Chapter 120

Preparation

Peter had never been more glad to return to school. It wasn't that he was scared of Remus or of being at Remus' house but hanging out with a sick and moody werewolf wasn't his idea of a good spring break. Though he'd admit that watching James and Sirius watch kids movies was hilarious. Even Remus in all his post full moon moodiness had laughed tears into his eyes.

He'd sorely missed sleeping in an actual bed and all the nature had made his allergies flair up. The food wasn't nearly at Hogwarts quality and the forest had creeped him out, especially after dark. How they lived like that was beyond him.

Yes, Hogwarts was preferable by far.

Until he got to his classes.

"I'm sure you are all aware that your fourth-year exams are coming up. Now, Professor Svalinn has asked for the entire Thursday to be devoted to her practical so your Transfiguration has been moved to Monday. There was a collective groan amongst the class that was quickly stilted by the professor's harsh glare. "And..." she continued her stern voice daring anyone else to whine, "next year you will be preparing for your OWLS."

"We're already preparing for OWLs." Sirius couldn't resist a dare. Peter couldn't really blame him all the OWLs homework they were already getting took Peter hours.

"You can't be too prepared, Black," she didn't even turn to look at him. "And for that very reason, you will likely find your homework exponentially increase in every class."

Peter didn't hear anything else she said nor did he hear James slam his head on his desk, or Sirius curse under his breath, or even the traitorous werewolf laughing at their obvious misfortune. He couldn't hear them over the sound of his own funeral march playing in his ears.

McGonagall began giving them essays every class, in addition, learning to transfigure c at into L wizard's hat, (which besides just feeling wrong to use her, was much bigger than the rat making the task much more difficult without giving them any class time to practice. Professor Staghorn was also expecting an essay per class, but was also making them memorize the ingredients of a long list of potions, Professor Flitwick didn't want essays instead he had about a dozen spells that they needed to memorize the correct pronunciation as well as the wand movements all of which, for one reason or another, they couldn't even practice.

Even Professor Svalinn, reluctantly, gave them homework. Svalinn never assigned anything inside or outside of class.

"I have bad news, Kiddos," she told them sitting in her usual position on her chair, with her boots on her desk. They'd known something weird was going on, she never had the desks out at the start of class. "According to Professor Stick-up her-butt McGonagall I a required to give you lot a written exam." There were a few giggles about the nickname but mostly there was complaining from the class. "But in order for me to give you a written exam, there has to be material for me to test you on. Since there's no way in a dragon's heart I'm going to make a unique test for each and every one of you there needs to be something we've all Learned together." She stood allowing her high-heeled boots to make a loud click when they hit the ground. She held up a book, it was a worn paperback that dearly needed to be replaced.

"This is "Magic of the Heart." It sounds cheesy I know," she told them, Peter was relieved that at least it was small. Maybe he could get one of the others to summarize it for him. She began passing out copies that were in significantly better condition than her own. "However, this book is the reason I opted to join the auror program. It was recommended by none other than Mad-eye Moody himself. The written exam will be based entirely on this book, it'll be easy, but it will require you to actually read the book, and no, you can't pass on just the practical." She finished passing the books out and returned to the front of the class. "According to the rules, "she said rules like it was a dirty word, "you have to pass both u written and h practical for Defense Against the Dark Arts, if you don't like it complain to Minnie, not me. Now for the important stuff." She vanished the desks right out from under them leaving only Sirius upright.

The book itself wasn't terrible. James and Sirius were inspired and Remus praised it highly. Everyone seemed to think highly of it. Peter thought it sounded like pointless propaganda.

The book was about the effects magic had on the heart with an emphasis on dark magic and how it damaged the heart and soul. It was silly, no one had ever measured any actual effects of magic on the heart and the soul was a theoretical concept Peter wasn't even convinced it existed, let alone could be damaged. Everyone else (excluding the Slytherins who couldn't mock it enough) liked it thong so he pretended he did as well. He got Remus to point out the points the might be on the exam and never picked the book up again.

At least, she said it would be easy.

A/N) This is short because it was literally going nowhere. I've got the next one started already so hopefully it'll make up for it.