Chapter 23

OWLs

OWLs were finally among us at Hogwarts. And if I wanted to pursue a career in Magical Law Enforcement (preferably an Auror) I had to get no less than "E" in everything, according to a meeting with Professor Snape.

On the up side, I had Draco to help me study for my exams…yet…it was only Draco.

The whole of Gryffindor House were now shunning me. I wasn't even allowed to go into the Tower anymore (on their orders, not because McGonagall or Snape said so.) because I "betrayed their trust".

All the fifth years were panicking over OWLs. In fact, Hannah Abbott one Herbology lesson had to go to the hospital wing because she had a nervous breakdown.

Harry had apparently (seeing as I had just about blown off the Occlumency lesson assisting after what happened in Dumbledore's office.) seen a very personal memory of Snape's in something called a Pensive and Snape wasn't giving him anymore Occlumency lessons.

That, and I lost the Quidditch Cup to Gryffindor…AGAIN! It wasn't fair! How could the Gryffindor Team treat me like garbage (they even actually tried to knock me off my broom a few times during the final match!) and then have karma be nice to them! It just wasn't fair!

Draco at times could be a Godsend for me, helping me with revision, going over lessons and crap, but other times…well, he was just a bastard, freaking me out.

"Well, it's not what you know," he said with me, Crabbe and Goyle outside Potions a few days before exams started "it's who you know. Now, Father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding Examination Authority for years - old Griselda Marchbanks - We've had her round for dinner and everything. Oh, Hannah, don't worry," Draco added in a comforting tone when I paled "you know me, so you'll be fine." I gave him a "I'd shut up now or you'll get a new nose job in two seconds." look "Oh, take a joke, Hannah!" Draco finished in an undertone when Crabbe and Goyle weren't listening, laughing. "I was just kidding around with you. Besides, we all know you're one of the more intelligent witches in school." he said, kissing my forehead. "You talk as if you've been eating a thesaurus once a day for seven years, and I'm pretty sure you're the only witch I know that can produce a Patronus Charm."

I giggled "Draco, the Gryffindors are inspecting us." I said, uneasy. "They seem to be suspicious of our undertakings and have a prolonged desire to constrain us to cease such actions." I added, proving to Draco that I could talk like I ate a thesaurus.

Draco smirked "So, they don't seem to care. Let them look, then." he said, messing up my hair when Snape opened the door to start the lesson. "And speak English, will you? I can't speak Hannah-ese and I'm pretty sure Crap and Boil can't either, can you, boys?" Draco asked Crabbe and Goyle.

They shook their heads. "No, Malfoy. But I can say this for Hannah, if she talks like that on her exam paper, she'll be guaranteed a few OWLs." Goyle said. "She's brilliant enough."

I smiled as Draco and I sat down, Crabbe and Goyle next to us "Thanks, Goyle." I said as Snape started the lesson.

We got our exam timetables and given details of OWL procedure that class.

"Your owls will extend over two successive weeks." Snape said as I copied down the dates and times of our exams (which I said I'd copy for Draco.) "Theory papers will be written in the morning and practical exams in the afternoon. Obviously, your Astronomy examination will take place at night.

I must warn you all that the most stringent anti-cheating spells have been applied to the examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills, Rememberalls, Detachable Cribbing Cuffs and Self Correcting Ink are all banned from the testing hall."

I shot my hand up in the air "Sir, when do we discover our results?" I asked.

"An owl will come to you sometime in July." Snape said before returning to his lecture about the exams.

"Great," Draco muttered "we don't need to worry about it until the holidays."

Our first exam was Theory of Charms, which took place that Monday morning. All the Slytherins when I went down for breakfast were muttering answers and quizzing each other as I plopped myself in between Willow James, and Draco. Akane Circa, Yuuki Kuchiki and Blair Webing were across from me as I pulled over a stack of toast.

"Morning, everyone." I said nonchalantly as I took a bite of toast. "What's up?"

"Exams." Draco pointed out.

I shrugged "Yeah. And?" I asked.

Blair gaped at me "You're not scared?" she asked.

I scoffed "Heck no!" I said, waving a hand "I studied all weekend, I'll be fine."

Willow smirked "Attagirl." she said "Try not to think of what'll happen if you fail."

I blanched suddenly. I never thought of that.

Willow thought for a second "Hey, think of this. If Malfoy here fails something you pass, you get to rub it in his face."

We all laughed hard, me leaning onto Draco for support.

