𝔞 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔠𝔥; 𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔯𝔶 𝔭𝔬𝔱𝔱𝔢𝔯

xi. norbert the norwegian ridgeback

Quirrell, however, must have been braver than they'd thought. In the weeks that followed he did seem to be getting paler and thinner, but it didn't look as though he'd cracked yet. Dark circles appeared under his eyes.

Whenever Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Emmalina passed the third-floor corridor, they pressed their ears to the door and confirmed that Fluffy was still growling inside. Snape's bad temper indicated that the Stone was still safe. Harry confidently gave Quirrell an encouraging smile, and Ron reprimanded anyone who dared to laugh at Quirrell's stutter.

Although these were very promising sighs, relaxation was not on Emmalina's mind. She fretted constantly, wondering when Quirrell would crack and fess up. The upcoming exams did nothing to help her, shoving her into a constant state of anxiety and nerves.

Hermione had the same idea. She had started drawing up study schedules and colour-coding all her notes something Emmalina was just far too lazy to do. And if she was being honest, although, she was jittery and stressed about the exams, she still couldn't bring herself to open a book.

She would reprimand herself for not studying before going to bed but would repeat the same thing over and over again.

"Hermione, the exams are ages away."

"Ten weeks," Hermione snapped. "That's not ages, that's like a second to Nicolas Flamel."

"But we're not six hundred years old," Ron reminded her. "Anyway, what are you studying for, you already know it's an A."

"What am I studying for? Are you crazy? Do 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, you're the smartest in our year. I don't think you have much to worry about." Emmalina reassured as Harry and Ron nodded their heads. A light pink appeared on her cheeks.

Unfortunately, the teachers seemed to be thinking along the same lines as Hermione. They piled so much homework on them that the Easter holidays weren't as fun as the Christmas ones. It was hard to relax with Hermione next to you, reciting the twelve uses of dragon's blood or practising wand movements. Emmalina would intently listen to her explain but didn't study, often yawning when Hermione began to read and memorise at a rapid pace.

Moaning and yawning, Harry and Ron spent most of their free time in the library with her, trying to get through all their extra work.

"I'll never remember this," 

Afternoon sunlight streamed into the library as Ron slammed his quill onto the desk. He gazed wistfully out the window, yearning to be outside. Finally, a truly beautiful day had arrived after months of dreariness. The sky stretched above, a perfect forget-me-not blue, while the air carried the unmistakable promise of summer.

Emmalina opted to ignore the redhead, quite used to his outbursts. Her gaze was stuck on the book in her hand The Standard Book of Spells Grade 1.

 "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?

Emmalina's eyebrows furrowed, raising her gaze to where Ron was looking at. Hagrid appeared, concealing something behind his back, seeming out of place in his moleskin overcoat. He smiled at them, although, he seemed more nervous than happy.

"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.

Hagrid paled.

"It's funny when you think about it. We spent so much time in the library but we found him on a chocolate frog card. " Emmalina stated simply looking at Hagrid squirm uncomfortably. She almost wanted to laugh watching as Hagrid turned as pale as a piece of paper.