passing paradise │oliver wood

chapter 21

Chapter 21

Everything was a mess. In both worlds. The petrification of students, the bombing by Lurkers. And I had to deal with my O.W.L.s as well. As March turned to June, more rules were applied. At least keeping me in the common room meant more time for preparing for the O.W.L.s. Oliver, though, was not happy that quidditch practices were more constrained. He'd curse the worlds during morning, plan troubles during dinner, all for quidditch while I tried to listen and think.

In the 2nd week of June, the air was darker than I last remembered. Maybe because of the mysterious attacks on a category of students but the Year 5's O.W.L.s as well. The first week of the test was as dreadful as I anticipated. Each day of the week, we had two tests for one subject. One in the morning, being written while one in the afternoon, being the practical. I shouldn't even care about this test, I know, since I wasn't going to ever become a magical worker in the long run but I still wanted to prove to myself that I can do this – that I'm a witch.

Therefore, by the end of the first week, after my Ancient Runes written and practical, I had crashed on the black leather couches of the Slytherin common room. It had never felt this good as I last imagined. So soft and warm. The common room spilled with other Year students after their classes, some Year 6's and 7's gave us, Year 5's, sympathetic looks while the younger ones looked at us anxiously.

Through the weekend, I spent it with my friends, all studying for the rest of the subjects. It was only during meals Oliver and I had time together. He didn't seem to mind, or care, because all his mouth blabbered was about quidditch, again, and how much he misses it. I didn't have the energy to shut him up so I let him be himself.

The second week wasn't different from the first. Potions was crucial as Snape had high expectations from his own students. I almost slipped the wrong liquid when I hadn't been paying attention. The night before the last test, History of Magic, my mind was in shambles, my hair was up in a tie, and my bed was full of notes. Throughout the years, my handwriting had become like Professor Binns' voice, lousy. By 2 am, Zara was already asleep in the sea of her's and some of I's notes, and I was getting sleepy too. I was about to crash not until a piece of parchment slipped from the pocket full of notes binder. I comfortably got on my bed and read the note in a handwriting I recognise well.

You got this, sweetheart. I know you do. – oliver wood

I smiled, reading it again. It has been six months since the Dawn Dance, since our first kiss, since us. I still remembered the open quidditch field, the brightly lit sun, and the rustling of the banners hanging around. I dreamt about our dancing feet and careful holds and had the highest of spirits entering the Great Hall for the last test.

Year 5's had their O.W.L.s earlier than most handled tests for the other years. While I was busy with studying for my test, Oliver had also decided to study in a way that would make him pass. At the last week of the school, Hogwarts was in more trouble than I expected. I knew that Hogwarts was dealing with grave danger but I expected Dumbledore had already solved it being one of the greatest wizards.

3 days before the 24th of June, the Great Hall was packed with most of the students. The dinner was ordinary as it can be; though a dark warmth was looming over everyone. Oliver from the Gryffindor table caught my eye and mouthed if I was alright. I nodded, forcing a small smile, drowning the anxious thoughts of the petrification and the galaxy rips. I hadn't been back for the last month, so I had no updates about the Crux if it had any more value to the mission.

By the front of the table, Draco Malfoy was snickering with his friends. Words like 'heir' and 'mudblood' was all I needed to hear to be able to understand what they were talking about. I rolled my eyes and focused on my lamb chops.