Glory |A. Potter|

Forty-Two

"Why did you insist on playing chess with me?" Albus groaned as yet another black pawn of his was destroyed by Scorpius's bishop. "It's my birthday, is this how you want to end the day? With demolishing me?"

Ramona and Jane looked over at them, the first with a giggle, the latter with a small smile as Scorpius reached forward to pat Albus's shoulder. "You were the one who suggested we played."

"I thought you would let me win!"

"When has that ever happened?"

It was Albus's birthday, two days before the exams started, their last weekend of the year before exams, and the company of four had decided on spending some time together and staying up late as a form of celebration. Most of their classmates had retreated to their dormitories by now and so they had the common room to themselves. This, Jane thought, was the best time to be in the common room.

"Aren't you happy you are in our presence, Albus?" Ramona teased, and he let out a small sigh as yet another pawn of his was defeated. She smiled at his response as she turned to Jane. "And we finish our exams on the sixteenth of June, on Jane's birthday, so we can celebrate properly then too!"

"Good to know you don't see this as a proper celebration," Albus scowled, "because I'm not having fun at the moment."

"That's because you are a sore loser," Scorpius teased, casting his attack before he turned to Ramona. "What are we going to do about my birthday? It's in the middle of the exams."

"That sounds like your problem," she sassed, ignoring Scorpius's huff of disbelief. "Besides, who told you guys to be born at around the same time? There's a certain amount of birthdays we can celebrate."

"I'll be sure to tell you that next year on your birthday," Scorpius sent her a light glare, "that's what I get for being friends with you. Ungrateful, that's what you are."

"Pissy."

Scorpius gasped. Jane chuckled, her eyes fond as she looked over at him. "We'll do something for your birthday, Scorpius. Don't worry."

"I knew I could depend on you, Jane, darling," he flashed her a smile. "Now, be a dear and go help Albus play or else he's going to lose this game as well."

"Kids these days have no respect," Albus huffed as Jane stood up and moved over. He scooted to the side, letting her sit down beside him on the couch. They kept playing.

They retreated to their own rooms shortly after, tired from the day as they were, with Albus losing yet another game of chess despite Jane's belated guidance. And so the days passed until their exams and they started giving subject after subject, losing track of time in the process. There wasn't much time to talk and Jane was partly relieved for that – she had yet to tell her friends the reason for her earlier absence.

On Scorpius's birthday in the start of June, they spent an afternoon in the other's company, taking some time off from studying even though their exams were still taking up most of their time. They still managed to have fun, even though there weren't presents involved. They retreated early and so their routine kept on. Until, finally, it was the end of the exams.

Jane's last exam was Care for Magical Creatures. She sat close to the front of the class due to her surname, Albus a few ways behind her, and the two of them didn't have any sort of conversation throughout the exam. Both of them were focused on passing with a grade as good as it possibly could be. They only interacted with each other again when they were asked to let go of their quils and the examination was over.

Jane turned around, seeking Albus with her eyes. She noticed him soon enough, already looking her way. A smile spread on her lips at once and Albus returned it, before she had to turn back to her front in time to hand over her paper. She gathered her things and left the classroom. Albus was quick to leave after her, his movements hurried. He caught sight of her leaning against the wall, curly hair hiding part of her face, but he could recognise her almost anywhere. He came over.