June 2020 – Fifth Year

"…and after Potions, I need to review my Arithmancy. I've already studied exhaustively for Ancient Runes but I think it wouldn't hurt to go over the last translation again."

Another page, full to the margins with tight handwriting, is set on the table in front of us. We've been trying our hardest to ignore her, but Rose has been rambling to herself for the past half-hour.

"She is so bloody loud," Phillip complains to James. "Shut her up, will you?" Phillip, James, Fred, Roger, and I have been posted at this spot in front of the fireplace in the Common Room for most of the day getting last-minute studying in for our O.W.L.s.

"You know she won't even if I ask her to. She's like this every year during exams."

"But our Charms O.W.L. is tomorrow! Please make it stop."

James gives Phillip a sly smile. "Sure, I'll make it stop."

Uh oh. I know that smile and I know Phillip knows it all too well.

Moments later, one of the throw pillows from the sofa we are sitting on is thrown across the table and lands sloppily on Rose's notes that had been carefully sorted, scattering them about.

Rose looks up dangerously eyeing the boys sitting on the sofas opposite her. "Whoever did that better pray to Merlin that these didn't lose their chronological ordering."

Before Phillip has a chance to speak, James shouts, "It was him!" and points directly in Phillip's face.

Rose doesn't wait for an explanation. Her nerves must be frayed from studying so hard. "Finnigan!"

Phillip shoots James the dirtiest look he can muster before Rose is in his face commanding he help her resort her notes. James bumps my elbow and jerks his head towards the door. "Let's get out of here. She could be at it a while."

I glace at Rose, her frizzy red hair appearing even frizzier in the firelight, as she points between Phillip and her shuffled notes, talking so fast that I can barely make out the words. "Good idea. I don't think any good studying will be done here for the foreseeable future."

James and I discretely gather our belongings and slink away from the group, thankfully unnoticed by Rose. Fred and Roger are watching Phillip being berated by the short fourth year with no small amount of amusement and don't seem to notice our exit either. Unfortunately, Phillip notices and he flips James off as we push the portrait hole open.

"You're probably going to pay for that later, Potter," I warn him with a smirk.

"Probably, but Rose really needed a release like that. She's been working up her frustration for the past week and she would likely have some sort of uncontrollable magical outburst if she didn't go off on someone."

"And it was just pure luck that it was Phillip and not you," I accuse him playfully.

"Hey, he had it coming. Just think about what he did to me after history?"

"And you had that coming. If I recall correctly, he only force-fed you that Canary Cream because you hid a Dung Bomb in his school bag.

"That's…"

"And I wouldn't be surprised if there was more to come, considering it got all over Fred and Roger, too."

"Whose side are you on, anyway? I made it so Rose wasn't yelling at you, either."

I laugh and jab his arm with my elbow. "This is true. Thanks, mate. But just keep in mind: the next time Rose is on the warpath, any of us would be willing to throw you under the bus."

"Humph. Some mates you all are."

"Psh… you wouldn't have it any other way."

We arrive at the Library and enter to find it packed full of Fifth and Seventh years preparing for O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. Almost immediately after we step into the main open area, the atmosphere around us thickens and James's face falls into a dangerous expression.

That look has been reserved for one person since I could remember. James Potter, who always had a smile on his face and a mischievous glint in his eye turns cold and grave at the sight of Travis Corner, a Ravenclaw in our year.

"You two still at it, then?" I ask, my gaze darting between the two boys exchanging glares.

James breaks eye contact and turns to the opposite end of the row of tables for us to sit. "Of course. I'll never let that wanker get one over on me. He seems to think he's better than me."

"You act like you think you're better than everyone," I say. James's eyebrows contract and I add, "I know that's not what you're actually like, now, but before I knew you, I thought you acted like royalty – doing whatever you wanted without thinking about anyone else, talking about how great you were at Quidditch all the time, doing stupid pranks and never studying…" I list each off, lifting a finger for each listed grievance. "I really thought you were the worst."

"Oh," is the only response that I get from James. His expression is serious and thoughtful.

"It's not as bad as it was," I concede, feeling a little guilty for being so blunt. "You've been loads better this year."

"Because you've been around," James states, dropping his school bag on the table and slumping into a chair. I flinch a bit at his own bluntness, but also feel a warm sensation in my chest. He seriously considers me to be what has helped him? I had no idea.

However, he didn't even pause to considering the implications of his statement, so I really shouldn't think too hard about it. He just meant it at face value. That's what he's like.

I know all this, but I can keep a smile from creeping onto my face.

James is slouching over the table, his cheeks squishing ridiculously as he props his face up with his fists. "I can't believe you just compared me to Corner," he pouts. I have to stifle a laugh at the tone of his words through his squished lips.

"Grow up," I huff easily, flicking his forehead gently. "I was just making a point that maybe you should try to understand him by trying to see yourself as others do. It may make things easier."

