I meant to post this on Thursday night, but I had to get ready to get up on Friday morning because I had to be at school and on a bus 45 minutes before I normally think about maybe getting out of bed. My Japanese class was attending a foreign language forensics meet, that happened to be 2 and a half hours away. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't freezing out and so early. It was really quiet because everyone was sleeping, but sooooooooo uncomfortable to sit on those school bus seats for that long. And the meet would have been more fun if there had been another school with a Japanese class, we had no competition. But they had really good food (everything comes back to food with me) IT was a really big campus, if it weren't for the maps we all got I would have gotten so lost. That and the fact that at all times there were at least two other people with me. That helped too. But yes, I didn't post this last night either because when we got back at like 6, I was simply exhausted. And then I was invited to a going-home party for the French exchange students, (yay foreign languages) and a lot of Wii and guitar hero was involved, and caffeine, a lot of that. But anyway, on with chapter 7!

I hope you like the chapter! it's a longer one.

Part 7: Of Animals and Examinations

I woke to find tears in my eyes and my body shaking. I wiped my face with the back of my hand, and brush my hair out of my eyes while pushing lingering memories out of my mind at the same time. I push the button on my watch, illuminating its face so I could read the time. 5:30 am. It was no use going back to sleep, I'd need to get up in another half an hour anyway. I crawled out of bed and walked into the bathroom, switching on the shower. I turned the temperature as high as I could without scalding myself to death, then stripped down and stepped in, the hot water pushing away the last remnants of the memories of things past. Steam filled the shower and every breath was as much water as air, but it cleared my head and woke me up.

At 6:00 I got out of the shower, pulled a comb through my short hair, wrapped my towel around me and walked back into the room I shared with Shashi and Chandria.

"Wake up sleeping beauties!" I call loudly, and Chandria slowly sits up, giving me a look that clearly read, 'it can't be morning already'. Shashi twitched but that was all. I walk over to her, pull back her covers, and wring my wet hair out on top of her; she shoots out of bed, dripping, and glares at me.

"It's too early for this!" she groans, watching as Chandria heads off for the next shower, since Shashi was too lazy.

"You wanna be ready for school or not?" I ask her, and she sighs, loudly, murmuring to herself under her breath but admitting defeat. "Good." I say then turn to my wardrobe. I pull on some comfy jeans and a t-shirt proclaiming 'I told your boy-friend he was gay and he hit me with his purse!' and combed my hair once more so that it would lay right then grabbed a book on mythical creatures and sat in a chair by a window to wait for my sisters to finish getting ready.

At about 6:45 we set out to find room 201, finally finding it and piling in with two minutes to spare. Lupin was already there, and he looked up from the book he was reading. "Ah, right on time girls. Right, for the first day I thought I would test each of you in each of the areas of education to see where you stand, Right, wands out!" And so passed our first day with a teacher.

A couple weeks later, early to mid July, we had reached 4th year level magics, and we were told the next three days we had to ourselves to do as we wished. Shashi enthusiastically proclaimed how she felt about this; "YES!!!!!!" screams Shashi, then begins to dance about the room happily. We went to bed the next night looking forward to go outside and wander about as we wished, and I fell asleep with a smile on my face. Exactly 5:30 the next morning my eyes opened and I rubbed my face, glancing at the time and sighing. I had hoped that since I didn't have to get up I wouldn't, but my body was used to getting up at this time now so I hadn't much choice. I sighed getting out of bed and heading to the shower.

Afterwards I got dressed in shorts and a tank, for it was going to be a bright sunny day, and I could already feel the humidity even this early in the morning. I combed my hair and then went to jump on Shashi's bed, just because I could.

"I'M SLEEPING!" I hear her voice come muffled from beneath the covers.

"I know." I respond.

Chandria sits up then and yawns, "Shashi, we don't have lessons today remember?" Suddenly I fell on my ass as Shashi shoots out of bed, eyes huge.

"Oh yeah! First shower!" she yells running into the bathroom before Chandria could get there.

Chandria shakes her head and yawns again then turns her brown eyes to me again, "You wake up at 5:30 again?" I nod, and then sit down with the first book I could grab, one on transfiguration. I sit down by the window just as Shashi streams out of the bathroom running around to get ready for the day and Chandria heads in for her shower. I hear a hoot by my ear and turn to the window to see Hermes sitting there, I smile and close my book and unlatch the window.

