Harry had no idea how he managed to get through the final week of classes without ending up in the hospital wing, but he did. And on the final Friday of the month, he and the rest of the first-years received their exam timetables at dinner. The tension was almost palpable in the air.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY
FIRST-YEAR EXAMINATIONS
1991 – 1992
Monday, 01/06/92
(09:00 – 10:00) Charms theory.
(11:00 – 12:00) Herbology theory.
(13:00 – 15:30) Charms practical.
(16:00 – 17:00) Herbology practical.
Tuesday, 02/06/92
(09:00 – 10:00) Transfiguration theory.
(11:00 – 12:00) Astronomy theory.
(13:00 – 16:00) Transfiguration practical.
Wednesday, 03/06/92
(00:00 – 01:00) Astronomy practical.
(09:00 – 10:00) Potions theory.
(10:30 – 12:30) Potions practical.
Thursday, 04/06/92
(09:00 – 10:00) Defence Against the Dark Arts theory.
(13:00 – 14:00) Flying Lessons exam.
Friday, 05/06/92
(09:00 – 10:00) History of Magic.
"I think there's a mistake on mine," said Harry, sitting beside Daphne at the end of their table. "Anyone else not have a Defence practical listed?"
Murmurs of agreement could be heard. Daphne's eyes widened.
"Don't you go giving Snyde ideas!" she said. "What if we just don't have one?"
"But what if we do," said Harry, "and find out the hard way?"
"Fine," said Daphne. "You go ask her, then."
Minutes later, Harry followed Professor Snyde out of the Great Hall and caught up to her at the marble staircase, where he enquired about his timetable. Professor Snyde said she didn't think it would be fair to set a practical exam at this stage.
"So that's one less thing for you to worry about," she added. "Unless, of course, you want me to set a practical?"
"No thanks," said Harry.
"Well, I'd suggest studying as if there was one anyway," said Professor Snyde. "There's more to life than just exams, you know."
The weekend passed with little more than studies (and stress) for the first-years, after which it was time for their first exam of the week. Harry kept silent and only ate what was necessary on Monday morning. Then he stood up and set off towards a large, sweltering classroom on the third floor, where the desks were arranged in five vertical rows of eight. They were numbered one to forty, corresponding to the list on the blackboard.
Abbott, Hannah
Bones, Susan
Boot, Terry
Brocklehurst, Mandy
Brown, Lavender
Bulstrode, Millicent
Corner, Michael
Cornfoot, Stephen
Crabbe, Vincent
Davis, Tracey
Dunbar, Fay
Entwhistle, Kevin
Finch-Fletchley, Justin
Finnigan, Seamus
Goldstein, Anthony
Goyle, Gregory
Granger, Hermione
Greengrass, Daphne
Hopkins, Wayne
Jones, Megan
Li, Su
Longbottom, Neville
MacDougal, Morag
Macmillan, Ernest
Malfoy, Draco
Malone, Roger
Moon, Lily
Nott, Theodore
Parkinson, Pansy
Patil, Padma
Patil, Parvati
Perks, Sally-Anne
Potter, Harry
Rivers, Oliver
Roper, Sophie
Runcorn, Alice
Thomas, Dean
Turpin, Lisa
Weasley, Ronald
Zabini, Blaise
There was a scuttling of shoes as everyone moved to take their seats, with the rightmost row going from Abbott in front to Cornfoot at the back, the second row going from Vincent to Gregory, the middle row going from Hermione to Macmillan (Longbottom almost took Li's seat), the fourth row going from Draco to Perks, and the leftmost row going from Harry to Blaise.
"Everyone ready?" Professor Flitwick said while standing at his desk in front. "Very well. You will have one hour to complete this examination. Please note that the quills provided have been enchanted with Anti-Cheating spells. Good luck."
And so it began. Harry's heart thumped as he turned over his question paper and read:
1) Describe at least two factors known to play a role in successfully casting a spell.
