Thank you!"

"Glad I could help!" he said, grinning as I pulled back and we started drifting towards our staircases once again. "I take it I might not see you tomorrow?"

"No you will not! Goodnight, David!" I called, turning fully to head back to my room. I heard the smile in David's voice as he called back.

"Goodnight, Alexa!"