2nd May

After what can only be described as interrupted sleep, I got up this morning knowing that I was doing the right thing. Lupin had full confidence in me but McGonagall had her reservations. That no longer mattered to me. I headed straight to bed last night after returning from McGonagall's office. I had just been up for two full days, I had the right to hit the sack early. Hagrid allowed me to skip his revision class this morning so I could get it over and done with. It wasn't fair on Oliver not knowing, I repeated to myself. None of my friends knew what I was doing. It was my decision. I dismissed myself from the breakfast table and made my way towards the Hospital Wing. Oliver's was the only occupied bed.

"How are you?" he asked as I sat down opposite him. He was fully dressed in his uniform and sitting on the edge of his bed.

I nervously scratched the back of my neck, "I'll feel better after this: I'm here to tell you what happened that night."

So I told him. Every last detail. I told him that he pushed me up against the wall, how he trapped me, what he did and how he made me feel. I voiced my terror, that I couldn't breathe, that I couldn't think straight or stop shaking. I told him how he tied my hands together and showed him the cuts on my wrists. He asked questions and I answered them. By the end he was in tears, not being able to comprehend his own brutality. I told him that I didn't think he recognised his own strength. He even asked if I had much bruising, so I carefully untucked my shirt and showed him my purple-coloured abdomen. I had only started feeling the pain from it this morning as I tried lifting my bag onto my shoulder. That jerked another tearful reaction. Madam Pomfery timely arrived with a box of tissues for us and quickly left again.

By this stage I had run through the details in my head that much, it flowed as though it were a story and not fact… Part of the weight was lifted off me. I felt so much better.

"I'm so sorry, Kathryn… I understand if you don't want to see me ever again…" he wiped his eyes. I know this sounds odd, but I'm glad he cried, I'm happy that there's still a soul in there. I knew that he wouldn't do it ever again, I made sure of it.

"Another thing," I spoke, trying to figure out how best to put it, "It has been unanimously decided that you can stay in Gryffindor Common Room and continue to study for your NEWTS. Don't you dare flunk them. I expect O's across the board. I'm never going to forget what happened, but I want to go back to normal again, I need to."

"I don't deserve your kindness."

I got up to leave, but stopped myself, "Promise me a few things?"

Oliver sniffled, "Anything."

"Don't tell anyone what happened."

"I promise!"

"And don't be accepting any weird drinks with silly little notes." I half smiled.

He nodded, and I was half way towards the door before he spoke, "And we definitely don't know who did this?"

"Not a clue." I sighed, "Perhaps we'll never know."

28th May

With just over a week to my first exam and just under a month after the incident, I expected things to be resolved. But they weren't. I used to feel so aggravated when someone brought up the subject, asking if I was alright or wanted to talk. Now I wondered if I was alright but felt there was nothing left to talk about. Every time I saw McGonagall she shook her head apologetically. I really was beginning to accept that I had to just get on with life in the understanding that I would never know. Oliver had even tried asking around who gave him the bottle of firewhiskey that night, because he wanted to 'properly thank them'. What he did get was a bunch of girls falling at his feet, trying to get his attention. It was sickening to watch and I often had to turn my back and leave the room.

I found myself plummeting into my work; my aim was to know every fact and figure. I chose to study harder so that I wouldn't think about what happened, so that I could prove to myself that I could withstand anything life threw at me. There were times I thought I was desperate to just get over it. But the more I tried, the more I thought about it, which was a never ending battle of my conscience. At times I scared myself, looking twice into mirrors, checking to see if anyone was watching me or following me, yet, just the opposite was happening as I felt isolated from the world around me. I wondered if I was the one isolating myself or if people were intentionally avoiding me. Even George took a step back, either it was because he no longer wanted to be seen around me or he was actually doing some study, I didn't want to believe the former but it became increasingly apparent…

6th June

Our first exam was transfiguration. At 0900 the whole of third year piled into McGonagall's classroom where we were to be called in one at a time to her office. I counted 40 students in all. With my surname being at the end of the alphabet, I knew it was going to be a long morning, so I found myself a seat and a desk and read my transfiguration textbook.

