Chapter Thirteen: The O.W.L.s

The weeks passed slowly, winter fading into spring, and suddenly it was April, and the night before the O.W.L.s were to be taken. Every spare moment the fifth years had had was spent studying for the O.W.L.s, or Ordinary Wizarding Levels, which would stretch over a four-day time span.

Harry and Ron had both felt like they were going insane because of Kit and Hermione. The two girls had made study schedules for both of them, rewritten all of the boys' notes, and made up practice tests for both of them.

At the moment the four were seated at a large table in the common room, books spread out all over, and worksheets and charts in front of them. Quills, bottles of ink, rolls of parchment and wands were scattered all over the growing piles of study materials. The four worked in silence until the common room emptied out. Then they began to talk quietly.

"Hey Hermione, do you know what 'demiguise' is? Or better yet, what it's fur is used for?" asked Harry, leaning over Ron.

"Yep. The demiguise' s fur is used for invisibility cloaks. They're extremely rare creatures," replied Hermione, who was busily looking over her Arimancy notes.

"Gotcha. Thanks," said Harry cheerily, writing that down on his piece of parchment.

"Done!" exclaimed Ron happily, holding up his finished essay. It was two roll of parchment long, just like Professor Binns had wanted it. Kit plucked it out of his hand and read it quickly.

"Ron, you can do better than this. There's a lot more information you could put in this, and you still have four days before you're supposed to turn it in," said Kit, handing Ron back his paper. "Some of the things Uric the Oddball did were amusing. Look in Fantastic beasts and Where to Find Them for more information about that."

Ron stared at her. Then he took his paper back and reread it.

"I guess you're right. I could do a better job," he admitted.

"Besides, there's bound to be some extra credit questions on the O.W.L's, and some may be about the Oddball. You never know." Kit said.

"It's getting late you guys," said Hermione tiredly, trying not to yawn. "And we have a lot to do tomorrow. We'd better get some rest." The other three nodded and gathered up their things, heading to their dormitories.

"Goodnight," called Ron and Harry.

"'Night," replied Hermione and Kit.

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The last period of the day had come at last. Harry, Kit, Ron and Hermione had suffered through all of Professors Snape, Sprout, Sinistra and Hagrid's exams/O.W.L. s, and they were now on the last test they'd have to take.

It was so hot in Professor Binn's classroom, Harry thought he'd surely faint because of the heat. It was insufferable. Kit was nearby; her hair wound up high on her head in a bun, working like a maniac on her test. Hermione, two seats over, was doing the same thing. Ron was chewing his lip and writing determinedly. Harry sighed and bent over his own test, trying to concentrate on his multiple-choice questions.

Who created the Werewolf Register in 1947 was the question the fifteen-year-old was currently on. Harry knew he'd read it in at least two books. With a sigh the boy marked A and moved on.

Hermione was breezing through the test. She was so glad she'd studied so hard! She was on question one hundred and ninety-seven with only three more to go. Looking up, she caught sight of Kit and mouthed, "How many more?" Kit held up two fingers and one crooked one. Hermione guessed that meant two and a half.

Five minutes later Kit and Hermione handed in their tests and got ready to leave. Ron marveled how any normal human being would be able to finish an exam like this one in less than a full hour. He got back to his own test, pleased that he too was almost finished. Just as the bell rang, Ron finished, turning his test in on Professor Binn's desk. Harry turned his in right after the tall redhead, glad that the four days of constant testing was finally over.

Kit and Hermione were waiting out in the hallway, their bags on their shoulders, extra books in their hands.

"How do you think you guys did?" asked Harry, hunting through his bag for his wand.

"Quite well, "Hermione replied. "The questions weren't that hard if you ask me."

"I agree with Hermione," was Kit's answer. "The questions were easy to answer if you knew the material."

"There was lots on Uric the Oddball that I knew. I'm glad I read up on him before the test," Ron commented.

"See? All that extra studying pays off," Kit teased. "How about you Harry? How do you think you did?"

"Okay I guess. You were right it was rather easy though; I thought it would be much harder," Harry replied.

"My theory is that they were counting on fear as another factor of the test. If you came in totally terrorized, like Neville for instance, the test would probably seem far harder. If you came in with a cool head, it would seem easier," Kit observed.

"Makes sense," Hermione said.

"Yep. What do you say we go down to the Three Broomsticks Saturday for a celebration?" asked Harry. "I've already asked Professor Dumbledore for permission." This statement was met with a chorus of agreements. "Great. Soaround four we'll leave?"

Once that was agreed on, the other three went up to their rooms to get some rest before dinner, and Harry went to Quidditch practice.

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Meanwhile, back at home in America, Sirius, Terry, Jon and Remus were hard at work for the US Ministry of Magic. Voldemort had been all over the States, wreaking havoc on all that protested. They had tried to send letters to Dumbledore, telling him that Voldemort was headed to Hogwarts next, with an ever-growing army of Death Eaters. But the kindly headmaster had not responded to a single one, leaving the four to believe that the Hogwarts headmaster had not received even one of their letters. This meant that Voldemort could take Hogwarts by surprise, meaning danger and death to all whom stood in his way.

