Before anyone knew it, it was July and time for Harry and Pansy to take their exams. They met together at Grimmauld for support before Flooing to the ministry. The first exams were scheduled for 7 a.m. Due to the early hour, the Ministry was quiet and almost empty. A guard in the atrium recorded their wand signatures and sent them to the Department of Magical Education on the fifth floor. They arrived to find a handful of other homeschooled students, some from Hogwarts some not.
Pansy wandered over to talk to a tall, muscular girl Harry recognized from Hogwarts. He sank to the tiled floor and began running over facts in his head. This first scheduled exam was for Charms. The exams were spread out over the course of a week to give time for all of them. He knew he'd have a different schedule than Pansy for some of the tests but was glad they were together for the first one.
Then the clock on the wall struck seven and they were shepherded into the room and the exams began.
XX
The week ended and life went on for the next few weeks with Harry baby sitting Teddy and
Pansy coming over. Not to study anymore, but just to spend time in each other's presence.
Harry's birthday came quietly this year. He settled on a nice dinner with Andromeda, the Parkinsons, Hermione and the Weasleys. It was a large group so he had Kreacher open and air out the formal dining room, which seated twenty so they had extra seats. Harry insisted on no gifts and was pleased to see everyone listened, even if Mrs. Weasley looked putout about it.
Kreacher cooked two batches of cottage pie, mash and peas with a large victoria sponge for dessert. It was just what Harry needed after turning his brain to mush with all those tests.
After everyone ate, they moved to the family sitting room and talked and played card games and eagerly waited for exam results which were delivered on August 1. The Weasleys and Hermione reluctantly went home but told him to owl as soon as he had his results. The Parkinsons and Andromeda settled in to be comfortable overnight.
Harry was dozing with Pansy's feet in his lap when he heard Kreacher pop in and blearily opened an eye to see the old elf standing with two letters in hand.
He jerked into alertness, waking Pansy with his sudden movement. Her shout of dismay at being moved abruptly woke everyone else.
The family moved to circle the couch Harry and Pansy were sat on and waited for them to open the results. Pansy went first, excited and eager to get it over with
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test results for Pansy Amarilla Parkinson
CHARMS score
Practical O
Theoretical O
DEFENSE score
Practical EE
Theoretical O
HERBOLOGY score
Practical O
Theoretical O
HISTORY score
Practical N/A
Theoretical O
Pansy jumped up and down in her seat. "I can't believe I scored so well!"
Harry gave her a half hug. "That's amazing, Pans." He took a deep breath and broke the seal on his own exams.
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test results for Berry Jessamine Potter
ASTRONOMY score
Practical EE
Theoretical EE
CHARMS score
Practical O
Theoretical O
DEFENSE score
Practical O
Theoretical O
HERBOLOGY score
Practical O
Theoretical EE
POTIONS score
Practical EE
Theoretical O
TRANSFIGURATION score
Practical O
Theoretical EE
He was dumbstruck. He had scored really well, even on subjects he wasn't as sure of like Potions and Astronomy. Douglass clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"This calls for a celebration. I'm going to take us all out to a good hearty lunch at the Unicorn's Hoof …when it's lunch time I suppose. Haha maybe we can all take a rest before then, no?"
Harry smiled and immediately offered the use of his guest rooms. Douglass turned him down saying they'd simply return around 1 o'clock if that worked. As they headed out, Pansy caught his arm and guided them into a spare drawing room.
She pressed her hands against his chest and looked deep into his eyes.
"This is a private celebration. We have to be quick but I wanted to show my appreciation for helping me study." Then she leaned in and kissed him. Softly at first, the barest brush of lips, before deepening the kiss and suddenly pulling away with a sharp smile, like a cat who just caught its prey. "See you at lunch."
After a nap for everyone, the Parkinsons Flooed back and they all Flooed to Diagon Alley where Douglass led them to a cross street called Horizont Alley which was filled with restaurants and service businesses instead of the goods market of Diagon. They reached the restaurant, a white washed brick building with large bay windows and were entering when a man came out and bumped into Harry.
"Oh excuse me young man, I should've been more careful. I….Potter?" The man's face immediately morphed into anger. It was Cedric's father, Amos Diggory. "How dare you show your face? How can you live knowing you're the reason a good man is dead?"
He spat on Harry's shoes and shoved his way through the summer crowd.
Harry was shaken. Cedric's death still weighed heavily on him, even knowing it was Peter Pettigrew and Voldemort that had murdered the boy. He took a deep breath and turned to the Parkinsons and Andromeda.
"Let's enjoy our meal. We shouldn't let one man's anger ruin a happy day."