The end of the year was approaching fast. All of the students were busy studying and getting ready for their exams. Everyone was particularly nervous because they all knew that if they didn't pass their exams then they would not be allowed to return to Hogwarts for the next year. Severus had gotten much better at Transfiguration but Maleficent was still having a good bit of trouble with Potions. She and Severus were sitting in the Slytherin Common Room working on Potions homework. Maleficent sighed, closed the book, and said, "This is hopeless! I'll never get Potions figured out. How on earth do you do it?" Severus closed his book and said, "Well, my mother was good with potions and she taught me a little before I came to school." This was the first time that Severus had ever mentioned anything about his personal life at home and it attracted Maleficent's attention. But she knew better than to pry. Severus would tell her things when he was ready to. She didn't push it. She turned her thoughts back to Potions and said, "What I really need is some hands-on practice. But how is that possible?" Severus thought for a minute and said, "I'll be back. Wait here." Before Maleficent could say anything, he dashed out of the common room. Mentally, Maleficent asked, "Where are you going?" He replied, "You'll find out later."
Maleficent opened up her Potions book again and waited. After about a half hour, Severus returned. "Come with me," he said. Maleficent didn't question him. She got up and followed Severus. He led her to the Potions classroom. It was unlocked. "How'd you manage that?" Maleficent asked. Severus replied, "Simple. I asked Professor Maxwell if he would let us work in here. I told him that I was tutoring you." Maleficent replied, "Great. Just great. Now our Head of House knows I'm hopeless at Potions and the only reason I've been passing is because you and I are partners." Severus gave her an annoying look and said, "Well, if you'd rather just fail then it's all right with me." Maleficent quickly said, "No, I didn't mean that. It's just that I didn't want him knowing that I was so horrible in his class. I manage to hide it well while I'm there, but without your help I surely would have failed it already." Severus puched open the door and they entered. Inside, she saw Severus's cauldron set up with an assortment of ingredients around it. He said, "You wanted some hands-on practice. Well, you've got it now."
Maleficent smiled. She was glad to have such a good friend, in spite of what other people thought about him. They approached the cauldron and he went through step-by-step instructions for her. She managed to create a beautiful Swelling Potion with his help. She remembered how awful her classroom rendition of a Swelling Potion was earlier that week and giggled. Severus read her thoughts and smiled slightly. He put the ingredients away and said, "We can work on another one again sometime. You seem to be getting the hang of it." Maleficent smiled and said, "Thanks to you." They closed up the classroom and went back to their common room. For the next few days, they met nightly in the Potions classroom and Severus worked diligently with her to make sure that she understood everything she was doing. When exam time arrived, Maleficent was fully prepared.
Thanks to Severus, she passed the Potions exam with flying colors. She had tied for Severus with the highest grade in the class. The rest of their exams went nearly as well. On their last night at Hogwarts, they waited eagerly as Professor Dumbledore announced the House Cup winners. Slytherin was in second place, just fourty points from claiming the title, which had been claimed by Hufflepuff for the first time in ages. Still, it was a good evening. The students all mingled and partied together. Even the differences between Gryffindor and Slytherin seemed to be forgotten that evening. Fauna and Harriet, who had both been sorted into Gryffindor, came over to Maleficent and they chatted for a while about their summer plans. By the time the students all went to bed that night, everyone was exhausted but happy.
The next morning the students all rose early to pack for the trip back home. Maleficent was a bit sad. After all, she didn't have any friends at home. Her father would be furious when he found out that she hadn't practiced her music at all that year. But most of all, she would miss being with Severus. He had become a great friend to her. They spent the train ride in silence. Well, most people thought that they did. Mentally they talked about their plans for the summer. Maleficent confessed that her father would be really angry because she hadn't practiced her singing. Severus told her that he loved singing and wanted to hear her sing sometime. Maleficent said that she would consider it. In no time, the Hogwarts Express reached Platform 9 3/4 and the students all exited the train. Maleficent saw her mother waving happily at her. She pointed her mother out to Severus. Severus also pointed his mother out to her. She was a pale witch with dark hair like his. She smiled a bit when she saw her son. She could immediately see their similarities. Severus grabbed his trunk, said that he would send her an owl sometime, and left. Maleficent mentally said, "I'll miss you this summer, Severus." He replied, "I will too." Then Maleficent grabbed her trunk and headed over to her mother, hoping that the summer would pass quickly. She already longed to return to Hogwarts.