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Harry, Hermione, Ron and Kit, Draco around her shoulders, sat in a cozy corner booth at the Three Broomsticks, sipping hot butterbeer and finishing their dinner on Saturday night. Harry and Kit were talking about the recent Quidditch game the Fitsburg Finches (one of the US teams) had played against the Falmouth Falcons (one of the UK teams), Ron was looking over the menu, and Hermione was reading the latest edition of the Daily Prophet. Suddenly her face went white, and she looked like she was choking. Harry hit her on the back, his expression worried, nut he didn't stop talking to Kit. Hermione glared at him.

"Hey you guys. Listen!" she said urgently, keeping her voice down.

"What Hermione? We're right in the middle of-" Harry began in a jaded voice.

"What's the matter Hermione?" asked Kit worriedly.

"Yeah," asked Ron, having finally decided what he wanted.

"I was just reading this thing in the Prophet. It says that You-know-who had begun to attack other countries, collecting more and more followers. He's gotten people from China, America, France, Spain, several of the African countries, Brazil, Portuagal" the list went on and on. "But the worst part is, the reporters says he's coming here, to take England by force with his newly grown army." Hermione finished.

"Oh come on Hermione, it can't be all that bad. Vol- whoops! You-know-who is afraid of Dumbledore remember?" Harry replied soothingly. "And we've got enough protection. Everything will be fine and safe."

"That's what they thought last year and look what happened! Cedric Diggory-dead!" Hermione's voice rose shrilly.

"And that's what Voldemort is bargaining on, us not being prepared," Kit added, starting on her cooling meal.

"Mmm-hmm," Ron said, his mouth full. "Wha chee thays," he swallowed.

"What she says," Harry translated as Ron took a big gulp of butterbeer to wash down whatever he'd been eating. Draco leaned forward off of Kit's shoulder and stole on of Ron's french fries.

"Hey!" Ron exclaimed. "Give that back!" Draco laughed insanely and gobbled the fry up, stealing two more.

"Stop," said Kit. Draco flashed Ron and sulky expression and currled once more around Kit's shoulders.

"Yeah" Hermione still looked nervous. "If you say so."

"Well, I'm finished, and I want to look around for awhile. Anyone want to come along?" asked Ron, standing and dropping some money onto the table.

"Yeah, sure," Kit replied, following his example. "Harry? Hermione?" They both shook their heads.

"Ron remember, we've got to be back at the castle by nine. We'll meet you at Honeydukes at around seven okay?"

"Gotcha! See you there!" Ron called cheerily, looping one arm through Kit's. She rested her head on his shoulder.

"Where are we going?' asked Kit some time later.

"Oh, I don't know. I think our hour is almost over though," Ron replied glancing down at her through his long lashes. "Let's head over to Honeydukes."

"Okay," Kit said shivering slighty. Ron wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "I could some of their Chocolate Frogs right now."

Honeydukes was rather empty, since there were only ten more minutes until closing time, and Harry and Hermione were waiting near the Unusal Tastes section, looking at the cockroach clusters and blood-flavored lollipops.

"Hey guys!" said Hermione, waving to them cheerfully.

"Hi Harry. Hello Hermione," said Kit, walking over to them. The three began to talk about what were the best kinds of these unusal candies.

Ron wandered around the shop, choosing what he wanted. Then it was time to pay quickly and get back up to the castle.

As they hurried along the path back up to Hogwarts, Ron suddenly stopped.

"Hey Kit, Harry, Hermione, listen. What do you hear?" He asked.

"Uh, well, sounds of the forest I guess," Hermione replied.

"Yeahcome on Ron, we'll get a detention if we're late!" complained Harry, pulling his best friend's arm.

"Nowait," whispered Kit, gesturing for Harry to stop. "If you listen closely you can hear somethingstrange sound coming from the Forbidden Forest. Likecrooning."

"Crooning? I think you had one to many blood- flavored lollipops," Harry commented. Kit guiltily took the one she had in her mouth out.

"Kit's right Harry, there is something, and we still have awhile to go before it's time to go back. Let's go check it out," Ron said, and before anyone could stop him, he had headed off in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.

"Ron! No Ron-" Hermione started to call. Kit clapped on easy hand over her friend's lips.

"Shhh! Follow him," she muttered, starting after Ron.

"Harry! Do something to stop them!" Hermione turned to talk to her friend. But Harry had taken off towards the Forbidden Forest after Kit and Ron. Hermione sighed, "Oh well, if you can't beat them, might as well join them," and she too went off to the Forbidden Forest.

The Forbidden Forest was dark and gloomy. Hermione, Harry, Ron and Kit stood in a small clearing near where they had entered, listening for the sounds of that insane crooning.

"Okay you guys. There's nothing here," Hermione commented, starting down the trail. After a few minutes Hermione realized no one was behind her. "Uhguys? Are you there? Hello?"

Hermione started back up the trail worriedly. Where were they? Finally she reached the clearing. It was empty. Hermione glanced around nervously. "You can come out right now!" she said, her voice sounding feeble. "Guys? Where are you?" she wailed, flopping down on a rock. Just then a blood-curdling scream sounded nearby.