Today was Saturday, yet Hogwarts bore none of its usual atmosphere.
In the past, the castle would become especially lively every Saturday.
The younger students, who usually holed up in their dormitories or the library, tearing their hair out over homework and essays, as well as the older students busy with their studies, would all leave the castle on this day.
They might gather a few friends and play with the giant squid in the Black Lake—though that was usually something only first- and second-years did.
Or they might take their lovers by the hand and arrange a trip to Hogsmeade, visiting the sweetshop and Three Broomsticks. Occasionally, a circus would come to perform in Hogsmeade on weekends, and Hogwarts students, who usually had Silver Sickles in their pockets with nowhere to spend them, were the ideal targets.
But such scenes would gradually disappear every March. Especially as Easter approached, classrooms and the library would once again become the students' favorite places to clock in.
If students had to pick the most unpopular holiday of the year, Easter would undoubtedly take first place.
All because of those damned exams!
The younger students, mainly fourth-years and below, had to prepare for their June promotion exams. The older ones, such as fifth-years, had to begin taking their O.W.L.s, while seventh-years had to sit their N.E.W.T.s.
By that reckoning, from March onward, the only leisurely students at Hogwarts were the sixth-years—they had already taken their O.W.L.s and were in further study. Theoretically, even if they slacked off, it would not affect their advancement to seventh year.
On his way to the fourth floor, Vaughan ran into several fifth-years hurrying along. The immense academic pressure had them racing against time even when they spoke, their words coming out at a furious pace.
"...Merlin, I