Hermione sighed as she glanced over the sheet of parchment in her hands. It was the worse thing possible, and she has hoped it would never come down to it. There was a flying section for her NEWTS. There was nothing in the study guide on that let alone any indication since it wasn't on the OWLS. "I'm going to fail." She moaned dropped the paper as she put her head in her hands.

"Going to fail what?" Her two best friends Harry and Ron asked as they had just entered the common room.

"My NEWTS."

Ron chuckled. "Hermione you're the smartest witch in Hogwart's History. There is no way you could possible fail."

"There's a flying test."

"So?" Harry asked.

"In case you two haven't noticed I'm not the worlds best flier and I'm terrified of heights." Hermione said nearly in tears.

"Hey calm down Mione, we'll help you."

"Yea who better to help you learn to fly then the best there is?"

"And free of charge since we're your bestest friends in the entire world."

"Ron there isn't a word called 'bestest' for the hundredth time." She mumbled.

"Well who cares." Ron grumbled.

Harry smiled as he pulled Hermione's hands away from her face. "Don't worry you'll do fine."

The trio had been through everything together from their first year and now to their last year of Hogwart's. Harry and Ron now towering at a little over six feet each. Both bodies fit from Quidditch. Hermione at five foot seven, her brown hair still bushy, but not as much. The defeat of Voldemort over the summer brought them closer together.

Lucius Malfoy along with some other Death Eaters like Bellatrix LeStrange, Radolphus

LeStrange Crabbe and Goyle's fathers, were all sent to Azkaban. Narcissa Malfoy has proven to be innocent and lives happily now at the Malfoy Manor. Most of the Slytherin's kept to themselves now that their parents were sent away or killed in the war.

Peter Pettigrew was found guilty of the deaths of James and Lilly Evans and was also sent to Azkaban. The only thing the trio wished was it was done sooner so Sirius would have been a free man before he was killed.

"Miss Granger." Professor McGonagall said opened the portrait as she seventeen year old looked up. "Professor Dumbledore would like to speak with you."

"Maybe you get out of taking the exam." Ron said trying to give her some hope.

"Somehow I don't think so Ron." she said following her professor to the gargoyle statue. "Orange sherbet." She said as Hermione smiled slightly at the new password.

"Ah Miss Granger do have a seat." He said as she did so. "I understand there is a small dilemma with the NEWTS this year."

"I…"

He held up his hand. "I'm afraid there is no way to excuse you from the Flying NEWT, but there is a way to help you pass it."

"You mean a tutor?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Harry and Ron kind of volunteered to help me."

"Yes, but I was thinking more along the lines of someone older perhaps." He said with a small twinkle in his eyes. "With the passing of Madame Hooch over the summer we needed to find a new flying instructor."

Hermione nodded remembering the sadness with Madame Hooch was killed by Lucius Malfoy. She was the only teacher they had lost in the war, along with some Aurors from the Ministry. "Miss Granger I would like to introduce you to our new Flying Instructor and your new tutor. Mr. Marcus Flint."

Hermione's eyes widened as the former Slytherin Quidditch Captain walked into the room. His black hair was still cut short, his dark eyes looked very intense as he smiled at Professor Dumbledore. She noticed his teeth looked as if they had been straightened too. His smile faded when he saw who he was going to tutor. "Can't you get Wood here to do this?" He asked.

"I have spoken to Mr. Wood and he has been very busy practicing with Puddlemere."

"Yes he was made captain." Minerva said smiling at the thought of her former student, even if he did indulge in Quidditch more then his school work.

"But professor…" Hermione stated ignoring the glaze the new professor was giving her.

"Hermione I'm sorry but there is no one else we could find on such short notice to help you." Minerva said with a pain in her heart to her favorite student..

"I trust the two of you to get along and show each other some respect." Dumbledore said smiling. "You may leave now and make up a schedule to work together."

Both nodded and left the room. "So you can't fly?" Marcus said smirking down at her.

Hermione glared at him. "Nobodies perfect."

"This coming from 'Lil Miss Perfect' herself."

"Look I just want to pass my NEWTS." She said getting annoyed with him already. "Just teach me to fly and that's all. We could meet in secret if it would ruin your image."

Marcus looked at her slightly shocked. He knew she had a temper, especially since she slapped Malfoy in her third year. It actually intrigued him that a Muggle-Born Gryffindor witch would do something like that to a Pure-Blooded Slytherin. He looked over the young Gryffindor witch who was seventeen now. He was a couple of inches taller then she was at six foot even. He was twenty-two now. Being five years older then she was, he had also been held back a year because he had failed his NEWTS. "Eight o-clock."

"What?" She asked as she stopped and looked at him.

"Tonight at eight o-clock meet me on the Quidditch Pitch."

"What about a br…"

"Don't worry about bringing a broom. I'll teach you on mine. Can't teach someone properly on those sorry excuses they use for the school." He said shaking his head at the Shooting Star. They need upgraded, he thought. "Is that okay with you?"

She nodded. "It's fine. See you then I guess." She said taking the stairs towards the Gryffindor Tower.

Marcus shook his head as he headed to his room, which was in connection with his office. He stopped when he saw a familiar face near it. "Hello Draco."

"Heard you were coming back, Marcus." The blonde said grinning.

"Yea took over Flying classes. Even got a job tutoring a seventh year in flying."

Draco laughed as they entered his office. "A seventh year? Whose the stupid one who can't fly?"

"Hermione Granger."

Draco's eyes widened. "Granger can't fly. Miss the-best-at-everything-she-does can't fly a broom stick?"

"Yea."

"Well and I thought this year couldn't get better and it just did. Granger can't fly a broom and without flying she'll fail her NEWTS." Draco said under his breath and looked up. "See you later."

"Yea later." Marcus said can't helping wondering if Draco was planning something or not.

A/N: Hope everyone likes J Also just so everyone knows he would have graduated in the second book, but was held back when he failed his NEWTS putting him into the same year as Oliver J