"I will never understand him," James hisses, now resting his chin on his crossed arms, glaring at the opposite side of the room where Corner and a few other Ravenclaw fifth years are sitting.

I scrunch my mouth sideways and decide to drop it. It's hit-or-miss if he listens to me about anything, but I can usually tell if something's a lost cause.

This is a lost cause.

I set my bag on the table and seat myself in the chair opposite James, pulling out my charms textbook and a ream of notes. "Where did we leave off?"

James is still staring at the Ravenclaws and ignores my question.

"Hello? Didn't we come here to study?"

"I'll be right back," he says quickly before bolting up from the table and walking to the bookshelves on the other side of the library. I watch as he disappears into the rows, sigh, and turn back to my notes, flipping to where I had been reading before we left the Common Room.

A couple of minutes later, James returns, sitting noisily down in the chair he had vacated. I look up and give him an annoyed look. He is looking very pleased with himself. Something's up.

"James, what did you…?"

"You'll see tomorrow," he says, that mischievous glint in his eye has returned and he smiles secretively. "Let's just say you can expect to be relieved of some O.W.L.-induced anxiety."

My heart starts pumping faster as I look at the doors to the Great Hall. They have always seemed so welcoming, but today they have an ominous, heavy feel to them. It's time for our first O.W.L. practical. I'm honestly not worried about Charms, but this is still an exam that is going to help shape our futures. I can't help but feel nerves thinking about something that will have such a huge impact on my life.

The theory portion of our Charms O.W.L. was administered this morning and I feel pretty good about that. The only person who seems concerned about it is Phillip because he said he wasn't able to finish studying last night after Rose finished chewing him out.

"This will be a cinch," James proclaims easily as he leans against the wall next to the entrance. I half smile in response and start pacing the floor in front of him. "Relax. The fun has just arrived."

James points to the staircase behind me with a wicked grin on his face. I look to where he is pointing and find Travis Corner descending the stairs looking pissed. I look back over to James who is doing all he can to hold in the laughter.

"Blount, Meredith."

My name is called to enter for my practical. "You owe me an explanation," I say to James, accusingly.

"You won't need one!" he responds, a look of realization adorning his features. "You're going to have a front row seat, Mer!"

"Now I'm scared," I tell him. I glance at Fred, who is leaning on the wall to James's right, with a questioning look. He just shrugs his shoulders with a similarly confused look.

I enter the Great Hall and am led to a middle-aged witch who I assume is my examiner.

"Miss Blount," she begins with a pleasant tone, "please melt this ice sculpture using the Hot Air Charm." She waves her wand and creates a three-foot ice sculpture of a phoenix.

Ironic, I think, looking at the icy firebird.

I raise my wand, take a breath, and recite the incantation. A steady stream of hot air issues from the tip of my wand, easily melting the ice.

"Well done."

I smile as I look at the pool of water on the stone floor. After January, I worked my arse off to perfect the Hot Air Charm. I wasn't going to forget it when it was important, again.

"Corner, Travis." Corner is called in for his examination.

My examiner vanishes the pool of water and says, "Please levitate this teapot to the table over there and make it rotate in the air at least three times."

"I came to take this test and find my fate.
Exams are what will keep my mind awake.
This wand shall be my weapon here and now.
An 'O' will come, this is my solemn vow."

The teapot that I have in mid-air dips dangerously low as I snort loudly. Thankfully, I recover myself and save my teapot from smashing on the floor. Corner has just entered the Great Hall and seems unable to control the volume of his voice.

Not only that, though: is he speaking in iambic pentameter?

I gently levitate the teapot to the surface of the table I was aiming for and shoot a glance over to Corner's examination area. His face is bright red and he looks even angrier than when he had arrived before the exam.

I guess this is what James was on about. He must have done something to Corner when we were in the library last night. On the one hand, that was a total jerk move on James's part. These are O.W.L.s we're talking about! This is someone's future he's messing with.

On the other hand, it is absolutely hilarious.

I overhear Corner's elderly warlock examiner ask him to fill a goblet with water. Corner recites loudly:

"Now see! I shall perform this charm with zeal.
And how, my skill will not be one to miss."

I swallow a fit of giggles and take a deep breath. I'm unfamiliar with whatever spell or joke item James used, but it doesn't seem to force Corner to rhyme.

I finish my exam with no major slip-ups. I exit the Great Hall and hang by the wall opposite the much less intimidating double doors. Corner leaves the Great Hall shortly after I do and our eyes make contact for a moment. I smile apologetically and, surprisingly, Corner smiles back.

After a few minutes, Phillip joins me and we wait in silence for our other friends to be released. The silence between us is heavy. It's been growing ever more apparent, but Phillip hasn't seemed to warm up to me like the other guys have as the year has progressed. In fact, I'm think he's gotten colder towards me. He seemed legitimately disappointed when I didn't make the house team this year, but as I continued attending practices and spending more time with the group, he seemed to be pleased on the rare occasions I couldn't go.

