Artemis Hexley and the Return to the Riddles

Chapter 15: The First Test

The Easter holidays were almost over, but whilst the majority of the students had been enjoying the break, the final years had all been hard at work, using the extra free time to study for their N.E.W.T.s. With the extra preparations that they were making ready to return to the Cursed Vaults, the members of Circle of Khanna had been working harder than anyone.

Diego had been helping Ben, Jae, Andre, and Merula practise duelling and fire-making spells every morning and evening on the training grounds; and Tulip, Tonks, and Ismelda had been practising the Boggart-Banishing spell until they were blue in the face. Meanwhile, Charlie and Talbott had been poring over the map of the Forbidden Forest, whilst Barnaby and Liz got to grips with the spider-repelling charm and Chiara made notes on everything she could during her shifts in the Hospital Wing. Badeea had spent hours studying the portrait that Bea Haywood had been trapped inside for the majority of her first year at school, and Penny had been finding ways to help everyone, from brewing fire-protection potions to researching antivenom and handing out sweets when she thought someone was in need of something to perk them up.

Artemis also found herself trying her hardest to multitask. Being the somewhat-reluctant leader of the group, and the only member who had actually been to every single one of the Cursed Vaults during her time at Hogwarts, she would be returning to all of them. That meant she had no choice but to prepare herself for everything, as well as finding the time to revise for her exams.

At least one exam would soon be over and done with, and that was her Apparition test. The exam was to take place in mid-April, at the end of the twelve-week course and on the final day of the Easter break.

"You'll be alright," said Tonks, as Artemis rose up from the lunch table, ready to leave for the exam. "Just don't do what Charlie did. Oh, and try not to splinch yourself."

"Great," Artemis said. Tonks shrugged and returned to the list of possible distractions she and Tulip were considering to use on Madam Pince. Tulip looked up from the list, an earnest expression on her face.

"And just remember, the final 'D' stands for deliberation, not defecation," she said knowledgeably.

"Who did that in their Apparation exam?"

"No one, as far as I'm aware. But you really don't want to be the first person to make that mistake."

Artemis laughed as she walked away from a smirking Tulip and cackling Tonks, and stepped out into the entrance hall of the castle, where the students who were taking the exam were gathered, all looking slightly nervous.

They were to be examined one at a time, with Wilkie Twycross calling out their names once it was their turn. Being one of the oldest to take the test, Artemis' was the second name called, with only Corey Hayden taking a turn before her. She followed Wilkie out to the courtyard outside - where she was informed that the anti-Disapparition charms had been lifted for the purpose of the exam - and dutifully listed the three Ds of Apparition and Disapparition, before he gave her a piece of paper with her destination written on it:

Hogsmeade Train Station, Platform One.

"Are you familiar with this location?" asked Wilkie Twycross, already sounding as if he were bored of the afternoon's proceedings. Artemis nodded her head. "Good. Remember, any splinching - however minor - will cause you to fail. Off you go."

Artemis took a deep breath. Not splinching herself meant focusing hard on not just her destination, but the act of Apparating itself. She thought about her destination, determinedly putting her memories of Rowan aside as she pictured in her mind's eye the station platform with its clock on the wall that always read ten past ten, turned deliberately on the spot, vanishing herself and re-conjuring herself to find herself...