Chapter 15 – The Last Exam
It was June. Liz could be seen reading both her Ancient Runes book and her Care of Magical Creatures book at the same time. Rachel and Michael were quizzing each other in Muggle studies until Michael nearly died of boredom. "I will never use this in real life," he grumbled.
"You'll use it in a few minutes," Rachel pointed out. "Define electricity."
"Really stupid."
Liz turned away with her books, rolling her eyes to the ceiling.
Liz's last exam was Ancient Runes. She left Michael and Rachel to their Muggle studies and headed down the dark corridor that led to the classroom. It had always sent chills up her spine, but now it almost froze her in her tracks. Someone was coming up behind her. She'd better hurry or they'd come across her just standing there, but her feet wouldn't move.
It was David Hannigan. He almost walked right past her, but then he stopped and turned around. "Liz, right? Are you ready for this exam? I know I'm not."
Liz had known this moment could one day come, but she had never imagined her mouth would go numb. Think, she told herself. Talk. "Yeah, I bet it'll be really hard."
"Stickler has a thing for those rules," David continued.
"I remember when he took points when you ripped a page and fixed it."
"'It's the principle of the thing!'" David said, mocking Professor Stickler. Liz laughed, a genuine shoulder-shaking laugh. David smiled.
By this time, they had reached the door. David held the door open for Liz, who thanked him and entered. The room was empty save for their teacher, who eyed Liz testily when he saw her smiling.
Not long after, Bettie came in. "Hi, David," she said, a simpering smile plastered on her face. I'm so worried about this exam. I'm going to fail!"
"No, you'll do great," David smiled. At least his was a real one. Hers was so obviously fake. Liz turned her seat around to face the wall, rather than watch Bettie's sickening expression.
Slowly, people started to filter in. Liz was saved the trouble of concentrating on the two people behind her when Amy Donofrio, a Ravenclaw, came in and she talked to her. All noise stopped, however, when Professor Stickler stood.
"You are about to take your first Ancient Runes exam, and if you fail and get kicked out, it will most definitely be your last. Good luck." The last two words fell like ice chips from his mouth. He passed out the exams while silence fell.
Liz almost couldn't concentrate. Her head didn't want to face her paper; it wanted to face David. Only the thought that Professor Stickler would think she was cheating kept her head down and her eyes forward.
At the end of the period, Liz shot out of the classroom, not looking back. She didn't want her good luck to run out. She only stopped when she collided with Michael and Rachel, who were emerging from the Muggle Studies classroom with downcast faces.
"What's wrong?"
"We failed," the chorused.
"Oh." Liz tried to keep her grin from invading her face, but it couldn't be helped. Before Rachel could ask, she said, "David talked to me today."
"Of course," Rachel said. "Nothing else could make her this happy. Exactly how many words was it?"
"And was it, 'Can I borrow a quill?'" Michael sniggered.
"For your information, no, it wasn't," Liz snapped. "We talked about how hard the exam was going to be. He made me laugh." She smiled, remembering.
"And it'll be etched in your memory forever," Rachel sighed. "Come on, let's go to the common room."
The common room was packed with cheering students, celebrating the end of exams. Only some Gryffindor fifth-years who had their practical Astronomy O.W.L. exam to take were still studying.
"How's it coming?" Michael asked Jessica, who was buried in a book.
"If you have something to say to me, don't," Jessica said shortly.
They walked away. "I think Mum's gotten to her," said Michael, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at his sister.
The three of them joined the celebration that their fellow Gryffindors had started. It had become wild, with food flying everywhere. Jessica got disgusted and left when a Jumbo Jelly-Ball landed on her textbook. Liz saw her drop a piece of paper as she left. "Jessica! You dropped something!" she called after her, picking it up. It was just a blank piece of paper. This somehow reminded Liz of her mother's return letter, or lack thereof. Maybe she should try again. Now would be the time to do it, with everyone distracted by the party. She dashed up the stairs before her to her dormitory.
Parchment, quill, and refilling inkpot before her, she started. But after the introduction, she found she had nothing to say. "Why didn't you answer last time, write back please"? That sounded rude and obnoxious, like something at Winnie's level. She sat alone in the quiet for a while, sucking on the end of her quill.
Then, though she wasn't using her powers, she felt as if she was being watched again. It didn't overcome her; it was silent, silent but deadly. Was someone actually watching her at this instant? She looked around worriedly, as if expecting to see someone there, but of course there wasn't. Exam stress was messing with her mind.
Suddenly she heard wind. The window had been, opened and the hangings were fluttering in the warm evening breeze. Liz stood up to close it.
"Turn around," said a voice.
Liz seized up for a moment. Her skin felt clammy. She knew that voice.
"Turn around," the voice repeated.