Simple enough. Harry dipped his quill and started writing about proper incantations and wand movements. Then he heard Hermione's furious scribbling from two seats away on his right (much to Draco's annoyance), and chose to write about knowledge, intent, concentration, as well as one's general proficiency with magic.
2) Give the incantations and wand movements for the Levitation Charm and the Severing Charm.
Simple. Harry even added some drawings to accompany his writing.
3) How do charms differ from Transfiguration spells?
Another easy question.
4) True or false: Alohomora is the incantation for the Locking Spell.
That was a no-brainer.
5) Explain the role of spell modifiers, using examples.
No problem. Harry dipped his quill, paused for a moment, and wrote a lengthy answer using the 'Oculus' in Oculus Reparo, the 'Incantatem' in Finite Incantatem, as well as the 'Papyrus' in Papyrus Reparo as examples. He wrote that the more proficient the wizard, the less need they had for modifiers, though many still used them out of habit. Then he added that not every spell could be modified in the first place.
6) What happens when a wizard tries to cast the Levitation Charm on themselves?
Another straightforward question. Harry wrote that the Levitation Charm would only work on the wizard's clothes, thus levitating them as long as they remained adequately dressed – and focused.
7) Jinxes, hexes, and curses are also known as ...
'Dark charms', Harry wrote in the space provided.
8) True or false: Flipendo is known as the Knockback Charm.
Another no-brainer.
9) Give the incantation and wand movements for the Wand-Lighting Charm and its counter-spell.
No problem.
10) True or false: a successfully-cast spell will always be effective.
'False', Harry wrote, before adding that there was also the target's magical resistance to take into account.
11) Name at least two charms known to be effective against Devil's Snare. Provide reasons for your answer.
Easy enough. Harry wrote about the Wand-Lighting Charm, the Fire-Making Charm, the Severing Charm, the Bluebell Flames Charm, and a few others as well.
12) In terms of what we have discussed in class, what mistake did Wizard Baruffio make – and what happened thereafter?
'He said 's' instead of 'f', and ended up lying on the floor with a buffalo on his chest', Harry wrote.
13) What is the main difference between the Levitation Charm and the Hover Charm?
Harry wrote that the Hover Charm was basically a lesser variation of the Levitation Charm, in that it lacked the freedom of movement of the latter. You could only do so much with a Hover Charm, whereas the Levitation Charm allowed you to move the target much further, and in different directions in the air.
14) Name and explain at least two other variations of the Levitation Charm.
After pausing for thought, Harry wrote about the Rocket Charm and the Floating Charm.
15) You see someone falling through the air. Please provide the incantation, wand movements, and a brief description of a spell that may save the individual from crashing.
"Two minutes left," said Professor Flitwick, at which Harry wasted no time in scribbling his final answer. He just about managed to cram in three lines before Professor Flitwick waved his wand and sent the answer sheets zooming through the air, and into his outstretched arms. Professor Flitwick then dismissed the class and wished them luck for Herbology.
"So," Harry heard Ronald Weasley say to Neville Longbottom, Seamus Finnigan, and Dean Thomas in the corridor. "How was it?"
"Not too bad," said Thomas. "But I'd rather not discuss –"
He was interrupted by Hermione Granger, who came barging past the trio.
"Blimey!" said Thomas.
"Mental, that one," said Weasley, though Hermione couldn't care less what they thought of her. "Come on," Weasley added, "let's get some sun before the next paper."
"But we'll be getting plenty of it during our practical," said Thomas. Both Finnigan and Longbottom agreed.
"Yeah, I suppose," said Weasley, shrugging. "But that's a long way off, still."
At that, the group of Draco, Vincent, Gregory, and Pansy strutted ahead of Harry. "Good choice," said Draco. "Not like studying's going to do you any good anyway."
"What –"
"J - just ignore them," Longbottom told Weasley, much to Draco and the others' amusement. "N - not worth it."
Pansy made no effort to hide her burst of laughter. "And what would you know about 'worth', Longbottom?"