"Hey Hermes." I say, reaching out my arm for him to jump on, and then bringing him into the room. "What should we do today Hermes?" I ask the owl but Shashi answers, appearing at my elbow and staring at the bird.

"I know! We should go to Eeylops Owl Emporium! That way Chandria and I can get our own owls!"

Chandria, sanding on the other side of the room, wand pointed at her head to quick dry her hair, says, "That sounds like a great idea."

About 10 minutes later we were all ready to go out, and bounded down the stairs happily, waving goodbye to Tom, who was behind the bar already, even at this hour, and told him we'd be back later. We walked into the walled in courtyard and I pulled out my wand, we had mastered the brick code weeks ago. I tapped on the correct bricks and the archway opened before us.

"Three days off, I can hardly contain myself!" squeals Shashi, while Chandria and I glance at her.

"You mean that's containing yourself? Please make sure it all stays where it is, you're bad enough as is." I comment, and she gives me a quick glare then bounds off down the street, her head turning about her so fast to see everything and anything that you'd think it would snap off her neck. I grin after my enthusiastic sister, shaking my head then calling after her, "You know that the Owl Emporium is back here right?" Shashi stops in her tracks, and turns back, coming bounding back to Chandria and I who stand before the entrance of the store in question.

"Of course," she says, feigning innocent, "I was just... erm... getting some exercise."

"Of course you were," Chandria says while pushing open the shop door and I roll my eyes, walking in after her into the noisy shop. Shashi pushes in behind me, eyes raking the cages and tanks curiously. Chandria, always the sensible one, headed strait for the owl cages, looking over each carefully and questioning the attendant on each she found promising. Shashi stood in the middle of the store and gawked for several moments before something large and hairy landed on her head. It was a purple rat, though it was the size of a cat, and it curled its violet, hairless tail around the circumference of Shashi head and appeared determined to stay put. I glanced up to see where it came from and saw a large Harpy Eagle in the rafters, its feathers slightly ruffed, staring down at the rat as all predators watched their prey. I wondered why it simply didn't swoop down and grab it, when I realized its leg was attached by a short chair to a beam, disabling it from harming the other animals. Then the great bird turned its eyes on me and I stumbled back from the sheer intensity of its gaze, it was beautiful. It cocked its head to the side looking at me curiously then squawked loudly, sending all the other animals in the shop twittering, and screeching in their cages, the bars rattling as the shuddered and fluttered about.

"Oh, not again!" cries a women, striding quickly toward us, a large dead furry lump in her hand which she throws up to the bird in the rafters. The harpy catches it and gobbles it down, settling back onto its rafter quietly. The women sighs in relief and turns to my sisters and myself, wiping her hand on the apron-like smock over her clothing, protecting them from animal stains, then holds it out to Chandria who was nearest to her. "I'm very sorry about that. Normally he only doesn't that until after hours, but once in a while he just ups and decides..." the woman rambles on for several moments before she suddenly noticed the purple rat on Shashi's head, and her speech slows as if she were stumped. "Huh, well isn't this just a day for strange behavior. Since when have you ever warmed up to a person?" she directs at the rat who was still sitting contentedly on Shashi's head (who was watching the tip of its tail as it crossed in front of her face, going cross eyed as it passed her nose) The woman squints at my sisters and I, then asks, "You lot aren't nymphs of some kind, are ye?"

Chandria, Shashi, and I glance at each other, then burst out laughing, "Of course not!" says Chandria and I shake my head.

"We're just witches, given we've only known that for a couple weeks..." I trail off. "Well," the woman says, dismissing the thought, "That rat there doesn't like anybody, though you wouldn't be able to tell by the way he's snuggling up to your sister, and he's been here almost as long as he has." she says pointing up toward the rafters. "Nobody will take either — too much of a hassle to have an animal that absolutely loathes you I suppose. So, would you be needed some help?"

"No, I'm good." says Shashi, who was by now tenderly petting the rat on her head, scratching behind its ears. Chandria turns back toward the owl cages and quickly looks then all over once more, then noticed a small, grayish-brown owl in a cage. It blinks at her, and turns it's head on its tiny shoulders revealing its tiny tuff-like ears.

