Luminescent
Part Nineteen
Ordinary Wizarding Levels
Disclaimer: I still don't own Harry Potter, but the Lugovalos Family does belong to me. However, I will loan Leon out to She Who Cannot Be Turned on occasion.
Warnings: Harry/Phy cuteness, mentions of exams (Yes, those deserve a warning. I remember how stressful those were), and that should do it!
Author's Note: Well, the next chapter is out. I hope everyone likes it, and I'm sorry it took so long! RL got in my way and I promise to try to do better from now on.
Please everyone do me one last favor!
Enjoy Part Nineteen!
oOooOo
Early Monday morning found most of the fifth years in the Great Hall, picking at their breakfasts while they waited for the examiners to arrive. When the doors slammed open after nearly twenty minutes, Harry jumped so hard he nearly went to the floor and Ron had to grip Neville to keep him from falling over in a dead faint. "They really don't look so bad," Phyrrus tried to assure Harry, even though he was just as nervous as his boyfriend. "I mean, really, they're just a bunch of old witches and wizards."
"If they're anything liked your Grandma, they don't need to be young." Harry tried to make a joke, but it fell utterly flat as the rest of his friends gave thin, nervous chuckles.
The only thing that really offered some relief, was that Umbridge seemed nervous about the examiners, and they seemed a bit annoyed with her. "The journey was fine!" One finally snapped, and Neville gaped for a moment.
"You know her?"
"That's Professor Marchbanks," Neville offered. "She's. . . she's sort of like Gran. . . she knew my parents from when they were aurors."
"Don't let her make you nervous, Nev." Ron patted the boy's arm. "She can't be that bad."
"I've made it a thousand times before!" Marchbanks continued to shout and Hermione bit back a tiny giggle.
"I think she's a bit deaf, Neville. Don't worry about her yelling, she just thinks no one can hear her because she can't hear herself!"
"Besides, she can't be worse than Uncle Sev," Phyrrus added, making Neville smile. Neville had been far less afraid of Severus since he started dating Leon, but it was still a little disturbing sometimes, to know that the once most hated professor was dating a famous interrogator.
"That is true," Ron nodded in agreement, suddenly finding his appitite and digging into the food in front of him. "Don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried about the examiners," Hermione muttered, glancing at Harry and Phyrrus.
"We'll be fine, Hermione," Harry sighed. Hermione had been fretting ever since Harry and Phyrrus had received their assignments. "Don't worry about us. You just worry about yourself."
"You don't worry, so I have to worry enough for about ten of us," Hermione grumbled, poking at her oatmeal sullenly.
Harry was never so relieved for breakfast to end and head out of the Great Hall so it could be reconfigured for the testing. River and Rayne cast them nervous looks as they left and Cyrrus, Draco, and Pansy arrived. They didn't help any, though Ginny did stop for a moment to give Cyrrus a good-luck kiss and then head off to class herself. "She has no idea how lucky she is," Cyrrus sighed, chewing his lip.
"All right," Pansy finally put her foot down. "I've had it! Enough with the nerves! Hermione, put that book away. If you don't know it by now, you are not going to learn it in the next five minutes!"
And that was how they learned, the hard way, that Pansy Parkinson was one of the rare people who did not get test anxiety at all.
"But. . . " Hermione protested as Pansy took her book with a scowl. Neville gave a weak laugh and wrapped his arms around Draco, resting his head on his boyfriend's shoulder. Hermione sighed and managed a smile. "What would I do without you, Pansy?" She finally asked.
"Go crazy," Pansy offered, smiling a little herself. She didn't know the group well, yet, and was mostly hanging around because she knew Cyrrus and Draco and wasn't particularily good friends with the rest of the group, but her attempts at humor were mostly welcome since they were all ready to crack from nerves. "Especially with all those boys around."
"Ginny's here most of the time," Hermione protested, grinning. "She helps."
"One girl does not help with their insanity much," Pansy chuckled, handing Hermione her book as the doors were pulled open to let them all inside. Harry sighed, looking up at Phyrrus.
"We will be fine," Phyrrus urged, wrapping the smaller teen in his arms and kissing him gently. "For luck."
