Marauder's Map

"Morning." Harry sat down across from her.

"Morning." Hermione looked up. "Did you finish yesterday's homework?"

"I'm still on the last paragraph. I'll finish it this morning."

"That's good, then."

Ron was spreading butter over a slice of toast. The butter slid off the edge of the knife, leaving an uneven thick smear across the surface.

A plate of scrambled eggs sat in front of Seamus, already more than half eaten, with his fork resting on the edge of the plate.

Harry picked up the bread basket. There were still a few slices of toast and a corner of a croissant inside.

He took a slice of toast, brushed it through the butter dish by Ron's hand, added a spoonful of jam, and took a bite.

The edges of the bread had already gone a little cold, but the sweetness of the jam melted in his mouth, filling out the increasingly bland taste of the bread itself.

"How much did you write after that last night?" Hermione asked Harry, lifting her head from her book.

"I finished the last paragraph," Harry said. "After I got back to the dormitory last night, I added another two inches. If I go to the library this morning and wrap up the ending, I can hand it in."

"That's faster than me," Ron said. "I've still got about three inches left."

Seamus drew his gaze back from the window. "I've got even more left. I'll probably need another whole day."

"Didn't you say you had nine inches yesterday?" Ron asked.

"Nine inches for the main text, but I haven't done the notes and citations yet. Hermione said the notes alone needed at least another inch and a half."

Hermione pushed aside her bowl of oatmeal and took a sip of tea. "If you don't