Potions was the subject of the morning. Hermione felt very confident. Everyone was somewhat confident of their ability to pass. Since Professor Snape had started teaching, there hadn't been a single student to fail their O.W.L.s.
By the end of it, everyone was exhausted. They were happy it was over, but that was probably about all of it. And there were certain individuals, Neville among them, who were so glad that they didn't have to take potions at a higher level.
They were at lunch, eating, before the history of magic exam that afternoon. Hermione was almost ecstatic to be done, but they did have to get through the last test. And while she was comfortable in her level of preparedness, she wasn't looking forward to the actual exam. It was sure to be just as dull as Binns droning on in class.
"No more potions," Neville sighed happily.
"For you perhaps," Hermione said. "I'm planning on taking N.E.W.T level potions."
"You and Harry," Padma said.
Hermione knew Harry was still set on being an auror. For reasons that she didn't entirely understand. But she also knew that Professor Snape only took students who had outstanding scores on their O.W.L.s. And for all his studying, that wasn't Harry's strong suit.
"Why aren't you?" she asked Padma. "I'm sure you have the grades for it."
Padma shrugged. "I know I do. But that doesn't mean that I want to study it. I'm much more interested in arithmancy and ancient runes. Less interested in possible explosions."
"You can do those and potions," Hermione insisted.
"Hermione, I love you, but not all of us are geniuses. And some of us want to have a semblance of a social life."
"Thank you," Ron said.
"Please swallow before you talk," Hermione mumbled.
Ron looked at Hermione. For a split second it almost looked like he was going to chew with his mouth open just to spite her. But he thought better of it, and settled for glaring for a few seconds.
They finished eating, and headed to the classroom that had been set up for the exam. Desks were in rows, ready with parchment and quills. It was the standard practice for all ministry proctored exams. Less room for cheating, or so they said.
Hermione was calm and collected, as best she could be while writing furiously, throughout the exam. She finished with about fifteen minutes to spare, and used those to go over her essay. She probably didn't need to, but she wanted to be sure she had done her best.
They were done, and tests were being collected, when Harry screamed and fell to the floor. Hermione turned, shoved her test into the proctor's hands, and rushed over to his side.
"Harry?"
Harry continued to scream until Hermione smacked him. It seemed as though he was waking up from a nightmare.
"What's wrong?" she tried again. He was a little more coherent.
"He's got him. He's got Padfoot," Harry mumbled.
"Whoa," Hermione said. "Slow down. It's just a dream."
By that point people were filtering out of the room. The proctors had collected all the exams. And just Harry, Ron, Neville and Hermione were left. Padma had been herded out by some of her fellow Ravenclaws. Hermione suspected she was waiting just outside the door.
"You don't understand, it was just like the dream about the snake. I was there. It was me. And He wants something. Something apparently he can't get by himself," Harry said.
"This sounds like we should check on someone," Neville said.
"Good idea," Ron whispered.
"Neville's right. If we go barging into the ministry, something might not even be going on. And then what would we do?" Hermione argued.
"Seriously mate," Ron said, "when did you become the voice of reason?"
Neville just shrugged. He wasn't sure that he was the voice of reason. He just thought Harry was missing the obvious.
"Well then, who do we talk to?" Harry asked.
"The obvious choice would be Dumbledore," Ron said.
"McGonagall might be less conspicuous," Hermione offered.
"And Snape would probably be able to do something if we can't find the other two," Neville added.
The three looked at him like he had grown an extra head.
"I just mean he's a member of the Order too. He'll be able to get in contact with the others."
"Point taken," Hermione said.
"Even if he is a greasy git," Ron hissed.
Hermione found that she couldn't argue with that. Even if she thought that as a teacher, Snape deserved some modicum of respect, he wasn't the nicest person to be around. And he seemed to have a fondness for being unpleasant.
"I think we should try to get in contact with Padfoot first," Hermione said. "Do you still have the mirror he gave you?"
"Hermione, you're a genius. I was just thinking to use the floo," Harry said.
"I think the ministry's been watching the floos," Ron said. "The mirror would be safer."
They made their way up to Gryffindor tower, Hermione sitting down while the boys grabbed the mirror from their dorm. She was nervous, not knowing what the best course of action would be. And it could be anything.
They came down, and Harry pulled the velvet covering from the mirror. "Sirius? You there?" he asked the dark mirror.
There was a bit of movement, and the mirror lit up as it was obviously picked up.
"What's wrong? I was just about to have a bubble bath," Sirius said.
"You're alright," Harry sighed.
"Of course I'm alright. What's going on?"
"Harry had another vision thing," Ron said.
"You were in it," Neville added.
"I'd say talk to Dumbledore," Sirius said. "Something's going on, and you're in the middle of it."
"Thanks Sirius."
Harry was half relieved, and half fed up. He wasn't even sure how he was supposed to be feeling. He was just sure that he wasn't happy. And he was certainly less than thrilled to be stuck in the middle of everyone's plans.
"Weren't you practicing occlumency?" Neville asked.
Harry nodded. "I think Dumbledore was worried about something like this. But I kind of fell asleep in history of magic, and didn't mean to. Guess my defenses were wide open."
"Explains why Sirius was in your brain. You-know-who must know how to get you to go rushing off on some sort of rescue mission," Ron said.
"I guess we should probably go see Dumbledore," Hermione said.
"Probably," Harry said.
They all walked towards the headmaster's office. And it was strange, since none of them had really gone there of their own volition before. If they could even say that about the current situation. But once they reached the gargoyle, they were all a tad stumped.
"Anyone know the password?" Ron asked.
"Never been to the headmaster's office," Neville said.
"Dumbledore changes them often," Harry said. "I guess he gets a lot of visitors."
"I do," Dumbledore said from behind them. "And you never know when students are going to need to see me."
"Sir, Harry's been having more weird dreams," Ron blurted out.
"Well then, I think we had best continue this in my office," the headmaster said.