No Goodbyes \ Ron Weasley

Exams, Executions, Rats, and Sirius Black

That night, Josephine and Ron sat in a secluded corner of the library, reviewing Charm's practicalities. They took turns with the flashcards Josephine had made.

"I don't understand how all this information is in your head," Ron groaned, roughly rubbing his eyes. "I'm going to fail."

"Shut up, you're not going to fail," she scolded. "I did not subject myself to Hermione's wrath for you to fail."

They'd gone through at least fifty terms when Ron demanded they take a break.

"Did you really bring your Chess set to the library?" she laughed, and the boy nodded and began setting it up.

"You only pick this game because I'm awful at it," she whined as he checkmated her.

"That's what makes it so fun," Ron laughed, and then he leaned forward, his thumb grazing her forehead. "It's almost healed...why didn't you let Madam Pomfrey heal it?"

"Because I had fear of missing out on the celebrations," she muttered shamefully.

"You?" he said, stunned, and she nodded. "We would've waited for you," he said after a moment. "Or I would've."

"Thank you," she laughed a little. "But it's fine. It won't scar or anything anyways."

Experiencing a Quidditch Cup victory only happened once for most. She didn't dare to miss the festivities after. She had a raging fear of missing out on anything Quidditch involved.

"I've been meaning to apologize about before-"

"Ron, you don't need to; it's been like a month since then-"

"No, I need to," he said firmly, shaking his head. He was ashamed of himself and his actions. "I was rude to you, and I don't want us to be in a situation where we're ignoring or avoiding each other. You're the last person I want to ignore, Josie."

"I don't like that either," she said quietly. "So, the next time you feel like acting like an arse, let's talk it out first. Does that sound good?"

"Sounds great," Ron nodded.

They spent the rest of the night alternating who quizzed who and playing rounds of Chess, so they weren't mentally exhausted. On the bright side, it also made it feel less like studying, which was more for Ron's benefit.

Exam week began, and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third-years emerged from Transfiguration at lunchtime on Monday, limp and ashen-faced, comparing results and bemoaning the difficulty of the task they had been set, which had included turning a teapot into a tortoise.

Josephine found wandless magic in Transfiguration much easier than in other classes, which Professor McGonagall commented on in a proud tone. She at least knew she passed that exam.

Hermione irritated the rest by fussing about how her tortoise had looked more like a turtle, which was the very least of everyone else's worries.

Josephine didn't bother mentioning how she'd done. She could read the room.

"Mine still had a sprout for a tail; what a nightmare...."

"Were the tortoises supposed to breathe steam?" Her eyes widened at that comment.

Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Hermione had been right; Professor Flitwick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms. They did as they practiced the days prior. Hermione worked with Harry and Josephine with Ron. They both successfully accomplished the spell, making Flitwick proud—one more exam, down for the count.

After dinner, the students hurried back to their rooms, not to relax but to start studying for Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Astronomy.

Hagrid presided over the Care of Magical Creatures exam the following morning with a very preoccupied air indeed; his heart didn't seem to be in it all. He had provided a large tub of fresh flobberworm for the class and told them that to pass the test, their flobberworm had to still be alive at the end of one hour. As flobberworm flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam any of them had ever taken and also gave Harry, Ron, Josephine, and Hermione plenty of opportunity to speak with Hagrid.