Chapter 13: The Exams

A.N. Sorry about the late update! I got caught up with Avengers: Age of Ultron. I also got a bit upset that there's a lot of Brucenat hate. I'm a Clintasha shipper myself, but I found Brucenat a bit cute, so I feel a bit bad about that. Yeah, sorry, got a bit distracted. But here's a new chapter, a bit short, but I'll be uploading again tomorrow. ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of its characters.

Pyxis

All of us rejoiced at our victory. As June approached, the days became cloudless; the weather seems to be celebrating with us. That made everyone want to just stroll on the grounds, relax, and play games by the lake.

But we couldn't. Exams are just around the corner, and instead of lazing around, we have to study. Even Fred and George were seen studying; they were about to take their O.W.L.s. Percy, who was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s, is becoming increasingly edgy; he gave severe punishments to anyone who disturbs the peace of the common room. Because the Quidditch season's finished, I was able to stay up studying with Hermione.

Harry and Ron had given up asking Hermione and I how she gets to several classes at once. But when they saw Hermione's examination schedules, they couldn't restrain themselves.

Monday

9:00 Arithmancy

9:00 Transfiguration

Lunch

1:00 Charms

1:00 Ancient Runes

"Hermione? How are you going to these exams?" said Harry. Then he saw my exam schedule, the same as the lower part of Hermione's schedule. I looked up from my book.

"Don't ask, Harry." He shrugged and went back to studying.

Just then, there was a rustle at the window and Hedwig fluttered through it, a note clutched tight in her beak.

No use listening to them. Buckbeak will escape, anyway. I was about to return to studying when a bothering thought came to me.

Will I make a difference? I'm not doing anything big, except for the Quidditch match. Gryffindor still won and not even the points we earned changed. But Sirius. I have to go with the trio in the Shrieking Shack to get answers. All the knowledge I have and I can't solve this. What did I miss?

The exams came faster than we anticipated. The next thing I know, we're exiting our Transfiguration classroom. Our exam was to transfigure a teapot into a tortoise.

"My tortoise looks like a turtle." Hermione whispered, horrified that she will get low marks because of that.

"It looks fine, 'Mione." I assured her to avoid irritating the others who didn't get to transform their teapot into a tortoise. I transfigured my teapot just fine, if I say so myself.

Then, after a hasty lunch, we went straight upstairs for our Charms exam. As Hermione predicted, we did Cheering Charms. We've been practicing that the whole week and I could say that we nailed it.

After Charms, we went to Ancient Runes via Time Turner. I've been lucky the whole year because I don't have overlapping classes, courtesy of the Potions master. The Ancient Runes exam was more difficult than I thought, but I think I'll manage to scrape an Exceeds Expectations.

When we finished dinner, we all went back to the common room, not to rest, but to study for Potions, Astronomy, and Care of the Magical Creatures for the rest of them.

The next day, everyone in our year will take their Care of the Magical Creatures exam, leaving me alone. Luckily, the fifth years have a free period in the morning, so I hung out with the twins and Lee. They taught me how to make the small explosives they use for pranks and, applying a little of my skills, we managed to make fireworks before the trio came back.

During lunch, they updated me about Buckbeak.

"Can't you at least tell me if he's going to make it?" That earned a hit on the arm from Hermione. I told him that, no, I can't. But as we're making our way to the dungeons for our Potions exam, I whispered that he'll do pretty well on his Defence Against the Dark Arts exam.

My Confusing Concoction was perfect. Chemistry is my favourite subject, so Potions was easy.

After our Astronomy exam at midnight, exam week flew very fast. The next thing I know, we're down to our second to the last exam, Defence Against the Dark Arts. I'm very excited about the obstacle course that I lead the way outside, where the exam will be held. We passed by a group of Slytherins, led by Dra- Malfoy, who I ignored. Blaise, who was trailing behind the group, gave a small wave, which I returned with a smile.

Harry took the exam before us and I took it right after him. The exam was a success and fun, my favourite was battling the boggart in the trunk.

"Brilliant, Pyxis" Professor muttered as I finished the exam. "Full marks."

I've waited alongside Harry to watch Ron and Hermione. Ron did well until he reached the Hinkypunk, while Hermione did splendidly until she reached the boggart.

"Professor Mcgonagall," she pointed at the trunk. "She said I failed everything."