He shifted to move away when Harry grabbed the lapels of his robe and gave him a toe-curling kiss in reply. "That's a promise," Harry whispered in Phyrrus' ear, his breath hot. Phyrrus gave a little shiver, and the two headed inside, ready to face their doom.
oOooOo
Entering the huge room with their friends, Harry and Phyrrus took several moments to look around. Most of the other students taking both the written portion of the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s were already there, whispering incantations under their breath or reciting the uses for various objects. One girl was half-sprawled across the desk, clearly asleep, and Hermione blanched at the very thought of sleeping right up until the start of exams. "What is she thinking?" Hermione hissed to Pansy, who just shrugged and found the seat labled with her name. They were seperated by houses, and Harry and Phyrrus were at either end of the Gryffindor section, as far apart as possible.
Phyrrus gave his boyfriend a gentle glance and turned back to his desk as the witch in charge of the written examination passed out the papers. Phyrrus' brow furrowed as he looked over the pages, and Harry felt himself frown at the look on his boyfriend's face. There was some confusion, and Harry quickly looked over the test, not noticing anything out of the ordinary. "You may begin," The witch at the front told them, flipping over a large hourglass.
Harry focused on the first question. a) Give the incantation, and b) describe the wand movement required to make objects fly. . . . Harry hid a smile as he remembered his first year, with Ron's wand held high as a club landed loudly on the thick skull of a troll. Maybe the test wouldn't be so bad after all, Harry mused as he bent to write. Dimly, in the background, he heard dozens of other quills touching to the paper, the soft scratching making a soft chorus in the background he he took the worst test of his life.
"That wasn't too bad," Hermione sounded relieved as they exited the Entrance Hall two hours later for a brief break. "What did you put down for the cheering charms? I just don't think I wrote enough. I had pleanty more to go and I ran out of space, but they didn't say we could use the back of the paper and--"
"Hermione," Ron heaved a sigh. "We've talked about this after every test. We are not going over them again. They were bad enough the first go-round."
"Well, I would like to go over them," Pansy sniffed. "Maybe it'll be useful on the practical portion."
"That's what I keep telling them," Hermione scowled. "But they never listen to me! I bet some of it will be on the practical part. Pansy, did you put down the countercharm for hiccoughs? I didn't, but do you think I should have?"
"Well, I didn't either. I ran out of time so I had to stop, and then there was the stupid question. . . you know, thirty six, where they wanted us to list all twelve uses for Dragon's Blood. . . I didn't put down the effects in the potions since we were doing charms, but I think I should have. I mean, I ran out of space, but that's where half the uses relate and then the various ingredients that counter-act them. . ."
"No, what did you think about question twenty three? I think I missed it. I was just too slow and then I had to rush, so I skipped that one and went back to it but--"
Harry clapped his hands over his ears with a groan and buried his face in Phyrrus' arm. "I can't take it anymore. I thought the test was terrible and I never want to do it again. What did you think of it?"
"I had some random shit on it, but it was pretty much right on with what we learned here." Phyrrus shrugged. "They gave Cyrrus and I a special version to incorperate out learning both here and in the States. I missed a few questions on spells I didn't know."
"Like what?"
"Well, I don't think I ever learned the cheering charm, and I know we never went over that damn spell that makes objects semi-animate. Who the hell wants something semi-animate? But, anyway, we wouldn't have covered those until this year, but it looks like you did it last year." Phyrrus shrugged. "There were a few things like that, but it wasn't too hard. I'll have more trouble with the History of Magic than anything. Our curiculums are just so different. . ."
"You think you did all right?"
"We'll see." Phyrrus shrugged. "I think so. I don't think I failed, we'll put it that way. And I bet I can make up for a lot of it on the practical."
"I heard they had to get a special examiner for you two," Draco broke in. "Father said they had a hell of a time of it. Mother was bitching at him for months."
"I believe it," Phyrrus laughed. "But your mother despises Cye and I, too, so that's no surprise."
"True, true. Hey, are we going to be able to visit the farm again this summer?" Draco perked up. "I really want to get away from my mum for awhile."
"I don't see why not. I think Mom was talking to Grandma about it. She said we could go spend some time with Uncle Odin and Grandma Carlisle, too. Uncle Leon said it would do Uncle Sev some good to see us all. She also said he's getting annoyed with the family." Phyrrus smirked. "He thinks we need to learn how to knock."
"You do. Occasionally," Neville broke in, snorting. "It's nearly lunchtime and Ginny'll kill Cyrrus if we don't get there soon. I'm sure she wants to drill him about the tests."
