Chapter Text
It was the second week back to Hogwarts from summer holidays, and the school had begun to develop a sense of rhythm once more. People meandered in the hallways, no longer rushing to classes, chatted heartily during tea on the weekends, and the beautiful weather was shining down on the grounds, sorely missed after a particularly rainy summer.
"Ugh, we have that potions scroll due on Monday." Ron groaned, flopping back on the couch. The three of them were sitting in the common room, which was empty for the most part as people were in the libraries or on the grounds.
"Why not work on it now, Ron?" Hermione said cheerfully. "The common room is quiet, and we can all do it together!"
"But look outside!" He said, gesturing to the window. The sun poked through the colored glass panes, blending into the red carpet as it shone down. "It does look nice," Harry said, getting up from where he was reading Quidditch: Through the Ages lazily. "And look, I see Neville, Dean and Seamus down there working on their essays."
Hermione looked up from her arithmetic chart for a moment, chewing her lip as she looked out the window.
"Well, I suppose it is nice out... And I read somewhere that fresh air is good for the mind." She packed up her quill and Harry made his way up the stairs to grab his bag.
The trio made their way down the hall, greeting Professor Lupin halfway.
"Going to the grounds to do some work?" He asked, smiling.
"Yes, Professor," Hermione responded, holding up the scroll she had in her hand. "Working on arithmetic homework."
"Very nice! And boys, I trust you've finished the essay on hinkypunks?"
The two looked at each other for a moment in alarm, and Lupin laughed, walking away.
They finally reached the grounds, taking refuge in a shady spot under a tree. Hermione sat, leaning against it, reading her book. Meanwhile, Ron and Harry took turns tossing an apple that had fallen off of the tree to each other.
Harry's hand slipped, the apple hitting Hermione's book straight out of her hands. She picked up the apple and threw it back at him, knocking off his glasses.
"Blinded..." Harry said, squinting his eyes and throwing the apple at Ron this time, and it landed squarely on his nose.
"Ugh!" He cursed, holding his nose and rolling around on the grass dramatically. Laughter filled the air as they continued tossing the apple at each other, until it rolled down the hill straight into the Black Lake, to which they all paused, then laughed even harder.
"Okay, guys, we have to do our work!" Hermione said sternly, although she herself was halfheartedly perusing through her book.
"Alright, alright. Now, what is this essay on again?" Ron said, rummaging through his bag.
"Confusing concoction?" Harry said. "Who on Earth thought of that name?"
"Describe the effects of a properly made confusing concoction and an improperly made confusing concoction." Ron read aloud. "Well, if I drank it, how would I remember? I would be too confused!"
"I'll certainly know the effects of an improper one..." Harry said, shaking his head in the direction of Seamus, who has remnants of ash still clouding his hair.
They laid in silence for a while, working on their homework, until Ron rolled over and yelled, "Done!"
Harry wrote for a minute more, then held his quill up in solidarity. "Me too."
"What 're you working on, Hermione?" Ron asked, turning to her.
She was facedown in her book, lightly snoring. Ron looked on, taken by surprise for a moment, before bursting out into loud laughter. Harry soon after joined him, and they joked around for a while. However, they began to sympathize with her as they, too, basked in the sun, taking in the warmth.
Harry yawned, burying his head in his hands as he lay down. Ron followed suit, until soon enough, all three of them fell asleep soundly on the grounds.