"These functions... are currently inactive."
Dobby spoke quietly, his voice as faint as a mosquito's whine.
"As requested by sir, this trench coat uses the latest knowledge-driven magical rune circuits.
You must complete the summer homework for one course to unlock each function."
"And..."
Dobby swallowed.
"The homework must meet the acceptance standards. The deadline is one week before term starts."
"No way..."
Harry let go and slumped onto the bed, half his excitement instantly cooling.
"Homework? You mean those several-foot-long History of Magic essays for Professor Binns? Or Snape's poison analysis?"
Though it sounded troublesome, Harry did some mental calculations.
If Hermione helped...
Even if Hermione wasn't there, writing to ask her or looking things up in books should do the trick.
For a trench coat this cool, writing a few essays was worth it.
"All right, where's the homework?"
Harry sighed and held out his hand in resignation.
"Hand it over."
Dobby did not immediately hand him any parchment.
Instead, the house-elf looked at Harry with a complicated expression full of sympathy, pity, and even pride in it.
Then Dobby extended a slender finger and pointed to the bottom of the large suitcase.
Harry followed his finger with his eyes.
Beneath the trench coat lay a thick stack of sharply edged books.
That wasn't parchment.
Nor was it the Standard Book of Spells or One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
Harry leaned closer and made out the cover of the top book by the moonlight.
"Cambridge Junior High School Mathematics: Advanced algebra and geometry"
Harry's vision went dark, and he thought he had misread it.
With a trembling hand, he moved the first book aside, revealing those underneath.
"Oxford Junior High School Physics: Force and motion"
"Comprehensive English Grammar and Writing Guide"
"Introduction to Basic Chemistry: Molecules and