"Oh, goodness, Harry, Ron." Hermione rubbed her aching neck and kneaded her legs, stiff from the cold air. "Um, when did you get back?"
"A while ago," Ron said, then stood up with Harry.
Only then did Hermione notice that the entire room seemed to have grown much dimmer.
Beyond the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows of the Hogwarts Common Room, the bright sunlight had long since given way to the dim night.
"What time is it?" Hermione asked in confusion.
"Seven in the evening," Harry said. "Dinner's almost over."
"Ah, dinner?" Only then did Hermione suddenly notice how painfully hungry she was, and her stomach obligingly let out a rumble.
Hermione rubbed her eyes, realizing that she had been lost in thought for quite some time.
She looked gratefully at Ron and Harry, not upset by their interruption.
"S-sorry, I... I was thinking about something," Hermione explained with a smile after collecting herself.
"It's fine. We just thought you were acting a little strange," Ron said. "I've never seen you so focused before. Really, the way you were concentrating was a bit scary."
Hermione pressed her lips together and smiled faintly, understanding Ron's joke. Her thoughts really were rather muddled; she had been completely immersed in researching the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life.
"Mm, yes. Maybe I really was a little too absorbed," Hermione admitted frankly. "But... but this book—"
"Honestly, Hermione, I really think you should get some rest," Ron said, plopping down onto the sofa. He pulled a candy that looked somewhat like a butterfly chrysalis from his pocket, then took out another and handed it to Hermione. "Here, have one. These Butterfly Candies are absolutely brilliant."
"Thanks!" Hermione took the candy, unwrapped it, and without caring about its strange shape, tossed it straight into her mouth—