Chapter Eighteen: End of Year Examinations

When Hermione awoke the next morning, she quickly realised that she was not in her dorm room. The party had almost literally gone on all night, and she remembered that she had been sitting and dancing with Ron for most of it until she was beginning to feel tired. She also remembered that she and Ron had collapsed on to a settee and then, she assumed, had fallen asleep. This theory proved to be correct as her pillow seemed to be breathing. It hit her like a freight train that she had fallen asleep on Ron, and had slept on him all night.

She tried unsuccessfully to extricate herself from him but in his sleep he was still able to keep a firm grip on her. She tilted her head upwards to realise that her head was tucked underneath Ron's chin, but this was nothing compared to where her left hand was.

It was in Ron's right hand.

Her small hand was being held by Ron's large, freckly hand, and as she looked at their joined hands, she found that she liked it.

The next thing with which she had to contend was the position of her left leg.

It was draped over Ron's left leg in an almost possessive sort of way. However, as she contemplated trying to move once more, a groan came from one of the many occupants who had also failed to make up to bed the previous night.

'Ugh, my fucking head … I'll bet Fred and George spiked the bloody punch …'

Hermione recognised the voice belonging to Oliver Wood. She watched as Wood staggered to his feet and then walked over to the sleeping twins and kicked them awake.

'What gives, Oliver?' said George.

Hermione could tell the twins apart now because Ron told her how.

'You buggers spiked the punch!' hissed Wood, 'and now I've got the hangover from hell!'

'That wasn't us, sure we had the Firewhiskey, but we didn't do the actual spiking,' said Fred.

'So who did you dare to do it, then?'

'Ron,' replied the twins together.

'Bollocks,' hissed Wood.

'Suit yourself, Oliver,' said Fred as he and George went up to the dormitories.

Hermione had to hand it to the twins for their ability to lie and/or twist the truth so convincingly, but said nothing as she watched Wood follow the twins. She continued to lie there and think about the fact that she had fallen asleep with Ron for a whole night. She knew that she had to get up and make a schedule for herself and the boys so they could start studying for the end of year examinations that were approaching. She knew already that Ron and Harry were smart but they only applied themselves in certain classes. They both fell asleep in Binns' class on a regular basis and would take turns to borrow her notes. Hermione did not mind this; after all they had both done so much for her, Ron especially. She tried once more to extricate herself from his warm, sleepy embrace but it was no use, she was stuck – not that she minded too much. She closed her eyes again as she breathed in Ron's scent before falling asleep again.

Ron awoke around ten thirty to find he had Hermione asleep in his arms. He smiled to himself before smelling her hair. He saw that in his right hand he was holding her left. He liked the way her much smaller hand looked in his and gave it a gentle squeeze. Hermione shifted her head to look at him.

'Morning, Hermione,' he said softly.

'Morning, Ron, did you, er, sleep all right?' she replied.

'Yeah, you?' he replied.

'I did.'

He gave her a smile and said, 'Maybe we should share sleep more often?'

'Yes, and then the entire house – including your brothers can make fun of us?'

'Bugger, they would do that, wouldn't they?'

'Yes, so we should get up so I can draw up a study schedule for us,' she told him.

Ron loosened his hold on her and they both sat up with Hermione ending up sitting on his lap.

'We also need a wash and fresh clothes,' she said.

Then, without another word, she got to her feet, gave Ron a gentle kiss on the lips and went up to her room, before Ron went up to his.

The study schedule that Hermione had drawn up for Ron, Harry and Neville was tight but manageable. Neville especially appreciated Hermione's help in studying for the exams. The only subject he felt remotely confident about was Herbology; it was by far his best subject, and only Hermione was ahead of him in the whole year. The subject with which he had the most difficulty was Potions but Hermione, Ron and Harry were more than willing to help.

During the examinations themselves they were all given anti-cheating quills to use during the theory tests, and at the end of each examination Hermione tried to go over them, but to no avail as Ron would immediately begin to tickle her to make sure nobody would feel ill.

'Hermione,' Ron would say, 'I adore you, but we really don't like talking about exams we've just taken, so I am going to tickle you now.'

Once Ron would finish tickling her, she would pretend to sulk and then Ron and Harry would try to make her laugh before Ron would give her a hug before going to the Great Hall for food.

When the last test came to an end, every student cheered as the parchments were collected and quills were thrown down gleefully. They would receive their results before the leaving feast. With no more tests to worry about, the four of them explored the castle using Harry's map and going to the kitchen go for food.

Harry would go and visit his uncles in their living quarters to try and find out what they had scored in Defence and Potions, but neither Uncle Remus nor Uncle Sev would tell Harry anything, even though "Big Phil" (Professor Flitwick) had told Hermione (in secret) that she had scored a hundred and twelve per cent on his exam.

When it was time for the leaving feast the mood amongst the younger pupils was sadness as the vast majority would not be able to do any magic for two months until the start of the next school year, thanks to a ridiculous by-law that only affected muggle-born and a small percentage of half-bloods.

