Chapter Twenty-eight
Exam Pressure
The exams loomed closer and closer. I was returning to my lessons, trying desperately to keep up. It was harder with Malfoy blackening my name, spreading a rumour that Potter and I were going out, or that I was helping Gryffindor. It was apparent Harry didn't like it either. Approaching Malfoy about it just made it worse.
My first exam was transfiguration. Professor McGonagall looked critically at the daisy I was meant to be changing into a rose, but turned it into a labor plant. Kerry tried to cheer me up by saying the Professor probably awarded marks for complicated plants. I knew that I couldn't turn it into a rose because I missed Malfoy, my parents and my old life so much. It seemed stupid to miss Malfoy, but I'd actually become quite attached to him. Muggle studies weren't too bad. I'd had experience living with Muggles when my parents had been away. The rest of the exams were either difficult or there were a few tasks I found challenging. The final exam was potions. Snape swept around the lab, marking things down and looking very critical. He stopped by me and cleared his throat quietly. I just managed to save my potion from boiling over because he did.
After the exams was normally time to celebrate. Malfoy had told me how he was going to get top marks in his OWLs and I wondered if the split had affected him like it had me. I took a lonely walk up to the north tower, and gazed into the dusk from the top.
"Good evening Miss Amethyst. Reflecting?" Quirrell surprised me, his translucent figure was almost invisible in the dusk.
"Yes, I suppose I am." I sighed. Quirrell came to float beside me.
"I miss my parents more than ever Quirrell. I thought they might still be able to talk to me as ghosts. You can. What's different for them?" I asked.
"It has taken until this year for me to be visible. I wasn't killed by the same curse. I was killed when Voldermort left my body which was his host." I looked at Quirrell, who was looking out across the landscape.
"So my parents might become strong enough?" I asked. Quirrell shook his head.
"I do not know." I nodded, understanding that being a ghost didn't make you an expert on death particularly.
"Are you staying here when everyone else goes home on the train?" He asked.
"Pretty sure I am. Snape said something about inventories." Quirrell nodded.
"The plus side is you'll see the Professors in a different light. Professor McGonagall tells the most funny jokes once she's had something to drink." I smiled. "There we go, not all bad." The ghost pointed out.
Thank you. I needed someone like you to cheer me up." Quirrell looked surprised.
"Sounds like dinner. It's the end of the OWLs and NEWTs today too, so there'll be a bit of celebration no doubt." We turned and walked down the spiral staircase.
"Oh, and I forgot to tell you what the staff gave me as my forth deathday present." He flew to the nearest door and opened it. My eyes widened.
"I can pick things up too! I've missed it so much!" I saw the grin that seemed to spread from ear to ear on the ghost's face, and mirrored it. Who needed Malfoy when I'd got Quirrel, Snape, Kerry and the rest of the gang?" As we grinned, I caught sight of Cornellius Fudge, minister of magic, in the room before the great hall.
"Elixa, it's urgent you come. It's Severus." Fudge told me. I felt myself go pale. I nodded and walked quickly after the minister. Quirrell thought to follow, but turned back to go into the great hall.