            Despite the tendril of negativity curling around the days, Hermione felt more relaxed than...well, longer than she could remember. Free of her usual girlfriend duties of hanging around Ron, Hermione was free to spend time with her friends when she wished, and to find a quiet corner when she needed time to think. The research was never far from her mind, like a feather dragging deeper across her mind until she acknowledged it. There was little to do, of course, but she managed to jot down her thoughts as they came up.