Chapter 286: Hermione's Hour

After the first successful spell, Hermione performed well.

They fetched a few more Acromantulas for Hermione to practice. Although she could now successfully cast the spell, she was still not very skilled and could not easily master her movements.

Her spell was also much less powerful than Ivan's.

"I've practiced for so long, and I still can't master this spell..." said Hermione.

"You're doing great already, Hermione!" Ivan encouraged her and said, "When I first came into contact with this spell, I didn't grasp it as quickly as you did. What you need now is more practice until you master it completely."

More practice meant more time.

Hermione's schoolwork had drained all of her time and energy, with each teacher assigning more and more homework to prepare for the upcoming final exam, in addition to the regular battle with the Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest every Friday.

Since February, Hermione had been using the time-turner frequently to go back and forth at different periods of time, often forgetting to eat.

With the increase in homework, there was unlimited pressure, and she could only talk to Ivan about it.

Ivan chose to remain silent and listen quietly, giving her a place to vent.

It was useless to suggest that Hermione drop some classes or something. It was a total waste of effort.

He often saw her appear before him right after she dropped out.

Therefore, Ivan had to prepare for Hermione a schedule to remind her what to do at any given time.

One day before the Easter vacations, when Ivan and Colin finished their morning lessons on the history of magic, they entered the Great Dining Hall and saw the third years sitting at the table with smiles on their faces. Only Harry and Ron looked worried as they whispered.

"Why do they laugh all the time?" asked Colin curiously.

"This is the power of the Stimulating Charm." Ron explained. "In Charms class in the morning, Professor Flitwick taught us this spell, and we cast it on each other."

Ivan knew that the Stimulating Charm could bring people a feeling of great satisfaction.

Under the influence of the spell, the victim's mood would continue to be high, feeling happy from the bottom of his heart, even if he encountered frustrating things.

"Everyone needs to relax. The effect of this spell can last for a whole day." Ivan looked around and continued, "Where did Hermione go, why didn't she come for lunch?"

"This is exactly what we just talked about." Harry said hurriedly, "Ivan, haven't you seen Hermione anywhere else?"

"No, I saw her last time in the morning; she followed the two of you to go to Charms class" Ivan frowned and said, "What happened?"

"Actually, this morning, until we walked up the marble staircase to Professor Flitwick's classroom, the three of us were still together," Harry explained. "But when we entered the classroom, Hermione was missing!"

"Missing?!" Ivan froze.

"She was clearly behind me, and we were discussing the matter of those damn spiders in the Forbidden Forest." Ron added, "Harry and I thought she'd gone to the bathroom, but she didn't show up for the whole lesson."

Hearing this, Ivan already knew what had happened.

Hermione must have confused the time with the time-turner. She missed a very important incantation class and he didn't know where she was now.

He pulled Hermione's schedule out of her backpack, which proved that she should have had Arithmancy and Divination this morning in addition to the Charms class.

"Did you ask anyone else about Hermione?" Ivan looked up and said, "Like a student in Divination class!"

"We've asked everyone, but no one has seen Hermione" Ron looked at the schedule in Ivan's hands and whispered, "I've never understood, how does Hermione get to have so many classes at the same time?"

"Ivan, do you think Hermione will use that thing?" Harry thought about the time-turner.

Ivan nodded and Ron looked at him and Harry suspiciously.

"Hermione must have gotten the time mixed up. She's either in the library or the common room." Ivan said, putting down his cutlery. "Let's go find her."

Over 20 minutes later, they found Hermione in the common room. She was sitting at a table, asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book.

They went to sit on either side of her. Ivan woke her up.

"What, Ivan?" said Hermione in confusion. She woke up with a start and looked around wildly. Then she saw Harry and Ron. "Is it time to go? what lesson do we have now?"

"Divination, but not for another twenty minutes," Harry said.

"Why didn't you come to enchantment?" asked Ron quizzically. "Ivan said you ruined the moment, but I don't understand..."

"What? oh no!" Hermione yelled, "I forgot to go to enchantment!"

"But how could you forget?" asked Ron. "You were with us until we were out of the classroom, and Harry can prove it."

Hermione paid no attention to him, she wailed, "I can't believe it, was Professor Flitwick angry? I remember you telling me about the Acromantulas. I was thinking about the spell Ivan had taught me. I was thinking about it and I lost track of things..."

"You've chosen too many courses." Harry said, looking at the huge Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. "I think you're falling apart. You want to do so many things at the same time..."

"No, I'm not!" said Hermione, pushing her hair out of her eyes and looking around desperately for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go see Professor Flitwick and apologize."

She grabbed her backpack and ran out of the common room, and Ivan hurried after her.

"I can't believe I missed Charms class!" Hermione said irritably, and quickly made her way to Professor Flitwick's office.

"I'll stick to my words; you've put yourself under too much pressure." Ivan said.

"I haven't, I'm just..." Hermione hesitated when she saw Ivan looking at her seriously. "I just want to be better!"

"You're good enough. In my mind, you're always the best." Ivan took some pieces of cake specially reserved for Hermione out of his backpack and handed them to her.

"Thank you, Ivan!" Hermione looked very touched. She walked over and hugged Ivan.

Then she hurried to Professor Flitwick's office.

About ten minutes later, she emerged from it, looking extremely tense.