Ron and Hermione were just finishing their dinner when Harry and Charity walked in the infirmary holding hands. They, of course, noticed right away but decided not to say anything.
Harry put Charity's satchel down at the foot of Hermione's bed and the Chess box on Ron's bed before wrapping his arms around Charity's waist from behind. Charity loving the attention relaxed her head back on Harry's chest and closed her eyes. Harry felt so happy that he was sure he was falling in love with Charity. He tilted his head and saw she was completely relaxed, so he kissed the top of her head.
Ron had never seen Harry look so happy; not even when him and his brothers rescued Harry from his aunt and uncle's house when they were twelve.
Hermione was beginning to think she not only liked Charity because they had so much in common, but because she was able to make her best friend so happy in his most distressing time.
"Do you guys need to get a room or can we play some chess already?" Ron asked while laughing.
Charity opened her eyes and started laughing while Harry gave her an affectionate squeeze, kissed her one last time on her head, and released her.
"Yeah, mate let's see how dreadfully I can loose to you at chess," Harry replied.
Charity ran her hand down Harry's back as she sat down on Hermione's bed. She began to pull out all Hermione's and her notes and books.
"So, I see you found everything alright. What order are your exams on Wednesday?" Hermione asked.
Charity nodded that she found everything and dug into her satchel to retrieve the schedule Dumbledore made her. She then handed it to Hermione to look at.
"My first two exams are Care of Magical Creatures and Charms, so that's what I brought tonight. I figured that's all we would have time for," Charity stated while Hermione looked at the schedule.
"Charity are things much different at school in America?" Ron asked while Harry sat up the chessboard.
"Yes quite a bit different. In America they take all the same magical classes as here, but they also take muggle classes like math, history, English, science, electives, and PE," Charity answered.
"Wow, how did you take all those classes?" Hermione inquired.
"In America the school system runs on semesters. There are two semesters per year. A student can have up to 6 classes per day and 12 classes per week. Classes are either three days a week or two days a week; however, some are one day a week. Every semester there can be different classes allowing a student up to 24 different classes a year.
"They also start school at the age 6. Which is 1st grade over there.
"In 1st grade I took math, English, PE, History of Magic, Herbology, and flying lessons Monday through Friday all year. In 2nd grade I added Astronomy and Charms. PE and Flying lessons went to only one day a week, and Astronomy was three days a week. In 3rd grade I added Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Transfigurations. Now five of my classes were three days a week, four classes were two days a week, and two classes were one day a week all year. 4th grade I added magical elective classes Arithmacy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies. 5th grade was the same as 4th. I took all my muggle classes and my magical electives only one semester and my magical classes all year. 6th grade I added Choir, which is a muggle elective class, leaving me with sixteen classes a year. This was as many as I wanted to take. I took choir two days a week all year. All the rest of my classes remained the same; however, it was the last year I had muggle history. 7th grade was my last year for muggle math and science, so starting in 8th grade all my magical classes were all year. This year I had thirteen classes; three muggle classes and 10 magical classes," explained Charity.
"So you have had some classes eight years or more," stated Hermione.
"I took Muggle Studies for 5 years; Care of Magical Creatures for 5 ½ years; Arithmacy for 6 ½ years; Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, and Transfigurations for 8 years; Astronomy and Charms for 9 years; and History of Magic and Herbology for 10 years," Charity informed them.
"Blimey I couldn't imagine taking potions for 8 years," Harry declared.
"Why? Not your favorite subject Harry?" Charity giggled.
"Why not! Because I have Snape as my professor, I couldn't handle him as a teacher for 8 years. This is basically because he hates me and I hate him."
"I guarantee you that Potions will be your least favorite subject here. Snape hates everyone that's not in Slytherin house, which he's head of, but he hates Harry the most," Ron added while Harry was laughing.
The guys started to play chess and Hermione grabbed all the Care of Magical Creatures info.
"What should we study? I think you might be farther in all the classes than us?" Hermione inquired.
"I don't think so. Taking the classes over many years just makes it so we weren't rushed through anything. We would spend many days on each lesson," Charity replied.
