Disclaimer: You know already, all HP characters don't belong to me.

Author's Note: This is an alternate universe where there's no Voldemort, Hermione is a pureblood and Harry's parents are still alive.

Author's Note: Those words in italics represent French.

Thank you all for your reviews!

Chapter 6: Study, Study, Study

N.E.W.Ts was approaching and all the 7th years students (except those who were taking the entrance exams to the Auror Headquarters) were studying hard for it.

"I need a break!" cried Ron as he stretched himself in front of his books in the Gryffindor Common Room.

"You just have one an hour ago, now continue." snapped Hermione.

"My mind can't work too long." said Ron in protest. "It will crack."

Harry just looked up from his comic and chuckled.

Ron glared at his best friend. "I supposed you are happy that you are the only one in Gryffindor who doesn't need to take N.E.W.Ts."

Still grinning, Harry shrugged helplessly. Hermione checked her pocket calendar. "Harry, your entrance exams are coming soon."

Harry's grin faded. "So?"

"So you have to study with us too." said Hermione.

Ron smirked and returned to his books.

"Can I say no?" asked Harry in fluent French as he put his comic aside.

"Absolutely not!" said Hermione sternly. "I think you are still weak in your French writing and I don't want to talk about your Potions, it's horrible!"

"Can I help it if Snape is so irritating?" asked Harry.

"If Snape keeps picking on you, you should work harder, show him that you are a person who could still pass your Potions even though you don't like his classes!" said Hermione.

"All right, stop it. I don't want to study Potions right now." said Harry. "Sil vous plait."

"What about your other subjects?" asked Hermione.

"I can handle them." said Harry.

"Do I need to remind you that your Transfiguration grade is slipping?" asked Hermione.

Harry groaned. "Hermione, I will study tomorrow, all right?"

"That's what you said last week." said Hermione.

"Would you two mind taking your French argument outside? I want to study." said Ron.

"Well, we are having our own argument and you are doing your own studying, I don't see anything wrong with that." snapped Hermione to Ron. "Anyway, you probably won't study much even if we take our argument outside."

"Yeah, since when you are so interested in your studying anyway?" asked Harry.

Harry and Hermione looked at each other in surprise. Then Hermione giggled. "I guess we now agreed that Ron is bad at studying." she said in French.

Harry nodded, grinning. "I think I better study now, before I become as bad as he is."

Hermione laughed.

Ron frowned. He got a feeling that his friends were laughing at him.

Harry moved to the table where Ron and Hermione were studying. Hermione moved aside and Harry sat down beside her.

Ron got up.

"Hey where are you going?" asked Harry.

"Outside. In case there's another argument again." said Ron and he left.

Harry and Hermione laughed. "Looks like we scared Ron off." Harry remarked.

Harry, Ron and Hermione studied every day. Even though Harry was not taking his N.E.W.Ts, his entrance exam topics were almost the same as the rest. To add his workload, he also had to study his French. He studied until past midnight with Hermione and sometimes if he dozed off, Hermione would slap him awake.

"Ouch!" cried Harry after Hermione hit his head with a book. "Do you really have to do that?"

"If I continue to let you sleep, you will end up getting nothing into your brain." said Hermione firmly.

Harry rubbed his head in pain. "Isn't there a better way to wake me up?" he asked as he opened his book. "Like maybe a kiss or…"

"Keep talking." said Hermione darkly, with her book still in her hand.

Harry swallowed and returned to his Transfiguration textbook.

Quidditch matches and Hogsmeade outings were cancelled due to N.E.W.Ts so to Harry, the following weeks were nothing but study, study, study. He couldn't even flirt with Hermione, because she was very tense recently and would snap at anyone who tried to joke with her, even her fiancé.

"I told you, Harry, it's draconite which is the strongest material." said Hermione.

"The name itself makes me sick." muttered Harry and looked at the clock. "It's 1am, Darling, Can't I go to bed?"

Hermione glared at Harry. "What? Your exams begin the day after tomorrow and now you are asking for a rest!" she screeched.

"Ok, ok, pretend I didn't say that." said Harry quickly. "Sheesh." he muttered.

Finally, Hermione let Harry off from his studying at 3am. Getting up, Harry looked at Hermione, who looked tired enough to sleep on the spot. Giving Hermione his hand, he said, "Come on, Hermione, you have to get up early tomorrow for classes."

"I'm not going to class." said Hermione as she took Harry's hand and he pulled her up.

"Why?"

"I'm going to see you off tomorrow." said Hermione quietly.

Harry didn't say anything. He's taking his exams at the Ministry and he had to leave Hogwarts tomorrow, so that he could reach London at night and take his exams in the next morning.

"If you come and see me off, I will probably end up not leaving." Harry muttered finally.

"Better." Hermione mumbled.

"What?" asked Harry.

Hermione smiled slightly and shook her head. "Nothing."

Harry went upstairs to his dormitory. He changed his clothes and began to pack his things into his trunk. He did it as slow as possible and finally he had packed everything for tomorrow's trip.

Sighing, Harry looked around at his friends, who were all sleeping. He knew if he had passed his exams, he would go straight to the Aurors' Headquarters and this would be the last time he ever slept in the same room with them.

Suddenly, Harry didn't feel sleepy anymore. He went to the window and sat down beside it. He stared out of the window at the beautiful night scenery. He wanted to look at this place for the last time. He could even make out the Hogsmeade train station from where he was sitting. Seeing the station reminded him of his departure tomorrow. He would be leaving Hogwarts while his fiancée and his friends would stay behind, having with their daily lessons and finally, battling with their N.E.W.Ts.

Harry sighed. He wondered how he could bear to be apart from Hermione. Sure, they could write letters, but it wouldn't be same as looking at her in person. After he left tomorrow, he wasn't very sure when would he be seeing her again.