"I don't know how you can do that at this late stage, Kathryn! You're making me nervous." Hermione knew she was going to be called soon and was being a pain in the arse about it.

I was feeling very calm about the whole ordeal, I knew how to perform all the 14 transfigurations we had learnt so far and I knew how to muffle my way through the theory behind it. I knew I would be alright, it was just easier focusing on a book, rather than those panicky voices around me. As time passed by, the crowds dwindled to the few remaining. I think there were 8 in all.

"Miss Pink." My name was finally called, and Harry and Ron both looked sympathetically at me.

I rose from my chair and made my way towards her office, as though I hadn't a care in the world. As soon as I entered the familiar room, I saw a teapot on her desk. Was she seriously making me a cup of tea during an exam?

"Kathryn, I do not want you to worry, I understand what strains you have been under recently, but I would firstly like you to turn this teapot into a tortoise for me and then explain the theory behind the spell used. Please, take your time."

I knew this one. I lifted my wand and lightly tapped the spout of the teapot and spoke the incantation, 'Testudo Graeca' and the teapot morphed into a tortoise, which quickly drew back into its shell. "The spell 'Testudo Graeca' simply means 'tortoise', so by tapping specifically the spout of the teapot the transformation will be complete and whole. Should any other part of the pot be tapped, for example the lid, the tortoise may have steam coming out of its mouth or if the handle is tapped, the handle will remain where the tail should be. It should also be noted that if the teapot is not touched at all, the spell will be unsuccessful, no matter the accuracy of the pronunciation of the incantation."

"Impressive." McGonagall spoke and I turned to leave the room, "You're alright, aren't you Kathryn?"

"Of course." I said and closed the door tight behind me.

That afternoon, we had our charms exam. Gryffindor were to arrive at Professor Flitwick's classroom for 1300, where all his usual desks and chairs had been pushed to the side of the room, as though the exam was going to be a practical session. As we all came into the room and spread out, Flitwick gave us out the instructions.

"Today, your examination will be based entirely on the effectiveness of both your 'Cheering Charm' and the 'Fire-Freezing Charm', you will divide up into pairs. The student whose name comes last alphabetically in the pair will go first in the Cheering Charm. The Fire-Freezing Charm will then be performed on the torches at the sides of the room. If I see or hear any student helping another, both students will be given a score of 0, do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir." We all spoke in unison.

I immediately looked at Hermione, who was already making her way towards me. We both knew we were quite capable of performing the spells and she looked relatively relaxed. I knew from the instructions that I would be going first. Flitwick placed a stool in the corner where Hermione and I were standing and climbed up on it to make himself taller. "Miss Pink, may I talk to you?" he spoke so that only those closest would hear. So I took a few steps closer, "I understand you have exceptional circumstances, if you do not feel able to complete the examination, you have my permission to leave at any time. I know that you and Miss Granger are both very capable."

"I feel fine, Professor, but thanks." I returned to my spot.

"BEGIN!" The squeaky voice of Flitwick sounded.

"Laetus Maxime" I quietly spoke, flourishing my wand in an 'S' shape. I really concentrated on what would make Hermione laugh, wondering if that would make an impact.

At this point Hermione dropped to the floor in a fit of giggles, unable to control herself. Her face went red and her hair went into even more of a frizzy mess. A nod from Flitwick told me that I had been successful and could relieve Hermione.

Within the next few minutes I had been lying on the floor of Flitwick's classroom laughing my head off and then I was suddenly not. I still felt a lot happier than normal. The next spells were produced in quick succession as Hermione and I both held our wands above our heads, producing a white light, making the flame feel like a warm summer breeze. Next thing we were out of the room, left to revise for our exams the next day.

7th June

At 0900 our Care of Magical Creatures class made their way down to Hagrid's hut where we were given the world's easiest task: to keep Flobberworms alive for the next hour. BAM. So long as no one over fed the beasts, or mysteriously killed it, there was no way in which we all couldn't get O's. That was the easiest exam I've ever done in my life.

