15th October, 1894 — An unused classroom, study period
Fifth year was make or break time, or so the professors all kept parroting – OWL exams, the last year before some people (the ones who couldn’t afford it) went out into the big wide world to work soul-destroying jobs until their deaths, and whatnot – and of course good grades would save those who didn’t have money, and spare them by opening windows to more serious and still more soul-destroying jobs, like this was some consolation.
So there were a few classrooms that had been set aside for the fifth years’ use, for practical revision throughout the year. There were a few people practising charms across the way. Jimmy had picked Miss Dursley’s side of the room, and set down his schoolbag on an empty desk space beside hers – because he knew she would be slower to tell him to get lost than some people, and maybe half to disturb her peace. She looked deep in concentration already.
Alright, maybe more than half to disturb her peace. He could practise some of the new Transfiguration or DADA spells, but instead Jimmy busied himself by kicking back in a chair and pulling out a deck of exploding snap cards. “Did you know, Miss Dursley,” he commented, doing his best to look academically thoughtful and not about to laugh, “that you’re the surliest-looking Hufflepuff I’ve ever seen?” (Hufflepuffs were known for their cheerfulness and smiles and niceness, weren’t they? And here Miss Dursley was always looking deadpan and depressed. He couldn’t imagine what it was like for her in her common room, honestly.)
So there were a few classrooms that had been set aside for the fifth years’ use, for practical revision throughout the year. There were a few people practising charms across the way. Jimmy had picked Miss Dursley’s side of the room, and set down his schoolbag on an empty desk space beside hers – because he knew she would be slower to tell him to get lost than some people, and maybe half to disturb her peace. She looked deep in concentration already.
Alright, maybe more than half to disturb her peace. He could practise some of the new Transfiguration or DADA spells, but instead Jimmy busied himself by kicking back in a chair and pulling out a deck of exploding snap cards. “Did you know, Miss Dursley,” he commented, doing his best to look academically thoughtful and not about to laugh, “that you’re the surliest-looking Hufflepuff I’ve ever seen?” (Hufflepuffs were known for their cheerfulness and smiles and niceness, weren’t they? And here Miss Dursley was always looking deadpan and depressed. He couldn’t imagine what it was like for her in her common room, honestly.)
