(This is first fanfic and I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. The chapters are short, and the storyline isn't brilliant but it is okay for a first attempt I suppose.

I don't own the characters; they belong to JK Rowling and her fabulous imagination. The plotline is mine though, unfortunately.)

Chapter 10

In charms Hermione received the answers for her 'mock' NEWTS paper.

"312" Ron cried out, as he leant back on his stool, "You got 312. I knew you were smart Hermione, but wow. You are going to pass your NEWTS no problem."

"Oh shut up Ron." Hermione said roughly, feeling as though he'd jinx her success by saying she'd succeed. Ron grinned back, not taking her tone of words to heart. Harry smiled at her score and showed her his own. She smiled back at him.

"Well done Harry." Hermione said sincerely. She looked over at Ron's paper. He'd passed, so she beamed happily at it, "And you too Ron."

Ron blushed.

"Yeah, well….I didn't revise much. Anyway, we all know I'm not as smart as you two." He grinned. "I think 84 is alright for me."

Hermione nodded genuinely. "It is Ron. It really is. That's good. For a mock paper you've done excellently. And Harry, 92 is fantastic. I'm so happy for both of you. I just know we're going to pass our NEWTS this year." She said hopefully, scolding herself mentally for saying such a thing.

The two boys nodded at her as the class ended and Professor Flitwick bid them good day, adding an extra congratulations to Hermione. She blushed and left the classroom, secretly pleased with herself.

They walked along the corridors, reminiscing. They were so surprised that their 7 years of education at Hogwarts was almost over. They looked out of the windows as they made their way to Transfiguration. They were so glad they still had almost all their lessons together. Their friendship had grown over the years, and although Hermione felt slightly left out sometimes because she was a girl, she still loved both Ron and Harry. They entered the classroom to see a stern Professor Hewitt waiting; the replacement transfiguration teacher who took over after McGonagall became Headmistress.

"Settle down, settle down." Professor Hewitt's voice rang out like a bell. No-one thought it possible, but he was even stricter and more severe than McGonagall. The class quieted slowly. Unlike McGonagall, his mere presence didn't silence a class, so people did whisper frequently to each other. Once everyone was sat down and silent, or the closest thing to it, the class began.

An hour and a half later the class left for lunch, Hermione being the only one who had fully transfigured her classmate into an animal. Ron however, had performed rather disastrously. Neville was currently in the hospital wing with two wings sticking out of his back, and a trunk on his face instead of a nose.

The three friends entered the Great Hall loudly. Ron and Harry were laughing, recalling last lessons events, and Hermione was scowling for Neville's sake. Lucius saw her face as she entered the Great Hall, as did other students, and he hoped for his own sake that he never crossed this bright young witch.