After reaching an agreement with Aisling, Roy closed his notebook in satisfaction, switched off the desk lamp, and quietly climbed back into bed.
The next day was Monday. All the first-years' end-of-term classes were self-study sessions, so Roy naturally wasn't worried about failing his final exams. While the other students spent the morning's Transfiguration and afternoon's Potions class memorizing their textbooks, Roy spent the whole day buried in a copy of Treatment of Common Curses and Magical Injuries.
After the afternoon Potions self-study session ended, the Hufflepuff students, exhausted from a full day of cramming, all trudged into the Great Hall for dinner without much energy.
As Roy entered the dining hall, he passed the Slytherin table and exchanged a glance with Aisling, who was seated at the very front.
While no one was paying attention, Aisling and Roy gave each other a slight nod. Having received the signal, Roy casually sat down at the Hufflepuff table and focused wholeheartedly on polishing off the lavish dinner before him.
Although the two had fully reconciled in private and no longer put on an act of hostility in front of others, the students at school still believed Roy and Aisling couldn't stand each other. Neither had shown any sign of making up. After all, the culprit had yet to be caught, and throwing out a little more smoke would ultimately benefit both of their safety.
There was still plenty of time after dinner, and Roy still had work to do. He first returned to the Hufflepuff Common Room and gave a public lesson on the Vanishing Spell in Transfiguration. Now, from Monday to Friday each week, Roy tutored fifth-years on O.W.L. material in the common room after dinner.
After talking himself hoarse for an hour and a half in the common room,