"I hope you've both been studying," Hermione eyed their game of Exploding Snap with her disapproval clear as day. She had been hitting the books all year but especially after Christmas. Her anxiety was heightened, she constantly fretted over whether she'd be able to remember this or that.

Harry wasn't as worried. He thought he would do alright; potions was a toss up. If Snape had his way, he would fail him without even taking the exam. Alas he couldn't, but that just meant he would do whatever he could to make it as difficult as possible. Nevertheless, he felt he had a good grasp of the material. No, the only subject that left a twinge of uncertainty twisting in his stomach was History of magic.

Throughout the term, he had learned essentially nothing other than a few spotty lines about Goblin wars. Binns was easily the worst out of the whole lot of professors. He taught them nothing, preferring to drone on and on while nobody but Hermione listened. Everyone else slept or worked on other homework or talked to friends the entire time. It made well for an easy period but not when it came to exams approaching. He would assume Binns would do nothing different during this time than any of his other lessons, but Harry didn't want to press his luck by asking Hermione for help. Not that she would actually do it; she had already warned him and Ron that they ought to have studied because under no circumstances would she be giving them any answers.

It caused an argument to break out between her and Ron. One of the many, many Harry tuned out.

"Not this again," Ron grumbled. He'd had enough of her badgering them. Harry did too but he knew better than to say anything that might upset her and make her cry.

Hermione pursed her lips, hands going down on her hips. "Do you realize how quickly final exams are coming? We only have a week and a half. I suggest you should break out your books or you'll be as clueless as Seamus is."

She'd gotten fairly miffed at how nonchalant Seamus was over the exams. Apparently, he was a decent test taker according to himself so he had no worries he would do well. Not once had Harry or Hermione or Ron seen him open a book or peer over his notes to study.

"Don't you have somebody else to bother?" Ron scowled at the distraction. "You're interrupting our game!"

"Good!" Hermione snapped. "Perhaps then you'll see some sense!"

Ron glared at her. Harry sighed. Being friends had not necessarily quenched their seemingly undeniable desire to argue. It helped sometimes; they did try to keep things mostly civil so as not to say anything either of them would later regret but it didn't happen all the time.

Like now.

Harry had a resigned feeling he would have to be the peacekeeper yet again.

"Honestly!" Ron exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. "We've studied plenty! What more can we do?"

"Have you looked over the notes for History of Magic?" Hermione asked despite fully knowing the answer already.

Ron made a face. "We don't need to study for that."

"Yes, you do!" Hermione's voice was slightly shrilly. "You're going to fail!"

"Come off it, Hermione," Ron rolled his eyes. "It's the easiest class at Hogwarts. M'sure if we wrote something about the goblin wars he'd be happy and pass us."

"You don't know that," Hermine said reproachfully. "And besides, I would think you'd be concerned about getting a better grade on this one than you have on our other exams."

Harry winced a little. That was a sore subject with Ron. He hadn't done well on the other history exams (although neither had Harry) because none of the material that was on the exam was covered in class. He was certain no one but Hermione had gotten a good score either.

"Shut up!" Ron snapped.

"You shut up!" Hermione retorted. "I'm trying to help you!"

"Well don't!"

"What is going on here?" Percy came into the common room, eyeing them with raised eyebrows. "I can hear you both from outside the portrait hole."

"She started it!" Ron said childishly, pointing an accusing finger at Hermione. She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "She keeps bothering us!"

"Bothering you about what?" Percy asked.

It was at the same time Hermione burst out, "I wasn't bothering them!"

"Yes you were!"

"No I wasn't!"

"Enough," Percy said firmly. It caused them to quiet down immediately. Harry stared at the older boy, impressed. He could never get them to shut up that fast. "Now I want you to both tell me-one at a time," he said when they both opened their mouths to answer, "what happened. Hermione?"

Ron looked the tiniest bit betrayed that Percy had chosen her first over his own brother.