"I believe I've found what I'm looking for." Chandria says quietly as the tiny owl surveys her.

"Ah, very-good choice," says the women stepping closer to help Chandria with the bird cage, "What you've chosen is a Eurasian Scops Owl, very good flier; 'e'll never let you down." Chandria finally got a hold of the cage and the tiny owl hooted quietly, and hopped to the bars of it's cage where Chandria's hand held it, and rubbed its feathers against her hand fondly, hooting softly. The woman started to walk off to some shelves calling behind her, "Now you'll need to owl pellets, small of course, that bird would choke on anything much bigger than a knut. And if you wish, there is also a wide verity of owl treat lines..." the woman continued on.

Chandria called back to Shashi and I, "Could you guys help me, my hands are kinda full..." since Shashi was to absorbed in cooing to the violet rat I sighed and stepped forward to help, nearly falling after tripping over a cat that had managed to twine around my legs without me noticing. Though I don't know how I couldn't have, it was purring so loudly you'd think it was roaring. I look curiously down at the small black kitten making such a big noise then blink as it suddenly turns a bright green, and rubs its chin against my foot. "Well if that doesn't beat all." says the woman, who was now standing next to me once again, Chandria standing at the register, cage in hands and a small pile of owl care supplies on the counter. "If you were any other customer that cat would have scratched your eyes out by now, most violent little thing for it's size I've even seen," The kitten opens a single glaring eye, focusing it on the women, then closes it again, twining around my legs and butting her head against my ankles. "I don't know what it is about you girls, but you sure have a way with animals." The woman sighs, "Now if only someone would just take the Harpy we'd be able have some peace and quiet around here."

"Actually," I say grinning, "I may have a solution for that."


My sisters and I sat back in our room, enjoying the evening of our first day off, playing with our new friends. Surprisingly Hermes took to the kitten quite quickly, and vise versa. The kitten had quickly proven that she could master any colour imaginable, as she shifted through each with every turn, one moment blue, the next red, and the next a violet to challenge Shashi's rat. Shashi named the purple creature Othin, after the god of the skies from Norse mythology. Shashi and the newly named Othin sat in the corner where Shashi stroked the creature, murmuring to it as she did so. Chandria sat near the empty fire grate, the scops owl, named Dyri, on her arm watching as she read a book about her new pet. I sat near the open window, a cool breeze playing across my face as Valkyrie purrs in my lap, a brilliant orange that bordered on fluorescent. I close my eyes and take a deep breath of the cool, fresh air, and hear Hermes shift comfortably on my shoulder. I grin and kiss the bird lightly on the wing, petting Kyrie gently, with my sisters and friends at my side, how could this year possibly go bad?


All too soon our days of lounging and doing absolutely nothing ended and it was time to go back to lessons. The first day back at lessons I left Kyrie in our room, despite her cries of the unjustness for me to do such a thing, but when I returned to find the whole place torn to shreds, (though easily enough repaired with a little magic) I decided it would be best if she came with. Thankfully she didn't make trouble during lessons.

As we progressed through the fourth year magics I grew increasingly nervous, knowing that we only had one year left to cover, and after that, our O.W.Ls. The day Professor Lupin announced we were now starting to cover 5th year magics I almost fainted. But September was fast approaching and time waits for no man...or girl.


When the day we were to go to the ministry of magic to take our Ordinary Wizarding Level tests rolled in, August 18th, I found myself sitting in a slightly uncomfortable chair, my mouth dry and tongue thick, hugginh Kyrie tightly to myself, nervously awaiting the time when my sisters and I would be summoned into the room beyond the door we sat before to take our tests. The first test was to be on Charms, followed by Herbology, then Transfiguration, then a break for lunch before coming back in for our test on History of magic. I was currently racking my brain for all the Charms information I could, and jumped violently at the sound of our names being called through the now open door.

"Chandria, Marari, and Shashi Yanamari, we are ready for you."

I entered the room, Kyrie still held tight in my arms, purring comfortingly, to find three desks waiting for us to take the written part of the exams, and three old wizards to test us during the practical parts of the exams. I sighed through my nose then sat down, picking up the supplied quill and began writing.

