"Neville, what are you doing here?"
Pomona ran into Neville in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. He was carrying a stack of parchment, but the classroom door was shut, and he had no free hand to pull it open, leaving him flustered at the entrance.
"Perfect timing, Professor. Could you do me a favor?" Neville steadied a scroll that was about to slip off.
"Answer my question first."
"These are fourth-years' essays. Professor Snape asked me to deliver them to Professor Lupin."
"You went to see Snape?" Pomona asked uncertainly.
"You told me to deliver medicinal ingredients to him for you," Neville said.
"I meant next term."
"Don't worry, I've been doing the same thing since this term started," Neville said frankly. "Besides, this summer break is only a month long. I don't think that will change anything."
It was now July, and it seemed the Triwizard Tournament scheduled for the next school year had been completely finalized. To keep the event from interfering with teaching, some classes had been moved into this school year. The fifth-years facing their OWLs in particular were still attending lessons and would not officially begin their holiday until the end of July. The "substitute teacher" had evidently handed the essays he assigned to the regular instructors.
"I'm going to have a word with him," Pomona said darkly.
"Professor!" Neville shouted after her. "Please help me open the door!"
Pomona ignored Neville and headed straight for the dungeons.
Even during the day, the path to the Slytherin common room was as dim as ever, glowing with the greenish light of the lake. In such an environment, one could not feel July's heat at all. They even had to keep the fireplaces roaring to drive away the chill from the lakebed.
When she arrived