Sleeping Through Class

The consequence of staying up all night talking with Lily was that the next day, I was as sleepy as if I'd pulled all-nighters through my entire final year of high school.

I was actually pretty good at staying up late, but the system restricted not only my magic but my energy too. Lily got up feeling refreshed, while I came out wearing a face like Sirius's, much to James's surprise.

"I know, your energy's been sucked dry." He sounded utterly confident. "Feel honored, Merlin. I read those novels you gave me."

Well, thanks ever so much for that.

On this wicked Monday, I had to go to class. I was going to drink another bottle of Wit-Sharpening Potion, but as soon as I took it out, the system's ever-persistent notification appeared.

[Energy detected at its limit. The effects of Wit-Sharpening Potion have been temporarily disabled]

Why does it have to control this too? Are you my mom, monitoring what I drink?

Fuming, I performed a set of military exercises against the air. By the time I finished, I was even more tired. I felt just like Tom in that episode of Tom and Jerry where the cat slacked off, wishing I could prop my eyelids open with two little sticks.

"If there's really no other way, I'll say you're sick." Seeing that I looked ready to sleep until the end of time, Lily racked her brains for a solution. "Or could you sit behind me and sleep for a while?"

"I don't think that's possible unless the professor suddenly develops an eye disease..."

As I spoke, I felt my consciousness slowly slipping away. By the time I came to my senses, I had already fallen headfirst onto the sofa.

"As expected of the student who's lost the most points since starting school, you can even stay up all night before a school day." Sirius never missed a chance to mock me. "Let's look forward to the great Merlin's final exam results."

"Actually, Sirius." Before I could respond, James patted his chest and solemnly announced, "Just yesterday, I overtook Merlin and became the number one point-loser!"

Sirius: "..."

"...What on earth is there to be proud of?" Lily was speechless too. She hauled me off the sofa, and then Mary and Lily practically dragged me to the dining hall.

"Are you sure you don't need some Wit-Sharpening Potion or something?" Remus offered the most sensible suggestion, only to be left completely at a loss when I expressionlessly downed two bottles and was still so sleepy I barely looked human, as if I'd come face-to-face with the outer god Cthulhu. "Even Wit-Sharpening Potion doesn't work? Maybe you should just go back to bed."

"Transfiguration is our first class today. I really wouldn't dare skip the head of our house's class..." I yawned. "There's only one class this morning. I'll hurry back to the dorm and sleep as soon as it's over."

As it turned out, I shouldn't have eaten breakfast, or at least I shouldn't have eaten such a warm, filling one. After that delicious meal, my sleepiness grew even stronger, as thick as the honey bread I'd just eaten. When I entered the classroom, I sat behind James and the others for the first time—I couldn't let Professor McGonagall see how sleepy I was.

Lily was very worried and kept looking back. Each time, James raised a hand and waved at her. After this happened three times, she finally picked up her wand.

"All right, ladies and gentlemen, it's time for class."

Fortunately, Professor McGonagall entered the classroom just in time, saving the few points Gryffindor had left.

I already knew the Transfiguration material inside and out. I'd heard the lesson so many times that my mind slipped away without my noticing. Before long, even Professor McGonagall at the front of the classroom began to blur into multiple images. Three Professor McGonagalls crossed over one another, vaguely resembling a dance.

No, no, I'm definitely going to fall asleep if this goes on! I quickly sat up a little straighter. James had leaned the back of his chair against my desk, so I couldn't even put my head down and sleep. I measured the distance; if I lowered my head now, I'd probably knock him right off the desk.

The thought made me want to laugh, but when I opened my mouth, all that came out was another yawn. I propped up my chin, bored out of my mind, and my thoughts began to drift again.

The pen in my hand scratched a few indecipherable marks on the paper before trailing off into a long line. The sounds around me alternately faded and drew near. The classroom lights suddenly grew brighter, and a hazy veil seemed to separate me from the whole world.

At last, my head fell forward.

"Bang!"

"Now then, wave your wand as I just showed you, and you'll get..."