After breakfast all the fifth and seventh years were left to mill about in the Entrance Hall as everyone else (Willow, Blair, Yuuki and Akane stopping to wish me luck before they left.) left for regular lessons.

The fifth years were called first to write their exam papers and I looked up to Draco, terrified. The house tables were gone and were replaced with single desks.

"Ok, now I really am nervous." I muttered.

Draco hugged me "You'll be fine, love!" he said for the millionth time "You were one of the first besides Granger to get Wingardium Leviosa spell the first time."

I smiled "Thanks." I said as one of the examiners from the Ministry lead me to a seat "Good luck!"

Draco smirked "I'm a Malfoy, I don't need it!" he said sitting down a couple of rows away from me.

McGonagall stepped in front of a teachers desk facing all the desks when everyone was quiet, putting a hand on a large hourglass resting with extra quills, ink and rolls of parchment. "You may begin." she said, turning the hourglass over.

I flipped the page over and smirked at the first question. Thank you, Draco. I thought to myself smiling down at the question:

A) Give the incantation and B) describe the wand movement used to make something fly.

I smiled as I scribbled down the obvious answer. This exam was going to be a cakewalk.

Two and a half hours later, as our exam papers were handed in and we were shepherded to a chamber the Entrance Hall, I scoped Draco out.

"That was all too easy!" I said, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I have that OWL in the bag! And thanks for reminding me about that first question." I added. "Remember?" I asked when Draco gave me a look of confusion. "You said that I was one of the first in our class to get Wingardium Leviosa? And it was on the exam!" I said "So…here's what you get." I said, kissing him firmly.

Draco smirked when I pulled off "I still have no idea what I did…but if it gets me more of that, anytime." Draco said when someone grabbed my arm.

"Word. Now!" Harry's voice growled into my ear, pulling me deeper into the chamber with Ron, Hermione and Ivy.

"Oh, hello, brother, Weasley, Granger, Duff." I said, sneering.

"What the hell was that?!" Harry demanded.

"What, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Hannah was just giving Malfoy some lip action!" Harry snapped.

I shrugged "What's it to you four?" I asked, turning around "The last time I checked, you decided you didn't want to associate yourselves with me any longer. Good day to you." I said snidely before walking off.

"Hannah Lillian Isabella Marie Potter!" Harry snapped. "Get your arse back here now before I kick it!"

I sighed and turned back around "What?" I asked.

"I want to know why you did it. Joined that stupid Squad." Harry demanded. "Why you stabbed your own friends in the back."

I sneered "If you really must know, it wasn't me who betrayed the DA." I said "I was forced to join her Squad or be cut, and I wasn't the one who gave her the information of the DA. It was Drosie and O'Neil. And your little girlfriend told the Squad about the Room of Requirement." I said, turning back around "So if that'll be all, I'm going back to my boyfriend, seeing as I am no longer desired in this group. I'll be going back to my Slytherins where I'm appreciated and not belittled and defamed without my side of the story being heard." I finished, walking away.

"Hannah!" Hermione said, grabbing my arm and pulling me back.

"What do you all want?!" I demanded "My name is already mud in the rest of the houses bar my own."

"We…we wanted to apologize." Ivy said, looking up at me, a purple feather clip in her hair that day (she wore different colours every day.) "Drosie was laughing in our dorm that night about getting you in trouble with Harry and everyone. We're sorry we never asked you your side of the story."

"I'm not!" Harry shouted "What's this with you and Malfoy?!" he demanded.

Hermione glared at Harry "Harry, it's so blatantly obvious they're back together. I even knew before we found out! Hannah was so much more willing to eat something."

Harry scowled "And you didn't tell us all…why!?" he asked me.

I shrugged "For obvious reasons that I didn't want Draco's teeth halfway down his throat or else strewn across the corridors." I said.

Harry glared at me "Why do you assume I'd do that?" he asked.

I glared back with an intense "You're obviously an idiot" look "Because you're Harry. And knowing your history with Draco…you would've beaten his head in."

Ron rolled his eyes "Ok, I get that Hannah and Malfoy are back together, but are we all cool now?" he asked.

I looked to them all and rested my eyes on Harry "If Harry tells the rest of the school that I didn't betray the DA, then absolutely." I said before the door opened once of many times.

"Fine, consider it done." Harry said finally. "But we're talking about this Inquisitorial Squad thing later!"

I shrugged and smiled. "Of course. I wasn't expecting anything less. Besides, I missed my brother."

Harry rolled his eyes and hugged me "And I missed my little sister."