During the exam, Ron, Harry, Hermione and I left our Flobberworms to their own devices and chatted to Hagrid. We knew that the plea was only two days away, and Hagrid did not appear to be coping overly well. Ron supplied parchment after parchment full of stories, statistics and facts for Hagrid to learn in Buckbeak's defence. He seemed very grateful and Ron had somehow found a lot of very good information. It really goes to show how much he didn't want to revise!

Our afternoon exam was just like a normal Potions class but with no instructions on how to make the potion. It said on the blackboard in capital letters.

'CONFUSING CONCOCTION:
You have one hour.'

There was a larder of ingredients at the front and back of the room. We could all, one at a time go up to the front and take the necessary ingredients but we only had one chance so we had to remember everything. That was the first part of the exam and we were initially marked on it.

Luckily I had sat memorising the potion one night a few weeks ago and I could speak the instructions in my sleep. I got started quickly and was a few steps ahead of most members of the class. I took a second to take a look around the room. Malfoy was just adding his chopped rats tail and would soon be at the same stage as me. Hermione was on the step ahead of mine- her face was pink and her hair was reacting badly to the humidity of the room. Poor Neville looked like he was experiencing his worst nightmare to date. Both Ron and Harry tried to give him hints when Snape's back was turned. The Slytherins all seemed to be calm. That didn't surprise me with Snape being their head of house.

After another 15 minutes, I was finished. Hermione was finished first, Draco was second and I was a very close third.

"You two are back being my dream team again, good." Snape said, testing both our potions and writing our marks down on his clipboard. Then he turned to me, "I must say you appear very in control of your emotions, Miss Pink after the ordeal, I do applaud you."

He was the third teacher this week to comment on my coping mechanisms. I was simply not thinking about it. Every time Oliver and I were close we ignored each other, it was slightly awkward at times, but I was just trying to overlook it, still trying to forget. "I'll be sure to call on you up next time I'm upset. Maybe I'll have developed my vocabulary to include other rude or vulgar words just to please you."

With that I was dismissed from the class. Draco quickly followed behind. "Are you still worrying about how you got those bruises?"

I ignored him.

"I'm guessing you're not going to tell me, but I'm also going to guess he's really regretting it now." Draco added.

I stopped in my tracks, "Sometimes I get the idea that you know more than I do, Draco, and if you do know something I'd advise you to fill me in. If not, stop winding me up and let me go 'control my emotions' some more. Perhaps I'll go and cry myself to sleep again. Or maybe I'll not, who knows?" I spurted out all that was going on in my head, I saw he was taken aback, "Sorry…"

"You've been dealing with a lot, its fine!" he turned and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving me to my thoughts.

At midnight began our next exam. Hermione woke me up in a blind panic 20 minutes before the exam was due to start. I had been asleep for 2 hours, snoring on the desk beside her. Harry and Ron thought it was hilarious, Hermione did not.

"You're so irresponsible, Kathryn!" she moaned, "You really ought to care more about your studies. What would you have done if I hadn't wakened you?"

I yawned and stretched, "Been asleep?"

The two boys were in stitches as were trod up the stairs to the highest tower of the Castle for Astronomy. We arrived perfectly on time as Professor Sinistra permitted the class to take their positions at the telescopes. What we had to do was identify the moon in the sky (easy) then mark the planets carefully on a sheet around it as to their particular position in the sky this particular night. I had finished within 15 minutes along with most of the class and headed straight to bed. Exams at midnight should be illegal.

8th June

This morning's assessment started at 1000 due to the lateness of last night's exam. The History of Magic exam took place in the world's stuffiest classroom, where we sat in silence in rows to answer a question paper. We had two hours to complete it and weren't allowed to leave early. Professor Binns was watching us, too. The three questions were on:

Goblin Rebellions of the 16th Century

Witch Hunts

Medieval Assembly of European Wizards

I wrote down all that I could remember and made up a few details to make the information sound a little more interesting. I wrote for the entire two hours, alongside Hermione when the rest of the class were either sleeping, snoring or drooling or a combination of all three. Not that Binns noticed.

