The Easter holidays arrived much faster than expected, and Harry and Ron, usually so fond of play, felt a sudden sense of urgency—driven primarily by the mountains of homework assigned by the professors. The Easter break was nothing like Christmas; the heavy academic workload caused Hermione to choose to stay at school, leaving Harry and his friends with zero opportunity to rest. Having a fiercely hardworking friend by your side makes it very difficult to enjoy any downtime without a lingering sense of guilt.
Hector didn't mind spending time in the library, but for Harry and Ron, wasting most of their day memorizing the twelve uses of dragon blood and the practical applications of dittany felt like a shameful waste. The weather grew brighter with each passing day, and Harry could even catch the scent of summer in the fresh air.
"I really can't take this anymore." Ron lasted a bit longer than Hector had anticipated before slamming his quill hard onto the desk, slumping forward, and staring longingly out of the library window. The sky was as clear as lake water, without a single trace of a cloud. The temperature of the sun was just right, so cozy that merely basking in it made one want to stretch.
Chapter 44