If I don't update again this year, Happy New Year! Let's bring on 2021!
After meeting Helena, Elizabeth felt a stronger resolve than ever to pass her courses. She had to, otherwise she'd be sent to St. Mungos, and would never get to see Helena again. She worked day and night on her assignments and essays, spending hour upon hour practicing with her wand, trying to master it. But would it be enough?
"If you ask me, you are doing a wonderful job with this. Think of all the progress you've made." Remus remarked. Elizabeth was in his class, and they were taking a break from the lesson. Elizabeth had told Remus her worries, mostly that she was afraid she would fail. "I know I've made progress, but what if it's not enough? The examiners will be hard on me. They don't want me to pass." Elizabeth responded. "Where did you hear that?" Remus asked. "I read it in The Daily Prophet." she told him. Remus chuckled. "Was that article written by Rita Skeeter?" Elizabeth nodded. "Never trust what she says or writes, she lives for gossip, real or not. You just focus on the next two weeks, and skip her articles in the paper if you insist on reading it." Remus said. "It's the only way to find out what's happening in the world. How else would I know Sirius Black has escaped Azkaban?" Elizabeth argued. Remus smiled and gave a false laugh, hoping Elizabeth couldn't notice his sadness about Sirius.
"Elizabeth, time for supper." Minerva said from the doorway of her bedroom. Elizabeth was working at her desk on an essay for History of Magic, and was relieved she had an excuse to stop.
"I'll be so relieved when the summer is over." Elizabeth said at supper in between sips of cucumber soup. "Why is that?" Minerva asked. "I'll get to do other things then schoolwork!" Elizabeth said chirpily. Her talk with Remus had lifted her spirits, and made her more confident in her abilities.
"You do know the term will have started, meaning you will still have lessons and work to do, don't you?" Minerva pointed out. Elizabeth only shrugged. "Hopefully I will have made friends, and that would make school more fun." Elizabeth said, taking a bite of her roll. "Who were your friends in school?" she asked.
"Valerie Dunson was my closest friend, she was in my year, and also in Gryffindor. I also knew Professor Sprout, though she was in Hufflepuff. We were both made Prefects, so we got to know each other better. Another girl in Gryffindor, Margaret, we were on the Gryffindor Quidditch team together. She was two years above me, and helped me improve my skills as a Beater, since she was the other one." Minerva reminisced.
"You played Quidditch?" Elizabeth asked, intrigued. Minerva nodded. "Oh, I hope I can play Quidditch for Gryffindor! I don't know all the rules or procedures, but it can't take too long to learn, can it?" Elizabeth asked. Her guardian smiled. "I'm glad you want to be on the team. But I'm afraid the team is full until next year, and that's only if you want to be a Keeper." Minerva said. "Well, I was hoping to be a Chaser, but taking a few years to learn it better can only help me improve." Elizabeth said, shrugging. "Could you tell me more about Valerie?"
The next two weeks went by in a flash for Elizabeth. She successfully finished all her classes, but she still had the assessment. Suffice to say, she was scared.
She sat on a bench outside of the Great Hall, where the examiners were setting up. Minerva sat beside her, and Remus was on the other side. Albus was inside, talking to the Minister, who had agreed to be one of the examiners, citing that it would "add finality to this whole situation"
"You'll do great, Elizabeth." Remus encouraged when he saw how nervous Elizabeth was. "Yes, you've worked very hard. They'll have no reason not to pass you." Minerva added.
"Thank you both. But I still worry. The Minister himself is here to test me. I don't want to do anything wrong." Elizabeth fretted. "Just focus on the question at hand, and don't worry about the rest of it until you come to it." Minerva advised. Her charge nodded.
The doors opened wide, and Dumbeldore stepped out. "They are ready for you, Elizabeth. Best of luck." he said. Elizabeth stood up, took a deep breath, and walked in.
The Great Hall was cleared of the four house tables, and the examiners were all sitting at the head table, Fudge in Dumbeldore's spot. For a moment, Elizabeth was transfixed in the past, thinking of her father and the other founders sitting where the examiners sat. Rowena's beautiful diadem, Helena's warm smile, her father…..
"Miss Gryffindor?" Fudge said. Elizabeth snapped back to reality, her head shaking a little. "Yes?" She asked, her throat suddenly very dry. Come on, Elizabeth! Focus! She thought to herself.
"The practical portion of the exam will take place now. Please, pull out your wand." Fudge instructed. Elizabeth nodded, and pulled out her wand.
First, she had to make a pineapple tap dance on the table. After a few deep breaths, she said the proper incantation. It only twitched. She gulped.
"Try again, dear." A kind looking examiner said. Elizabeth nodded to the woman, and did the incantation again. To her immense relief, it started dancing. The woman smiled at her, as the other examiners started taking notes. Elizabeth was more concerned with the content of the notes than her success.
The practical portion finally came to an end, and Elizabeth moved to a desk in the center of the Hall. On it was a quill, ink bottle, and a rather long piece of parchment. "The first part is Charms theory, then Transfiguration, History of Magic, Astronomy, Potions, Defense, then Herbology." Fudge told her. "Understand?" he asked. "Yes, sir." Elizabeth said. Fudge nodded, and left her to it.
"Has she finished yet?" Pomona asked. She had just arrived to where Minerva, Remus, and Albus were sitting. "I tried to get here faster, but the Devil's Snare in Greenhouse Two was out of control." She explained. "My, are you alright?" Remus asked, worried. "Oh, yes. Not the first time this has happened. Now, how is her test going?" Pomona inquired. "Hopefully well. She's been in there for hours." Minerva explained. Pomona took a seat by the worried Animagus, joining the group of concerned professors.
"Time, Miss Gryffindor." Fudge announced. Elizabeth put down her quill, having just finished the last question. She gave her parchment to Fudge, who duplicated it, giving a copy to each examiner. They all went through it, using some kind of speed spell, from what Elizabeth could tell. She waited with bated breath, crossing her fingers under her robes.
The door to the Great Hall opened, Fudge emerged, followed by the examiners, then Elizabeth. Minerva stood up to greet her, noticing how nervous Elizabeth looked. "How did it go?" She asked quietly as Fudge talked with Dumbeldore. "I don't know. I don't think I did so well with my wand." Elizabeth whispered.
"Attention, please!" Fudge called. He held a piece of parchment in his hand, and started to read from it. "Miss Gryffindor, you have received an O in Herbology, Potions, and Astronomy. For Defense Against the Dark Arts, History of Magic, and Charms you have received an E, and for Transfiguration, you scored an A." Fudge announced. Elizabeth let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding.
She had done it. She had passed.
Yay! Have an awesome holiday, everyone!