The new week began, and Will returned to his usual school life as though nothing had happened.
Snape did not see it that way.
On Monday and Tuesday alone, Snape docked Gryffindor a full forty-seven points—and that was without the fifth-years even attending Potions Class. Harry lost eleven points just from running into Snape twice in the corridor.
"Gregory Perry! Are you a pig? Why did you add the lizard eyes before lighting the fire? Gryffindor loses three points because you weren't paying attention!"
"Harry Potter! Shouting in the corridor. Gryffindor loses five points for your noise!"
"Mario Whitman! Do you enjoy eating mushrooms in class? Gryffindor loses five points for your gluttony! Do it again, and you'll spend your entire Easter holiday with dragon dung!"
Yes, Easter fell that weekend. Its date changed each year, and in 1996 it fell on April 7, a Sunday.
Hogwarts was giving its young wizards a few days off, enough to get them excited. It was a little holiday, after all.
The fifth- and seventh-years, however, were not so lucky.
As if to stress the importance of the approaching exams, every professor assigned them piles of homework. Snape and Professor McGonagall gave the most and set the strictest requirements.
Even Professor Flitwick, usually so easygoing, assigned them an exceptionally long essay on the Mending Charm.
According to Professor Flitwick, the Mending Charm had not appeared on the O.W.L.s for three years. Since it had appeared frequently in the past, there was a good chance it would come up this year.
In the High Tower, Ron and Seamus were groaning. They had more homework than the others because Professor McGonagall had given them a surprise test on the Vanishing Spell in Transfiguration.
Working as a pair, neither had passed. Seamus had blown his rat