The thought brought a deeper wave of helplessness over Hermione. Back in first year she'd still wanted to compete with Lynn over marks; now... she'd rather not. Health mattered more than grades, she felt.
Thanks to Lynn's constant, body-destroying study habits, Hermione had learned her lesson.
As for her earlier idea—if any fifth- or sixth-year Young Wizards at Hogwarts ever heard it, they'd wave their hands in frantic denial.
Don't joke—Lynn's magical skill didn't just outstrip the fifth- and sixth-years; most adult Wizards couldn't keep up either.
During the following week the two girls went nowhere for fun; instead they conscientiously listed every daily necessity the five of them would need and how much of it, after which Mrs. Granger would shop on her way home from work to fill any gaps.
Mrs. Granger soon discovered she only had to do the buying; Lynn and Hermione's lists were so thorough nothing was ever missing, right down to the exact quantities.
Yet Hermione quickly noticed that Lynn's section of the list contained every item needed for bare survival—and not one thing more.
Quantities were calculated with frightening precision, but snacks, drinks, anything that made life enjoyable had been ignored entirely.
Remembering that Lynn hadn't even known what cola was at the Amusement Park, Hermione ground her teeth in frustration.
What kind of parents raise a child who doesn't know how to relax, who has zero concept of fun, who only understands the bare minimum needed to stay alive?
So Hermione added every snack she could think of, in every flavour, plus every drink, until Mrs. Granger's eyebrows twitched.
Still, remembering this was supposed to be the kids' time to play together, Mrs. Granger set concerns about diet and dental health aside.
After all, none of them would live on snacks alone—certainly not with Lynn around.
And there was only one time each year to be a little wild, so she let them be.
Every snack and drink Hermione listed Mrs. Granger bought—in generous amounts.
Writing at top speed, Lynn reached toiletries that day. Based on her own past usage she allotted the right number of pads and tampons for Senior Maranhao, Senior Marietta, and Senior Penelopa; she and Hermione hadn't started their periods yet, so they didn't need any.
Her hand hesitated a moment while she rapidly estimated the three seniors' height and weight, then added a slightly higher-than-standard dose of painkillers to the list.
Period pain could interfere with studying, so painkillers were the logical solution.
And if drowsiness tempted anyone to slack off, cold water would wake her up—Lynn considered it obvious.
It was the cheapest, most efficient method; her mother had demanded it of her. Any extra pain caused by a bucket of cold water? Simple—take a bit more painkiller.
Lynn calculated the dose herself, always a fraction above normal. If the pain still broke through, she studied while hurting; she would never reach the point of needing a hospital—that wasted study time.
Therefore she now prepared similarly 'slightly excessive' painkillers for the three seniors, so they could kill the pain and, if necessary, wake themselves with cold water.
Of course, the list reached Hermione before it ever got to Mrs. Granger.
Taking the sheet out of habit, Hermione checked the sanitary items and agreed that Maranhao, Marietta, and Penelope would need them.
Seeing the painkillers, she assumed Lynn was merely guarding against menstrual cramps.
Glancing sideways at Lynn, still writing, Hermian thought, She hasn't learned about feelings, yet considerateness seems instinctive.
With a wry smile Hermion added several packs of biscuits; the Grangers were shopping day by day—the sheer volume was too much to carry at once.
Lacking any medical background, Hermione never realised that the painkiller dose listed for three people was already above the safe line.
But when Mrs. Granger came home and saw the list, she spotted the incorrect dosage at once.
She was about to call Hermione back, but the girl had already run off to talk with Lynn.
Not wanting to disturb them, Mrs. Granger turned to her husband instead.
'That child Lynn is so thoughtful—look, she even remembered painkillers. Still, she's only a child; the dosage is off.'
Mr. Granger gave a half-laugh. 'It'd be frightening if she got it right. Honestly, these daily-necessity lists of hers amaze me.'
'She's only eleven, yet she lists everything in such detail and calculates the exact quantities. I can't help wondering if her family relied on her for everything.'
He shook his head in self-mockery. 'I'm being oversensitive; she's still a child. Cooking and cleaning, maybe, but surely they didn't depend on her for every aspect of life.'
Mrs. Granger nodded agreement, yet a sense of dissonance stirred inside her.
Lynn could calculate the precise number of tissues; would she really miscalculate a painkiller dose?
Pressing her lips together, she shook the stray thought away.
Lynn was a child; without medical knowledge a mistake was normal—yes, normal. She was overthinking it.
Almost instinctively, she refused to ponder any other possibility.
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