Orli had once believed that by altering the main storyline and resolving Sirius' situation ahead of time, the second half of their third year would be more relaxed for the four of them.
But things didn't turn out as she had hoped—they were still absurdly busy. Hermione, in particular, seemed to be on the brink of collapse—even Ron had noticed. She was taking more classes than anyone else. At night, she was always the last to leave the common room, and in the mornings, she was the first to arrive at the library. Shadows had formed under her eyes, much like Lupin's, and she looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.
Harry and Ron had stopped questioning how she managed to attend multiple classes at the same time, but when they saw the schedule she had drawn up for herself, they couldn't help but ask. The first column of the schedule read: Monday, 9:00 AM—Arithmancy; 9:00 AM—Transfiguration; Lunch; 1:00 PM—Charms; 1:00 PM—Ancient Runes.
# Ron: "Hermione?"
Ron asked cautiously, aware that any interruption these days could provoke an outburst.
# Ron: "Are you sure you didn't copy the times wrong?"
# Hermione: "What?"
Hermione snapped, grabbing the schedule to scrutinize it.
# Hermione: "No, of course I didn't copy it wrong. Has anyone seen my Muggle Studies essay?"
## Orli: "Here it is, Hermione."
Orli had to sift through a pile of books to retrieve the parchment covered in circuit diagrams.
## Orli: "Hermione, I really think you and your brain need a break. Have some snacks, get some fresh air."
# Hermione: "No, don't be ridiculous, Orli. I don't have the time."
Hermione quickly gathered her textbooks, stuffing them into her already overstuffed bag. She grabbed a hefty book titled The Life and Social Habits of British Muggle Families and said:
# Hermione: "See? I have to finish this by Monday, and there are still 422 pages left!"
# Ron: "We should get to Divination,"
Ron said, still staring at Hermione.
# Ron: "Let's go."
Then something peculiar happened. Hermione had clearly climbed out of the passage behind the Fat Lady's portrait with them just moments ago, but in the next instant, she was gone. Ten minutes later, they found her at the foot of the stairs leading to Professor Trelawney's classroom.
# Harry: "Where did you go just now?"
Harry asked, looking at Hermione in surprise before glancing behind him.
# Ron: "We thought you went to the bathroom, but you didn't even ask Orli to go with you."
Ron added.
Orli sighed in concern. Even for Hermione's brilliant mind, using the Time-Turner non-stop for over half a year was bound to cause confusion. Sure enough, Hermione looked deeply frustrated. She pulled out a small notebook filled with densely packed times from her pocket, stared at it for a while, and then shoved it back with a huff.
# Hermione: "I went to the bathroom and took a shortcut."
Hermione said vaguely, and before anyone could respond, she hurried up the moving ladder to Trelawney's classroom. Harry and Ron exchanged puzzled looks but said nothing, following her up.
The four of them entered the dimly lit, stifling tower classroom, where each small table held a glowing crystal ball filled with pearly white mist. They chose two adjacent tables, practically sitting together.
# Ron: "I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term."
Ron muttered, his eyes darting around for any sign of Professor Trelawney, wary of being overheard.
# Harry: "Stop complaining. At least it means we're done with palmistry."
Harry muttered back.
# Harry: "She flinches every time she looks at my palm. I'm sick of it."
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