Harry, Hermione, Ron. The three names were almost always said together, at least if they were in trouble. The war ended and every student was to repeat the year they spent in Hogwarts with the Death Eaters. Now the trio must face a new challenge, a new test the school is trying that will separate the students by their level of magic, not by house.
a/n: In this story, Fred, Snape, Lupin, and Tonks have not died, but everyone else that has died in the books it dead. As you all know I don't own Harry Potter.
"Now an announcement to all seventh year students," Headmistress McGonagall started, "In one month from today there will be a test, it is not a written test in fact there will be no writing needed. This test is designed to push you to you're limits in you're knowledge of magic. Technically the test starts now because each week you will be given a clue as to what this test is about.
"The rules for this test will be given to you in pieces twice a week starting tomorrow. Exactly what you will be doing will be given to all of you the night before you leave. The clue is freedom," Professor McGonagall went back to her seat. The whole school was in an uproar about this new test. Everyone wanted to know what it was.
"Ronald, Harry! Stop fooling around! We need to prepare for this test!" Hermione yelled at the boys. They were goofing off again. "We are only given a month to prepare for this test, and there's a reason for it!"
"Jeez Hermione, can't we have any fun? Besides McGonagall just gave us this today we still have a month!" Ron complained. The boys had stopped goofing of but were now looking at Ron's new broom.
"Yeah Hermione, we learn at least one of the rules tomorrow and we have the first clue." Harry said, "It really is beautiful Ron."
"Yeah I know," Ron sighed. Hermione stormed off. She hated how the boys never listened to her, especially when it came to thing like these.
"What'd you suppose has got her all worked up?" Ron asked.
"I don't know Ron; it might be because this is the kind of test we should be preparing for." Harry pointed out. Ron agreed but neither of them did anything to prepare for it.
Draco, Goyle, Blaise, and Pansy were headed back to the Slytherin common room to decide what they were going to do about this test. Every student in the hallway made way for the group; they all feared getting hexed by the children of the now fallen Death Eaters.
"The whole school's scared stiff of us," Blaise whispered, excitement ringing in his voice.
"All except for Potter and his lot," Draco muttered darkly. Everyone had noticed that Draco seemed to always been in a foul mood now, especially when Potter was involved. Neither Draco nor Goyle would talk about what happened in the Room of Requirements, just that Crabbe nearly killed all three of them, not just himself.
"So, what are we going to do about this?" Blaise said as the Slytherin sat down. Draco had his head in his hands, not really wanting to talk, but they all knew that he would be the one coming up with the plan, not one else was as smart as he was.
"Well we learn some of the rules tomorrow, should we wait until then?" Pansy suggested.
"No, we should do it now. We have to beat Potter and Granger probably already has a plan," Draco said. Draco glanced over at Blaise; he had this odd fascination with Granger that no one could really understand.
"Don't worry Draco, I'm not going to betray you guys over a girl, but just make a note of my skill at wooing the ladies in our assets." Blaise laughed. He had always been good at getting girls. He had the looks for it.
"Right Blaise, now what else do we have?" Draco questioned. Everyone looked around. None of them were particularly skilled in anything. Draco sighed. It seemed he would have to come up with everything. "Well Goyle, you're big and muscular. That's something. And Pansy, you're," Draco pause for a moment. "Pansy, stop staring at me!" Draco hit her in the arm. "It seems you're only good at trying to flirt with me." Draco muttered.
"Draco, why don't you love me anymore," Pansy pouted. She knew why. Draco had broken up with her last year before the war. He said he had found someone else and didn't want her to get in the way. Draco only glared back at Pansy in response.
"Alright, how about we work on the clue then." Draco suggested. Everyone nodded. "The clue's freedom, now what could that mean?"
"It could mean that we could, um, do whatever we want to?" Goyle said. Everyone looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"If there's going to be rules Goyle then we can't do whatever we want to!" Pansy hissed. She seemed to get enjoyment out of embarrassing and harassing people. Pansy started to stare at Draco again. Blaise was looking rather thoughtful by now. He seemed to be actually thinking about something for once.
"Well we'll be free once we leave school," Blaise started, "So this will be getting us ready for the really world."
"Well duh Blaise we are in our last year of schooling," Pansy stated the obvious, again. Blaise rolled his eyes.
"As I was saying, it could be some sort of large scale duel where we're free to use any spell we like, with limit of course."
"It seems reasonable but I don't think they would do something like that, a least not this soon after the war," Draco said. Everyone, like always, agreed with Draco. "Well it's getting late and we still have plenty of time to think about this. I'll sleep on it and listen to the rules in the morning. 'Night everyone," Draco walked off, leaving everyone else sitting there.
"What put Draco in such a good mood?" Blaise said. Everyone was just kind of staring off in the direction in which Draco had just left. "He never, ever, says good night to anyone, ever."
"I don't know Blaise, maybe he thought of a great idea?" Goyle suggested.
"No, he would have told us that, it has to be something else." The remaining Slytherins made their way to bed knowing that in the morning they would get to know more about this insane test.
Thanks for reading. This is my first fic in a while, so r/r please! I'm looking for help with the character pairings; I'm going to put up a poll with a bunch of random pairing for the readers to decide which one they like best.