"I understand, Professor," Will said. He had come prepared. "But I believe I can handle it. I want to explore a wider range of magic and find what truly interests me and where my strengths lie."
Professor McGonagall looked at him with appreciation in her eyes. "Your enthusiasm for learning is admirable, Will, and your talent is beyond question."
She paused and took a sheet of parchment from a drawer.
"If you insist on taking every course, you'll need to fill out this special application. Some classes may overlap, so you'll need the help of a magical device. I believe you meet the requirements, but you should still take care when filling out the form."
The parchment was full of trivial questions. Apparently, getting a Time-Turner came down to the professors' judgment. Will had thought Snape would be the one to give him one, but it seemed Professor McGonagall, as deputy headmistress, handled such matters.
Fifteen minutes later, Will left the room with a satisfied smile. His application should go through without a problem. After all, his overall grades matched Hermione's, putting him at the very top of the second-year class.
Will had barely taken two steps outside when he ran into Hermione. Professor McGonagall had summoned her too. It seemed Miss Granger was about to get a Time-Turner as well.
After working this hard for so long, couldn't I take it easy for once?
Over the next few days, Will attended classes and tutoring at the usual times. After class, he barely even touched his homework, choosing instead to read books that interested him. It was a remarkably leisurely stretch.
Will claimed he was "slacking off," but no one believed him. Hermione was the only one who breathed a little easier—the silly girl was still trying to catch