When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 8

Lessons in Life

"You were up early, Evans," Charlus commented as Harry exited the shower.

"I don't sleep much," he replied.

He didn't.

Not since he could remember had he slept peacefully, the woes of his life endless and burdening him, but he slept even less so now. Ever since the Flamels had done what they had with the ritual, slumber eluded him.

Still, as irksome as it was to be up before the sun, he found he was not sluggish, nor deprived.

If truth be told, he felt invigorated when he woke, eager to set to work on whatever was occupying his mind, and equally restless if he had nothing to focus on.

"Have you spoke to the healer?" Charlus asked. "She might be able to give you something."

Harry shook his head.

"I just don't need much."

Charlus snorted.

"Tell that to Prewett," he replied, jerking a thumb in the direction of the sleeping boy Harry had yet to meet. "He sleeps as much as he can and is always late. We gave up waiting for him to come to breakfast years ago."

"Speaking of which," Tiberius interjected with a yawn, "shouldn't we be heading to the hall."

Charlus nodded.

"I have to wait for Minerva," Harry explained. "I said I'll meet her at seven."

"She'll be in the common room already," Charlus chuckled. "Minnie is probably the only person that you're up before."

"I just wish she wasn't so quick with her wand in the morning," Tiberius grumbled.

"I think the problem is that you're too quick with your gob," Charlus rebuked. "How is it that your mouth is awake and your brain still half a sleep?"

Tiberius shrugged and offered the other boy a grin.

"Call it a talent, if you will."

"More like a bloody hazard," Charlus muttered. "Come on, we don't want to make Poppy wait much longer before she gets to curse you for the first time this year."

"Now that would be a shame," Tiberius said brightly, heading towards the door.

"Come on, Harry," Charlus urged, "you'll miss it if not."

Harry followed and the two came upon Tiberius rolling around on the floor trying to extricate a small octopus that had attached itself to his mouth.

"I told you," Charlus sighed as he removed the creature with a wave of his wand. "What did do this time?" he asked Poppy.

"Nothing," the girl replied. "I just pre-empted his stupidity and acted before he could."

"With an octopus?"

"Seemed appropriate," Poppy returned.