Out of Inn Post--Hogwarts, 25 March 1978
It's Saturday afternoon--Holy Saturday, in fact--and Peter's in the library of Hogwarts. Much, it must be added, to the consternation of his friends, who are convinced that he must be suffering from some dire illness. Who studies during school holidays? He's had to make a lot of excuses, most of them involving a passionate need to ace his upcoming N.E.W.T.s. So he's studying ahead of time. That way, he can shock everybody with his brilliant marks.
James thinks that he must be suffering from a virulent strain of dragon pox. Sirius thinks that he's been hit with the Confundus Charm once too often by some Slytherin. Remus says they have a bet going.
And yet, the funny thing is, it's almost the truth. He really is studying for a test, even though it's not one that the Examiners will give.
He's practiced bits of the whole routine--not all of it, of course, but some. He's found that he can Summon the Squid and keep it surrounded by enough water to keep it breathing, as well as making it bob around in a semi-graceful manner. He can--sort of--duplicate the sound of "Bohemian Rhapsody." Unfortunately, it sounds rather tinny, not unlike the wireless in his flat. And he's managed to create a scene or two on various surfaces--tables, flagstones, walls. But they've all been a bit blurry, and not at all well-defined.
The results, overall, aren't bad. They'd probably get him an Exceeds Expectations in class.
And that's not good enough. He doesn't want an Exceeds Expectations; he knows bloody well that his professors don't expect anything from him that's even close to what they expect of James, Sirius and Remus. What he's done so far would garner them Acceptables. Maybe. If they were lucky. Exceeding low expectations is useless. He has to do an outstanding, superb, perfect job, something that'll make everyone gasp...or really, what's the point?
He sighs, gets up from the library study table and--ignoring the suspicious looks Madam Pince is giving him--goes down an aisle to retrieve Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes. Maybe there'll be something in the book that can help him improve his Transfiguration of the ceiling.
He isn't expecting the aisle to lead to the Outside Inn.
James thinks that he must be suffering from a virulent strain of dragon pox. Sirius thinks that he's been hit with the Confundus Charm once too often by some Slytherin. Remus says they have a bet going.
And yet, the funny thing is, it's almost the truth. He really is studying for a test, even though it's not one that the Examiners will give.
He's practiced bits of the whole routine--not all of it, of course, but some. He's found that he can Summon the Squid and keep it surrounded by enough water to keep it breathing, as well as making it bob around in a semi-graceful manner. He can--sort of--duplicate the sound of "Bohemian Rhapsody." Unfortunately, it sounds rather tinny, not unlike the wireless in his flat. And he's managed to create a scene or two on various surfaces--tables, flagstones, walls. But they've all been a bit blurry, and not at all well-defined.
The results, overall, aren't bad. They'd probably get him an Exceeds Expectations in class.
And that's not good enough. He doesn't want an Exceeds Expectations; he knows bloody well that his professors don't expect anything from him that's even close to what they expect of James, Sirius and Remus. What he's done so far would garner them Acceptables. Maybe. If they were lucky. Exceeding low expectations is useless. He has to do an outstanding, superb, perfect job, something that'll make everyone gasp...or really, what's the point?
He sighs, gets up from the library study table and--ignoring the suspicious looks Madam Pince is giving him--goes down an aisle to retrieve Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes. Maybe there'll be something in the book that can help him improve his Transfiguration of the ceiling.
He isn't expecting the aisle to lead to the Outside Inn.