The girls looked over everything, and it turned out Charity was slightly ahead of where Hogwarts fifth years were with Care of Magical Creatures, but right on target with Charms. Hermione used her notes to quiz Charity, because this is what the O.W.L.s would be about. Charity did very well, only missed a couple of questions in each subject. Hermione was very impressed at how detailed Charity was on her answers. Hermione was reminded of herself.
Harry and Ron just finished playing chess when the girls were closing their books and putting away their notes.
"Wouldn't it be easier to just tell Charity everything that's on the O.W.L. practical exams?" Ron suggested.
"NO!" both girls yelled at the same time.
"Ron I think that's you answer," Harry said laughing.
Harry looked at his watch and saw it was 8:30, so they had a half hour to talk before Charity and him needed to head back to Gryffindor tower.
"Charity you don't have to answer, but I was wondering what your marks were for your written exams?" Hermione inquired.
"It's okay I don't mind telling you. Astronomy: 99, Arithmacy: 100, Care of Magical Creatures: 100, Charms: 97, Defense Against the Dark Arts: 100, Herbology: 97, History of Magic: 93, Muggle Studies: 100, Potions: 98, and Transfigurations: 99."
"That's straight Os! What's your views on cheating?" Ron asked.
"Shut-up Ron. Harry I think you've got a partner for Defense Association, and I've finally found somebody I can truly study with," Hermione suggested.
"It dose appear that way doesn't it," Harry said smiling at Charity with awe.
"What are you going to miss most about school in America?" Ron asked.
"Oh my gosh, lots of things. I'm definitely going to miss Choir; I love singing. I'll miss the dances too. We had so many dances every year. We had two formal dances called Homecoming and Sweethearts. Homecoming was the start of year dance, and Sweethearts was a Valentines Day dance. Then we had one called Sadie Hopkins; where the girl asked the guy, and they wore matching t-shirts and jeans, but all year long we would have sock hops which were dances we would have the second half of the school day on Fridays once a month. I'll also miss playing quidditch. I was a chaser on my schools team since I was 8, but I think the thing I'll miss the most is having a workout room. One of our muggle classes was Physical Education, which I didn't like much, but I would go to the workout room every morning before school and workout. I will definitely miss being able to stay in shape during the school year. That is one reason I'm so good at quidditch. I'm going to buy some exercise equipment for my house so I can at least workout over summer break," Charity explained.
"You've been a chaser since you were 8? How? We don't even allow people on our teams until their 2nd year at least," Harry asked.
"Well most people have to wait until their 2nd year. Harry's been Gryffindor's seeker since his 1st year," Ron added.
"In America we have many teams because we play against other magical schools not ourselves. Each level has an 'A' squad and a 'B' squad. The 'B' squad is replacement players. The first level is elementary, which is 1st through 5th grades; next is junior high, which is 6th through 8th grades; and last is high school. They have three teams still with the two squads: Freshmen, which is 9th grade only; Junior Varsity, which is 9th through 12th grades; and Varsity, which is 9th through 12th grades. To be on Varsity as a 9th grader means you're very good. I was always on 'A' squad, and as a 9th grader I was on Varsity."
Harry and Ron exchanged excited looks; hoping Charity would play for Gryffindor in sixth year, because Gryffindor was loosing all it's chasers.
"So my boyfriend is a seeker huh?" Charity questioned.
"Yes and Ron's the keeper for Gryffindor," Harry replied.
At that moment Madam Pomfrey came whizzing out of her office telling Harry and Charity that it was past 9:00, and it was time to go. Harry picked up Charity's satchel and his chessboard while Hermione and Charity were hugging good-bye.
"You girls act like you're never going to see each other again. Hermione they'll be back tomorrow. Charity has a lot more revising to do remember," Ron reminded them.
Harry and Charity waved good-bye and walked out the door.
"I can solve your problem about being able to workout every morning if you do me a favor," Harry begged.
"Oh yeah, what do I have to do?"
"All you have to do is try out for chaser in September."
"I try out, and you're going to get me a workout room!"
"Yep."
"How?"
"I just happen to know of a room that can be a workout room if you want it to be bad enough."
"I'm not even going to ask," Charity said as they approached the portrait of the fat lady.