The rest of our practical Charms exam, went pretty well. I was pretty sure I had nailed it. Unlike Harry and poor Draco, who got so hopelessly confused (where I got to laugh at them both, Harry playfully punched me in the stomach and all Draco could do was cast me a scathing look, the latter was jealous that I did better than him.). I got the egg cup to do cartwheels, but I almost lost concentration when Harry made his rat that he was supposed to be turning orange inflated to the size of a badger, nearly making me smash my wine glass (I had gotten Professor Marchbanks testing me, whereas Harry got a wizened old man called Professor Tofty.) before I realized what I was doing and re-levitated it.

There was no rest for me that night, I had Transfiguration the next day. And man, did I feel as if I had choked the written test. But on the up side, my practical could have been a lot worse.

Herbology came the next day. Apart from being attacked by the Venomous Tentacula from behind and Harry distracting me enough to earn a bite from a Fanged Geranium, I thought I did very well.

Then, the exam I was most anxious for. Defence Against the Dark Arts. I wanted to prove to Umbitch I could do the stuff she said I couldn't. I was pretty sure I had gotten an "O" on the written stuff…and my practical…couldn't have gone any better. Even Draco was impressed when he saw me blast my Hippogriff Boggart apart.

"Bravo!" said the wizened witch who was testing me "That will be all, Ms Potter…unless…"

"Yes, Professor?" I asked the witch.

The witch leaned in "I heard from Professor Tofty that you also can perform a corporeal Patronus Charm? For a bonus mark?"

I smirked and took my wand out of my holster, turning to Umbitch and imagining her being thrown to the Giant Squid and drowned.

"Expeco Patronum!"

And my silver fawn burst from the tip of my wand, suddenly dancing with Harry's stag. Harry and I turned to each other and grinned.

As Harry and I walked out together, we looked to each other.

I don't know about you, Han…but I think I got an "O". Harry thought to me.

I would very much agree, dear brother. I said, smirking. My boyfriend would be pleased.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to say to you at break, I thought about your Squad thing…I really can't blame you now…seeing that you were either joining her Squad or cutting your wrist open. You were stuck between a rock and a hard place. Harry thought.

I smiled Glad you see it my way, for once. I thought happily. Now we only have Potions, Astronomy, Care of Magical Creatures and History of Magic left. How'd you do on your Divination?

Harry shrugged "I think I flunked." he said bluntly. "I told that Marchbanks woman that she ought to have died last Tuesday. You?"

I shrugged "I think I did okay." I said "I got the palmistry right, and I think I nailed the tea reading. I completely bombed the crystal ball thing." I said.

Harry and I shared a smile "Even if we do fail Divination, it's no real loss." we said together.

Potions I was positive I nailed both parts to the exam. I was just as relaxed as I ever was (minus the fact that I was accustomed to working with someone.), and I was positive my was good enough to get the desired "O".

Astronomy was hell. The exam where we were filling in star maps was interrupted by a group of six people, lead by Umbitch going to Hagrid's hut and causing a scene.

They were trying to sack Hagrid, and Stun him as well. Many students lost concentration and wound up watching what went on, even the examiners, Professors Tofty and Marchbanks paused to watch.

Professor McGonagall wound up going down onto the grounds to stop Umbitch, a man called Dawlish and the four others from attacking Hagrid…only to get attacked herself.

Fang was the next to be Stunned, and that's when Hagrid got forceful, knocking three members of the mob out before picking up Fang and running to the gates.

And that's when the exam got back under control…at five minutes to go before the end of it.

I filled in my last few constellations at random and handed it in when Professor Tofty called time, hoping I had scrapped at least an "A".

And finally, there was History of Magic. That was a nightmare. I was positive I barely knew half of the dates on the test and half of what happened, like I actually gave a crap!

But I still did my best, and turns out the half I knew, was actually what was the most on the test! So I had a chance to scrape an "A" in History of Magic as well as in Astronomy (but I thought I was going to drop it anyways, it was so boring.).

Scribbling away happily knowing that I wasn't going to fail in my final exam.

And before I could even finish the final page, Harry had collapsed onto the floor of the Great Hall.

Everyone stopped writing immediately and stood over Harry, me rushing in front to help him up.

"Harry, you ok?" I asked.

Harry nodded as Professor Tofty took him by the arm and out of my grasp.

"I'll take Mr Potter to the hospital wing, you all finish your exams and I shall return." Tofty said, walking out with Harry.

I took a deep breath and sat back down to finish the last page, my mind now off the exam and wondering about my brother.

Was he ok?