Watching as the older students headed off for a Hogsmeade weekend, she felt a pit of jealousy. She was not likely to be going to one of those even if she could. Too much studying to do. Even if she kept up with her peers, or even got ahead of them. No such thing as too much studying, right? Getting as much as she could from Hogwarts before her time there was done. The more learning she could get from the school, the better.

Thus she would be leaving the window quite soon. But she just had to take a moment. Just one. Let herself have this after so much hard work. Mother would disapprove of the time off, but wouldn't they be able to afford it once Alina got a good and proper job? Mother would never accept leaving her own career, Alina was sure. But couldn't the young Hufflepuff take one moment for a day dream?