Vivicendium ➝ Sirius Black/OC

Dum vivimus, vivamus

Chapter Sixty | Dum vivimus, vivamus

[While we live, let us live]

The last week of school before exams passes with surprising ease. There is a noticeable increase in attention paid towards Vivian from the other houses, but it is overshadowed by the exams that are suddenly upon them. Fifth and seventh years spend the days leading up to them in a state of study-induced panic. They can be found in the library going over their study schedules before breakfast; and at mealtimes, their lips silently reciting the Five Laws of Human Transfiguration while they make their tea; and in the common room with textbooks stacked all around them, fervently copying notes and hoping that by doing so, they will be impressed upon the mind.

With two weeks set aside just to sit the exams, the schedule is hectic, to say the least. McGonagall explains it to them during class one day, but since they've already done this before two years ago when they had sat for OWLs, there isn't much to instill upon them. Each Head of House is responsible for passing out their students' exam schedules. Vivian gets hers during breakfast some days after.

She is pleased to see that her first exam is Ancient Runes, her favorite subject. Sitting for the written exam will be easy enough, and she knows from experience (having started taking Ancient Runes in fifth year) that the practical exam will be a breeze. She's confident in her understanding of the subject and isn't overly concerned. It's Transfiguration that she's a bit worried about, having never quite mastered the subject as some of her classmates have. There's just something about turning mice into teacups that baffles her; she's never understood the point of it all. She'd scraped by with a passable Transfiguration OWL back in fifth year, but she'll want to get more studying in before she sits for her NEWT exam.

Gavin makes for a wonderful studying partner. Somehow, he manages to draw up a study schedule for them both after he takes a look at the order of her exams. They share many of the same classes, so they spend evenings together in the library, passing textbooks back and forth as they quiz each other in quiet undertones.

"The wand movement for the tracking charm," Vivian whispers to him.

"A quick jab followed by a diagonal swish," Gavin hurriedly responds, gesticulating with his hand. He glances down at the textbook in his lap and murmurs, "The ingredients of Veritaserum."

"Powdered moonstone, adders fork, jobberknoll feathers..."

And so it goes. By the end of the first week of nonstop studying, Vivian can't wait for exams to be over, and they haven't even begun yet. Gavin is an efficient taskmaster, if not a bit overzealous.

"Are you still planning on applying to that school in Norway?" Vivian asks him one afternoon as they are setting up their things at their usual table. The library is filled with quietly murmuring voices as other students bunker down to study.

"Yes, I'm hoping to send my application off soon," he responds. He checks their study schedule for the tenth time since sitting down, as if he wants to double-check that nothing has changed in the handful of seconds since he'd last looked. "Of course, it all depends on my NEWT results, but Professor Flitwick seems confident that I'll get in."

"I think you're crazy for even bothering," she tells him fondly, but doesn't really mean it.

Gavin sniffs, "It's completely normal for muggles to further their education after they finish secondary school. I personally think it ought to be more standardized in the wizarding world." Then, eyes gleaming excitedly, he adds, "Plus, they've got a world renown Arithmancy and Ancient Runes department, what with the Viking history and all."