The time for O.W.L.s came much faster than anyone wanted. Even Hermione wasn't particularly thrilled with it. She was prepared, likely several times over, but still was nervous. It was probably due to the fact that she was facing the largest exams she had experienced yet.

She studied in between tests, but took great care to make sure that she was eating. Viktor wouldn't like it if she neglected to eat because of a test. He knew that she wasn't always the most dedicated about that, but she tried.

"Hey there," Padma said after the Herbology O.W.L..

"Hi," Hermione breathed. "That was certainly different than what I expected. How'd you fare with the devil's snare?"

Padma shuddered. After their excursion the last year, she had a tremendous fear of the plant. "I remembered what Neville said. And I didn't panic. Just sort of let the plant do its thing and then went on my merry way."

"Good for you. I know how hard that must have been," Hermione said.

Hermione remembered that she had had a hard time relaxing when she, Harry, and Ron had fallen into it during their first year. And with Padma, she knew the exact digestive process of the plant. Which must have made things a thousand times worse.

"I just don't want to think about it," she said. She sat down in the great hall, and picked up a sandwich. There were snacks all around for those who had tests. Which was pretty much everyone.

"Well, defense against the dark arts is next. You ready?"

Padma smirked. "I think that's the class I'm the most ready for. But I can't wait for exams to be over."

"I'm right there with you," Hermione said. "I just want this year to be over."

"You wouldn't be looking forward to spending a little time over in Bulgaria, now would you?" Padma teased.

Hermione faked a shocked look. "I can't believe you would think that? That I would want to spend time with the kindest, sweetest, most wonderful man on the planet."

She sounded a little dreamy at the end, ruining the façade. She was looking forward to spending some more time in Bulgaria. And she was looking forward to actually spending more than a day or two with Viktor.

"Let's just get through exams," Padma said.

"I think we can manage that."

They headed off to the next exam, where they found Harry pouring over a textbook. He seemed more nervous than they had ever seen him, and that was saying something.

"Are you alright?" Padma asked.

"I don't think I've seen you ever study so much for a test," Hermione added.

"I have to do well on this," Harry said. "I have to prove that I'm competent. That I actually can do this."

Hermione knew that for both of the paths that Harry was considering, he needed to do especially well on his defense O.W.L.. And she also knew that he wanted to prove that he could do something well, and then teach it to his peers. It was likely stressing him out.

"You'll do fine Harry. I'm sure of it," Padma said.

Harry relaxed a little at her words, but continued studying until his name was called. The exam went by fairly quickly for all of them, and they were in the great hall for dinner before too long.

"I'm so glad we're mostly done," Ron said.

"Just potions and history of magic left," Neville said. "The two subjects I'm the worst at."

"Don't worry," Hermione said. "You know what you're doing. You're going to be fine. I can even make a copy of my history notes for you if you need them."

"You're a lifesaver," Neville sighed.

Dinner was fine, and then everyone save Padma went to the Gryffindor common room. Padma wanted to sleep until morning, having used up most of her energy. No one blamed her for that. And since she was a Ravenclaw, they were fairly certain she could ace her exams in her sleep. Not that they were going to test that theory.

Harry, Neville, and Ron poured over Hermione's history of magic notes. Hermione was reading a wizarding novel about a cursebreaker who had accidentally set one of the curses off and then had to find "his one true love."

She had chuckled a bit at reading the blurb, but it was turning out to be a rather good read. Although she supposed it might be easier for him to find true love if he had a soul bond. But such things were so rare that about half of the wizarding population didn't believe that they existed.

She read a few chapters, offering clarification to the boys when they needed it. And then she decided that she didn't want to be around for revision that she didn't need. Bidding the boys goodnight, she went up to her dorm.

Lavender and Parvati were sitting on the floor, surrounded by tons and tons of notes. She was fairly certain that they were studying for history of magic, since everyone had been hounded by Snape far more than they wanted.

"How's it going?" she asked.

"Horrible," Lavender almost wailed. "I can't remember a single one of these dates."

"It will be fine," Hermione assured here. "A lot of the guys are studying downstairs. They've got a copy of my notes if you want help."

"You're a lifesaver," Pavarti said.

They headed downstairs, leaving the dorm empty and quiet. Hermione smirked a little, knowing just how well she was going to do based on how coveted her notes were.

She sat down on her bed, thinking about how glad she was that tests were almost over. She was about to write Viktor when Ginny Weasley came into her room.

"Hermione?"

"Yes," Hermione said.

Ginny and Hermione had talked. They were usually the only girls when Hermione was around the Weasleys. It was nice to have someone else to talk to about things that weren't sports and such. But they weren't great friends. More friends of convenience.

"I was wondering, maybe, could you help me with some of my transfiguration review?" Ginny asked.

Hermione smiled. She liked being needed.

"I'll be along in a minute."

I'll write you in about an hour, she wrote. I keep getting asked to help with homework.

That sounds like you, Viktor responded.

With a gleeful feeling in her chest, Hermione went down a level to the fourth year girl's dorm.

A/N: I know that Viktor hasn't really been in the last couple of chapters. I'm working on that. After all, they are going to be attacking the ministry soon. Mostly because, even with some help at concealing his thoughts, Harry has a bad habit of not being good at it while he's tired. And the late night studying isn't going to help him any.