She turned slowly to face the Dragon. His sleek blonde hair was tousled and he had lines on his face. He seemed to be afraid to put his weight on his leg, which Liz remembered had been gored by a magnificent stag the previous year. He raised his wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Liz couldn't move. She lost her balance and couldn't catch herself. Before she crashed to the ground, the Dragon levitated her out the window and followed on a broomstick. It was terrifying to fly in the air with no support but a slice of wood held in a foe's hand. Liz didn't doubt that the Dragon would drop her at any moment.
Suddenly, the dragon relinquished his hold on her; she fell a million miles toward the ground, or so it seemed to her, unable to cry out. She stopped quickly, hovering a foot off the ground by Hagrid's cabin. Laughing, the Dragon brought her back up to his level and continued on toward the forest.
She landed abruptly at the edge of the forest. Liz couldn't tremble outwardly because of the curse, but inside she was quaking with fear. At any moment he could decide to kill her, and then it would be all over. She'd never graduate from Hogwarts, never get a job, never...never see her mother again...
The dragon conjured up rope and laced Liz tightly to the nearest tree, and then he took off the Body-Bind Curse. "You never suspected me in the theft, did you?" he said, fingering Liz's wand.
"What theft?" Liz spat.
"In the Department of Mysteries. Of your prophecy. I found you possessed the power that the Ancient Runes spoke of, and I devised a way to watch you while you purposely used those powers. So I walked on foot back to Hogwarts, where I made sure your headmistress was incapacitated before I got to you. And here you are."
Liz was terrified as he raised his wand and aimed it at her heart. Power, she thought to herself. Kick in! Come on! He drew ever nearer to her until she could feel his putrid breath upon her face. She wished with all her might that her powers would start up.
The Dragon stopped a foot from her. "Avada—oof!" An invisible force knocked him back. Liz watched in horror as he stood, only to be pushed back down again. Then he flew into the air and crashed back down to the ground multiple times. Finally, he stood shakily to his feet, breathing hard. "Those powers of yours are strong. Maybe a little pain will calm them?" He raised his wand.
"Stupefy!" yelled two voices. At the last second, the Dragon cast the Shield Charm. The Stunner rebounded upon one of the senders. The dragon stepped aside to reveal a fallen Rachel, next to Michael with his wand out.
"Good move," the Dragon leered. "Except now it's you against me, boy. Expelliarmus!" He deftly caught Michael's wand. "And now you have no weapon."
Michael swallowed dryly. Liz felt dizzy with terror as the Dragon raised his wand again.
"Crucio!"
It was June. Liz could be seen reading both her Ancient Runes book and her Care of Magical Creatures book at the same time. Rachel and Michael were quizzing each other in Muggle studies until Michael nearly died of boredom. "I will never use this in real life," he grumbled.
"You'll use it in a few minutes," Rachel pointed out. "Define electricity."
"Really stupid."
Liz turned away with her books, rolling her eyes to the ceiling.
Liz's last exam was Ancient Runes. She left Michael and Rachel to their Muggle studies and headed down the dark corridor that led to the classroom. It had always sent chills up her spine, but now it almost froze her in her tracks. Someone was coming up behind her. She'd better hurry or they'd come across her just standing there, but her feet wouldn't move.
It was David Hannigan. He almost walked right past her, but then he stopped and turned around. "Liz, right? Are you ready for this exam? I know I'm not."
Liz had known this moment could one day come, but she had never imagined her mouth would go numb. Think, she told herself. Talk. "Yeah, I bet it'll be really hard."
"Stickler has a thing for those rules," David continued.
"I remember when he took points when you ripped a page and fixed it."
"'It's the principle of the thing!'" David said, mocking Professor Stickler. Liz laughed, a genuine shoulder-shaking laugh. David smiled.
By this time, they had reached the door. David held the door open for Liz, who thanked him and entered. The room was empty save for their teacher, who eyed Liz testily when he saw her smiling.
Not long after, Bettie came in. "Hi, David," she said, a simpering smile plastered on her face. I'm so worried about this exam. I'm going to fail!"
"No, you'll do great," David smiled. At least his was a real one. Hers was so obviously fake. Liz turned her seat around to face the wall, rather than watch Bettie's sickening expression.
Slowly, people started to filter in. Liz was saved the trouble of concentrating on the two people behind her when Amy Donofrio, a Ravenclaw, came in and she talked to her. All noise stopped, however, when Professor Stickler stood.
"You are about to take your first Ancient Runes exam, and if you fail and get kicked out, it will most definitely be your last. Good luck." The last two words fell like ice chips from his mouth. He passed out the exams while silence fell.
Liz almost couldn't concentrate. Her head didn't want to face her paper; it wanted to face David. Only the thought that Professor Stickler would think she was cheating kept her head down and her eyes forward.
At the end of the period, Liz shot out of the classroom, not looking back. She didn't want her good luck to run out. She only stopped when she collided with Michael and Rachel, who were emerging from the Muggle Studies classroom with downcast faces.
