Harley had overlooked one very important detail.
The next day was Monday. After squeezing in some time at noon to visit Nimue's mother, they had very little free time left to return to the Room of Requirement.
Hogwarts had officially entered the pre-exam review week, and the professors of every subject were stepping up their pressure and supervision during this final stretch. The midday breaks were often spent practicing magic.
Lynn had plenty of leisure time, but Harley and Cho weren't so lucky.
"I guess we'll have to wait until the weekend... we can treat it as a way to relax before the exams."
Harley slumped her head in frustration. "I really wanted you to see the new swimsuit I bought, Lynn."
After dinner, Harley pulled Lynn along for a walk to help digest her food. Her spirits were still a bit low as she lightly tucked her arm through his.
"Swimming at the beach at night isn't fun at all. I wanted to sunbathe on the sand during the day."
"Lynn, do you think I should try to get a tan? Like a wheat-gold color?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm more used to the way you look now."
Lynn walked at a leisurely pace, his hands shoved in his pockets.
"Oh—" Harley drew out the word, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly. "I get it."
"But if you like it yourself, it doesn't really matter."
"Wow, that sounded so perfunctory. I'm going to grow up eventually, you know."
"Though the environment here in Britain is certainly different..." Lynn scratched his head, sounding a bit puzzled. "You clearly have so many friends around you, so why does it feel like you're always clinging to me?"
"That's because it's easy to be around you."
Lynn paused for a moment, then let out a chuckle. "That's a pretty lazy reason."
"Zip it," Harley huffed. "I'm telling the truth."
The two walked side by side. As the night breeze blew past, the atmosphere grew quiet and peaceful.
"Speaking of which," Lynn suddenly asked, "if you were given another chance right now, would you want to change back to how you were before?"
Harley thought about it, looking up at the sparse stars. Her tone became serious.
"Being a girl is actually quite a hassle. A lot of things are more troublesome than before, my body gets uncomfortable more easily, and my mood gets affected too."
"But it's not all bad. I really like my life now."
She paused and said softly, "And I can feel it—whether it's my aunt and uncle, or Professor Snape—they are good to me because of the way I am now."
"If I looked more like my father, everything might be different."
"But regardless, that's something I would have had to face."
She turned her head and smiled at Lynn. "So if I had to choose again, I'd still choose this."
"I'm going to wear a really nice swimsuit this weekend, so don't you dare laugh at me."
"What's this?" Lynn raised an eyebrow. "A preemptive warning?"
"Because I feel like it," Harley said, lifting her chin. "If I dress up to look good, someone has to be there to appreciate it."
"I won't laugh at you, of course."
"Good enough then."
Lynn stood up and brushed off his clothes. "Let's go. Walk's over, time to head back and sleep."
"Walk me to Ravenclaw Tower."
"What for?"
"I'm going to sleep with Cho. It's warmer at night."
"Fine, fine."
Once the weekend ended, Hogwarts entered exam week.
The first-years began their exams first, followed by each subsequent year. By the time the holidays started, the report cards would be sent to the students' homes.
During this final weekend, many students had visible dark circles from pulling all-nighters for last-minute cramming, but that kind of pressure wasn't much for the lower years. As long as one paid attention in class, passing the exams wasn't difficult.
In a lighthearted mood, Harley walked with one arm linked with Lynn and the other with Cho. The three of them pushed open the door to the Room of Requirement.
Passing through the mist-shrouded portal, they once again arrived at that space where the waves met the sand.
This time, it was a bright, clear day without a cloud in the sky—a rare bit of good weather for Britain.
The moment she stepped onto the beach, Harley ran around excitedly.
"You guys, come here!"
Holding up the hem of her dress, she ran barefoot where the sand met the sea, her laughter ringing clear.
"The water is so cold, but it feels amazing!"
She twirled around, her skirt fluttering. Cho, caught up in the excitement, took off her shoes and joined her.
Lynn was already skillfully preparing things, waving his wand to conjure beach chairs and bringing out the drinks and snacks he had prepared in advance.
"Lynn, stop messing with those things! Come build a sandcastle with us!"
Harley pulled him to the side, completely unbothered that the hem of her dress was getting soaked by the seawater.
"No magic allowed. We're building it ourselves!"
"Alright, alright."
"Why do you look so lifeless?"
"I was dragged here to be manual labor; of course I'm lifeless."
"Then consider it a workout."
As Harley spoke, she slipped off her outer dress, revealing the swimsuit she had been wearing underneath.
"Well? Does it look good?"
"It's pretty cute." Lynn looked away. "But don't stand right in front of me and strike a pose."
"I have long legs!" Harley argued defiantly. "I've measured them."
"Sure, sure."
She giggled and circled around to his side. "I'm a blue-chip stock for the future; it's not a bad deal to get to know me early, right?"
"That is a very strange way to pitch yourself."
The three of them laughed and joked as they began building the sandcastle.
After playing for a while, they had some cold drinks and snacks. The sea breeze made them feel drowsy.
Three beach chairs were lined up together. Lynn put on his sunglasses and lay down, preparing to take a short nap.
"Didn't you say you were going to help us apply sunscreen?" Harley said discontentedly.
"Can't you two just help each other?"
"It's not the same."
"Give me a break."
In the end, Lynn sat up anyway and helped them apply a simple layer of sunscreen.
"It's nice and cool."
"Stop fidgeting."
"Alright, all done."
He clapped his hands and lay back down in his chair.
"Lynn, you seem very practiced at that," Cho asked curiously.
"I just used to help friends with it before."
"Oh..."
"Don't overthink it."
The sound of the waves rhythmically slapped against the shore.
Sunlight, sand, and the sound of the wind.
It was a quiet and leisurely weekend.
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