"Probably." Cyrrus huffed, heading into the Great Hall while the others all shrugged. Pansy gave them a wave.
"I'm off to talk to Blaise," She called, flouncing away. The others exchanged looks and shrugged. Neville and Draco went to sit at the Slytherin table with some of Draco's other friends, and the rest of the group headed toward the Gryffindor table where they saw River and Rayne stuffing food in their mouths like it was going out of style.
One of them tried to mumble around her lunch, but Phyrrus glared at her until she quit, retuning to stuffing food in her mouth with her sister. "Practical after lunch," Dean groaned, slamming his head down on the table. "Why me?"
"Because it's required," Cyrrus had finished and put his head down, too. Ginny smiled softly and carded her fingers through his long hair, pressing a kiss to his upturned cheek. "I'm exhausted!"
"You and me both, brother," Phyrrus agreed, groaning.
"At least you have some magic to drawn on if it gets rough," Cyrrus whined.
"I wouldn't and you know it," Phyrrus huffed, rolling his eyes. "Now hurry up. I don't want to be late."
"I don't want to go." Ron whined.
"Me either," Cyrrus agreed.
Harry laughed, knocking Ron on the back of the head. "Come on, you lot, it won't be that bad. Does anyone know how they call us in for practicals?"
"Alphabetcial. Starting at the beginning of the alphabet."
"Which means Hermione'll be first. And then Neville, then Cye, then me, and then Pansy, Harry, and Draco. Ron's last." Phyrrus frowned. "I don't know if I like that."
"Oh, shut up and come on," Hermione dragged Ron and Harry from the room, followed obediently by Phyrrus and Cyrrus with Pansy joining up with them moments later and Draco and Neville laging along behind.
The small room the fifth years were forced to wait in as they were called into a different room to be tested was crackling with nervous energy. Students were poking each other with wands as they tried to practice in the small space, and Harry nearly got his eye put out. "Divide into your groups," Umbridge screamed in her little-girl voice, watching the four groups seperate, then send them into different rooms. Harry and Phyrrus were in different groups, but Cyrrus was with his cousin and Ron and Hermione stayed with Harry.
"I don't think this will end well," Cyrrus muttered, frowning. "And how did she divide these groups up?"
"Hell if I know," Phyrrus chewed on his pinky, a nervous habit he'd through he'd broken years ago.
"Stop that," Cyrrus ordered, yanking the offending finger from his cousin's mouth. "Dad would have smacked you."
"I can't help it!" Phyrrus groaned. "The test is freaking me out, and Harry always has nasty visions when we're seperated for too long!"
"You'll be fine," Cyrrus barked, slamming his cousin against a wall. "Listen to me, Phy. Listen! You have to trust Harry to take care of himself. He doesn't need you babying him and sticking to him like glue, understand? No matter if you are bonded, you two still need your space. Worrying is only going to be detrimental because he'll feel it, he'll worry, and it'll all go in a vicious cycle. Now calm down. Understand?" Cyrrus hands were fisted in Phyrrus robes, pressing into the other red-head's chest and forcing his chest to slow as he fought to quit panting. Cyrrus had damn hard knuckles!
"I know, I know. Put me down, Cye." Phyrrus forced himself to relax, resting his forehead on Cyrrus' shoulder. "I just worry. You know that."
"Which is why I occasionally have to beat the shit out of you," Cyrrus agreed, hugging Phyrrus. "Come on, let's sit and wait."
"Can we have a mock duel?" Phyrrus grinned. "Maybe it would help. And we could get in a little practice."
"You think we could manage that in here?" Cyrrus waved a hand.
"Sure. Just nothing above first level, all right? I don't want to hurt anyone."
"Fine, fine," Cyrrus chuckled and paced off from both his cousin and the wall. Phyrrus moved away from the wall as well, and then the two were sending random spells at each other, attempting to catch the other off guard and force them into submission using a dancing charm, or a tickling charm, or something along those lines.
By the time they were called into the exam, the two were flushed from exertion and grinning. It had certainly helped calm their nerves!
oOooOo
Phyrrus had never seen the wizard testing him before, and tilted his head, stiffening, when he felt Harry walk into the exam room behind him. A smile blossomed on his face when he felt his bonded near him, and he managed to cast Harry a quick, soft smile as the smaller teen walked past. He had never considered that Harry would be in the room with him, since the different groups were going at varying speeds and Harry's name was close to his in the alphabet.
"Ah, you're Harry Potter's bonded," The examiner nodded, looking over the sheet. "I've heard the two of you can do some impressive things already."
Phyrrus shrugged slightly. "I guess. I don't know what you mean by impressive."
"I heard about that double patronus you and your bonded cast," The man explained. "That's quite the accomplishment, especially considering your youth. Maybe afterward you and your bonded could show us a few spells together. I would like to see how you work."
"That was kind of a fluke," Phyrrus blushed. "I mean, it wasn't exactly our intention to do a charm like that. . ."
"Ah, but I do believe you could repeat it," The man smiled. "Now, why don't we start with transfiguration?" He pulled out a tea kettle and set it in from on Phyrrus. The red-head sighed, glancing to Harry again, who winked.
Harry was busy with his own charm, and a wizard that informed Harry that he was to be called Professor Tofty. "The famous Potter, hm? We will have to see the extent of what you can do, then."
Harry managed a nervous smile, and the old man nodded. "That's the spirit. No reason to be nervous, after all, right? First I want to see you make the eggcup do cart wheels, then."
Harry hesitated for only a moment, then waved his wand at the eggcup. All in all, he thought he did well on the tests. He accidently confused the color change and growth charms--which he didn't metion to Hermione--but at least he didn't mutate it altogether like Ron did, or cast a banishing charm instead of a levitation charm like Phyrrus. He had also managed to fix the rat (Phyrrus managed to correct the spell, too, but he broke the plate he had accidently banished and that had certainly cost him a few marks), and turn it orange.
Even so, there was no time to relax after the tests. Once the charms section ended, students rushed to their study rooms to work on other material. The D.A. met every night to work with the Defense Against the Dark Arts text and practice the spells they'd need to know. N.E.W.T.s students were going crazy as they fought to get spells they'd never done before right without help and the fifth years sent pleading looks to the sixth years who finally broke down and helped with looks of pity on their faces.
It was during the Defense tests that Harry really got to shine. The material was easy enough, since Defense Against the Dark Arts was Harry's favorite subject, but he still had Professor Tofty as an examiner and the old man clapped enthusiastically at Harry's abilities, then leaned in. "I have heard, young man, that you and your bonded can create a double patronus." He whispered conspiritorally. "I'll give you an extra mark if you can do it on your own, but if you and your bonded can make that double one, I think a few are in order for you both."
Harry turned to glance at Phyrrus and shrug, and the taller teen shrugged in reply. "All right," Harry agreed. "But I think we need to touch to do it."
"Oh fine, fine," Professor Tofty agreed, waving the other examiner over. Phyrrus eagerly followed, wrapped his arms willingly around his bonded. Harry was the one to weild their magic, to Phyrrus' relief. He wasn't sure he could actually make a double patronus. Harry raised his wand and grinned, imagining Umbitch getting sacked--and sharing the happy thought with his bonded, making Phyrrus grin, slightly evilly, and offer his own cheerful thoughts to fuel the already lethal mix. His version consisted of Leon and Severus getting a hold of her afterward. "Expecto Patronum!" Harry cried, watching the silver stag explode from the tip of his wand and leave trails of fire as it moved. The fire circled them protectively as the stag cantered the length of the hall before disappearing.
"Bravo! Bravo!" Professor Tofty clapped his gnarled hands. "Definately a few bonus points in order for a show like that! Well done, Potter and. . . whatever your name is."
"Flame."
"Yes, you. Bravo, bravo. Now, I think you're both done with your tests, correct?" At the boys' nods, Professor Tofty sent them both from the room, turning to talk to the other examiner excitedly.
Harry burst into laughter as soon as they were gone. "I can't believe he didn't know your name!"
"Didn't much care to learn it, either," Phyrrus pouted. "I have been reduced to 'Harry Potter's Bonded.'"
"Aw, don't make that face," Harry patted his bonded's cheek. "It'll stick that way."
"You going to make me stop making this face?" Phyrrus asked, then half-regretted it when Harry yanked him down and kissed him throughly. Phyrrus parted his lips when Harry flicked his tongue against them, asking for entrance, and the taller teen quickly moved to brace Harry against the wall so he didn't have to stoop to the other's height as they made out.
"Did that work?" Harry panted as he pulled away, smirking.
"I think there's a little bit of the pout left," Phyrrus twitched his lips. "See it? Right there. You better fix that."
"Yes, you're right. I should." And then Harry kissed him again, nibbling at his lips and mapping out his mouth. Phyrrus groaned into the kiss, pulling Harry closer and tilting his head for a better angle as he pressed their mouths together harder. Both were breathing hard when they finally pulled away from each other, grinning.
"I think I resolved your pout," Harry teased, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of Phyrrus' mouth.
"Yeah, I think you did." Phyrrus chuckled, letting Harry down and stealing a quick, semi-chaste kiss from his bonded. "Come on, Hermione'll kill us if we don't show up soon, and you know making-out isn't a good excuse for her."
"It is for me," Harry smirked. "As long as you're kissing me like that!"
Phyrrus waggled his eyebrows slightly in reply, and headed for the library before Hermione really did come after them.
oOooOo
The rest of the week was just as bad as the first part, with test anexity in everyone but Pansy, and tempers grew short and drawn from all the work they were forced to do. The DA continued to meet daily as they fought through material given by incompetent teachers--those Umbridge had hired--and just plain difficulty. The fifth and seventh years snapped at practically everyone.
To top it all off, while all that was going on, the pranks being played on Umbridge only got worse. Somehow Phyrrus just knew his sisters were behind it, but no one could actually prove it. It was good on one level because Umbridge had no way to place the blame on them. It was bad on another because Phyrrus would have dearly liked to chew his sisters out for making his life more difficult. What made it worse was that since Umbrige couldn't catch Phyrrus' sisters, she decided to blame Hagrid, knowing that the action would upset them.
"Only the astronomy pracital and History of Magic left," Hermione sighed, resting her head in her hands. "I just hope these pranks lighten up. I heard Umbridge thinks its Hagrid. . ."
"She thought it was Uncle Sev and Uncle Leon, too," Phyrrus rolled his eyes. "And we all know it's not."
"Yeah, but she has no proof and therefore can't get your sisters into trouble." Hermione scowled.
"You better hope they never become serial killers, Flame. They'll have more than one perfect crime." Draco teased.
"For all I know, they already are," Phyrrus flopped back, holding his star chart over his head to study it. Harry rest against him, also studying the star chart Phyrrus held aloft. "It's not like anyone could prove it. Besides, you remember the Skeeter Incident."
River and Rayne had, the previous year, locked Rita Skeeter in Harry's golden egg for the better part of a year and only let her out after she'd sighed a contract in her own blood. Not even Chara had asked exactly what dirt they held over her to get that cooperation, but it had to be more than just her animangus status. To no one's surprise, Leon had just sniffed and hugged the twins. "They're all grown up and learning to torture people without help," He playfully sobbed.
Then River had stabbed him in the ribs with her wand and Leon had let them go with several curses. Severus had laughed himself stupid as the twins saluted him and run off.
The rest of the family had thrown up their arms in dispair and ignored the entire exchange.
Harry sighed again, sitting up and grabbing the star chart. "Come on," He ordered. "Bed."
"Fine, fine," Phyrrus murmured, everyone trailing after Harry, dragging their feet in exhaustion. Every last one of them was asleep within moments when their heads hit their pillows.
oOooOo
The Astronomy practial was given in the evening after darkness had fallen, and it started out well enough, but when Professor Tofty said they had twenty mintues left, everything shot to hell. A question coursed over the bond, and Harry turned to face Hagrid's hut. Several black-clad figures were slipping through the darkness. Students turned as they caught Harry and Phyrrus standing, and Professor Tofty frowned as he watched the students.
"Eyes on your own papers!"
"What's happening to Hagrid?" Parvarti's shrill cry made him hurry to the ramparts, afraid of some kind of attack on Hogwarts. "Who's going over there?"
"Umbitch, look!" Seamus shouted, looking through his telescope. "If that bitch hurts him. . ."
"Why at night?" Lavender frowned.
"So Hagrid wouldn't be prepared. . ." Hermione's eyes grew wide. "We have to warn him!"
"Well, that's easy enough." Phyrrus smirked.
"You can't just ring him up on the telephone," Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I know that." Phyrrus smirked. "But, you forget, I'm from a strange family."
And then Harry couldn't even recognize Phyrrus' voice as he cast a charm on himself to change it, then he cast the Sonorus charm to make his voice incredibly loud.
"INTRUDERS BY HAGRID'S HUT! I REPEAT, INTRUDERS BY HAGRID'S HUT!" Phyrrus' voice made half the class cover their ears. Hagrid's door slammed open, and the half-giant stared at the approaching gang. Three got stunners off, to no effect, and Hagrid knocked one out cold. McGonagall tried to intervene, but four stunners headed straight toward her, and Phyrrus gave a scream of rage even as Harry screamed her name in desperation to warn her as he leaned over the ramparts.
Phyrrus grabbed Harry's waist, so he could fall, and then the world exploded in light and sound, pure magic echoing through the air around the castle. Harry was glowing an eerie white and the stunners disappeared before they could hit McGongall, and then the sky was alight with something no one could accurately describe later. It was as through the stars had exploded, blinding the figures on the ground long enough for Hagrid to scoop up Fang and run for the gates. Umbridge fired at him, but the magic struck her before she could get a spell off, sending her to the ground, out cold.
And then Harry was falling, limply, to the ground from the over-use of magic, body landing with a distubing slackness in Phyrrus' strong arms. "Harry? Harry!" Phyrrus lifted him, turning to the professor desprately, and shoving their charts into his hands before dashing toward the stair case. Hermione and Ron watched them leave, faces pale. What had just happened?
oOooOo
Phyrrus hefted his bonded and raced for the hospital wing, only to find Madame Pomfery swamped by the men Hagrid and whatever magical thing that had happened had knocked out. Phyrrus had no doubt it was from Harry, but what was it? "Madam Pomfery!" Phyrrus skidded to a halt. "Please. . . just. . . quickly. . .
Madam Pomfrey, who had been looking over Umbridge, raced to Harry's side in concern. Umbridge was just unconscience. She could wait awhile longer. Phyrrus held his breath as she ran diagnositcs, then gave a soft sigh of relief. "It's just magical exhaustion. I take it he's the cause of that strange magical burst that knocked out half the attackers?"
"I guess," Phyrrus didn't really have proof, but he knew it all the same. "But. . . what do I do? He's. . . he just collapsed and I didn't know what to do. . ."
"Breath, Flame." Madame Pomfery put a hand on his shoulder. "You can wake him up by pumping a little of your magic into him. Not a lot, just enough to wake him."
"But we've never shared magic consciously before. I don't know how!" Phyrrus protested, still holding Harry tightly.
"Then I'll walk you through it. Calm down. Go settle in a bed. As much skin contact as possible. It usually makes the first time easier." Phyrrus blinked at her and, like every other teenage boy in existance, felt his mind slid straight into the gutter. Madame Pomfery slapped him upside the head, then pointed to an empty bed sectioned off from the rest of the room. Phyrrus obediently undressed the both of them down to their underwear and pulled Harry to his chest.
"Now, find your magic and find his. There's still a little left--you die if you run out compeletely--and then connect it. You'll have to monitor it carefully, since his magical reserves are so large, and then slowly feed your magic into him."
Phyrrus nodded, closing his eyes and feeling for Harry's magical core. What was normally the largest amount of magic Phyrrus had ever felt in a person was now a tiny seed, though it was still powerful and bright, pusling slightly. Locating his own magical core, Phyrrus carefully fed a tiny strand of gold into that beautiful white. The white caressed it, letting the gold strand wrap around it and allowed Phyrrus to feed it carefully.
"It might suck it in, if you aren't careful," Madame Pomfery warned, but the white seed had only seemed to scorn the thought, and only took what Phyrrus fed it. The seed grew brighter and brighter, and then he heard Phoenix song in his ears as the two magics continued to combine. And then both were bathed in gold and white and Harry slowly opened his eyes, rubbing his head.
Madame Pomfery blinked, eyes wide.
"Let me guess," Phyrrus offered dryly. "That's not normal."
"N--not at all," The nurse stuttered out, awed. "I've never seen anything like it."
"Harry?" Phyrrus concern drifted to the boy in his arms. "Are you all right?"
"Fine," Harry groaned. "What happened?"
Phyrrus related the incident, and explained about sharing magic. Harry frowned slightly. "Well, if magic keeps us alive, what about muggles?"
"We all have a magical core," Madame Pomfery explained. "Even muggles. That's how the Avada Kedevra curse works. It destroys your magical core."
Harry frowned in consideration, and Phyrrus tilted his head. "Interesting. I wonder if you couldn't stop it if you could somehow prevent it from feeding on your magical core."
"People have tried, but there's no real way to test it." Madame Pomfery shrugged. "Now, you two should head back to your dorm. There's no need for you to spend the night here. I'll let Chara know what happened, all right?"
"Thank you." Phyrrus dressed, then helped his bonded do that same. Harry's muscles still felt like water after the magical burst--the extra magic hadn't helped that--and the two headed back to the dorms, walking right into the outraged cries of Umbridge attacking Hagrid in the middle of the night. No one was happy, and Draco was currently telling Hermione about the outrage in Slytherin. Another call from Luna some time later indicated the same in Ravenclaw, Justin Finch-Fletchly in Hufflepuff reported the same.
"She better watch it," Hermione smirked. "Otherwise the entire school is going to rebel."
Phyrrus laid on one of the couches, Harry sprawled bonelessly over him. "That would totally take the cake." Phyrrus smirked. And then the two were fast asleep, despite the noise, from the stress of the past hour.
oOooOo
Harry was so glad the next day was the final test of the O.W.L.s, and that it didn't begin until two in the afternoon. Hermione had them all trapped in the library for a short review session that morning, and Harry was exhausted. He's gotten six hours of sleep the night before, and the magical drain was obvious. Hermione chewed her lip, worried, and Phyrrus fed his bonded more of his--already replenished--magic.
Harry felt better after that, and Phyrrus was glad. He was surprised though. It seemed like Harry gained double what he was actually giving his bonded. Pansy actually managed to confirm the fact. "What I want to know," Ron frowned, rubbing his chin. "Is where the extra is coming from."
"Who knows." Cyrrus waved a hand. "At least Harry's doing better and Phyrrus doesn't seem too put out. Your magic is fine, isn't it?" Cyrrus glanced at his cousin, concerned.
"Yeah. It must be a quirk of the bond. Maybe Harry has so much magic he's used to replenishing fast?" Phyrrus shrugged. "Come on, we need to hurry. The History of Magic exam is due to start, soon." Phyrrus and Cyrrus had a special test written up for them to gauge them by both the British education system and the American one. The two were nervous and had been studying themselves into stupidity to prepare for this exam.
"It would look really bad if we got a poor grade on the American portion of the test," Cyrrus had explained once, when asked why he and Phyrrus were driving themselves to exhaustion for what seemed to be a silly test.
The others had nodded, not really understanding but letting the issue go, and now Harry wished he'd driven himself to exhaustion studying for the test as well. The butterflies in his belly had to be some prehistoric mutant butterfly, ugly and abolutely huge. He wanted to vomit.
Phyrrus tried to send him soothing thoughts, but that only made it worse because Phyrrus was also suffering from acute anxiety, so the two forced their bond to dim before the examiners placed them at different ends of the huge room. The hourglass turned, and Harry enxiously looked at the first question.
Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of the International Confederation of Wizards and explain why the warlocks of Liechtenstien refused to join.
Harry grinned. He knew that. Even though he was exhausted, magically and mentally, he could remember Hermione and Phyrrus arguing over the question. Phyrrus had been biased to the American side, and it was a little different from what Britian said about the matter. They'd finally decided on the facts a week later, to everyone's relief. Harry bent to write, listening to otehr quills already scratching on the parchment as the sand slowly trickled through the hourglass.
Skipping through the test to the questions he knew, Harry was surprised to discover that a lot of the answers came from arguments between Hermione, Draco, and even Ron and Neville, about laws or decress that the American magic users claimed were different from what they'd been taught. He could even remember Uncle Leon and Uncle Sev arguing about a few of the topics when he found himself frusterated over his homework a few nights when Leon was at the castle to visit.
Other questions weren't quite so easy, things that the Americans didn't argue over with the British students. Most of the questions had nothing to do with international laws or wars and mostly involved the goblin rebellions and trolls. Dropping his quill and massaging his fingers, Harry rubbed his face. It was nice and dark when he covered his eyes, and Harry felt his head droop. Maybe he could take a short nap. . . he was done with his test and there was no point in going back over it, and he wasn't allowed to leave until the hourglass was empty. . .
Dropping his head onto his folded arms, Harry finally gave his body over to the most welcoming darkness of sleep.
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