It didn't seem that long between escaping one exam, grabbing a quick lunch and heading outside into the World's second most stuffy room- the Greenhouse, for Herbology. The temperature outside made it stifling inside and most of us were dripping with sweat at the end of trying to get Puffapods to bloom 'in a controlled manner'. I managed to do it, but it wasn't easy. Neville on the other hand looked like he was in his element.

9th June

All I can say is thank goodness our exams end today so that I can sit somewhere tonight and NOT DO ANYTHING. I think the initial plan is to sit outside in the warm air and enjoy the sun for the first time. One thing about British summertime is that it doesn't last long, so we have to make the most of it when we have the opportunity. Knowing our luck, tomorrow it'll be raining.

The other good thing about today is that my two favourite subjects are being tested- DADA and Muggle Studies. Not that exams are good, but it helps when you're interested in the topic.

Lupin had the most strangely amazing exam prepared in the history of strangely amazing exams. Firstly, we weren't in a classroom, we were out in the beautiful sun, completing a sort of obstacle course. The first challenge was to wade across a deep paddling pool with a weeded section where a Grindylow threatened to attack if I got any closer, I shot some warm water in its direction to keep it at bay. You really did not want one of them wrapping their many legs around you. Redcaps were the next creature to deal with, they were found in potholes which were slightly concealed, our aim was to get to the other side without having to use any means of force to repel them as they, unlike Grindylows are less likely to bother you. My next impediment was a marsh, which could only mean one thing, a Hinkypunk, who tried to give me the wrong directions. It's aim was for me to sink deeper into the mud. I simply ignored it. The final creature was found in an old trunk, Lupin looked nervous for me as he nodded reassuringly before revealing my new and improved worst nightmare. I had my auntie running at me with a bloody knife, screaming whilst I was being held back by the invisible bonds, much like how I felt trapped by Oliver. I forced myself to remember it wasn't real. This time I had my wand. "Riddikulus!" I shouted shakily and the Boggart turned into the worst performing Irish Dancer, once again. That was the end of the exam.

"WELL DONE!" Lupin placed a hand on my shoulder, seeing how pale and sweaty I had become on the last obstacle alone, "I'm very proud of what you have accomplished this year and what you have overcome, I just want you to know that."

No one had ever said they were proud of me before.

"Thank you." I spoke, colour returning to my cheeks again.

Lupin smiled and whispered, "Full marks!" and handed me a small bar of chocolate. He simply was the best teacher ever.

That afternoon I was back inside the school in our normal Muggle Studies classroom where the 8 of us sat in two rows of 4. We were each handed two pieces of parchment and the questions were as follows, the marks were in brackets.

What is a Muggle? (2)

Give an example of a Muggle who knows about magic and why. (4)

Tell of the time Muggles new about Magic. (6)

What is the function of a Muggle mailman? (8)

Describe Muggle electricity. (15)

Compare Muggle and Wizarding travel methods. (25)

The two hours of the exam flew by as there was just so much that I knew and so much more I could have written. For muggle travel methods I chose cars and aeroplanes whilst for wizarding travel methods I chose to talk about two that I knew of- the Floo Network and broomsticks. I felt so stupid trying to work out how a car worked, there are literally no similarities to taking the car to stepping into your fireplace and saying where you want to go. Either way, all 8 of us ran straight from the classroom and into the sunshine, celebrating that exams were over and took some time to relax. Hermione and I were both massaging hand-cramps, you could see where my quill had been digging into my finger.

"Now what?" I joked to Hermione as we took a seat under 'our' tree at the back of the school where we had agreed to meet the boys after their Divination exam.

"We need to start revising for fourth year." She said calmly reclining back onto the grass.

I glared at her, "I do hope you're joking."