Whatever it is, whenever we are alone together, I feel awkward. I just can't shake the feeling that he doesn't like me as much as the other guys do.

The silence is finally broken as James bursts out of the doors with a loud, guttural 'Huh!" I roll my eyes as he is quickly shushed by the proctor who escorted him out.

"How'd it go?" Phillip asks as James approaches us.

"Chang's gonna be furious," he responds with a cheeky smile. "Looks like I'll be doing N.E.W.T.-level charms next year." He raises his fist and Phillip laughs and bumps it with his own.

"Nice one, mate."

"So, did you see it?" James asks me and Phillip expectantly.

"See what?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh, c'mon. You were both in the room with him while he was taking his exam!"

"You mean Corner?" Phillip asks with a laugh, comprehension dawning. "James, that was bloody brilliant."

I hold back a loud laugh at the memory or Corner proclaiming is ability to cast as spell, but I only show a small smile. "Whether it was brilliant or not, did you really have to do that to someone right before they take an exam that could decide their future?"

"He's a Ravenclaw," James answers, unconcerned. "He can handle it."

"Mate," Phillip says, clapping James on the shoulder. "I needed a laugh today. I think I did better on my practical after that bastard made a fool of himself."

James laughs, looking very pleased. "He definitely had it coming after yesterday."

"What happened yesterday," I ask looking between James and Phillip. I didn't hear anything, but I had also been studying most of the day. It must have happened while the guys went out for a break.

"Prat threw a hex at me in the corridor," James says, running his hand through his hair. "Chang showed up, so I didn't get a chance to get him back."

"Did you have to retaliate?" I ask, defeated. I already know his answer.

"I've got to show him he can't mess with me. He's had it out for me since second year."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise. This is new information. "Second year? That's crazy! I knew you two hated each other, but I had no idea it's been that long."

Roger shows up and places on hand on James's shoulder and the other on Phillip's. "Don't tell me James hasn't told you his favorite story?"

I shake my head and look at James who is wearing a very annoyed expression. "Stop, guys. I didn't think she'd be interested."

"Nonsense. I'm sure she would love to hear what happened!" Phillip throws his arm around Roger's shoulder and the two stand close together as Phillip adds, "Mer, let us inform you of the events of that fateful day and we'll do our best to relate the story exactly as it happened."

Scene: James sitting in potions second year, periodically adding ingredients to cauldron.

Roger (as James): Gee! I just love Potions. Learning is my greatest joy!

"Woah, woah, woah," I say waving my hands to stop Roger's narration. "I refuse to believe that James has ever been capable of saying that sentence."

"I never sounded so much like a girl!" James shouts at Roger.

"Fine," Roger sighs. "I'll start over."

Roger (as James): Gee, do I love Quidditch. I wish I could have joined the house team in my first year just like my Dad!

Phillip (as himself): Your dad is so cool! Your mum is pretty great as well!

Roger (as James): Mum is even cooler than Dad! I think it is just swell that she played for the Holyhead Harpies.

"You're making this sound like a low-budget sitcom," I interrupt. I'm doing my best to keep a straight face, but Roger and Phillip are being so ridiculous, I'm feeling my composure break.

"A what?" Phillip asks, obviously clueless.

I sigh and shake my head. "Never mind. Continue."

James is now directly to my left steadily hitting his forehead against the wall that I'm leaning against. This is obviously not his favorite story. I get the feeling that Phillip and Roger have done this to him before.

Roger (now as Corner): The Holyhead Harpies are terrible! Who wants to see a bunch of girls flying around and playing Quidditch (if you can even call it playing)?

Phillip (now as James): Blimey! That is an awfully mean thing to say. I need to focus on my Forgetfulness Potion, but with his unkind words, I keep messing up.

Roger (as Corner): Watching women playing Quidditch has got to be the most boring thing ever, especially if you are watching that Ginny Potter.

Phillip (as James): My mother? Why is he being so mean? He doesn't even know her!

Roger (as Corner): Ginny Potter is the most overrated player in all the land! It was a relief when she retired. She was just a slutty dragon with no game!

"It was 'a trashy hippogriff with no talent'," James corrects Roger through gritted teeth. He's stopping hitting his head against the wall and is now just leaning his forehead against it.

"Right! How could I forget?"

Roger (as Corner): *cackles evilly* Ginny Potter is the most overrated player in all the land! It was a relief when she retired. She was just a trashy hippogriff with no talent!

Phillip (as James): *'accidentally' spills potion all over Corner* Oh no! How could I possibly have made my poorly-made potion spill all over my bench mate?

Roger (as Corner): Curse you, Potter. You will not thwart me! I shall make your life miserable from this day forth!