Maleficent opened up her Potions book again and waited. After about a half hour, Severus returned. "Come with me," he said. Maleficent didn't question him. She got up and followed Severus. He led her to the Potions classroom. It was unlocked. "How'd you manage that?" Maleficent asked. Severus replied, "Simple. I asked Professor Maxwell if he would let us work in here. I told him that I was tutoring you." Maleficent replied, "Great. Just great. Now our Head of House knows I'm hopeless at Potions and the only reason I've been passing is because you and I are partners." Severus gave her an annoying look and said, "Well, if you'd rather just fail then it's all right with me." Maleficent quickly said, "No, I didn't mean that. It's just that I didn't want him knowing that I was so horrible in his class. I manage to hide it well while I'm there, but without your help I surely would have failed it already." Severus puched open the door and they entered. Inside, she saw Severus's cauldron set up with an assortment of ingredients around it. He said, "You wanted some hands-on practice. Well, you've got it now."
Maleficent smiled. She was glad to have such a good friend, in spite of what other people thought about him. They approached the cauldron and he went through step-by-step instructions for her. She managed to create a beautiful Swelling Potion with his help. She remembered how awful her classroom rendition of a Swelling Potion was earlier that week and giggled. Severus read her thoughts and smiled slightly. He put the ingredients away and said, "We can work on another one again sometime. You seem to be getting the hang of it." Maleficent smiled and said, "Thanks to you." They closed up the classroom and went back to their common room. For the next few days, they met nightly in the Potions classroom and Severus worked diligently with her to make sure that she understood everything she was doing. When exam time arrived, Maleficent was fully prepared.
Thanks to Severus, she passed the Potions exam with flying colors. She had tied for Severus with the highest grade in the class. The rest of their exams went nearly as well. On their last night at Hogwarts, they waited eagerly as Professor Dumbledore announced the House Cup winners. Slytherin was in second place, just fourty points from claiming the title, which had been claimed by Hufflepuff for the first time in ages. Still, it was a good evening. The students all mingled and partied together. Even the differences between Gryffindor and Slytherin seemed to be forgotten that evening. Fauna and Harriet, who had both been sorted into Gryffindor, came over to Maleficent and they chatted for a while about their summer plans. By the time the students all went to bed that night, everyone was exhausted but happy.
The next morning the students all rose early to pack for the trip back home. Maleficent was a bit sad. After all, she didn't have any friends at home. Her father would be furious when he found out that she hadn't practiced her music at all that year. But most of all, she would miss being with Severus. He had become a great friend to her. They spent the train ride in silence. Well, most people thought that they did. Mentally they talked about their plans for the summer. Maleficent confessed that her father would be really angry because she hadn't practiced her singing. Severus told her that he loved singing and wanted to hear her sing sometime. Maleficent said that she would consider it. In no time, the Hogwarts Express reached Platform 9 3/4 and the students all exited the train. Maleficent saw her mother waving happily at her. She pointed her mother out to Severus. Severus also pointed his mother out to her. She was a pale witch with dark hair like his. She smiled a bit when she saw her son. She could immediately see their similarities. Severus grabbed his trunk, said that he would send her an owl sometime, and left. Maleficent mentally said, "I'll miss you this summer, Severus." He replied, "I will too." Then Maleficent grabbed her trunk and headed over to her mother, hoping that the summer would pass quickly. She already longed to return to Hogwarts.