Part - Vampire at Hogwarts

Third Year Exams

Riana's POV

The euphoria of Gryffindor finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating. As June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry. All any of us felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice. Perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones in one of the courtyards or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.

But we could not. Exams were nearly upon us, and instead of lazing around outside. We were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully our brains into concentrating. While enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows.

Even Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working; they were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings. In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than Percy was Hermione.

Though I myself could study longer as I need less sleep then the others. So things were a little easier. Also helped that I have a photographic memory. Anyway Harry and Ron had given up asking Hermione and I how we were managing to attend several classes at once.

Anyway the exam time table has come out and we had copied down all our times for our exams. I notice Ron examining Hermione's and Harry looking at mine. "Hermione. Er -- are you sure you've copied down these times right?" Ron asks her.

"What?" she snaps as she looks at it. "Yes, of course I have" she states.

"Is there any point asking how you both are going to sit for two exams at once?" Harry asks us.

"Nope, it's a secret between us girls" I tell him.

"Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?" Hermione asks the boys. They shake their heads and go back to their studying. She looks at me and I shake my head.

(Time Skip)

It's the afternoon and we had our potions exam. We had to make a confusing concoction. Snape standing over us taking notes. I believe I passed, but you never know with Snape. Then we had our astronomy exam at midnight in the astronomy tower. Which I know I passed as I enjoy astronomy. I plan on continuing it after my OWL year, even though it won't contribute to my future career.

On Wednesday we had our History of Magic exam in the morning. Then Herebology in the afternoon. Which was spent in the greenhouses under a baking-hot sun. I got badly burnt even though I tried to stay in the shade. I was given a special healing slave and potion to put on my burns. To help them heal quicker. I then went back to the common room to rest up for the next day of exams.

My second to last exam, was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken. A sort of obstacle course outside in the sun; where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart. I was glad no one could see my boggart and that I defeated it easily.

"Very well done Riana, full marks" Professor Lupin tells me.

"Thank you professor, it was quite enjoyable" I tell him. I join Harry as we waited for Ron and Hermione to finish their turns on the obstacle course. Ron did very well until he reached the Hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist-high into the quagmire. Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the Boggart in it. After about a minute inside it, she burst out again, screaming.

"Hermione! What's the matter?" Lupin asks her concerned as I rush over to hug my best friend.

"P-P-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasps pointing at the trunk. "Sh-she said I'd failed everything!" she cries. I hug her tight.

"Oh Hermione, it was just a stupid Boggart" I tell her calmly. It took a little while to calm Hermione down. When she finally did. We joined the other two and started to head back to the castle. Waving goodbye to Lupin. So that we can have lunch. Before the boys can go to their Divination exam and we can go to Muggle Studies exam.

When we reach the entrance we find the Minster of Magic looking out at the grounds. "Hello there, Harry!" he says happily. Ignoring the rest of us. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?" he asks.

"Yes" Harry says.

"Lovely day" he says looking out at the like. "Pity" he mumbles. He sighed deeply and looked down at Harry. "I'm here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad Hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in" he explains.

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron asks him.

"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon" Fudge states.

"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all" I tell him.

"She's right, the Hippogriff might get off" Ron adds. Before Fudge could answer, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin back mustache. They must be the reprenstives from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures.

"Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this....Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?" the ancient one asks. The black-mustached man was fingering something in his belt. I looked to see that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head toward the entrance hall. We go inside.

"Why'd you stop me?" Ron asks Hermione angrily. "Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!" he whisper yells.

"Ron, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss" I remind him.

"Besides as long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak" Hermione adds. All around us, people were talking excitedly as they ate their lunch. Happily anticipating the end of the exams this afternoon. But we were all worried about Hagrid and Buckbeak. We hardly ate and went to our final exams.

"Good luck" I tell Hermione.

"You too" she says and we take our appointed seats. The exam begins. After the theoretical part. Our professor called us in individual to show him how we believe a rotary phone is used. We then returned to Gryffindor tower and were meet by Ron. A tear stained note arrived from Hagrid. Saying Buckbeak had lost the appeal and will be executed at sunset. Not to go down and see him. We showed Harry when he returned. We decide to go see Hagrid anyway.