Four long hours later Chandria, Shashi, and I filed out of the room, holding our wrists, and heading toward the room in which we were to have lunch. I sat in a chair, glanced at the food, then laid my head on the table, sighing. My head was pounding from thinking to hard, and my stomach, though empty, couldn't deal with food. "Aren't you gonna eat?" asks Chandria.

"Anggggg." I respond noncommittally.

"Yah, me neither." she responds, as Shashi plops into a third chair, not even looking at the chair but worriedly staring into space.

"I screwed up during my Charms practical. He wanted me to levitate the goblet, and I did, but it started to let off this weird high pitched squeal, and I couldn't stop it."

"That was you?" I asked turning my head to the side so I could see her face. She makes a tired face at me then Lupin walks into the room, a tall red-headed man following behind him.

"Girls! You're not eating!"

"No offense Professor, but we really don't feel much like eating."

"I understand but you'll need it, so want it or not, eat up." I sigh in resignation, lifting my head from the table then reaching out to grab an orange from a bowl on the table, pealing it and begin to eat it. My sisters sigh and follow my example.

"Happy now?" I ask.

"Immensely." smiles Professor Lupin. "Girls, I would like you to meet Mr. Weasley. Arthur, this is Chandria, Marari, and Shashi Yanamari."

"But of course, they've their parents in them. So, how are you're O.W.L.s going?" The three of us groan and both Mr. Weasley and Professor Lupin laugh.

"Only one more for the day girls then you can go back and get some rest and get ready for tomorrow."

"I'm horrible with names and dates." I moan, thinking of the History of Magic Exam that was coming up.

"You'll do just fine, remember your grades on these exams directly relates to my success as your teacher." Lupin winks. I manage a half smile and finish my orange standing to return for the last exam of the day.

I hold out my hand to Mr. Weasley, "It was nice to meet you Mr. Weasley."

"Likewise." he says shaking my hand. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each again soon enough, and you can meet my sons and daughter. Ron is just your age and is going into 6th year as well. Well, you best be off, don't want to be late for your exam." We nod at him and file out to take the exam.


Later I collapse on my bed, falling asleep almost instantly, any lingering thoughts of last-minute studying banished from my mind, as Kyrie curls up, her tiny body lying on my collarbone, her head tucked up under my chin, and falls asleep.

I wake the next morning much earlier than I would ever hope, but I drag myself out of bed, Kyrie refusing to be insane like her owner and get up at the ungodly hour. I drag my feet to the bathroom, preparing for our second day of testing. Today we were going to be testing on Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, and Arithmancy. At least it was an easy day, Lupin was a wonderful DADA teacher; Care of magical Creatures, well it was animals, easy; Potions, like chemistry for the magically endowed; and finally Arithmancy, who doesn't love math and figures? Okay so maybe it's just me. I turn off the shower and walk out of the bathroom in a towel, seeing my sisters begin to drag themselves out of bed, as I get dressed.

Soon enough we were back in the testing room then at lunch. Shashi once again looked worried, "I think I mixed up the Grindylow with the Kappa, I can never keep the two strait."

"Don't worry about it," Chandria comforts Shashi, "I'm sure you did fine." Unlike yesterday, today I was ravenous, and I began to laden a plate with food, and quickly shoveling it into my mouth before I had to return for the final exam of the day. After today we just had to get through Muggle Studies (wow that'll be a hard one), Astronomy, Divination, and Ancient Runes. Lupin walks into the room, and grins at me shoveling food into my mouth. I stop only to give a small salute for a greeting then return to the food. Kyrie sits on the table next to my plate, alternately watching me eat, and drinking from a bowl filled with cream. Lupin grabs a chair and sits.

"Don't you worry girls. Only five exams left, then you're free to do whatever you wish for the rest of the summer."

"Yeah, like worry about our O.W.L. results." mutters Shashi under her breath and Chandra nudges her.

A voice carries into the room, "It's time for your final exam of the day." We stood and filed in once more to the testing room.


The next day I walk out of the room for the last time, biting my lip. I hadn't been all that worried during the actual tests, but now that they're over I'm not so sure. What if I didn't pass them and am held back in classes? It's gonna be hard enough without being stuck with another year. Shashi was right, what good is free time if you spend it worrying?!

I hope you liked the chapter!

I would very much appreciate reviews! thanks for reading!