2024 A/N: Brand new, never seen before chapter! Hope you like it; it's taken me two years to write. I had 300words written, but they became mostly useless once I got my timeline sorted out since it didn't match up anymore and I had to re-write what I had.
Chapter 62: Year 4: Exams
For the duration of April, Aileen decided not to continue attending most of her classes – she just didn't have the time to waste in the classes or on homework when she could be independently preparing herself for her end of four exams, while also staying on top of everything else. She'd decided to continue attending potions, for the practical aspect, and her healing lessons but she didn't turn up for any of her other lessons. Being free during the day meant that she could spend the time she wanted dedicated to revision, and the rest of the time working on the vast among of House paperwork that she hadn't expected to take responsibility off for another two years, lessons under professor Salazar, her learning under the four founders about Hogwarts and how the founders had envisioned the school, or focused on her training. Once lessons were out for the day, she was able to spend some time with her friends, before going down to the lake – sometimes to visit the mer-people and sometimes to see her brother.
Cedric seemed to follow the same routine as Aileen, she heard from Fred and George that the sixth-year champion was only attending potion, transfiguration, and defence; the rest he was revising independently. Aileen didn't know what Fleur and Krum were doing for exam preparation, as it was their NEWTs, but she did know that none of them were focused on the third task until after their exams. Aileen and Cedric had it the worst since their exams were last, giving them less time between exam and task. From how exhausted Cedric looked, Aileen assumed that he was doing some task preparation along with his exam revision, whereas Aileen had decided not to prepare directly for the task until after the exams – relying on her years of fighting to get her prepared.
In the first week of April, Samul Grievance went out of his way to find Aileen. She'd been in the classroom where she kept the individual founders' portraits, when she got an alert on the door that there was someone outsides. Since only the headmaster and the twins knew that she used the classroom, Aileen was surprised by the unknown person knocking at the door. Her old classroom, the one she'd used in first and second year, was known to the rest of her friend group as that was where they met up when they weren't in the common room.
With a flick of her wrist, the portraits were hidden behind a black-board, and she'd returned her sword to its necklace form.
"Mr Grievance," Aileen greeted in surprise when she opened the door.
"Lady Potter, may I come in?" he requested with a knowing smile as he took in the fact that she was wearing work-out clothes.
Aileen sighed but stepped aside to let the man into the classroom. "What can I do for you?"
"I came to talk about those ancestors we share in common." He explained.
Aileen closed the door. "There isn't anyone in the school who actually knows about my heritage; just Lord Black and Remus Lupin, who were like brothers to my mortal father."
"So your godly heritage comes from your mother?" Samuel sat on the conner of the desk that Aileen had pushed against the wall while she was working on her sword work.
"No, my mother is mortal. My mortal father blood adopted me, just as Lord Black has done." Aileen sat on the edge of the teacher's desk which was under the four portraits and where she kept her paperwork.
"So, both your parents knew?"
"They did; they both met him as well. He used to visit me when I was a baby." Aileen hummed. "Did both off your parents get to know your godly grandparent?"
"My mother was the one born to Athena," Samul casually named his godly heritage in a way that Aileen couldn't. "Her stepmother never knew the truth of her heritage, since my grandfather met her when my mother was four."
"How did he explain the monster attacks and camp?" Aileen asked, baffled.
"My mother went to the summer camp for six of the eight summer weeks, and due to his magical heritage, my grandfather lived in a house warded enough to keep the monsters away."
"Your grandfather had magic?"
"He was a step above a squib, which means that he could hold a low-level ward, brew potions, carve and activate low level runes and cast very week charms." Samul elaborated.
Aileen nodded. "Did your mother teach how to protect yourself from monsters?"
"She did; the scent isn't as strong on me, but I interact with the children of the gods at Ilvermory and Salem. Got my own little club that I run to help them survive the truth of their heritage."
"You work at both schools?" Aileen asked, surprised. She'd known he was a representative of MUCASA and that he was likely a professor from one of their schools, but she didn't expect him to work at two of the most well-known schools in America.
"I do Monday through Wednesday at one, then Thursday through Saturday at the other. My specialism is physical defence and the incorporation of magical defence into enchantments. It's a niche specialism." He smirked.
"Why did you want to speak with me?" Aileen questioned.
"You are the only person I knew to be a demi-god," Samul shrugged. "While I'm here, I thought that I could see what I could offer to help you with your future?"
"I've got a sword tutor, but do you know anything about using a bow?" Aileen quired. She'd been keeping an eye out for anyone else in the school who might be a demi-god, but she wasn't sure what she should be looking for other than someone who was unusually jumpy around the magical creatures. "And perhaps, a way to help me find others like me in the school so that I can help them? Britian isn't as dangerous as America, but there are still monsters here."