Just then, Harry caught sight of Finnigan nudging Longbottom from behind, causing Longbottom to stand up an inch taller as he said, "More than y - you'd th - think."
Draco cackled with laughter. "You sound like old Quirrell, you know that?"
"Leave him alone," said Finnigan. "What's your problem anyway?"
Pansy was about to retort when a group of Hufflepuff girls, led by Millicent Bulstrode, came striding up the corridor.
"I was gonna ask the same thing," Bulstrode said. "All you Slytherins do is just cause trouble the whole time, you know that?"
"Get lost," said Pansy. But before she could add anything further, Harry tapped on Pansy's arm and told her that Professor Flitwick was coming up the corridor. Pansy snorted and said, "These losers aren't worth our time anyway. Let's go."
And they left, leaving Bulstrode's and Weasley's groups standing alone in the corridor.
"Can't stand that Bulstrode troll," Pansy said in a low voice. "Who does she think she is, coming in like a bodyguard for Longbottom? Talk about all blubber and no brain."
Draco sniggered. "Speaking of 'brain', did you see that jumped-up Mudblood leave class? Bet she's just dying to boast to her filthy Muggle family."
Harry narrowed his eyes and frowned.
"And now?" Pansy asked, raising a cheek and lowering a brow while looking at Harry.
"You know how he gets when we talk about his favourite Mudblood," said Draco.
Truth be told, it wasn't so much Draco's insults than the thought of having to return to the Dursleys that had dampened Harry's mood. Nothing Harry said or did could ever change Professor Dumbledore's mind, it seemed.
"Come on," said Draco, striding towards the staircase up ahead. "I'd rather have some pudding than write on a growling stomach again."
"Definitely," said Gregory. Vincent was also quick to agree.
"I'd like two bowls of pudding, one plate of éclairs, two slices of cake, a flagon of chocolate milkshake –"
"I prefer strawberry," said Pansy, tilting her nose in the air.
"Chocolate's better," said Vincent.
"No, strawberry's better!" said Pansy, stomping her foot. "Hey, Goyle, you're with me, right?"
"I like vanilla, though," said Gregory, shrugging. "And so does Draco."
"Only if it's expensive," said Draco. "No peasant stuff allowed."
And so they picked up the pace and made haste to the kitchens, arriving at around half past ten in the brightly-lit underground corridor. Draco stepped forward and stood facing the painting that showed a gigantic silver fruit-bowl. Then he reached out and tickled the huge green pear, at which the pear squirmed, chuckled, and suddenly turned into a large green door handle.
"Boys first," said Draco, seizing the handle and pulling the door open. "Welcome to the home of the servants."
"It's not like we haven't been here before, you know," said Pansy, rolling her eyes. "Though I'm not so sure about Harry."
"Nope, never," said Harry.
The kitchens was every bit as impressive as Harry had heard. It was an enormous, high-ceilinged room as large as the Great Hall above it, with a great brick fireplace at the other end, and mounds of glittering brass pots and pans heaped around the stone walls. It came as no surprise to Harry that there were four long tables positioned exactly beneath the house tables above.
"Cool, huh?" said Gregory, stepping forward alongside Vincent. Then he looked at Harry and said, "Dunno why you never join us here."
"Because he's forever studying, duh," said Pansy. "Someone needs to beat Granger, you know."
"And who says I won't?" said Draco, seemingly offended at being overlooked. But before they could carry on with their conversation, the five students were approached by at least a dozen house-elves.
"Can we help you, sirs and miss?" one of the smaller house-elves asked.
"Bring whatever dessert's available," said Draco, speaking in a cold, authoritative tone. "And make it quick, would you? We've got an exam at eleven."
The house-elves nearly jumped aside as a chubby, grumpy-looking one (bearing a slight resemblance to a pig) made his way through the crowd. From what Harry had heard, this was Pitts – the unfriendly head of the kitchens staff. Pitts looked up at Draco and said, "Pitts has already cleaned up most of yesterday's dessert."
