After two potion classes in a row, Damon welcomed his first weekend at Hogwarts.
He had made up his mind to spend the whole time in the Room of Requirement, improving himself through high-intensity, nonstop spell practice.
Although spells often seem highly personal, Damon believed that hard work could still lead to strength—especially since he had natural talent. He could feel real progress almost every day after training.
To avoid breaking his focus by coming and going, he went to the kitchen and grabbed some dry bread, jam, and milk. He also told Neville that he had something to do on Saturday night and wouldn't be back in the dormitory, so Harry and Ron wouldn't need to worry.
He told Neville on purpose—he had a gentle nature and wouldn't overreact.
Damon didn't like forcing others into things.
Hermione, at this time, was busy with her big goal: reading all the books in the library. She wouldn't be free until after Christmas to help Harry and Ron with advice or homework.
She didn't have any attention to spare for anything else.
In a way, she and Damon were similar. But Damon's goal was to become strong enough to protect himself from both Voldemort and Dumbledore—and then surpass them.
As for Ron and Harry, they were completely undisciplined. They spent their days wandering the castle, chatting with other students, or playing wizard chess in the common room, fully enjoying their free time.
If Damon were to say, "Hey, I found a great place to practice spells for hours—want to come?"
Maybe they'd go along with him just to be nice, but Damon didn't want that. He wouldn't force them.
He believed that only when someone truly wanted to change and improve would he share the secret with them.
So when the short break began, Ron and Harry suddenly noticed that Damon had disappeared.
From lunch on Friday until dinner on Sunday, they didn't see him once.
Not in the castle, not outside, not at the Black Lake, or even in the library.
They searched for him. Harry, invited by Hagrid to visit his hut, wanted to bring Damon along—but couldn't find him.
In Hagrid's hut, he found a small piece of paper under the teapot warmer. It was a clipping from the Daily Prophet about the Gringotts break-in. Harry had a bad feeling, but when he asked, Hagrid brushed it off.
Later that night, when Damon still hadn't returned after curfew, Ron and Harry grew worried. But Neville, who had been told ahead of time, explained things—and Ron shouted:
"What's Damon up to? He actually went out at night and broke the rules?"
Harry was surprised too, though deep down, he felt a bit of admiration.
That night, the four boys stayed up talking, trying to guess where Damon had gone, but they had no clue.
The next day, when the sun was already high, the boys finally got up and realized Damon still hadn't come back.
Harry told Hermione in the common room. She was clearly surprised.
"He went out? And stayed out all night?" she asked, eyes wide. Damon never struck her as the reckless type.
Even though she was still annoyed with Harry and Ron, she couldn't help asking,
"Where is he now?"
"We don't know. He hasn't come back at all. But—Neville said Damon told him in advance and said not to worry," Harry explained.
Hermione's expression softened. She stood, picked up her book, and told Harry:
"Damon's a careful person. If he said that, he must be doing something important.
Maybe he's in Professor McGonagall's office learning Transfiguration. Both she and Professor Flitwick are very impressed with him. Maybe they've arranged something special for Damon. There's no need to worry."
She paused.
"But you," she added.
"Me?" Harry asked, confused.
"Yes, you, Harry. I haven't seen you do a single piece of homework this week. It's already Saturday. Are you planning to waste the weekend on pointless things?
Just so you know—Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration essay is not going to be easy."
Harry tensed up a little and said nervously:
"I—I was going to do it today."
"Really? Well, I'm not forcing you."
Hermione walked off toward the library with her book in hand.
Ron, who had stayed quiet until then, commented:
"Her tone made it sound like a mother scolding her kid."
"Cut it out, Ron," Harry replied. "She's right. We should start our homework too."
"I mean, it's only Saturday—but yeah, might as well get it done early."
They smiled at each other, feeling a little better.
But six hours after dinner, their faces told a different story.
In all that time, they had only finished three Herbology papers—and even those were a struggle, since they hadn't paid much attention in class and didn't take the homework seriously.
When they realized they still had five more essays to go—each at least six inches long—and a massive two-foot-long Transfiguration paper from Professor McGonagall, they looked horrified.
"Are we seriously staying up all night doing homework?" Ron groaned.
Hearing that, Harry pressed his lips together. The thought of pulling an all-nighter darkened his mood.
Ron saw Harry's face and got the message. He stammered:
"Oh no. First week of school and we're already drowning in homework. If my mum finds out—wait! Maybe we can borrow someone else's work! Neville or Seamus must have finished theirs!"
"You mean... copy?"
"Relax, it's just for reference—just this once. We totally underestimated how hard it would be. Once we get through this, we'll do it ourselves, yeah?"
"Yeah... you're right!"
The two quickly ran off to find Neville and Seamus—and their expressions only got worse when they did.
"You haven't finished either?!"
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