School had started, and just like last year, it opened with a "wonderful" Monday.
For the first-years, the first few days of term were a beginner's phase, a time to get familiar with the castle and soak in the wonder of magic.
But for students in the other years, it was pure chaos, a race against time.
Second year was probably the most relaxed period in a Hogwarts student's academic life. There were only one or two classes a day, unlike students in third year and above, who also had electives.
But second-years still had summer homework to do.
"Leonard, did you finish your summer homework for Potions and History of Magic?" The moment Transfiguration ended, Ernie hurried over to Leonard and asked anxiously.
"Of course... Wait, you are not about to tell me you did not finish those two assignments, are you?" Leonard looked at Ernie in surprise. "You have got some nerve."
The professors for Potions and History of Magic were the hardest to deal with.
There was a rule at Hogwarts. If your homework was incomplete or failed to meet the required standard, the professor had the right to give you detention as punishment.
But the severity of detention varied from professor to professor.
If it was Professor Flitwick or Professor Sprout, at most they would make you finish the assignment during detention.
If it was Professor McGonagall, then after finishing the homework, you might also have to go to Filch for a round of labor punishment.
But even Professor McGonagall's harshest punishment was still only physical work. The truly terrifying detentions came from the Potions professor and the History of Magic professor.
As for the Potions professor, Snape, there was no need to say much. He simply was not a good person.
If he found out you had not finished your homework, he would put on a show of surprise, call on you in class, and humiliate you with his words.
Then naturally came detention.
But Snape still would not let you off even during detention. He would keep sneering at you, tearing you down, belittling you, making you wish the floor would swallow you whole.
Then he would inform the head of your house and let you experience the joy of double detention.
Professor Cuthbert Binns, the History of Magic professor, was not that shameless, but he would keep muttering away during detention.
He was a ghost, and he had spent his entire life teaching History of Magic. He had never retired. But that did not mean his classes were witty or engaging. Quite the opposite, the content was mind-numbingly dull, and his tone was so soporific it could put anyone to sleep.
So in his detention, not only did you have to work seriously on making up your assignment, you also had to endure the ghost's gloomy stare and fight off the constant urge to nod off.
That was why detentions from those two professors were universally acknowledged as miserable, and everyone tried their best not to mess up homework in either subject.
That was why Leonard was so surprised. He had only just realized that Ernie was actually this brave.
"Stop joking around, this is an emergency!" Ernie said anxiously. "Potions is tomorrow morning, and then there is another History of Magic class tomorrow afternoon. If I do not finish those assignments, I am not going to have a good day all week."
"Look at you, saying that like it will be exactly as bad as you think." Leonard patted him on the shoulder and spoke earnestly. "Going by Snape's usual style, you are going to have at least two bad weeks."
"I am miserable enough already. I do not need you reminding me it can get even worse, okay?" Ernie bared his teeth. "Just answer me. Are you helping or not?"
"I do not mind letting you copy my homework, but can you finish copying it?" Leonard kindly reminded him. "At least twenty-four inches."
"I will just write bigger and skip lunch. It should be fine." Ernie looked like he was ready to bet it all. "Either I die, or I write myself to death!"
"If you had shown this kind of determination over the holiday, you would not need to come back to school to finish homework." Leonard shook his head, then handed over his Potions and History of Magic summer assignments. "Do your best."
"Thank you so much!" Ernie took the homework excitedly and ran off in a flash.
Leonard watched Ernie's retreating back and shook his head. Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly spotted Harry, whom he had not seen in quite a while.
"Leonard, long time no see." Harry greeted him cheerfully. "How have you been lately?"
"I have been fine. What about you?" Leonard asked politely.
"Me? Not great." Harry gave a bitter smile. "You know... actually, you probably do not. I stay with my aunt's family, and they do not treat me very well. This year... I almost did not make it back."
"Oh?" Leonard raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Because of Hedwig. She spent the whole summer in my room without getting any air, and she was practically going mad from being cooped up. When one of my uncle's big clients came over for dinner, Hedwig got out of her cage and nearly ruined the whole evening."
Harry sighed. "Because of that, they locked me up and only gave me canned beans to eat every day. Luckily Professor Dumbledore got there in time and gave them a good scolding. Otherwise, I think I really might have starved to death."
"My deepest sympathies," Leonard said.
"It is nothing worth sympathizing over. I never thought of that place as home anyway. Hogwarts is my home." Harry said, "But after Dumbledore put the fear of God into the Dursleys, they do not dare act so arrogantly now. My life will probably be a lot easier from now on..."
Harry kept rambling on and on. Leonard listened patiently for a while, but when it became clear Harry still had no intention of getting to the point, he finally prompted him tactfully. "Did you need something from me?"
"Oh, sorry, I forgot." Harry froze for a second, then said awkwardly, "I just came from Herbology. Professor Sprout asked me to pass along a message. She wants you to stop by the greenhouse when you have time."
"Oh, Professor Sprout is looking for me?" Leonard nodded, thinking to himself, If I had not interrupted you, were you ever going to mention that?
Harry really was too chatty.
After silently complaining for a bit, Leonard noticed Harry still looked ready to keep talking, so he hurriedly said, "Since Professor Sprout is looking for me, I had better head over now. I would hate to keep her waiting."
"Uh... all right." Harry nodded regretfully and watched Leonard hurry away as if fleeing for his life.
"Why was Leonard running so fast? It is like someone was chasing him." Harry shook his head in confusion and turned to leave.
Once he was far enough away from Harry, Leonard let out a sigh of relief and slowly came to a stop.
After so long apart, Harry was still just as long-winded as ever. Thank goodness they were not in the same house, or Leonard would have been annoyed to death sooner or later.
Leonard shook his head helplessly and walked against the stream of students leaving class, heading toward the Hogwarts greenhouses.