"Then make some more," said Draco, glaring. Behind him, the trio of Vincent, Gregory, and Pansy were also shooting the head house-elf dirty looks.
"Pitts strongly recommends proper food before an examination," said Pitts. "Students will eat what is given to them."
"No," – Draco stomped his foot – "you'll do as I say, or else my father will hear about this!"
"And who is your father?" Pitts asked, more curious than afraid (unlike the rest of the house-elves, whose orb-like eyes were widened in terror).
Draco crossed his arms and gave a smug grin as he said, "Lucius Malfoy – school governor. One word to him, and you might not be employed – sorry, slaving here anymore."
"Pitts recommends that you take a seat," said Pitts, unfazed by Draco's threat. "Pitts will have workers bring nutritious food for students' exam."
"For God's sake!" Draco groaned. "How hard is it for you to understand –"
The kitchens' door opened, and in stepped Professor Snyde. She was dressed in her usual, green flannel shirt and slightly-ripped jeans, though she had on a pair of black leather boots with thick soles this time. Her wand was sticking out of her right jeans pocket, and she was carrying a rolled-up parchment in her left hand.
Pitts's expression lit up as he said, "Pitts is very happy to see Merula Snyde. Is Merula Snyde looking to eat between examinations?"
Just as Draco was about to open his mouth again, Professor Snyde nudged him aside and said, "Certainly, Pitts. And it's great to see you too. Everything all right?"
"Pitts is working hard, as always. But student Malfoy demands dessert when Pitts says healthy food will be better for examinations."
"Listen to Pitts, Draco," said Professor Snyde. "He knows what he's talking about."
"But we want pudding!" said Pansy. "Or treacle fudge, cake, éclairs, strawberry milkshake ... anything that's not food!"
Professor Snyde half rolled her violet eyes. Then she checked her watch and said, "Well, you're not going to have anything at this rate. It's already twenty to eleven."
"What?" Draco tightened his lips and went slightly red in the face. Then he turned to face Pitts and said, "Thanks for wasting our time, elf. I bet you ate all the desserts in the first place!"
"Pitts recommends that students take sandwiches to save time."
"Yeah," said Professor Snyde, agreeing with Pitts. "Pack them some sandwiches and send them on their way. And next time," she added to Draco, "don't be such a jerk down here."
"Well, next time," said Draco, "they ought to do their jobs properly. And that's if there's a 'next time' at all."
Professor Snyde shook her head. "Fifteen points from Slytherin for picking on Pitts, Draco. Now take a seat and be quiet." (Draco fumed.) "Pitts, if you will?"
While Pitts rushed his workers to pack a variety of sandwiches, Draco did as ordered and took a seat at the end of the nearest table, corresponding to the Slytherin one above. He was joined by Vincent, Gregory, and Pansy, though Harry paused upon glimpsing the inside of Professor Snyde's parchment. Harry wasn't sure, but he could swear that he saw something resembling part of a building-sketch, with a few dots moving about.
"What's that?" Harry asked, pointing to the roll of parchment in Professor Snyde's hand.
"Parchment," said Professor Snyde, with a half-amused grin on her face. "What else could it be?"
Harry shrugged.
Two minutes later, the house-elves brought a platter of wrapped-up sandwiches to Harry and his group. Under Professor Snyde's watchful eye, they accepted the sandwiches without question, and left as she took a seat to have her own meal.
"Is she gone?" Draco asked, peering over his shoulder while walking down the kitchens corridor. "Can't believe she took off points for some stupid servant! What the hell's wrong with her?"
"You were being a bit of a prat, though," said Harry. Draco went slightly red in the face again.
"And whose side are you on, huh? Those servants need to know their place!"
Gregory, who had stuffed half a beef sandwich into his mouth, swallowed his meal and paused for thought while walking. Then he rubbed his chin and said, "It's almost like she followed us to the kitchens or something."
Vincent grunted in agreement through his mouthful of chicken sandwich. Pansy shook her head.
