Hermione’s helping hand

           AsHermionehadpredicted,thesixth-years’freeperiodswerenotthehoursofblissfulrelaxationRonhadanticipated,buttimesinwhichtoattempttokeepupwiththevastamountofhomeworktheywerebeingset.Notonlyweretheystudyingasthoughtheyhadexamseveryday,butthelessonsthemselveshadbecomemoredemandingthaneverbefore.HarrybarelyunderstoodhalfofwhatProfessorMcGonagallsaidtothemthesedays;evenHermionehadhadtoaskhertorepeatinstructionsonceortwice.Incredibly,andtoHermione’sincreasingresentment,Harry’sbestsubjecthadsuddenlybecomePotions,thankstotheHalf-BloodPrince.

           Non-verbalspellswerenowexpected,notonlyinDefenseAgainsttheDarkArts,butinCharmsandTransfigurationtoo.HarryfrequentlylookedoverathisclassmatesinthecommonroomoratmealtimestoseethempurpleinthefaceandstrainingasthoughtheyhadoverdosedonU-No-Poo;butheknewthattheywerereallystrugglingtomakespellsworkwithoutsayingincantationsaloud.Itwasarelieftogetoutsideintothegreenhouses;theyweredealingwithmoredangerousplantsthaneverinHerbology,butatleasttheywerestillallowedtoswearloudlyiftheVenomousTentaculaseizedthemunexpectedlyfrombehind.

           Oneresultoftheirenormousworkloadandthefrantichoursofpracticingnon-verbalspellswasthatHarry,Ron,andHermionehadsofarbeenunabletofindtimetogoandvisitHagrid.