James rested his chin on his hand and twirled his wand. He wasn't even sitting properly, but was practically leaning against the desk behind him, with his chair tipped back. As he twirled it, the wand brushed Sirius's hair several times. Sirius was used to him zoning out in class and merely wrote "hyperactivity" on a piece of paper and pushed it in front of him.

"Oh, come on, brother, are you still mad about this morning?" James grinned and picked up the note. Just as he was about to sit up straight and write a reply, something bumped into his back.

At first, he thought those Slytherins were playing another prank, but he soon caught a familiar scent and realized-

Merlin was sitting behind him.

Did he fall asleep because he was too tired? He really was forcing himself to stay awake. He should've just stayed in the dorm and slept in the first place.

I really don't get it. Merlin usually seems to get pretty good grades. Does he care that much about one class?

Or has he lost so many points lately that he's too embarrassed to ask Professor McGonagall for time off?

He rocked his tilted chair. They were wearing so many layers in winter that all he could feel was Merlin leaning against him.

This seemed to be the first time they'd ever been so close.

Sirius was still waiting for his reply, but James didn't want to wake Merlin so soon. When you're this tired, even a minute or two of sleep makes you feel much better, he thought confidently. I'm speaking from experience.

But what did she and Lily talk about so late last night? I wonder if they mentioned me?

He sat there a little longer. Having waited a long time without a reply, Sirius looked over in confusion.

James was about to explain, but then he saw Sirius's expression turn very strange.

Right, Sirius really hates Merlin. Seeing Merlin leaning against me is bound to upset him. He thought helplessly, Why can't Sirius manage his relationship with Merlin?

"What are you doing?" Sirius asked.

"Shh, keep your voice down." He made a gesture for silence. "Let Merlin sleep a little longer. Professor McGonagall is still at the front. We'll wake her when she comes over."

"That doesn't mean you have to let her lean on you." Sirius's tone grew even worse. "She runs off every day to brew those strange potions. Who knows what she's doing?"

"Hey, brother, we agreed not to suspect our friends without reason anymore." He waved his arm. "The Marauders have to stick together!"

"First of all, she's not my friend." As Sirius spoke, he began using his hands. "And there is no second. Get up!"

Just a moment ago, I'd clearly been studying hard, even taking notes on my paper. For some reason, the words had suddenly become so difficult to write. I tried hard to see what was on the page, only to find that it had all blurred together.

Just as I was struggling to make it out, a strong force startled me awake. The next moment, the sounds from every direction became perfectly clear. I sat bolt upright as if rising from my deathbed, and as I raised my head, it struck something with a thud. Right after that, James began yelping quietly.

"If you're sleepy, go back to bed. Why are you pretending to be a good student here?" Sirius looked at me darkly, all the while patting James on the back as if he'd just rolled around in a mud puddle.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough! Brother, hit me any harder and I'll cough up a lung." James coughed dramatically. "Is this really necessary?"

Only then did I realize what had happened. I held my head and began sighing.

I knew it. In this state, there was no way I could make it through the whole Transfiguration class.

The commotion on our side soon caught Professor McGonagall's attention. She walked over to the desk and tapped its surface.

"Something seems to have happened here. Can someone tell me the whole story?" As she spoke, she looked at Remus, who was equally in the dark. "Mr. Lupin?"

Remus looked completely bewildered. He had only just noticed the commotion himself. "...Sorry, Professor McGonagall, I'm not really sure."

"I stayed up all night." At this point, I didn't intend to waste any more time, so I raised my hand.

"Sorry, Professor, may I take the morning off?"

Because I always did my homework well, Professor McGonagall let me return to the dorm after confirming that I could already apply the material from this lesson.

I was still yawning all the way down the corridor. The moment I lay down in bed, I thought, Until my energy returns to what it used to be, I'm absolutely never staying up all night again!

─────

[Author's note]

★ Side-route reminder ★

*Congratulations on unlocking a James romance main-route achievement-[Let her sleep a little longer]

[Sirius's darkening meter activated. Current darkening: 4%]