Kassandra Bauer and the Philosopher's Stone (Book 1)

Chapter 12: Through the Trap Door and to the Treasure.

This was it. June had come. And Final Exams were right around the corner. I couldn't wait to go back home and tell my family about all that had happened. But at the same time, the House Cup had become secondary. I was more focused on the Stone. And Final Exams. Hermione had been tutoring me day and night. And I seriously needed it. I still had trouble truly understanding notes. But Hermione guided me through it. 

And the exams were also different as well. There were the written tests, and we all had to use special quills with an Anti Cheating Charm. At least give us a fighting chance. But I didn't mind the heat. It reminded me of Greece.

There were also practical exams. Like the ones in Charms Class, where Professor Flitwick called us in one by one, and see if we could make a Pineapple tap dance. I made it Tap Dance. When Ryan went in though. I could swear I heard some singing as well. "Hello my Baby! Hello my Honey! Hello my Ragtime Gal! Send me a kiss by wire. Baby my heart's on fire! If you refuse me, honey you'll lose me, then you'll be left alone, oh, baby, telephone, and tell me I'm your own!" 

"Well... it did Tap Dance." Flitwick said.

In Transfiguration, McGonagall watched us turn a mouse into a Snuffbox. Points were given for how pretty the snuffbox was. But would be taken away if they had whiskers. McGonagall could tell I was shaking nervously as I was ready. "Take a deep breath, Miss. Bauer. Concentrate." She told me. I turned it into a snuffbox. No Whiskers. And it was somewhat pretty, I think.

Potions was a nightmare though. That was torture. And Snape was breathing down our necks while we tried to remember how to make a forgetfulness potion. Ryan was a little hesitant. But he had this process of mumbling the potion ingredients to himself and the order they went in. Snape usually hates mumbling. But it seemed he made an exception for Ryan. I probably screwed it up though. I just know it.

And History of Magic was just a written test. And an hour of answering questions. Just one more hour and we would be free. When the ghost of Binns told us to put our Quills down and roll up our parchments. I couldn't help but cheer. 

Harry, Ron, and Hermione and I were all walking in the Courtyard. Happy that it was all over. "You know, I've always heard that Hogwarts Final Exams were frightful, but I found it quite enjoyable." Hermione commented. 

"I'm just glad it's over." I said. Now I could enjoy myself. For real this time.

"Speak for yourselves." Ron said. His stomach looked like it was in knots.

Harry was touching his scar. "You alright, Harry?" I asked. 

"My scar. It keeps burning." Harry answered.

"You think it might be because we just came out of the exams?" I asked.

"No. It's been doing that ever since we encountered that person in the Forest." Harry told me. "I think it's a warning." 

"You mean about Snape?" I asked. 

We go over to Hagrid. He's out by his Hut of course. And he's playing his flute. "Why are we going to Hagrid's again?" 

"Don't you think it's a bit odd that Hagrid wanted more than anything but a Dragon, and a stranger just turned up and happened to have one?" Harry was on a role. And he was not stopping.

"Oh you can have a bunch of random things that go off the scale happen. Just look at what happened to Barnaby Lee. That's what Ethan always said." I replied.

But Harry still walked over to Hagrid. "Hagrid? Who gave you the egg? What did he look like?" Harry asked. 

Hagrid stopped playing and thought about it for a second. "I don't know. Never saw his face. And he kept his hood up." Oh great. Stranger Danger.