Chapter 10

For the next two weeks, Harry and Draco ceased to meet each other, since both had to study for their other subjects as well.

Time seemed to fly, and before Harry knew it, he had woken up to the Friday of their qualifying N.E.W.T. exams. They were to take all their exams in one day, since they would be short but comprehensive. They were to take only the exams of the classes which they wished to take their N.E.W.T. in. Harry had Transfiguration at 9:00, Charms at 10:00, Lunch at 11:00, Defense Against the Dark Arts at 1:00 and Potions at 2:00.

The exams were very similar to the O.W.L. exams they had taken during their fifth year. One obvious difference, however, was that they took them in separate classrooms, since they all had different schedules. He answered his written exam in Transfiguration easily. It was lucky that the definition of a Switching Spell came up again, because he made sure that he had that one memorized. They did a Vanishing Spell for their practical test. Harry failed on the first try—his turtle just flopped on its back lamely—but he was able to vanish it the second time.

Charms was pretty easy for Harry. The written exam was a breeze. During the practical exam, Harry produced a perfect Summoning Charm, having used it to get his Firebolt during the first task in his fourth year. He did fairly well on his Cheering Charms, this time managing not to force his partner into hysterical fits of laughter.

He proceeded to the Great Hall, feeling that he might just get an "Outstanding" O.W.L. He sat down to a lunch of sausages and veal. Ron and Hermione came in after him and sat down on the empty chairs beside him.

Ron was looking for his Charms reviewer in his bag to check if he had missed anything. He started to take things out and dump them on the table. He took out the jigsaw puzzle and looked at it for a moment, and then the pieces started swirl again. He and Harry watched as the pieces rearranged themselves. They settled and Harry gasped as the picture turned out to be Hermione. Ron looked like he might faint.

"Oh please Harry, don't tell her, please, I wouldn't be able to stand it," Ron begged.

"Oh I think you should tell her this," Harry said, laughing at the horrified look on Ron's face. Ah the joys of matchmaking, he thought.

"Tell me what?" Hermione asked, peering over Harry's shoulder. She saw the telltale puzzle in Ron's hand. A look of surprise flitted across her face.

"Now take the puzzle, Hermione," Harry said slowly, enjoying being the one in control. Hermione glared at him, and then took the puzzle from Ron's limp hands. The puzzle pieces started to whirl then slowed down and finally settled on a Ron with a bemused expression on his face, which mirrored the real Ron's expression at the moment.

"Oh," Ron said. "So that's who it is." Harry laughed.

"That's all you can say?" Harry said.

"Well, no it's not," Ron said, glancing at Hermione. "Well, um, Hermione, it's Hogsmeade weekend tomorrow, and I, uh, was wondering if you could, um, go with me, so we could, er, go together?" Ron stammered.

Hermione laughed. "Of course silly! That is, if it's okay with you, Harry."

"No problem," said Harry, grinning. "I'll leave you two lovebirds alone now, shall I?" he left the Great Hall and went to his next exam room, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.

He answered his test with much ease, and did the practical exam with flying colors. He was feeling quite ecstatic by the time he was done. But his feelings of happiness had begun to ebb away with each step that he took towards the Potions classroom.

He entered the room and sat down on the seat marked with his name. The seat to his left was marked with 'Malfoy, Draco'. Just then Draco walked in the room. He sat on his seat. Harry resisted the urge to talk to him. Then, he felt a piece of crumpled parchment hit his arm. He picked it up and smoothed it out eagerly. It read:

Good luck. Tonight. Same time, same place.

Snape entered the room, and silence fell. He distributed the written exams and said, "You have half an hour. You may begin."

Harry read the first question. What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane? Harry remembered Snape's silky voice saying, "Monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant and also go by the name of aconite." Feeling a little more confident, he picked up his quill, dipped its tip in ink, and began to write.

Thirty minutes later, Harry reviewed his exam nervously. He wasn't so sure about his explanation of how Veritaserum worked, but he was pretty sure about the rest of his answers. He didn't find the test easy, but he didn't find it hard either.