"My skill with the bow and arrow is average, but it's good enough to teach you how to pull the bow back and aim. Then it's simple hard work and repetition. If you truly are already practicing your sword skills, that will help as you will have started building up your arm strength." Samul nodded. "I'd be happy to leave someone here who can teach future demi-gods."
"Perhaps we're the beginning of a tradition."
"Aileen, are you actually dating both the Weasley twins?" Hermione asked one evening. Aileen was sat on the floor, her head leaning on Fred's leg, while she was reading from an advanced healing text. Fred was leaning on the arm of the chair, working on some potion's homework.
"Yes," Aileen didn't look up from her book to answer the stupid question.
"It's just, it doesn't really look like you are." Hermione stammered.
"Oh really," George jumped over the sofa Fred was lounging on, his defence reference book in hand, landing next to Aileen. He dropped his head on Aileen's book, smirking.
Aileen rolled her eyes, knowing exactly what he was asking her to do. The only reason there wasn't overt displays of affection in public – hand holding, kissing of cheeks, snogging or even chair sharing – was because of Aileen. She was getting more comfortable with the twins, day by day, but she still wasn't comfortable being open with that affection. She didn't like the idea of eyes being on her during what should be a privet moment, or a privet communication of affection and love, from her to the boys and from them to her. Despite being more physically demonstrative then her, Fred and George both understood and accepted what she was willing to give in public and was happy with what she gave in privet.
Aileen tilted her head back and found Fred look at her and George with a smirk. He quickly understood the assignment and lent over to kiss her.
"Hey!" George protested.
Aileen separated from Fred, smiling before she looked to George and found him pouting up from her book. She kissed that pout away.
"Now, get off my book – we've got reading to do." Aileen pushed her book up, making George shift. He decided to lie with his head on the bend of her knees, reading with his book raised above him.
"So, we're as ready as we're going to get for the ward recasting." William stared, with his arms folded at the Arithmancy and rune covered parchments laid out next to a large map of the school.
"We just need to know when we're doing this?" Yansen questioned. "The students and other residents will have to be out of the castle for the day, including any ghosts."
"It's going to have to be in the summer, when the students are gone." Aileen pointed out. They couldn't just send the students, all seven years, to Hogsmeade for the day since it would take around eight hours to redo the major wards which would exhaust them. Then they'd need to do the rest of the ward scheme the next day and they couldn't have any interference from majoring magical cores in that.
"The train leaves on the 26th?" Lucas questioned. Having not gone to Hogwarts, he wasn't familiar with the school term dates.
"Yes, the train departs by 11." William agreed. "We can do all the prep work on the 26th, that way we can just do the ward casting on the 27th and 28th."
"I can get that cleared with he headmaster, make sure he knows to clear everyone but the heads out of the school." Aileen nodded. "One question, what about the house-elves? If the ghosts will impact the wards, will the house-elves?"
"No, their magic is different. They will not interfere." Parkinson was quick to assure.
"Good, because I was dreading having to tell the headmaster that he needed to relocate 167 house-elves for two days." Aileen sighed in relief.
"So, you confirm the dates with the headmaster, and we meet again at the end of June." William nodded. "For now, we are done here."
A week before the exams started and five weeks before Aileen was due to sit her exams, she was called to meet the headmaster in his office. When she arrived, it was to find him there along with Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, Professor Babbling and Madam Griselda Marchbanks, of the wizarding examination authority.
"Headmaster, Professors, Madam Marchbanks," Aileen greeted as she took the remaining open seat.
"Aileen, would you like me to contact Sirius and ask him to be present for this meeting?" the headmaster asked as he interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on them while his elbows rested on the desk.
"That depends on the subject of the meeting and whether I feel I need to consult him," Aillen responded swiftly. Now that she was Lady Potter, she didn't need a guardian's permission to do anything, however she could still ask for the presence of Lord Black sine she was his heir.
"As you know the exams are coming up, however several of the teaching staff feel that you are being under-challenged in their lessons, especially considering the skills you have demonstrated in the Tri-Wizarding Tournament. I've applied for you to set your OWL exams in potions and defence, with ratification from your professors. Madam Marchbank is here, as she now needs confirmation in person if you want to take a few OWL exams early." Dumbledore explained.
