A/N: Essentially, what you recognize belongs to the goddess that is J.K. Rowling, and what you don't belongs to lil' ol' me.
•~0~•
After Buckbeak had lost his trial ("How much are you willing to bet Lucius Malfoy rigged it?"), Genevieve and the others had thrown themselves into scavenging for something to acquit him for his appeal, though it seemed futile, with the Malfoys wanting personally to have to hippogriff executed.
Gryffindor won the Quidditch Cup for the first time in seven years, a fact that made Genevieve and the rest of the House simply ecstatic. The high they seemed to ride lasted a week, before everyone came crashing back down in time for exams.
The stress of looming O.W.L.s was so extreme that even the twins could be seen reviewing from time to time. Genevieve was studying almost nonstop, with a concentration in Arithmancy, her weakest subject.
Meanwhile, Hagrid had sent an owl explaining that Buckbeak's appeal was set for the end of exams, and, much to Genevieve and the others' dismay, an executioner was coming as well.
With all the pressure from O.W.L.s and the appeal, it was a miracle Genevieve was able to operate. She just knew she had to be ready for whatever was thrown at her.
•~0~•
The first week of O.W.L.s included Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Ancient Runes. As she'd studied ceaselessly, Genevieve felt she'd achieved at least near perfect results on all of them, especially Transfiguration and Ancient Runes, which she'd always found fascinating.
The second week involved Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Muggle Studies, Arithmancy, and History of Magic (as she wasn't taking it, Genevieve didn't have to worry about Divination).
Her Potions exam had gone off without a hitch (the examiner had been amazed when nothing exploded on him), while she had left Care of Magical Creatures smiling confidently. Astronomy was a bit harder, but with all her revision, Genevieve was convinced she'd managed at least an Exceeds Expectations. Muggle Studies was laughably easy, as her father had grown up in a Muggle home, and she'd stayed with her grandfather multiple times before his death, therefore giving her a thorough understanding of the content. Arithmancy was, on the other hand, extremely difficult, and Genevieve was unsure about her results on that exam. With her knack for memorizing facts, however, Genevieve knew she'd aced her History of Magic examination, raising her spirits a bit.
Before she realized it, exams were over, and she was finally able to breath a sigh of relief. Then something happened that caused her to inhale sharply, berating herself. She'd forgotten all about Buckbeak's appeal, which, Hagrid informed the group, he'd lost.
The note told them not to come down, as Hagrid didn't want them to see it.
"What are we going to do?" Genevieve asked uncertainly.
"What do you think?" Harry replied immediately. "We've got to go. He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"
Ron protested as though caught up in a dream. "Sunset, though. We'd never be allowed . . . 'specially you, Harry . . ."
Harry put his head in his hands. "If only we had the invisibility cloak."
"Invisibility cloak?" Genevieve asked in disbelief. "Since when do you have an invisibility cloak?"
At the same time, Hermione queried, "Where is it?"
Harry answered the younger girl first, informing her that it was under the one eye'd witch, an escape into Hogsmeade.
". . . if Snape sees me anywhere near there again, I'm in serious trouble," he concluded.
Hermione agreed, and left to go get it herself. Harry turned to Genevieve. "It was my dad's. Dumbledore gave it to me in my first year, and we've been using it ever since."
"Okay," Genevieve replied, still slightly amazed.
When Hermione returned, Ron expressed his awe of her recent behavior, and they departed for dinner before leaving.