Procrastination; The Thief of Time

[Perseas Stratis]

The time to turn in a long essay about the Druids was getting closer as the day was passing and the sun hid somewhere behind the mountains. However, Perseas Stratis had been reading with delight a rather irrelevant book under the dim light of the few burning candles. Several textbooks on celtic magic were left opened on the table, along with a series of parchment rolls about the deeds of several, well-known druids of all time. Yet, he had leaned back on his chair and had placed his legs up high on the corner of the table while reading a book about ancient caves, tunnels and catacombs. He should have never laid an eye on this thick tome. Now his essay was going to be postponed indefinitely, maybe it was never going to be completed. It didn't matter to him now anyway. His pale eyes were following devotedly the fading lines, absorbing every single information wrapped around mystery, conspiracy and the unknown. The table he had chosen to settle down earlier that afternoon was blocked from the other people's view as it was surrounded by towering bookcases and the window. Even the majestic view of the lake right next to him was worth his attention now that he was reading about a cave at his birthplace where muggles had been witnessing strange creatures and the local ministry of magic was preferring to remain silent about the events. Just when he heard footsteps getting closer to his location, he thought that maybe the librarian was up to her usual patrol to check if everything was in order. Perseas shut the book with a snap, sat straight on his chair with his feet back on the floor and covered the thick book with another book regarding the deeds of Bodhmall of the Fenian Cycle. He had opened the decoy book on a page that had a depiction of the female druid, looking at him and shaking her head in a critical way. Perseas turned another page to hide the druid's judgemental look and pretended he was into his research.

 

[Rafael Fedorowicz]

Whenever was time to do homework, Rafael was finding himself doing anything else than preparing himself to study, research and finish his assignments. It was no different this time as he had arrived early in the afternoon in the library to do his history of magic homework. His huge mistake was that he had brought with him his newly bought magical chess which was at first left aside. Textbooks covered the table, quills started scratching the wrinkled parchments and scrolls were rolling down to the floor but not for long. Another third year caught a glimpse of Rafael's magical chess and asked him if he fancied a game. This was the beginning of a three hour tournament while the two third years played at least four games of magical chess. Rafael wasn't the winner as he won just one game but he had a fun time. When the other third year left, Rafael was left again to continue his homework but he wasn't feeling like writing about druids after a few chess games. He shrugged his shoulders and started returning the books back their shelves. Even if he was going to finish his essay, it wasn't going to get a good mark. History of magic was such a boring subject for him to bother and he wasn't planning to become a historian to be vital for his general studies.

After cleaning the table he had been using all afternoon and packing his own stuff in his back, he picked up his magical chess and decided to look about books on magical chess in order to improve his skills. For the next ten minutes he found himself trying to orient himself in the maze of loaded bookcases but he had no luck with the book he was looking for. He followed the path that the bookcases were forming and turned around a corner to come across a familiar face.
"Hello Perseas." He greeted another third year he had hang out with in the past. Rafael noticed book on Perseas' table, similar to those he had been using to do the history of magic homework.
"Working on the druids' essay? Hope you have better luck than me. I gave up few hours ago thanks to this." He said and showed him the folded chess board.
"Do you know how to play magical chess?" He asked him with a grin, planning to distract his classmate as well from his homework.

 

[Perseas Stratis]

Perseas had started writing down on the parchment the first line of his essay as the newcomer appeared around the corner of bookcases. It turned out to be another third year and not the always vigilant librarian. "Raf." he welcomed the Hufflepuff and sat again more comfortable by leaning back on his chair. "Working is not really the right kind of word. Better say I'm struggling." he chuckled for his lack of muse and concentration. He instantly noticed what Rafael was carrying with him. Perseas was familiar with magical chess although he was rarely playing. His twin brother wasn't really into it and only his older brother was sometimes in the right kind of mood to play with him. Even then, Perseas was usually losing so now his own magical chess board was somewhere forgotten underneath his bed back at home. "You don't want me either to finish this bloody essay, do you?" he sighed and started picking up textbooks and parchments. "Okay, sounds like a plan. Bring it on." he invited him by making some space on the table for the chess board by dropping books and scrolls on the floor. "Frankly, I prefer ordering the pawns moving out of the board and off the table but a chess game would also be good right now. Blacks or whites?" he asked which ones his opponent was going to choose. Perseas knew that he was going to regret this when he was going to be late and sleepy to work on his essay but right now, Rafael was his personal savior.