Playing Games

After dinner, Pabbie carried the empty plates into the Kitchen.

Ron and Neville put away the long table, folded the tablecloth, and placed it on a chair.

Night had fully fallen outside. More wood had been added to the fireplace, raising the flames and once again filling the room with warmth.

Pabbie carried the last few bowls and plates into the Kitchen. The faint sound of running water and clinking dishes drifted from down the hall, mingling with the low murmur of conversation in the Living Room to form a quiet gap that did not need filling.

Ron sat on the sofa with a half-finished glass of Butterbeer in hand. The foam around the rim had already subsided, leaving behind a fine white ring.

He shifted on the sofa into a more comfortable position, then turned to look at Seamus and Neville beside him. "You really haven't written a single word of your holiday homework?"

"Not one word," Seamus said. "I meant to do it during the holidays, but I never even opened my suitcase."

"I haven't either," Neville said. "Professor Sprout's essay has to be at least twelve inches long, and I haven't even figured out the first line of the title."

"Then when are you planning to write it?"

"The day before School Opening," Seamus said.

"The night before School Opening," Neville said. "I work better at night."

Hermione turned from her chair by the window. "Professor Sprout will know at a glance that essays written like that were rushed."

"That's still better than not writing one at all," Seamus said.

Ron laughed, set his Butterbeer on the coffee table, pulled out his phone, and opened a game.

"Any new games lately?" Neville leaned over and asked.

"Hermione helped me install one last week. It's called Warcraft III: