The Easter holiday came and went and soon the final ten weeks leading to the exams were upon them. Just like every year, Teddie fretted about not remembering what had happened at the start of term, much less what she had learned in the last few months since Christmas break.

The homework was still piling up on O. W. L. students, but for any students under year five, the homework was at a steady pace. Mason, having finished all his homework for the week, was looking over Teddie's defense work while she and Daphne tested one another for their upcoming Muggle Studies exam.

"When do you get your exam tables?" Astoria asked. She and Mason had their own exams coming up, but they weren't nearly as panicky about them as their friends.

Teddie shrugged. "Probably the same time that you have yours," she said. "We had them the week before last year."

"Oh. For some reason I thought the O. W. L. tables would be given out earlier," said Astoria. "You know, give you a chance to revise the stuff that you need."

"O. W. Ls aren't that much different to your exams," said Daphne. "If we have our tables early then you should too."

Astoria gave a small one-shouldered shrug and started to scribble on her essay.

"Your defense essay looks fine, Ted," said Mason, sliding the parchment back towards his sister. "If Umbridge fails you on it, it's because you refused to give up Dumbledore, which is bias marking."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "I didn't fail to give up Dumbledore," she said. "I genuinely don't know where he is."

"I know that," said Mason. "But Umbridge doesn't."

"Did you do any revising over Easter?" Blaise asked. "Mum made me sit for an hour with her and go over everything, she's fascinated by the study cards, Mason, thinks they're genius. Hans not so much."

"Why am I not surprised," Teddie muttered. She sighed and met Blaise' gaze, it wasn't a secret that his new stepfather was against Muggles, and Blaise knew that Teddie didn't really have time for Purebloods that disrespected her kind, but the fact was he was his family. "Sorry," she apologised.

Blaise shook his head. "Apology accepted," he said.

Silence enveloped the table and was only broken by the sound of shouting and heavy footsteps outside the library.

"What the -?" Theo asked, looking up and twisting around. There was a shout, followed by an echoing boom, and the library shook, books falling from the shelves in the process.

The group shared a confused look, before packing away their things and rushing out of the library.

As they reached the first floor (cutting through several secret passageways), the group came upon the Entrance Hall and found Umbridge surrounded by a group of students, with Fred and George in the very centre. Teachers and school ghosts were also present, but none of them seemed prepared to intervene or stop whatever was happening.

"So," said Umbridge triumphantly. She was standing at the very bottom of the marble staircase, Filch the caretaker at her heels. "So... you think it amusing to turn a school corridor into a swam, do you?"

"Pretty amusing, yeah," said Fred, looking back at her without the slightest sign of fear.

"I've got the form, Headmistress," said Filch, brandishing a form.

"Form?" Teddie asked, looking around at her friends. They shook their head, watching the scene with a mixture of fascination and confusion.

"It's a whipping form," said Harry, appearing beside Teddie. She jumped in surprise and them punched his shoulder. He winced.

"Don't do that," Teddie said, realising only too soon that he had been wearing his invisibility cloak.

"Sorry," Harry apologised. "But, yeah, anyway, filch has an Approval for Whipping forms. He's been waiting for a moment like this for years."

Teddie looked back at the caretaker. "How is he allowed to be around children?" she asked.

Harry shrugged and shook his head.

"You two," Umbridge continued, gazing at Fred and George, "are about to find out what happens to wrongdoers in my school."

"You know what?" said Fred. "I don't think we are... George, I think we've outgrown full-time education."

"Yeah, I've been feeling that way myself," said George.

"Time to test our talents in the real world, d'you reckon?"

"Definitely."

They both raised their hands and shouted, "Accio Brooms!"

There was a distance crash several floors above, and Teddie yelped as Harry pulled her down as something flew overhead. She looked up, and found two brooms hovering beside Fred and George, wrought iron chains and a peg still attached to the ends.

The twins swung their legs over their rooms and rose into the air.

"We won't be seeing you," said Fred to Umbridge.

"Yeah, don't bother keeping in touch," added George.

Fred looked around at the silent students gathered in the hall. "If anyone fancies buying a Portable Swamp, as demonstrated upstairs, come to number ninety-three, Diagon Alley - Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes," he said. "Our new premises!"

"Special discounts to Hogwarts students who swear they're going to use our products to get rid of this old bat," added George with a nod at Umbridge.

"STOP THEM!" Umbridge roared.

But it was too late. Even as members of the Inquisitorial Squad - the group Umbridge had created that consisted, mainly of Slytherin students, closed in, Fred and George shot turned their brooms towards the double doors, waved their wands, and shot out into the afternoon skies.

~X~

After Fred and George's departure, the weeks leading up to the exams passed painfully slow. Midway through April a load of pamphlets and lists appeared in the house common rooms, along with another notice on the board which read:

CAREER ADVICE

All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the Summer term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.

Teddie run her finger down the list and stopped at her name. Her appointment with Professor Snape was at 1pm on Monday, so just after lunch and before Ancient Runes.

"When's your appointment?" Daphne asked, following Teddie over the leather couches and picking up a pamphlet.

"After lunch on Monday," said Teddie. "Yours?"

"2pm Monday. i'm missing most of Divination," Daphne answered.

"Lucky you," Blaise muttered. "I'm there for the full double lesson and won't be seeing Snape until before dinner. Theo?"

"After Defense," said Theo.

Teddie squeezed Theo's hand. "At least you won't get in trouble for leaving halfway through or turning up late," she said. "I know it's for a good reason, but Umbridge may not see it like that."

The others nodded in agreement.

"Do any of you have any idea what you plan to do for a career?" Blaise asked. "I barely know what I want to do for lessons next year!"

"I know I want to do something with Charms," said Teddie. "Whether that's be a teacher or something else, I don't know." She shrugged, indifferently. "I guess I can talk to Snape about it."

"That is what the chats are for," said Daphne. "And we all know you'll get the grades you need in Charms."

Blaise and Theo nodded.

"Look at this," said Theo, holding up the pamphlet he had been reading.

"So, You Think You'd Like to Work in Muggle Relations?" Teddie read out loud. "What are they asking for?"

"Just an Outstanding in Muggle Studies," said Theo. "Apparently, you need more enthusiasm, patience, and a good sense of fun."

Teddie rolled her eyes. "They make it sound like Muggles are simpletons," she said, shaking her head. "We're not all stupid."

"Just some, eh Ted?" Blaise teased.

Teddie stuck her tongue out but couldn't stop the smile the crept onto her lips.

"Ooh. Listen to this," said Daphne, peering into a leaflet. "Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad." She looked up at her friends, all of which had paused to listen to her. "They want Arithmancy."

"Curse breaker?" Teddie asked, wrinkling her nose. "I think, by the time I leave school, I'd have had enough exciting adventures from my life as a student. I just want to a simple life after."

"Yes, because becoming a teacher is simple," said Blaise. He laughed as Teddie threw her leaflet at hit. It fluttered to the floor before even reaching him, which made him laugh all the more.

Teddie retreated behind a new leaflet and pouted.

"I think you upset her," Daphne said, laughing.

Theo glanced to his left and met Teddie's gaze. She was pouting but trying her hardest to not laugh as well.

~X~

At 1pm on Monday afternoon, Teddie departed from her friends in the Entrance Hall and headed down to the dungeons for her appointment with Snape. She stopped outside his office door and knocked, waiting for him to grant her entry from the other side. When he did, she entered and found him sitting at his desk, staring at the door.

"Good afternoon, Miss Green," said Snape as Teddie took her place on the chair opposite.

Teddie smiled, dropping her bag onto the floor beside her.

"I'm sure you've seen the noticeboards," said Snape, leaning back in his seat.

Teddie nodded.

"And the pamphlets?"

Again, Teddie nodded.

"So, this conversation is to talk about any career ideas you might have when you leave school," said Snape. "Have you given it much thought?"

Teddie shrugged. "Well, I know that I want to do something with Charms," she said. "It's my favourite subject at Hogwarts, and I'm really good at it. I applied to be Professor Flitwick's assistant this year, but he never got back to me, but he's also not hired anyone. So..."

"Yes, Professor Flitwick did mention that you had applied," said Snape, nodding. "He was happy with your application, but then in accordance with Decree Number 25, Umbridge was able to refuse it."

Teddie furrowed her brow. "I thought Decree 25 was that Umbridge could disband students from playing on their Quidditch teams?" she asked. "I mean, she used it to give Harry, Fred and George a lifelong ban."

Snape nodded. "Yes, she did, but she was able to get it extended when she saw you had applied for Charms assistant," he explained.

"That would explain why Professor Flitwick never got back to me," said Teddie. "Does that mean, as long as Umbridge continues to be headmistress, I could never be Charms assistant?"

Snape nodded. "That's exactly what it means," he said. "But she cannot stop you from pursuing a Charms career outside of these four walls. So, aside from Charms Assistant, have you had any other ideas?"

Teddie shook her head. "I'm not entirely sure what else there is out there than uses Charms as a main career source," she said.

"There is the career path of Auror," said Professor Snape. "Granted, it would require you to have an O. W. L in more than just Charms. You will also need a N E. W. T. in the subject, along with Transfiguration, Defense Against the Dark Arts, naturally, and Potions."

Teddie nodded. It seemed like the words were going in one ear and out the other. She blinked and stared at Snape, hoping beyond hope that she would remember all this. "I do have my heart set on Charms only, Professor," she admitted. "Do you have any advice on how I can find relevant information on being a Charms professor one day, may not here at Hogwarts, obviously, but maybe at another school?"

"You could always attend Witches and Wizards University, it's a Higher Education institute that offers courses on teaching," said Snape.

"Did you go there?" Teddie asked. "I mean, to learn to be a Potions Professor?"

Snape nodded once and then glanced at the clock. "Your appointment is almost over, Miss Green," he said. "Do you have any other questions?"

"Not that I can think of, no," said Teddie, shaking her head.

"Then you may go," said Snape. "Send Miss Greengrass in on your way out."

Teddie nodded, grabbed up her backpack and left the classroom, bumping into Daphne on the other side. "Good luck," she said, before heading off to the last half hour of Ancient Runes.