Chapter Forty-Eight

Hermione exited her Transfiguration NEWT practical with a small smile on her face, which grew when she saw the redhead sitting on the windowsill across the way. If it wasn't for the growing crowd outside of the Great Hall, she would have eagerly kissed the perfect lips smiling back at her. Ginny swung her legs down and made room for the approaching brunette, helping her up and letting her hand linger on her back.

'So, how'd it go? Awe the instructor again?'

Hermione narrowed her eyes and scowled good-naturedly at Ginny's smirk before smiling.

'It went well. I think my human transfiguration bit could have been stronger but my examiner thought it was pretty good.'

'If it was anything like I saw you do this morning, I'm sure it was perfect; you worry too much, Hermione.'

Ginny smiled while Hermione frowned at Luna who joined the two by the window.

'I do not worry too much, Luna! I know I could have done the hair better; blonde's always the hardest for me to do for some reason.'

Ginny rolled her eyes.

'Oh please, I'm sure it was fine. Are you ready for Defense after lunch?'

Hermione shrugged.

'I guess so. I hope it's not quite as disorderly as the pre-exam was, but I think I can handle about anything. I'll have to, won't I?'

'You could always skip it.'

Hermione and Ginny both stared at Luna, who seemed to be distracted by something out the window, in utter surprise. Ginny met Hermione's eyes and the two cracked up laughing.

'What's gotten into you two?'

Daphne approached the group and looked from Luna who smiled to the two laughing Gryffindors with confusion and amusement.

'Luna....suggested Her-Hermione….skip…skip….'

Ginny doubled over in another bout of laughter as Hermione finally got control of herself, wiping a stray tear, and straightened up.

'We were just talking about the Defense exam's structure and Luna…suggested I could always skip it if I didn't want to do it.'

Daphne shook her head in amusement and smiled at the other blonde, who finally turned back to the group, whatever distraction outside the window gone.

'Gee Luna, I've accepted most everything you talk about as plausible but that's just crazy!'

Luna glared at the Slytherin as Ginny and Hermione started giggling again.

'Hey, it's just as plausible as any other thing….'

Daphne raised an incredulous eyebrow, and Luna's glare turned into a sheepish smile.

'Okay, so maybe it's not…'

The four witches dissolved into laughter once more. Finally, the NEWT instructors exited the Great Hall and the small crowd that had assembled entered. Most students had already returned home the previous weekend, so all that remained were the advanced NEWT students, those staying at the castle, and a few other stragglers (like Ginny and Luna). Professor Coulter had shown Scrooge as promised the previous weekend and it was such a hit that several students (and a couple of professors) had already requested other movies for the upcoming term and beyond.

The group sat down at the one table set out with lunch and was soon joined by Lavendar and Parvati. Both witches looked ragged and worn and Hermione smiled understandingly.

'How are you two doing? Surviving?'

Lavendar laughed a little and Parvati nodded with a sigh.

'Surviving yes…I'm just glad it's almost over.'

'Me, too. The next time I decide to do something to better myself, remind me not to.'

Ginny giggled and popped a couple of grapes into her mouth.

'How's the job search going? Any leads?'

Both witches brightened and Lavendar was the first to respond.

'Actually yeah! I wrote to Witch Weekly about a fashion writer position. I didn't hear back from them for a long time but I finally was able to talk to them last week and Felicia really seemed to like me as much as I liked her. I just have to get 3 NEWTs and the position's mine!'

Hermione raised her eyebrows in surprise.

'Wow, Lavendar, that's really impressive, and quite honestly, it sounds pretty perfect. How about you, Parvati? Any luck?'

Parvati smiled widely and nodded fervently.

'Oh yes! A friend of my mum's offered me a position in the Muggle Liaison office. It's only a summer internship right now if I can get 5 NEWTs but I'm hoping it turns into a full-time position.'

Ginny smiled and nodded, impressed.

'That's really cool! I hope it works out for you. How about you, Daphne? Any luck?'

Daphne shrugged and frowned a little.

'Well, I wanted to work at Gringott's, but right now, they're not really open to outsiders because of everything that's happened. I've been corresponding with them and I think my NEWTs will help, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much.'

Ginny couldn't help but laugh, earning a look of confusion from Daphne.

'What's so funny, Weasley?'

'You do realize you've been taught by a Curse Breaker this whole term, right? And he just so happens to have red hair and freckles?'

Daphne stared at Ginny like she'd sprouted wings, before turning her wide eyes toward the front table where Bill was talking with Professor Sprout.

'Merlin's beard! Why didn't I know that?! I mean…I knew he was your brother…but why didn't I know he worked at Gringott's?'

Hermione cocked her head to the side as she thought back to the beginning of the term.

'Didn't you come in late the first class? The only time I can think of him mentioning it was then.'

'That's right! I was talking with Professor Tonks about Potions and didn't get there until halfway through. Damn!'

Ginny giggled but smiled at the deflated Slytherin and patted her arm in support.

'Hey, don't lose hope yet. You can talk to him at Christmas. If there's an opening and you can handle it, Bill will help you out.'

