Main Prompts: Write about facing an unexpected setback and James Potter
Secondary Prompts: 2. (quote) "Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory." - Dr. Seuss, 3. (dialogue) "You've never been one to give up when the going gets tough, so don't start now." and 6. (word) integrity
Word Count: 1548
~wWw~
James Potter hated exam week, tests just weren't his thing. He knew the information and could cast the spells almost perfectly, but tests, they always went poorly. As he paced outside the examination room for his potions OWL James, was ready to throw up. It didn't help that none of his friends were in his class. In an attempt to quell his shaking hands, James jammed them in his pocket, fiddling with his wand. His eyes kept darting to the door, where Lily and Remus were currently writing their potions OWL. It was their new attempt to lessen cheating. James just wanted the week to be done, so he could play quidditch in peace and chase after Lily.
James was sitting against the wall when Lily and Remus exited the Great Hall. They weren't allowed to talk to each other but Remus shot James a lopsided grin, slightly reassuring him about the upcoming exam. A couple of minutes later the doors opened once again, revealing the mostly empty Great Hall. The ceiling which usually reflected the sky outside was just bricks, the spell having been removed for the exams. Desks sat equally spaced throughout the magnificent room, far enough away that it would be difficult to look at someone else's paper.
James picked a desk right at the back of the room, preferring to write his test where no one else would see him unless they were trying to look at him. He carefully placed his wand at the edge of the desk, exactly like he had been told to. He watched as an elderly man walked around the room, gently placing everyone's wand in a box before waving his wand over them. James' hands began to sweat as the man got closer to him, he knew he had done nothing wrong, but he began to overthink.
Crazy scenarios rushed through his mind, someone sticking a second wand in his robes, his notes accidentally smudged on his arm, someone saying he was trying to cheat, one of his many notes left in his pocket. By the time the man had reached James, he was beginning to visibly freak out. James watched as the man placed his wand in the box and waved his wand. Much to James' relief the man left the room without any trouble, beginning to dissipate his worries. They didn't completely leave, but they lessened. A piece of parchment appeared on his table, along with a quill and a bottle of ink.
"You may begin," Professor McGonagall's voice rang out through the Great Hall. James looked down at his test and began to write. The first time he looked up he saw something sorta odd, one of his classmates, a fellow Gryffindor, albeit one he didn't know very well was focusing on his arm. His sleeve was pulled up showing his pasty skin. James quickly returned his vision to his own paper, not sure that he wanted to know what was going on.
Although he could no longer see his peer, the image in James' mind refused to leave. He couldn't focus on his exam, couldn't remember anything relevant, except that one Gryffindor boy was doing. On the plus side, he was no longer worrying about the ways he could be accidentally cheating. He looked up again, hoping that he wouldn't see anything out of the ordinary so he could focus on his test. He had no such luck, with another of his Gryffindor classmates staring oddly at her arm. Her sleeve pulled up to show her skin, just like the other one. He couldn't ignore it any longer but he didn't know what to do.
Returning his eyes to his own paper, James began to think, but not about his test, about his fellow Gryffindors. He didn't want to think they were cheating but he didn't know what else to think. He attempted to return his mind to his own paper, not knowing what to do about it during the test.
James finished his test twenty minutes later. Pushing his test away, he surveyed the room for the third time. They were both still looking at their arms, sinking back in his chair. James closed his eyes and waited for the exam to come to an end.
~wWw~
As the doors opened James was torn but he knew what he had to do. There wasn't really an option, if he didn't do it he would never be able to live with himself. If he didn't say anything he would be complacent. James stood, hoping to be the first out the door and the first to the stern professor who was his head of house. He made it and was the first one to see her and the first one to get his wand back.
"Professor, could I have a moment?" James asked, continuing at her stern glance, "Please it's really important and urgent." After a moment Professor McGonagal nodded her head, stepping off to the side, while still keeping her eye on the box of wands.
"I think that some of my classmates were cheating, specifically the only two other Gryffindors," James started, quickly continuing at her glare, "They kept looking at their arms, not their sleeves." James pulled up his own sleeve in an attempt to show her. "They did it for almost the entire exam."
"Thank you for your integrity James, please go to the headmaster's office, I will join you momentarily," Professor McGonagall said, her voice softening as she saw the fear shining in James' eyes. Nodding James began to make his way up the stairs, missing the proud glace professor McGonagal shot after him.
As he began to climb the endless stairs leading up to the headmaster's office, James's mind began to race. What if he got in trouble for telling on them, or they said he was cheating and not them, what if everyone ostracised him for telling the truth, what would Sirius say or Remus or Peter or Lily. His heart was beating out of his chest, and it wasn't from the multiple flights of stairs he had just climbed.
Raising a shaking hand James rapped his knuckles on the solid wooden door. The door swung open, revealing Dumbledore sitting at his desk.
"Mr. Potter, Professor McGonagall told me you would be here soon, please sit down," Dumbledore said kindly. James silently took the seat Dumbledore indicated slightly bowing his head so Dumbledore wouldn't see the fear running through his eyes. James attempted to keep his entire body still, wanting to hide his fidgeting from the eyes of his idol. He flinched as the door opened.
Looking up he watched as Professor McGonagall followed the two Gryffindors into the room. Both of them glared at him as they passed while Professor McGonagall shot him a reassuring glance.
"You two are a disgrace to Gryffindor, cheating on a test, not to mention that it was your OWL, the most important test of this year!" Professor McGonagall said visibly upset with the issue she was dealing with.
"We weren't cheating," the boy said, attempting to protest against Professor McGonagall's harsh words. She shot him a glare.
"Lift your sleeves, the both of you," Professor McGonagall said, her voice scarily quiet. Reluctantly the two Gryffindors standing in front of Professor McGonagall lifted their sleeves, revealing four ink-covered arms. Some of the writing was smudged however it was still obvious that it was a cheat sheet.
"Your parents will be contacted, and you have earned yourselves a failing mark in potions, now get out of my sight!" Professor McGonagall said, glaring at her two Gryffindor cubs. The three remaining occupants of the room watched as the pair of Gryffindors left the office, their heads down.
"Now James, what do I do with you. You know you aren't supposed to be looking at the other students while writing exams," Professor McGonagall said, her voice softer than before. James stayed silent, unsure of how to respond to one of his favourite professors.
"It took a great amount of courage and integrity to do what you did, however, you shouldn't have been looking at them in the first place," Professor McGonagall said praising James for his actions.
"I deserve to be punished as well, as you said, I was also breaking the rules," James whispered in a moment of courage. "I take responsibility for my actions; however, I would do it again in an instant." Professor McGonagall sighed at his actions.
"I commend you on your actions. I must punish you equally, so you will receive a zero on your OWL; however, due to your courage and willingness to admit what you did, you can make it up during the summer. I know how much you want to be an Auror and would hate for this to make it so you couldn't accomplish your goal," Professor McGonagall finally said, glancing at Dumbledor as if looking for his approval.
James kept his eyes down as he left the office, attempting to hide the tears that were beginning to roll down his face.
"You've never been one to give up when the going gets tough, so don't start now," Professor McGonagall said looking over her shoulder at James, "this is just a minor setback you'll get through it."