"Dude, I cannot believe the fate of the Sorcerer's Stone rests in Quirrel's hands." December said as they left Greenhouse One. Petunia and Hermione filled her in on everything that had been happening and why Hermione hadn't been hanging out with them lately throughout Herbology.
"I know right!" Hermione gushed, and if it wasn't for Petunia's inherited ring Petunia could have sworn Hermione had a crush on December. "But it seems like Quirrel is actually holding his own, which is shocking."
"You're telling me." December snorted. "I tried unravelling his turban, almost did too, and he screamed in my face about it. I got detention for a week with Filch for it."
"Damn." Petunia said, eyebrows raised.
"Yeah, but anyways. I've got to get to studying. Exams are only 10 weeks away!" Hermione said before running off to the castle.
"I swear she studies to much." December said, slinging her arm over Petunia's shoulders. "She's missing out on my friendship." Petunia grinned, poking December's side and making her squeal.
"She's also missing out on your beautiful squeals." She snickered, dancing away from December's hands. They chased each other into the Great Hall before separating to their respective houses.
"-You realize we need to pass these exams to get into the second year? They're very important, I should have started studying a month ago, I don't know what's gotten into me..." Hermione was chewing Ron out when Petunia sat down besides them.
"Oh calm down, Hermione. You're the only one thinking like this."
Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so much homework on everyone that the Easter holidays weren't nearly as much fun as the Christmas ones. It was hard to relax with Hermione next to you reciting every spell ever made and trying to get them to as well. Moaning and yawning, they spent most of their free time in the library with her, trying to get through all their extra work.
"I'll never remember this," Ron burst out one afternoon, throwing down his quill and looking longingly out of the library window. It was the first really fine day they'd had in months. The sky was a clear, forget-me-not blue, and there was a feeling in the air of summer coming.
Petunia, who was looking up "Dittany" in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, didn't look up until she heard Harry say, "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"
Hagrid shuffled into view, hiding something behind his back. He looked very out of place in his moleskin overcoat.
"Jus' lookin'," he said, in a shifty voice that got their interest at once. "An' what're you lot up ter?" He looked suddenly suspicious. "Yer not still lookin' fer Nicolas Flamel, are yeh?"
"Oh, we found out who he is ages ago," said Ron impressively. "And we know what that dog's guarding, it's a Sorcerer's St--"
"Shhhh!" Hagrid looked around quickly to see if anyone was listening. "Don' go shoutin' about it, what's the matter with yeh?"
"There are a few things we wanted to ask you, as a matter of fact," said Harry, "about what's guarding the Stone apart from Fluffy--"
"SHHHH!" said Hagrid again. "Listen -- come an' see me later, I'm not promisin' I'll tell yeh anythin', mind, but don' go rabbitin' about it in here, students aren' s'pposed ter know. They'll think I've told yeh--"
"See you later, then," said Hermione cheerfully.
Hagrid shuffled off.
"What was he hiding behind his back?" Asked Petunia. "Do you think it had anything to do with the Stone?"