"No way," she said. "I checked the whole time to see if Bulstrode maybe followed us, but saw no-one."
"Maybe she was just looking for a snack as well?" said Harry, shrugging. "Probably just coincidence that we bumped into each other."
"Who cares?" said Draco. "Just finish these worthless sandwiches so we can write in peace already. Hope nobody notices the points loss."
Ten minutes later, Harry and the rest of the first-years were back in the same classroom in which they'd written their Charms exam, though with Professor Sprout having taken the place of Professor Flitwick. The questions were gruelling; Harry had to force himself to remember whatever he could about bacteria, fungi, soil, and whatever else he'd studied.
I'll never meet 'M' at this rate, Harry thought, as he skimmed through his second four-mark question of the exam. How was he supposed to pass with flying colours if he couldn't even remember all of Professor Sprout's work? Sighing through his nostrils, Harry put quill to parchment as he tried to answer whatever he could over the next fifty minutes.
"Quills down, please," Professor Sprout said when the clock hit twelve. "Please remain seated while I collect your papers."
Unlike Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout went around collecting the papers by hand. Then, after stacking Blaise's paper atop Weasley's (much to Blaise's disgust), Professor Sprout dismissed the class and reminded them to come appropriately dressed for their practical exam.
Lunch was a quick affair that afternoon, followed by a Charms practical that was more about waiting than anything else. Professor Flitwick told the first-years to wait in the corridor until they were called, though the random order meant that anyone could be called up at any time.
"Damn," said Blaise beside Harry, as they sat on the warm floor in the corridor. "And here I was going to chill and study."
One by one, the students were called into the classroom by Professor Flitwick, who spent roughly three to four minutes per student before sending them on their way. None were allowed to communicate with their peers as they set off down the corridor, meaning that the next person went in as clueless as the first.
Just under an hour into the exam, Harry was the fifteenth person to be called up (after Lavender Brown). He was pleased to see that the practical consisted of simply making a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. Relieved, Harry did as told and was pretty sure that he'd scored at least eighty per cent. Then he left the classroom with a spring in his step, in stark contrast to the quick, anxious gait of Hannah Abbott going in after him.
Hope Herbology's just as easy.
Unfortunately, when Harry and the rest of the first-years arrived at the greenhouses later that afternoon, they found themselves having to complete at least three potting-assignments for their exam. Each student was allocated their own, spacious section of the greenhouse, in which Professor Sprout placed soils, fertilisers, potting equipment, and five of the plants which they'd studied that year. All in all, it wasn't the best of exams for Harry, though he reckoned he scored at least sixty per cent.
"Day one ... done!" said Pansy, as they left the greenhouses at around five o'clock. She and the rest of the group looked exhausted after today's exams, with Susan's and Daphne's tearful yawns speaking volumes. "Hang in there. Just another four days left."
"Until my birthday, yes," Draco said beside Pansy. "Can't wait to see what Mother and Father will buy me."
Hopefully, some manners, Harry thought.
After a hasty dinner, Harry and the rest of his group picked out a corner table in the packed common room, and started studying. But no sooner had they opened their books than the stone door opened with a bang. Looking up, Harry saw the fair-skinned, dark-haired Prefect Abberton striding into the hushed room. Her eyes were narrowed like slits as she looked around at the dozens of heads turned in her direction.
"All right," she said. "What asshole managed to cost us fifteen points during the exams? Do you have any idea how close we are to Ravenclaw now, huh?"
Nobody said a word. Draco slid an inch lower while hiding behind his textbook.
"Let me remind you," said Prefect Abberton, "that Gryffindor's on three hundred and one, Hufflepuff's on three hundred and fifty-four, Ravenclaw's on three hundred and eighty-three, and that we've now sunk to four hundred and ten. Malfoy, was that you?"
Draco put on an exaggerated look of surprise as he said, "What? Why are you targeting me?"
"Because you've lost more points than anyone else around here," said Prefect Abberton. "I'm going to do some digging. And if I find out that it's you ..."