Phillip (as James): Good will prevail, you villain!

Scene End

"And that's how it happened," Phillip explains as he breaks the hero pose he struck with his last line. Roger holds his pose of shaking both fists in the air for a moment longer before breaking and taking a deep bow.

"You are both idiots," James says, now leaning against the wall next to me and massaging his temples.

"Takes one to know one," Roger replies as he straightens up. James flips him off before returning to massaging his head. "So what did you think, Mer?"

I put on a thoughtful look and pat my chin with my finger. "Overall, I'd give it a 6 out of 10. While the dialogue was entertaining in its own right, the inconsistent style and character arrangement made the whole thing a little hard to follow."

"Awww… so low?" Roger whines lolling his head back.

"What are these dumb arses doing?" Fred has finally been released and suddenly appears behind Roger and Phillip. "Are they bothering you, miss?" he directs to me.

"Always."

Fred smiles and flicks Phlilip's ear. "What did I tell you about bothering the ladies?"

"Ow! Damn it, Fred. We were just informing her of why there's a Corner-Potter feud going on."

"Did you mention the part where he cried himself to sleep that night?" Fred deadpans. I put on a mock-shocked face and whirl around to face James.

"That's a lie," he says, clearly irritated.

Our three mates laugh at his expression and Fred pulls him into a headlock. "Don't worry, James. I'm here if you still need a shoulder to cry on."

"Why you-!" James twists himself out of Fred's headlock and crosses his arms, frowning. I join the other three in their laughter and it's not long until James, himself, breaks and joins as well.

"We should probably get started on studying for Astronomy," I say, finally. "Our O.W.L. is tomorrow." A collective groan issues from the four boys.

"We just finished one of our exams!" Roger shouts. "Can't we take a break?"

"It's not like I even want to take N.E.W.T. Astronomy," Phillip adds.

"I'll study," Fred says. His voice sounds forced. He definitely does not want to do so. "I'll study, but it's only going to be for a little while. Like Phillip said, I don't even want to take N.E.W.T. Astronomy, so studying too much seems like a waste."

"That's all well and good for you lot, but James and I are planning on N.E.W.T. Astronomy, so it would be nice if we all studied together. Now, let's go."

"She's almost as bad as Aunt Hermione," Fred whispers to James as he passes and James just gives a half-smile and shrugs. Fred, Phillip, and Roger start walking away and James and I follow a little behind them.

"So is that how it really happened with Corner?" I ask. The question had been on my mind since Phillip and Roger finished their little production.

"Eh, more or less," James says, running his hand through his hair again. "Whatever the exact details were, he insulted my mum and I spilled a botched potion into his lap and got detention for it."

"You couldn't use your notorious Potter charm on Ingrid?"

"Ha! I wish. Remember, this happened in second year. All our teachers got over me fairly quickly in first year."

"I know I was," I snark at him. James gives me a fake pained look and I laugh. "Did he get hurt when you spilled the potion on him?"

James smirks. "Nothing terrible. He just sported some fantastic purple stripes for almost two weeks."

A brief memory of a boy with stripes on his face sitting across from me in Potions second year comes to mind. "Oh! That's what happened? I remember that now. I thought that someone, probably you, had made him eat some sort of new Wheezes product."

James stops suddenly, hand mid-way through his hair. "Bugger! I almost forgot!" Fred, Phillip, and Roger turn around to see what is going on as James turns on his heel and races over to a broom closet. He pulls open the door, grabs something sitting inside, and slams it shut again.

He's holding his broom.

"So they really are used for brooms, sometimes," I say sarcastically.

"Are you still trying to make this happen?" Fred asks from down the hall.

"This is proven to be way more effective than just using my hand, Fred," James replies. His voice suggests that Fred just asked a very stupid question. "I'll be right back."

Without hesitation, James mounts his broom and flies off down the corridor. Roger, Phillip, and I all shake our heads. Fred is doing a double facepalm.

"What made him think this was a good idea?" I ask no one in particular.

"Probably whatever made him think jumping in the lake in January was a good idea," Fred answers.

Raised, but indiscernible, voices start at the end of the hall. They become louder and understandable as the owners make their way towards us.

"I have no idea what you're talking about!" a familiar voice yells defensively. Two people round the corner that was hiding them and revealed the Hogwarts caretaker with James's arm held tightly in one hand and James's broom in the other.

"Don't test me, boy," the caretaker warns him, his gravelly voice dangerous. "I know I heard your voice last week when those damn balloons fell again and now you reveal how you did it by flaunting the very broom you used to drop them!"

"I'm telling you, I had nothing to do with it!" James shouts. James looks pleadingly at the four of us as he is pulled along. "Guys! Tell him! Tell him that I'm not responsible."

"Save it for the Headmistress!" the caretaker shouts back, dragging James past us towards McGonagall's office.