"Time's up. Put down your quills. Accio!" All test papers flew towards Snape and landed on his desk in a messy pile. He waved his wand, and the papers arranged themselves into a neat pile. "Now, for your practical exam, you shall be making the Draught of Peace. If you remember, this was the first potion I assigned to you during our first class in your fifth year." He flicked his wand at the blackboard, and the ingredients and method appeared. "Since this potion takes time to prepare, you will be given an hour and a half. This is why my test is the last on your schedules. Begin now."

Harry remembered this potion; his heart sank as he thought about the last time he tried his hand at it. Someone on his left squeezed his wrist reassuringly.

"You'll do fine, Potter." Draco muttered. "Stop wasting time and get a move on."

Harry nodded nervously; his throat too constricted for words, and started to make his potion.

After one hour and twenty minutes, Snape said, "A light silver vapor should now be rising from your potion."

Harry vaguely remembered Snape saying those exact same words a little more than a year ago. However, he was relieved to see that unlike the last time he said those words, his potion did have a silver mist floating above his potion. He felt flushed with his success.

"Ladle a sample of your potion into the prepared flagons, which have already been labeled with your names. I have already checked your written exams. Present your flagons to me as I call your name. I will assess your potions now, and will present you with your grade on a piece of parchment. Please note that I will only accept those who will receive a grade of 'Outstanding' or 'Exceeds Expectations', since I am afraid that precious few will actually be able to get a grade of 'Outstanding' on this test."

He called them alphabetically; Harry sat down on the edge of his chair, clutching his flagon anxiously. The ones who had been called left the room right after. Harry could see Ron and Hermione waiting outside the room checking every now and then to see if Harry had been called yet.

"Malfoy, Draco," Snape said. Malfoy walked quickly towards the front, holding his flagon. He thrust it into Snape's hands, shoving his own hands into his pockets and staring at his shoes. Snape scribbled something on a small slip of parchment, folded it in half, and handed it to Draco. Draco took it, and without even looking at it, strode out of the room.

"Potter, Harry." Snape's eyes bore into Harry's as he made his way to the front of the room. The walk seemed to take forever. Finally, Harry handed the flagon to Snape. Snape peered at it closely, swishing it around and turning the flagon every which way. Finally, he took a slip of parchment and wrote down Harry's grade, then handed the slip to him. Harry clutched it in his hand, his knuckles white, and made his way to the door. Hermione and Ron were looking at him expectantly.

"Well?" Hermione prodded. Harry looked at her, eyes shining in excitement, and then at Ron, who was staring at Harry almost rudely. He shoved the slip of parchment into her hands, looking at her with dread.

Hermione looked at the parchment. Her expression was unreadable. She looked up at Harry, and then smiled widely. "You made it, Harry!" She gave a squeal of delight. Ron gaped at him. Harry stared at Hermione disbelievingly. He pinched his left arm hard. It hurt.

He shook his head, grabbing the slip from Hermione. It read:

Well done, Potter.
You're not such a dunderhead after all.

Exceeds Expectations

Signed: Severus Snape

For a long time, Harry just stood there, rooted to the spot. Then he dashed back inside the classroom, bumped right into Snape as he was about to leave, and hugged his professor, greasy hair and all. Then he took one look at Snape's mutinous-looking face, and ran for his life.

Draco felt like he was walking on air. He looked at the slip of parchment for the 47th time, feeling a surge of pride.

You're father would have been proud.

Outstanding

Signed: Severus Snape

He looked up. He had subconsciously walked up to the 7th floor, and he was now staring at the portrait of Barnabas the Barmy. He turned around, and saw the familiar wooden door that he knew to lead to the white sands beach that he had conjured in his head.

That's funny, he thought. Potter never forgets to make this a blank stretch of wall again. It was a precaution they had to take, so that people would remain oblivious to the existence of the room.

He stepped inside. The sun had begun to set; the waves were tinged with pink light, and an orange sphere hid behind wisps of purple and blue. The shadow of a moon could be made out in the distance, brushed on like watercolor. He removed his shoes eagerly, feeling the sand shift beneath his feet and press between his toes. He walked forward, taking a deep breath, savoring the smell of the sea.

His eyes caught sight of a flash of yellow, slithering across the sand. He gasped in surprise as it slithered past him and sunk its fangs into his ankle. He fell quietly.