Chapter 8: The Final Exams

All students who weren't Champions in the Triwizard Tournament were studying for the final exams. "This is so hard." Ron moaned. "I'd rather face one of those dragons."

"Ron!" Hermione scolded him. "This is serious!"

"Harry's Godfather isn't here." Ron replied, making Hermione moan.

"I bet Sirius Black had no trouble with Transfiguration exams." Neville commented.

"My main concern is Potions." Harry replied. "I don't want to give Professor Snape an excuse to fail me."

"If I knew the Hogwarts Champion would be exempted from exams, I'd try to enter." Ron commented.

Meanwhile, Headmaster Dumbledore was on a meeting with the Professors. "How do you think the students will do during the exams?" He asked. "Anything I should know?"

"The Potter brat is likely to cheat again." Snape replied. "He might have been able to hid evidence the last three years but this time will be different."

"Will you finally admit Harry is too intelligent to need to resort to Slytherin-style dirty tricks, Snivellus?" Sirius asked.

"What are you even doing here, Black?" Snape asked his 'former' tormentor.

"I've been standing in for the Defense position for so long Headmaster Dumbledore finally decided to allow me to participate." Sirius explained. "Do you have any problem with that, Snivellus?"

"A prankster like you being a Professor?" Snape asked with a sneer. "Of course I have a problem with that, Black. Even the werewolf was a lesser evil."

"The werewolf has a name, Snivellus." Sirius replied while oblivious to his own hypocrisy.

"Any expectations from the students, Sirius?" Dumbledore asked in hopes of stopping the discussion.

"Harry is likely to obtain Os in most subjects like his parents with the risk of failing Potions because of Snivellus' unfair grading, Headmaster." Sirius explained.

"I meant more than one student, Sirius, and about only your subject." Headmaster Dumbledore clarified.

"The slimy snakes will cheat like usual." Sirius sneered. "I see no other way Crabbe and Goyle could have passed so far. Our champion Cedric Diggory would have no problem with the exam even if he weren't exempt from it. Why didn't you hold the Triwizard Tournament back when I was a student, Headmaster?"

"You should be glad it wasn't, Sirius." Minerva McGonagall replied. "You or James would have become dragon food." Snape was delighted at the mental image provided by Professor McGonagall's suggested scenario.

"Minerva, any particular opinion regarding students' chances of passing your exams?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked.

"Without the Quidditch Cup, I expect the Quidditch players to have more time to study." She sternly said.

A few days later, the exams started. All the students' quills were inspected against enchantments that'd help them cheat. Professor Snape unsurprisingly focused on Gryffindors especially Harry. "I see some students inherited their parents' abilities to hide evidence of cheating." Snape commented with enough precaution to avoid specific accusations so nobody would be able to accuse him of slander. "Unfortunately, Headmaster Dumbledore doesn't allow us to punish students for cheating except when the student cheating gets caught. No matter what, I will catch the cheaters even if it's the last thing I do in my life."

"I hope it is." Ron whispered to a student sitting next to him.

"Weasley, twenty points from Gryffindor for speaking out of turn during the final exams." Snape sternly said. "If I catch you doing that while doing the exam you'll get a Troll for cheating. And don't be sure I'll restrain it to the grade." The Slytherins laughed while the other students were scared.

Threats aside, all exams went smoothly. After that, Harry and his friends started discussing it. For a while. "Harry, how did you do with question number 3?" Hermione asked.

"Who cares?" Ron asked. "Now that we're done with the exams the Triwizard Tournament is all I care about."

End chapter