And she left, slamming the stone door shut on her way out.
"Oh please," said Draco, picking up his Transfiguration textbook. "As if I care."
They carried on studying until the sun began to set at around ten o'clock that night, at which the first-years called it quits and set off for their dormitories.
The next morning, in Transfiguration, Harry wrote so much that it felt like a few minutes had passed rather than an hour, though the same could not be said for Astronomy. He then sat down for a quick lunch in the Great Hall, followed by heading upstairs for his Transfiguration practical. Unsurprisingly, Harry had no problems turning his mouse into a snuff-box, and was certain that he'd scored at least ninety per cent on this exam.
"Seven down, six to go," Draco said in the common room that afternoon. "Tomorrow's going to be a breeze with Snape."
"And what about Sinistra tonight?" Pansy asked, as she flipped through a library book on star charts.
"Shouldn't be too difficult," said Draco. Then he made an exaggerated, shivering grimace as he said, "Hope I don't have to stand too close to Mudblood Granger, though."
Had it not been for Yasmin's tip-off earlier that day, Harry would have immediately responded with a scathing remark in Hermione's defence. Instead, he chose to let Draco have his moment as Pansy, Vincent, and Gregory started laughing. It was all fun and games until Prefects Vance and Abberton entered the common room at around three o'clock that afternoon.
"There you are," said Prefect Vance, his sharp-featured face frowning in the lamplight. "This is for you, kid."
Draco blinked as Prefect Vance deposited a thick slip (with red lining across the top) in front of him, at which Prefect Vance shook his head and walked off alongside Prefect Abberton.
"Ooooh, a detention slip," said Susan, who came rushing over from the table she was sharing with Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, and Theodore nearby. Pansy scoffed.
"Spotted it awfully quickly, huh, cop girl?"
Susan ignored the remark and turned to face Draco instead. "Don't look so surprised, Malfoy. What did you think would happen after being so rude?"
"It's just detention," said Pansy. "Who cares?"
"Draco does," said Harry, "judging by his expression."
Draco's face went even paler than usual as he stared at the slip. "No," he said in a firm voice. "Father's definitely going to hear about this. Be right back."
"Can I come with?" Pansy asked. "I like Athena."
"Fine, but don't mess up her feathers again," said Draco, hurrying off with Vincent, Gregory, and Pansy behind him.
"Not even daddy can save him now," said Susan, sniggering. Then she looked at Harry and said, "Did Yasmin tell you what's happening as well?"
Harry nodded. "Hope he enjoys washing dishes like a servant."
Wednesday kicked off with Astronomy at midnight. Harry and the rest of the first-years were escorted up to the Astronomy Tower by their fifth-year prefects, and spent the next hour filling out basic star-charts before being taken back to their common rooms. Draco seemed a lot less agitated than before, and had a smug grin on his face as they crossed the empty common room that morning.
"Just you watch how Father sorts this out," Draco said, smacking aside a chair as they approached the fireplace. "That letter ought to have reached him by now, I think."
"So, we gonna wait here, right?" Vincent asked.
"Yes," said Draco. Susan shook her head.
"Sorry, but I'm in no mood to hang around here at half past one in the morning. Good, er, night?"
"Whatever," said Draco, waving his hand in a dismissive manner towards Susan and the others. "Not like I care."
At that, the group of Susan, Daphne, Tracey, Blaise, and Theodore took off towards their dormitories. Only Harry, Draco, Pansy, Vincent, and Gregory remained seated on the couches at the fireplace. They ended up waiting for another twenty minutes (Vincent and Gregory had to be shaken awake by Pansy), until a familiar face appeared out of thin air – or rather, flames – in the fire.
It was Mr Malfoy.
"Father!" said Draco at once. "Did you read my letter? I want it stopped now!"
Mr Malfoy's cold grey eyes surveyed the room and settled upon Harry for a few seconds. Then he looked at Draco and said, "Draco, how many points do you intend on losing this year? I did not expect my son to be setting these kinds of records."