"I see," Aileen glanced at Snape, who was sat glaring over Dumbledore's head with his jaw tight – like he was clenching his teeth. He clearly wasn't happy about having to compliment Aileen's potions work, however indirect it happens to be, by putting her up for the OWL potions exam. Since she had made, and had published a brand-new potion, he didn't really have a choice but to agree to her doing the exam.
Taking some of her OWL exams early would mean that she no longer shared those exams with her friends and classmates. Aileen didn't know the current fifth years very well, interacting more with the younger students and the sixth and seventh years due to her friendship on the quidditch teams. But, if she did choose to take a few of her exams early, then she would be in a better spot to apply to take the NEWT exam for those classes the next year instead of waiting for her seventh year. Things that would be better for her future positions and career.
"I'll sit the OWLs; however, I'd also like to take the OWL exam for Defence along with Ancient Runes and Potions." Aileen tapped her finger against her knee.
"Reasonable," the headmaster nodded. "Your defence scores are your highest, consistently over the years."
"If I'd had a little bit more warning, I'd ask to sit all my OWL exams, but I need more than a week to make sure I'm confident with those classes." Aileen worried her lips between her teeth for a moment. "I don't want to miss something obvious because I didn't have a chance to go over all my notes."
"You can sit the OWL for Potions, Defence ad Ancient Runes at Hogwarts, and then apply to sit the other exams during the summer holidays. We hold two exam sessions, from July 15th – 22nd, and then again August 21st – 26th." Madam Marchbank offered.
"Which would give me two and a half months to prepare, more than enough time." Aileen nodded. "I'll go through the formal application process for my other exams, Madam Marchbank, so that you have the paperwork."
"For now, I need you to sign this confirmation stating that you wish to take your OWL exams early. Then I need the signature of the classes' professors, your head of house, and the headmaster." Madam Marchbank pulled out some parchment work, adding the defence exam to the list of exams to be taken before she handed it over.
"I'll also sign for the defence professor, as I've taught Aileen defence at the end of every year for the last three years." The headmaster volunteered. "Saves us having to postpone while I get Alaster up here."
"That is acceptable."
"So, if you sit your OWL exams, will that make you a sixth-year next year?" George questioned as they relaxed together in the room that had found. The three of them were lying together on the bed, just talking.
"Yes, but I'm going to ask to sit seventh year defence, potions, and Ancient Runes. I'm confident enough in those lessons I could do the NEWTs by the end of next year." Aileen grabbed Fred's hand which was unconsciously wondering over her stomach and simple held it in place. "Which would place me in your class for those three lessons."
"That would be cool," Fred smiled apologetically as he squeezed her hand.
"It would also mean I graduate a year early, so we wouldn't be separated for long." Aileen pointed out. She wasn't looking forward to the end of next year, as the twins would have graduated which means she would only see them during the holidays. Their communication would be through mirrors and journals, like she was doing with Sirius.
"The shop has a flat above it, George and I are going to move into it once we've graduated…" Fred trailed off.
"…Have our own space, if you want to visit next summer."
"Do keep your minds out of the gutter boys," Aileen teased. She'd known that the shop had an apartment above it as she'd been copied in on the purchase documents as it had been her money to buy it. The boys had visited the store over the summer, but not made the final purchase decision until October. They'd brought it because prime real-estate wasn't cheap nor easy to come by; they couldn't risk it being gone by the time they graduated.
"Didn't even cross my mind," Fred and George spoke as one.
The OWL and NEWT exams took place from the 15th until the 26th May. Aileen had four days of exams in that time since the theory was split from the practical, as they had been in the other years, but the exams were harder and typically longer.
The Potions theory exam was on the first Tuesday, questioning about the order in which ingredients should be added to a potion, challenging her knowledge of reactions and effects of different ingredients, and the effect of different stirring and cutting methods. There were twenty questions on different safety procedures that needed to be observed in the lab.
On the first Thursday, Aileen had her defence theory and practical. The theory was in the morning, then the practical in the afternoon. Both exams went extremely well, Aileen's knowledge of magical defence wasn't limited or missing any gaps.
During the second week of the exams, Aileen had her Ancient Rune theory on the Tuesday. Unlike the year before, where the exam had been an hour long, the OWL exam was an hour and a half. Then, on the Thursday afternoon she had the practical portion which had a time limit of four hours. Aileen, once again, stayed the longest as she'd chosen to make a more complex ward then is typical of a fifth year and had to explain it in detail.
Thursday morning, Aileen had her potions practical. It was two hours long and they had to make a relatively complex potions, with two dangerous stations in the brewing process.
Edited: 13/01/2024
2024 A/N: A reminder, the warding team is William Weasley, Yansen Greengrass, Juliet Parkinson, and Lucas Dragonfire