stardust ⋮ george weasley

eighteen :

E I G H T E EN

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O.W.L.s had snuck up on the Hogwarts fifth years much faster than anyone had anticipated – even Estelle, who had every single one of her assignments and tests meticulously planned out in a homework planner that screamed deadlines at her every time she opened it. Adeline's normally quiet, peaceful trips to the library were now often disturbed by fellow fifth years, all attempting to study for the exams that would decide their career paths.

All around Adeline, the fifth years seemed to be succumbing to the stress of the O.W.L.S. Estelle had shockingly been the first to break in their group. After one too many failed attempts at the Vanishing Spell in Transfiguration class, Estelle had burst into tears, claiming that she was so incredibly stupid that she should just drop out of Hogwarts now – despite not having below an "E" in any of her classes. When Professor McGonagall asked someone to take her to the hospital wing for a Calming Draught, Adeline volunteered immediately despite not having entirely mastered the spell herself yet.

The two ended up spending most of their night in the Ravenclaw common room, attempting the Vanishing Spell as many times as their exhausted brains could take. Adeline listened as Estelle let out her fears of not living up to Madeline, the older sister who seemed to be "perfect in every way imaginable." Estelle was also terrified that people would expect so much more from her given her father's high-ranking position in the Ministry, and she had no idea how she could live up to those standards. After Estelle had poured out all the insecurities and tears left in her, Adeline pulled her into a tight hug and the two didn't say anything for a long time.

But really, not a word needed to be said. Adeline had managed to say everything Estelle needed to hear with just a simple action.

Melanie had been the next to crack. She had been under the normal amount of stress and was doing comparatively well until she received a letter from her parents, demanding that she get more O.W.L.S. than just the "frivolous" subjects that Melanie was so passionate about – Herbology, Divination, and Astronomy. Estelle thankfully happened to notice Melanie's tears from across the Great Hall, and had managed to convince Fred to give her the location of the Hogwarts kitchen before whisking Melanie, Ophelia, and Adeline away from breakfast. The four girls ended up spending most of the morning in there, drinking endless amounts of pumpkin juice and making fruit tarts, Melanie's favorite dessert.

Ophelia had been perfectly normal, even teasing her friends for spending as much time as they did in the library. That was until Professor McGonagall informed her in her career advice meeting that Ophelia needed more than just an O.W.L. in Care of Magical Creatures to become a dragon trainer. Ophelia had spent most of the afternoon at the Quidditch Pitch after, flying alone and trying to clear her head before joining her three friends in the library that evening.

The only one in their small group who hadn't broken down yet was Adeline. Not publicly, at least. A part of her thought it was pointless for her to be studying as much as she was. Despite being recommended to score well on her O.W.L.S. in all the core subjects, Professor Flitwick had told her the only O.W.L. she really needed to do well on was her Charms one.

But Professor Flitwick's advice had done little to comfort Adeline. Not when Adeline had grown up in an environment where perfection was the only thing expected of her. Her parents had a status to uphold, and they'd be damned if one of their daughters ruined it for them. Emily and Adeline were the picture perfect images of what they expected of their daughters. Their shoes were perfectly shiny, they spoke only when spoken to, they took ballet and voice lessons, and they always matched their pretty hair ribbons with their expensive dresses. Sure, odd things would often occur around Adeline that many wouldn't understand. But they were somehow always explained away, and Adeline would always try to push it to the back of her mind.