I almost laughed but opted to tell Hermione that her failing is just impossible. When she calmed down, we made our way back to the castle. Ron was teasing Hermione about her boggart, but before that could turn into a full-blown argument, Ron stopped talking, seeing the person at the top of the stairs.

Cornelius Fudge, was standing upstairs, looking at the grounds. He was startled at the sight of Harry.

"Hello there, Harry!" he said. "Just had an exam, I presume? Nearly finished?"

"Yes." Harry said. The minister turned to me.

"You must be the student from Beauxbatons! Ms. Steller, am I right?"

"Yes. Nice to meet you, monsieur." I curtsied. I noticed Ron and Hermione standing awkwardly behind us. I rolled my eyes inwardly. The minister only cares about the boy-who-lived and foreigners. I stepped back, standing beside the two.

"Lovely day." Said Fudge. "Pity… Pity…"

"They need a witness for the execution of a mad hippogriff and I was asked to step in since I'm already here."

Oh, the nerve of this old man! I really hate him! I looked at Ron, whose fist was clenched in anger, about to say something at the minister. Hermione noticed it too and elbowed him hard on the ribs. To avoid more harsh scenarios, we excused ourselves. We went to the Great Hall, Hermione scolding Ron on the way.

Our last exam is Divination, while Hermione's is Muggle Studies. We all walked the marble staircase together; Hermione left us on the first floor while we continued to the seventh. We arrived to our classmates sitting on the spiral staircase, studying at the last minute.

"She's seeing us all separately." Neville told us. He, too, has Unfogging the Future open on his lap. "Has any of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?"

"Nope." We all said.

The line shortened slowly. When a student comes down, the rest asks, "What did she ask? Was it okay?" But no one answered.

"She says that my crystal balls told her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident." squeaked Neville.

"Pyxis Steller." I heard her misty voice from above. I smiled tiredly at the three, before climbing up the silver ladder.

The curtains were closed but the fire alight made it a bit easier for me to make my way through the chairs and tables.

"Good day, my dear." She said softly. "If you would kindly gaze into The Orb… Take your time, now… Then tell me what you see."

I bent over the crystal ball, concentrating hard, and stared. I stared hard at the swirling, white fog, and was surprised when it began spinning faster. The white fog spun faster and faster until the colour changed to yellow, then to red, and settled to a baby blue shade.

I described this to Professor Trelawney and I barely heard her say, "What else, dear?" because the fog tilted until it was horizontal, looking more like a vortex. I realized that the vortex is occupying a small part of the Black Lake. "There's someone standing on the edge of the Black Lake."

"The person, can you see the face?" I heard her scribbling something.

"No. But it's a girl. And I think she's about to jump." I told her, fearing for the girl. "She's about to jump into that vortex."

The girl glanced behind her. When she turned her head back to look at the vortex, she spread her arms to her sides and let herself fall.

I gasped, ripping my eyes off the Orb.

"She jumped, professor. She jumped and disappeared into the vortex." I held on the edge of the table for support. I suddenly feel dizzy.

"What a strange thing to see, dear." She kept on scribbling on a piece of parchment. "But very detailed. You should continue practicing the art of Divination. The moment you entered my class, I saw great potential in you."

"Thank you." Was the only thing I managed to say.

"You're one of the few to see that much in the Orb, but that much detail… Quite exceptional. I look forward to seeing you next term, dear."

I nodded, stood up, and went out of the room. The fresh air outside made me feel a whole lot better.

"How was it?" Harry and Ron rushed to me. Their sudden closeness made me feel dizzy again, causing me to wobble a bit.

"You alright?" Harry asked.

"Yes. The scent in the room and staring at the crystal ball made me feel dizzy. Don't worry."

"Sure?"

"Yes, Ron, I'm sure. Now go, I could hear Professor calling you. I'll meet you back in the common room."

I arrived 10 minutes later, ready to tell Hermione what I saw, when I saw her crying.

"Hermione? What happened?"

"Buckbeak." I almost hit myself for forgetting.

"He lost. Is this it? Will Buckbeak die? This is all Malfoy's fault." She sunk on one of the armchairs.

"The inner eye can be a burden, you know"

I don't have the ability to see the future, like Professor Trelawney, but in my case, it's basically the same. It's so hard seeing them sad and desperate for answers, but telling them may change the course of events. Am I wrong in telling them who I really am? Being here living my dream as a Hogwarts student, as a witch, is fun and more than I expected. I've changed so much these past few months. But when I became tangled so deep in the events here, I can't help but miss my old self.