"I wasn't bothering them," Hermione started, "I was trying to get Ron and Harry to study for exams. They've hardly done it at all-"

"That's not true," Ron cut in, loudly. "We have so!"

"-all I wanted to do was help them out with History of Magic but Ron refuses," Hemione continued like he hadn't spoken.

"She's been nagging us, Percy," Ron complained. Hermione did not appreciate that. Harry briefly wondered if she was going to throw her book at Ron for his remark. "She won't leave us alone!"

"About your exams?" Percy clarified to which Ron nodded vigorously. "I see. Well, Ron, Hermione is right-" This made Hermione look a bit too smug. "You do need to study however-" Now Ron was the smug one. "-pestering them to study won't do them any good."

Hermione's eyes dropped. "I wasn't trying to pester them," she muttered. "I wanted to help them. I don't want them to fail."

Percy smiled kindly. "I know. You're a good friend, Hermione. Just try to work on easing up a bit, alright?"

She nodded, a look of determination coming to her eyes.

"And as for you two," Percy turned to them. "What's keeping you from studying?"

Harry decided to speak up. "We've studied everything else, Percy, it's just History of magic we're having problems with."

Percy suddenly looked understanding. "Right. Pardon me, I should have known this was going to come up."

Harry and Ron exchanged a curious look.

"Hermione," Percy said to her, "if you'll excuse us, I'm going to need these two for a little while. We'll be back shortly."

"Okay," Hermione agreed, sparing them one last glance before retreating back to her textbook.

/

Percy took him and Ron outside by the Black lake. They sat near a tree, far enough from the water to avoid getting wet but could still feel the cooling breeze that swept by. He had instructed them to gather up their school things; he'd brought his own as well and was currently in the process of taking the needed materials out of his satchel and onto the grassy ground.

"Say, Percy," Harry said, "what are we doing?"

"Studying," The older boy told him. "I want you both to be prepared for the History of Magic exam. Every good grade is essential."

"How are we supposed to get a good grade if he doesn't teach us anything?" Ron frowned. Harry nodded along in agreement. "He's worthless, honestly."

"Ron," Percy scolded. "You mustn't talk about a professor like that." A tiny smile came onto his lips. "Even if it is true." His brother and Harry gaped at him. They couldn't believe he'd agreed. "Now, as I was going to say, Professor Binns' exams are primarily the same year after year and-"

"Really?" Ron was amazed. "He doesn't change them?"

Percy was unimpressed with the interruption. "Yes. Now as I was saying, I've come up with a way to effectively study and get a decent grade. I myself have passed without any trouble so I know you'll be able to as well." He seemed confident. Percy usually was; he ended up being right more often than not. That was slightly reassuring to Harry. Perhaps he wouldn't fail after all.

"You really think so?" Harry couldn't help but ask. "You think we'll be alright?"

"Of course," Percy assured him. "You'll be just fine."

"Says you," Ron mumbled. "You're brilliant at these things."

Harry didn't know if Ron truly meant that as a compliment or not.

"As much as I find your confidence in me touching," Percy said dryly, "I'm not as good as you may think."

Ron raised his eyebrows.

Percy flipped through his parchment papers, searching for his desired page. "I completely failed my first couple exams in my first year."

Harry and Ron were surprised.

"Really?"

"You?" Ron thought he must have been joking. "You failed?"

"I did indeed," Percy said. "I was inconsolable for hours. Charlie tried cheering me up but that didn't work. He had to go get Bill and eventually I calmed down."

"All over an exam?" Harry frowned.

Percy's face went pink. He squirmed, looking embarrassed. "Yes, well...I thought I'd ruined my chances of a good career. Obviously I know better now."

Ron gave a cough that Harry thought sounded like it was a disguise for a laugh. Percy heard that as well and leveled his brother with a sharp look.

"If you even think about telling Fred and George, I will throw you in the lake, Ronald."

One might have thought Percy was serious, if not for the glint of playfulness that appeared in his eyes and the half smirk on his face. Ron gave a bit of a grin and a breathy laugh.

