Neville was doing an admirable job of blocking her strikes with his closest forearm, but was clearly pleased. "Sorry," he said, grinning away.
"Miss Granger!" barked the Professor. "Please cease with your attempts to beat young Mister Longbottom half to death with a cushion!"
Hermione jumped in surprise, spun to look back to the front and the Professor, dropped the cushion and exclaimed, "Sorry!"
However, while the Professor was doing his best to try to display a stern expression, he couldn't maintain it and laughed.
When he got control of himself again he said, "Forgive me; but, that would have to be one of the funniest things I've witnessed as a Professor. And I've seen some doozies."
Harry had already bent back down and started to stack all the cushions on their side of the desk onto their desktop. After about three he just resorted to tossing them directly onto the floor under the blackboard. After all, they were just conjured cushions.
After that, Neville focussed on getting his power back under control by casting repetitive Lumos charms and regulating the amount of magical energy he was pushing.
_‗_
―==(oIo)==―
ˇ
After Charms came morning tea. Then they were on to Ancient Runes.
Though he'd given all outward signs he was unconcerned about his chances in the exam to Hermione - all to keep her calm, which didn't work - Harry was actually somewhat worried.
He realised Hermione was right in that, while he'd read and studied the assigned texts and others while self-studying, he'd not had access to the class notes and the like.
Thankfully, Hermione remembered where she'd stored them at home and called Betsy to go and get them for her.
When the little female elf popped in and Hermione told her, she replied, "But, Mistress Herm-i-o-ne, Betsy did packs them. They be in your room." And indicated towards Hermione's room.
Surprised, Hermione looked to the door of her room before turning back to the elf. "Thank you, Betsy. Would you mind getting them and bringing them in here, please?"
"Yes, Mistress," the elf replied. It popped away and was back a moment later, holding the notes and offering them.
Accepting them, Hermione smiled at her and said, "Thank you, Betsy. You may return to what you were doing."
Once the elf popped away yet again, she went to sort them out and realised they already were. Then she handed them to Harry.
"This is all my notes and assignments from Third Year," she explained. "Read through them and, as you're going, if you don't understand something just ask me and I'll try to clarify it for you."
Those notes, as he expected, were extensive. And he did have quite a few questions.
Now it was the next day and he was sitting in the Ancient Runes class while the class was revising.
Before they entered he'd managed to snag Daphne and asked her if she wanted to sit next to him.
"I know that's not something you can do in our other classes," he said, "But, you're the only Slytherin in this class. Hermione told me you've sat with her the past year and a bit, so it won't look odd if you sit with her, this time. I'll just be joining you."
Her smile back showed she was happy with that. And did join the pair of them.
He expected her to sit on the other side of Hermione. However, she chose to push him along where he sat at the end of the desk and sat next to him on the other side from Hermione.
"That's going to send a message," he quietly muttered to her.
"That's the intent," she muttered back and smiled.
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