Daphne started shaking her head.

'Ginny, I don't want to be a bother…'

Ginny waved off Daphne's protests.

'Daphne, please. Bill would be more than willing to help you out.'

'Are you sure?'

Ginny smiled and nodded.

'Yes. If he doesn't then I'll just hex him.'

Hermione laughed and shook her head in amusement, knowing full well Ginny meant it. The witches resolved into other friendly conversation and the table slowly cleared of food and students. Finally, Professor McGonagall stood and addressed the remaining students.

'If you would please clear the Great Hall so we can prepare it for the final NEWT exam. Thank you.'

As the students exited the doors, Ginny and Luna wished their two friends good luck and headed away with the rest of the students. The group of NEWT students milled around outside, talking softly or remaining quiet. After a few moments, the doors opened and a tall wizard with a Ministry badge came out with a clipboard.

'Hello all. For this practical NEWT exam, you will enter one at a time when your name is called. Once inside, a panel of instructors will ask you questions and ask you to demonstrate various spells. The final part will be a wizard's duel with one of us. Any questions?'

None in the group moved and the wizard nodded.

'Right, then. Would Miss Lavendar Brown please come with me?'

Lavendar stepped forward and followed the man inside, smiling in gratitude at the scattered wishes of good luck. Hermione sighed and once again conjured the folding chairs for those waiting, taking a seat between Daphne and Parvati.

'Well, at least we know what's on the other side of the door this time.'

Daphne chuckled and nodded.

'Yes, there is that. Honestly, though, I don't know if that's a good thing or bad thing. I did okay with the disaster zone because it was all reflex; I don't know if I'll do quite as well with answering the round of questions.'

Parvati let out a quiet laugh and shook her head.

'Oh, I'd much rather have this type of exam; that practical nearly killed me last time. This way reminds me of how it was with the D.A. and that I can handle.'

Daphne frowned in confusion.

'D.A.? What was….Oh! Was that that group back in our fifth year that Potter put on? The one Umbridge was always after?'

Hermione frowned at the mention of Umbridge as Parvati answered.

'Yes, that's the one. It was that horrid woman's own fault it even existed; if she'd taught us proper, we wouldn't have had to create it in the first place. Harry taught us instead and we'd spend the night practicing. Got me through my OWLs. It was your idea to begin with, wasn't it Hermione?'

'Initially, yes; Harry did most of it, though, once it got started.'

Daphne shook her head in amusement.

'Bloody hell, Hermione, was there anything that happened in this castle that you weren't involved in?'

Hermione glared at the smirking Slytherin but then sighed and frowned as she thought about it herself.

'Not really, but when you're friends with the Boy-Who-Lived, what would you expect?'

Daphne frowned, softening at the sadness on her friend's face as she played with the locket around her neck.

'I'm sorry, Hermione, I didn't mean it like that. It's quite impressive really that you managed all that stuff and were still top in class. Merlin, if you'd only been worried about class, you'd probably have been able to take your NEWTs by your fifth year!'

Parvati laughed and Hermione reluctantly smiled.

'Oh, I doubt that.'

They spent the rest of the time waiting talking about other things as the group waiting slowly dwindled down until it was only Hermione left. She was a little surprised they hadn't done this exam in alphabetical order like many of the others but decided there must have been some reason for it. Finally, the same Ministry wizard called her in and she entered after vanishing the row of seats outside the doors.

Upon entering the room, she was faced with a panel of five of the Ministry instructors. She recognized four of them from previous exams throughout the week but the fifth, an older wizard with white hair, she hadn't seen before. The young witch in the middle of the table smiled and beckoned her forward.

'Hello, Miss Granger. Before we begin, do you have any questions?'

Hermione shook her head and the witch nodded.

'Alright, then. Let's begin.'

The four panel members took turns asking questions and asking for demonstrations, each increasingly harder. Hermione easily answered all the questions and performed all the spells that were asked of her. The fifth wizard had yet to ask her anything, but simply sat listening and watching with slightly narrowed eyes and a frown.

As Hermione's silver otter swam its way around the room, the woman in the middle made a final note on the parchment in front of her before looking up and smiling.

'Nicely done, Miss Granger. We'll proceed now to the last part – '

'Not quite yet, Mary. I've got a couple of questions for Miss Granger, if you don't mind.'

Mary looked down at the older wizard who had spoken for the first time.

'But she's already answered enough of our questions, Gawain.'

'I realize that; consider it extra credit.'

Hermione watched the exchange with growing apprehension and curiosity. Mary frowned but nodded and Hermione met the cold blue eye of Gawain Robards.

'Miss Granger, what is a horcrux?'

Hermione's eyes widened as the rest of the panelists gasped and turned their shocked expressions to the calmly waiting wizard on the end. Hermione gulped and cleared her malfunctioning throat.

'A…a hor-horcrux is an object or thing that a Dark wizard stores a piece of…of his s-soul in order to obtain immortality.'

'And how is one created?'

Hermione's hands started to shake slightly and her mouth became drier.

'Th-through murder. The s-soul is split when one murders and the split piece is stored in…in the horcrux.'