Also, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville, as well as the rest of first years had been informed of their exam results, and to nobody's surprise, Hermione came top of the year, while Harry and Ron came a solid, joint second, while Neville was ninth. Malfoy's two cronies, Crabbe and Goyle, had passed too somehow, and Malfoy had boasted about being in the top five. Neither Harry nor Ron bothered to tell Malfoy that they had achieved higher marks than him.

Now they were all sitting in the Great Hall with the rest of their house as they ate, drank and talked about their summer plans. Hermione dropped a bombshell on Ron by telling him that her parents were planning a holiday for a few weeks in the middle of July. Harry told the others that as his younger siblings were starting Hogwarts this coming September that he would most likely be at home all summer, something Oliver Wood was pleased about because that meant his star seeker would be able to spend most of the summer flying. Ron would most likely visit Harry most days along with Neville.

At last, the headmaster got to his feet and called for attention.

'I am sorry to take you all away from the last of your dinners, whether they be extra servings of chicken, or extra helpings of dessert, however, I ask you for tolerance for an old man's wheezing waffle.

'Another year has gone, and, as I understand it, the House Cup needs awarding.

'In fourth place, Slytherin, with a total of three hundred and ninety-two points …' said Dumbledore as polite applause echoed around the hall.

'In third place, Hufflepuff, with exactly four hundred points …

'In second place, Ravenclaw, with four hundred and sixty-two points …

'Finally, in first position, Gryffindor, with five hundred and two points …'

Polite applause had been given to each house as their end of year score was given by the headmaster, who then said, 'Gryffindor wins the House Cup,' before a loud cheer erupted from the Gryffindor table. Handshakes were shared, as were hugs, but the Gryffindors soon quietened down as the headmaster was still standing.

'Congratulations, Gryffindor, and to the rest of you, I say a hearty well done, now you all have the summer to get your heads nice and empty again before September comes calling, thank you,' said Dumbledore before resuming his seat.

The eating recommenced as the feast moved towards its conclusion. Harry and Ron looked over at the Slytherin table to see Draco Malfoy sneering in their direction, but they did not care, and when it was time for bed, they went back to Gryffindor tower with the rest of Gryffindors.

Before going to bed, Harry and the rest of the first year boys were packing their trunks, taking down posters and photographs. It was a strange feeling to be going home in the morning, after spending the vast majority of a year away, but once the trunks were all packed, only leaving out what was to be worn for the journey home, Harry, Ron and Neville went back down to the common room where Hermione was waiting for them. The foursome played chess and exploding snap while eating a few snacks before it starting getting late and soon the common room was empty as the Gryffindors went to bed.

The following morning, the boys dressed quietly as they watched their packed trunks disappear, then grabbing their carry-on bags, they made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast before they would be boarding the Hogwarts Express to go back to Platform nine and Three Quarters at King's Cross, where they would be met by their families.

The journey itself was not as bad as they all thought it would be. For one thing, Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle left them all alone, although this was understandable as there were nine of them in the compartment as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville had been joined by Dean, Seamus, Percy, Fred and George. Hermione was able to talk to Percy about what he might have achieved on his O.W.L exams despite her being on Ron's lap, and when they were all joined by Lavender, Parvati and her twin, Padma, the compartment was full to overflowing as they all shared an enormous pile of sweets. They were also joined by the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but luckily, it was only a passing visit to wish them all a good summer in case they missed them all on the platform.

The Hogwarts Express finally pulled into the station. By the time it had, the pile of sweets was finished, and everyone had been able to change out of their robes and into muggle clothing for when they would go through the barrier to re-enter the muggle world. The group of nine collected their trunks and put them on to trolleys, as Harry, Ron, Hermione and Neville stayed together and were eventually given the all clear to go through the barrier. Once through the barrier, it was time to find their families.

This was not too difficult as they had all gathered together, Weasleys, Potters, Longbottoms and Grangers. Harry spotted his sister standing with and talking to Ron's sister Ginny, and went to greet his parents as Ron, Hermione and Neville did the same with their own.

Soon it was time to leave. Ron's parents had spoken to Hermione's parents, and they had a conversation with Harry's parents about Hermione being allowed to visit Ron and Harry over the summer. It was decided that Hermione be able to until she went on holiday with her parents in few weeks and of course, when she returned home.

Harry and Hermione shared a hug, before Neville said his goodbyes, too; then Ron gave Hermione a longer hug goodbye before they all left for home.

A/N: Their first year is done, and I cannot believe it has taken me the better part of a year to complete, and for that, I can only apologise. This is due to the fact I keep getting ideas for new stories, and I lose focus on the stories I should actually be writing! I'm going to need some time to write the summer months and the second year, fingers crossed it won't take a year as I have ideas for third year all the way up to seventh.

Thank you to all of you whom have taken the time to read, favourite, follow and review (positively) this story so far, especially to my good friend, heronlove, for her constant support.

OW52, 17/4/13