"You too, Harry."

Harry was momentarily startled at being addressed but came to relax seconds later. He smiled as well but his was more bashful than Ron's.

"Now," Percy was satisfied, "let us move on. I put together some flashcards back when I was a first year and they helped immensely."

"You're giving us your flashcards?" Ron said in awe. Harry found it strange. "Whoa."

"What's so great about his flashcards?" Harry didn't understand.

"Percy's cards are legendary," Ron said.

"Don't be ridiculous, Ron," Percy scoffed.

"Everyone knows they're the best," Ron added. "I heard Wood asking for them the other day."

Percy rolled his eyes with clear exasperation. "Yes, he wanted my potions cards."

"You've got other ones?" Harry asked.

"Oh, yes. For every subject."

"Wow," was all Harry said.

"I wasn't aware you cared that much about my cards," Percy peered at his brother over his glasses.

Ron shrugged somewhat sheepishly.

Percy snorted, pulling out a generous stack with a rubber band wrapped around the middle, he placed it down in front of them.

"That doesn't look so bad," Harry said.

"That isn't all of them," Percy told him and brought out at least four or five more stacks. Harry's eyes widened a little.

"Oh..."

"We have to memorize all that?" Ron looked unsure now. He let out a moan of despair. "I'm doomed."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Oh stop the dramatics. I hear enough from Oliver when the matches are coming up and by the way," he looked to Harry, "you have a five am practice coming up soon."

"What?" Harry blinked. "But there aren't any more games."

"He wants to be prepared for next year."

Harry groaned.

"Believe me," Percy sighed heavily, "I know. He wakes me up every time he gets ready. He's loud and he sings."

"He sings?" Ron was gobsmacked.

"Not very well. Terribly off key, actually."

Somehow Harry couldn't imagine burly Oliver Wood, the same one who told Fred and George he would fight Flint muggle first fight style, singing.

"Anyhow," Percy said, "I can start going over this with you both if you'd like?"

He looked at them expectantly, waiting for an answer.

"Sure," Harry said.

"Might as well so Hermione doesn't nag us," Ron made a face.

"She means well," Percy said. "She just doesn't know how to tell you without it coming across like that. Of course, you need to not take it so personally."

Ron ducked his head. "But-"

"We talked about this," Percy said in a gentle tone that Harry never heard from him before. "Remember? You said you would work on your anger."

"I have been," Ron insisted. "I haven't even made her cry since Halloween!"

"Setting the bar a little low but I suppose I'll take it," Percy muttered. "As nice as that is, you need to work a little harder. There is no reason I should be able to hear you outside of the tower."

Ron mumbled something.

Percy clasped his hands together. "Let's get started, shall we?"

They practiced for a while. The time just flew by. Harry and Ron looked over the section of the cards at first and were then quizzed by Percy. They missed an extraordinary amount in the beginning but gradually they got better. Soon enough there were some they could shout out even before Percy finished reading the question.

/

"How do you think you did?" Harry asked Ron as they exited the classroom. Hermione was still in there asking Binns a question and told them they could go on without her.

"Alright I suppose," Ron sounded anxious. "I got stuck on thirteen."

"Me too," Harry breathed. "I put true."

"I did false," Ron glanced at him.

"Well one of us will be right."

At that moment, Percy came around the corner. "I see you're both finished," he observed. "How do you think you two did?"

They shrugged.

"Well I hope it's better than that," Percy chuckled.

"I think I did alright," Harry said. "I got stuck a couple times but I think I did overall."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "I'm actually excited to get my grade."

Percy ruffled their hair. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm really proud of you both, regardless of how you did. You both worked really hard."

They blushed at the praise.

"Well, it was really because of your help," Harry said shyly. "Thanks Percy."

"Yeah," Ron echoed. "Thanks, Perce."

/

Percy,

I got my exam results back. I got an Acceptable on my history exam!

Thanks again!

Harry Potter