Chapter 415: Dark Humor
When Hermione spotted Kyle, she forced a reluctant smile, as though trying to greet him, but with her dark circles and an expression on the verge of tears, she didn't look cheerful at all.
Kyle hesitated, then walked over and sat down across from her.
"Hello, Kyle," Hermione greeted him, her voice sounding hoarse.
Kyle glanced at the open books on her desk: Why Muggles Need Electricity, along with texts on Arithmancy, Divination, and Ancient Runes.
"So, you've decided to use the Time-Turner, haven't you?" Kyle asked in a low voice.
Hermione paused mid-page turn, then nodded. "Mm... I can't give up any of my classes. I just... can't."
"But you don't look very well," Kyle observed. "Are you sure you can keep this up until the end of the school year?"
Hermione's face had a weary, drained look, not unlike Lupin's had on the train at the start of term, as if she might collapse any moment. Kyle doubted she'd last until the exams without falling asleep right in the middle of one.
"I don't know..." Hermione admitted, running her fingers through her tangled hair, looking thoroughly frustrated. Her voice was a bit louder than intended, drawing a few disapproving looks. Fortunately, Madam Pince was far enough away not to overhear.
"What did you do before, Kyle?" Hermione asked, desperate. "You took every class, too, but you got high marks—even perfect scores. I thought if I had a Time-Turner, I could handle it just as well, but it's nothing like I imagined."
Hermione tugged at her hair again. "The more I use the Time-Turner, the worse my memory gets, and I can't focus in class. If this keeps up, I'll barely scrape E's on my exams. Professor McGonagall will be so disappointed if I don't get straight O's..."