"You've said that already," Draco muttered while fidgeting with his fingers.
"Because it's true," said Mr Malfoy, narrowing his eyes. "How many times do I have to tell you that if you're going to 'comment' on someone – or something – make sure to do it properly."
"How was I supposed to know that Snyde would show up like that? Or that she'd take the elf's side?"
"That's not my problem," said Mr Malfoy. "You and I both know that Merula Snyde has lost much of her ... 'personality' in recent years. I had warned you, didn't I?"
"But can't you do something to stop my detention?" Draco asked. "There's no way I'm doing servant's work, like our elf!"
Mr Malfoy paused for thought, then said, "I could, had it not been for your embarrassing display of rule-breaking, Draco. I would've expected a hot-headed Gryffindor to have lost over a hundred points in their first year – or any year, for that matter. Not my own, Slytherin son."
Draco dropped his shoulders and sighed.
"Be that as it may," said Mr Malfoy. "I shall make an appeal to have your detention shortened by an hour."
"But that's still two hours in the kitchens!"
Mr Malfoy wasn't having any of it. "And what more do you expect me to do, Draco? The fact remains that you've managed to cost our house over a hundred points during your first year alone. Be grateful that you aren't suffering weekly detentions or, worse, considered for suspension. Goodnight."
Mr Malfoy's head vanished with a small pop.
"Great," said Draco, standing up. "That pig of an elf's going to have a real laugh when I'm serving in his kitchen."
"Pitts never laughs, though," said Pansy. "In fact, I've hardly ever seen him smile."
Draco scoffed. "Now you're starting to sound like Snyde, you know that? Don't let her rub off on you."
"Leave Merula out of this," said Harry, clenching his fist in his pocket. "Er, I mean, 'Professor Snyde'."
Fortunately, no-one seemed to care about Harry's slip of the tongue. So they put out the fire and set off towards their dormitories, where they got in about six hours' sleep before waking up and getting dressed at around eight o'clock.
After a hurried breakfast, the students made their way towards the same classroom in which they'd written their previous exams. Professor Snape gave them no more than an hour to finish their paper, at which he Summoned the parchments and told the class to prepare for their practical.
"But, sir," said Lavender Brown. "Don't we need our cauldrons and stuff for that?"
"Do I look like an idiot?" said Snape in front of the class. "Two points from Gryffindor for such a brainless question, Brown."
Sneering, Snape flicked his wand and unlocked the storeroom at the back of the classroom. The students lined up to retrieve their equipment, and Snape wasted no time in writing the words 'Forgetfulness Potion' on the blackboard.
"Begin," he said.
And so it began. Harry tried his best to remember how to brew a Forgetfulness Potion as he sat facing his cauldron. Ignoring Snape's skulking around like an overgrown bat, Harry started off by adding two drops of Lethe River water to his cauldron. Then he heated it at a gentle temperature for twenty seconds and added two Valerian sprigs. From what Harry could remember, the next step was to stir the potion thrice, clockwise, and wave his wand in the manner required. Then he left his potion to brew.
So far, so good. Harry took a seat and pulled out his Defence Against the Dark Arts study notes (which Snape had checked thoroughly for any hint of cheating), and chose to wait it out by revising for tomorrow's exam.
Forty-five minutes later, Harry shut his notebook and got to work in adding two measures of Standard Ingredient, as well as four mistletoe berries to the mortar on his desk. He crushed the ingredients into a medium-fine powder with the pestle, and added two pinches of the mixture to his cauldron. Finally, Harry stirred a handful of times, anticlockwise, and waved his wand to complete the potion with just under an hour to spare.
"You may leave," said Snape, which was exactly what Harry did.
Ten down, three to go, Harry told himself. And as he walked down the corridor, with his bag on his back, Harry couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement at the thought of tomorrow's exams. Professor Snyde and Flying Lessons in one day?
Harry couldn't wait.