Closed Reading by the Lake solo

Reducio

It finally happened. Last night, not even that late, Dora had fallen asleep while studying in her bed. She was plagued with a nightmare where she went to Transfiguration class the next morning, but instead of her Professor, her grandmother was there, and she'd forgotten her homework. Her grandmother gave her a T, and then Dora woke up a page of her notes plastered to her cheek. She realized quickly that it's still spring break, and that there was an unsightly ink smudge on her face. Dora went to clean up and get dressed, deciding that she couldn't possibly continue studying without taking a break. As much as it pains her to tear herself away, she can't even remember anything she learned yesterday. One day can't hurt, right?

Dora takes a walk through the grounds, going south to the Great Lake. She hasn't ventured very close since she first got to Hogwarts and all the first years sailed across. It was stormy then, a lot like a few days ago. It's not now, though it is a bit cloudy. Not going too close to the shore, Dora perches on a boulder that gives her a good view. It's a very pretty lake, even if it is dangerous. Easier to admire from a safe distance.

She takes out a book she brought with her, though not one for studying. It's the muggle book she picked up in the mystery giveaway on Book Day. Dora debated a little whether it's okay for her to read it, since it isn't wizard literature. And with how busy she's been, she hasn't even gotten a chance to crack it open until now.

'It's probably okay.' She reasons, opening it up carefully, 'The librarian wouldn't give it out if it wasn't.' Dora likes the Hogwarts librarian. He's always been very helpful. It seems like a nice job to have. Too bad Dora will never be one.

The first few chapters introduce her to Victor Frankenstein, a muggle doctor from a long time ago. She does her best to follow along, a little confused at certain concepts and language. But when the subject turns to death and, more interestingly, the reverse of it, Dora's attention is fully captured. She reads on as Frankenstein brings a corpse to life with a thing called electricity, and how monstrous it is that it horrifies the doctor.

Dora knows there's no way to bring the dead back to life, but growing up next to a mortuary does make one wonder. Of course, muggle science would never really be able to do something that even magic can't. Right?

She shivers at the description of the monster, reading on with intrigue and forgetting about her studies for a little while.