"What's wrong?"
"We failed," the chorused.
"Oh." Liz tried to keep her grin from invading her face, but it couldn't be helped. Before Rachel could ask, she said, "David talked to me today."
"Of course," Rachel said. "Nothing else could make her this happy. Exactly how many words was it?"
"And was it, 'Can I borrow a quill?'" Michael sniggered.
"For your information, no, it wasn't," Liz snapped. "We talked about how hard the exam was going to be. He made me laugh." She smiled, remembering.
"And it'll be etched in your memory forever," Rachel sighed. "Come on, let's go to the common room."
The common room was packed with cheering students, celebrating the end of exams. Only some Gryffindor fifth-years who had their practical Astronomy O.W.L. exam to take were still studying.
"How's it coming?" Michael asked Jessica, who was buried in a book.
"If you have something to say to me, don't," Jessica said shortly.
They walked away. "I think Mum's gotten to her," said Michael, jerking his thumb over his shoulder at his sister.
The three of them joined the celebration that their fellow Gryffindors had started. It had become wild, with food flying everywhere. Jessica got disgusted and left when a Jumbo Jelly-Ball landed on her textbook. Liz saw her drop a piece of paper as she left. "Jessica! You dropped something!" she called after her, picking it up. It was just a blank piece of paper. This somehow reminded Liz of her mother's return letter, or lack thereof. Maybe she should try again. Now would be the time to do it, with everyone distracted by the party. She dashed up the stairs before her to her dormitory.
Parchment, quill, and refilling inkpot before her, she started. But after the introduction, she found she had nothing to say. "Why didn't you answer last time, write back please"? That sounded rude and obnoxious, like something at Winnie's level. She sat alone in the quiet for a while, sucking on the end of her quill.
Then, though she wasn't using her powers, she felt as if she was being watched again. It didn't overcome her; it was silent, silent but deadly. Was someone actually watching her at this instant? She looked around worriedly, as if expecting to see someone there, but of course there wasn't. Exam stress was messing with her mind.
Suddenly she heard wind. The window had been, opened and the hangings were fluttering in the warm evening breeze. Liz stood up to close it.
"Turn around," said a voice.
Liz seized up for a moment. Her skin felt clammy. She knew that voice.
"Turn around," the voice repeated.
She turned slowly to face the Dragon. His sleek blonde hair was tousled and he had lines on his face. He seemed to be afraid to put his weight on his leg, which Liz remembered had been gored by a magnificent stag the previous year. He raised his wand. "Petrificus Totalus!"
Liz couldn't move. She lost her balance and couldn't catch herself. Before she crashed to the ground, the Dragon levitated her out the window and followed on a broomstick. It was terrifying to fly in the air with no support but a slice of wood held in a foe's hand. Liz didn't doubt that the Dragon would drop her at any moment.
Suddenly, the dragon relinquished his hold on her; she fell a million miles toward the ground, or so it seemed to her, unable to cry out. She stopped quickly, hovering a foot off the ground by Hagrid's cabin. Laughing, the Dragon brought her back up to his level and continued on toward the forest.
She landed abruptly at the edge of the forest. Liz couldn't tremble outwardly because of the curse, but inside she was quaking with fear. At any moment he could decide to kill her, and then it would be all over. She'd never graduate from Hogwarts, never get a job, never...never see her mother again...
The dragon conjured up rope and laced Liz tightly to the nearest tree, and then he took off the Body-Bind Curse. "You never suspected me in the theft, did you?" he said, fingering Liz's wand.
"What theft?" Liz spat.
"In the Department of Mysteries. Of your prophecy. I found you possessed the power that the Ancient Runes spoke of, and I devised a way to watch you while you purposely used those powers. So I walked on foot back to Hogwarts, where I made sure your headmistress was incapacitated before I got to you. And here you are."
Liz was terrified as he raised his wand and aimed it at her heart. Power, she thought to herself. Kick in! Come on! He drew ever nearer to her until she could feel his putrid breath upon her face. She wished with all her might that her powers would start up.
The Dragon stopped a foot from her. "Avada—oof!" An invisible force knocked him back. Liz watched in horror as he stood, only to be pushed back down again. Then he flew into the air and crashed back down to the ground multiple times. Finally, he stood shakily to his feet, breathing hard. "Those powers of yours are strong. Maybe a little pain will calm them?" He raised his wand.
"Stupefy!" yelled two voices. At the last second, the Dragon cast the Shield Charm. The Stunner rebounded upon one of the senders. The dragon stepped aside to reveal a fallen Rachel, next to Michael with his wand out.
"Good move," the Dragon leered. "Except now it's you against me, boy. Expelliarmus!" He deftly caught Michael's wand. "And now you have no weapon."
Michael swallowed dryly. Liz felt dizzy with terror as the Dragon raised his wand again.
"Crucio!"