Robards leaned forward a bit more, his intense blue eyes staring into Hermione's brown ones.

'And how are they destroyed?'

'The object must be destroyed beyond magical repair, such as through Fiendfyre. Destroy the object completely and utterly, destroy the piece of the soul.'

Robards narrowed his eyes as Hermione balled her hands to her sides to keep them steady, looking defiantly back.

'One more question…which one did you destroy?'

One of the other members of the panel gasped. Hermione narrowed her own eyes and scowled at the old wizard, getting over her fear and becoming annoyed with his line of questioning.

'The cup. With a basilisk's fang. Any more questions, Mr. Robards.'

'Ah, so you do know who I am.'

Gawain's eyebrow twitched a little as he continued to stare down Hermione. Finally, he stood and came around to the front of the table, stopping to talk to Mary.

'She answered all my questions. Now if you don't mind, I'll administer the final part.'

Mary looked at the old wizard with wide, confused eyes. After a moment, she shook her head to clear her mind.

'But Theodore was going – '

'That's quite alright. I'd like to give it. Ready, Miss Granger?'

Hermione continued to scowl at the old wizard, increasingly irritated with his superior attitude. Moving so she faced him more properly, Hermione brought her wand to the ready and nodded.

'Ready.'

Hermione could have sworn she saw the old man smile before he bowed. Hermione returned the bow and was instantly assaulted with an onslaught of spells, the likes of which she had only read about. Setting her jaw and narrowing her eyes, Hermione let loose some of the most complex and serious spells she knew, smiling to herself when she saw Robards's eyes widen in surprise. The duel continued, Hermione barely getting away from some of the quickest spellwork she'd encountered. At one point she was hit with a tripping jinx but she was able to shield herself enough and distract Robards with an animated bench to recover.

Finally, after one last round of Hermione's spells which Robards barely dodged and deflected, he faced the slightly breathless witch. Hermione remained ready for another onslaught as she continued to the stare into the old wizard's eyes as he seemed to be contemplating something. She was caught off guard then when he lowered his wand and bowed once more, a real smile crossing his face.

'It has been a pleasure, Miss Granger. I think that is quite sufficient.'

Hermione's eyebrows rose in confusion but she returned his bow, keeping her eyes on him, just in case.

'Th-Thank you. Is there anything more?'

Robards turned to the rest of the forgotten panel and Hermione was amused as she took in the awed expressions.

'I think that about covers it, don't you Mary?'

Mary turned her blank and amazed expression from Hermione to Robards, looking at the man like she'd never seen him before. Coming out of her reverie, she shook her head and cleared her throat.

'N-No…I-I mean yes…that was more than sufficient.'

Robards continued toward his seat, talking over his shoulder.

'You may leave now, Miss Granger. I do believe you'll have your results in about a week.'

Hermione nodded and smiled slightly at the rest of the still recovering group before turning to leave. She exited out of the Great Hall doors and headed to the common room, her mind going over what had just happened. She was completely immersed in her thoughts all the way back to her room, so much so that she jumped in surprise when she opened her door to find Ginny sitting against the headboard, reading a book.

'Gin, you scared me!'

Ginny closed the book she was reading and beckoned Hermione over with an apologetic smile.

'I'm sorry, luv. How did it go?'

Hermione sighed and slipped off her shoes before positioning herself between Ginny's legs so she could lean back into her waiting arms.

'It went okay, I think. It was rather odd, actually.'

Ginny kissed Hermione's shoulder and hugged her closer.

'Odd? How so?'

'Well, the beginning was fine; I just had to answer their questions and demonstrate spells. But then…do you know Gawain Robards?'

Ginny's eyebrows shot up in surprise as Hermione turned to look at her.

'You mean the Head of the Auror Department? Yeah, I've heard of him.'

'Well, he was there. He…He asked me about horcruxes.'

Ginny's jaw dropped in surprise and she stared in disbelief at Hermione.

'No! He wouldn't…'

Hermione frowned.

'He did. He even had the nerve to ask which one I'd destroyed.'

Ginny's surprised expression turned to one of anger.

'That bastard! He had no right to do that! No right!'

Hermione sighed and settled back against Ginny, entwining their fingers in front of her.

'Yes, well, he did. He was the one I dueled, too and I know some of the stuff he was using was very advanced magic, even for a NEWT exam.'

'He didn't hurt you, did he? I'd march right back down there and –'

Hermione silenced her raging girlfriend with a kiss, pulling away with a small smile.

'I'm fine, Gin, I took care of myself, but thank you.'

Ginny returned the smile and captured Hermione's lips in another kiss. Hermione turned a little to deepen the kiss, running her fingers through the red, silky hair she adored. The same tingling warmth she felt every time she kissed Ginny spread throughout her body and she pushed herself even closer, needing more, never wanting that feeling to go away.

Breaking for air, Hermione rested her head against Ginny's neck, inhaling her comforting scent, pure happiness filling her heart. She was happy exams were over; she was happy the holidays were coming; but most of all, she was happiest she was sitting there in the arms of the one she loved.