Born to Rule: The Story of the Slytherin Princess (paused)

Chapter 40

"Life is like a chess game, you 

don't want to waste a move."

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The air of anticipation and anxiety was palpable as the students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry braced themselves for the dreaded exam season. It was a time of year that left even the most studious among them trembling with fear. The exam schedule, upon reading, was enough to make their stomachs churn with unease.

For Clarissa, the first exam on the list was Divination. This practical assessment required the use of a crystal ball, a tool used to peer into the future. As she gazed into the glass orb, her eyes strained to make out the blurry figure within. Despite her best efforts, it remained shrouded in mist and shadow, obscuring its identity both physically and spiritually. It was a frustratingly ambiguous sight, leaving her with a sense of unease as she wondered what it could mean for her future and everyone else's. Clarissa knew that her path was about to take a mysterious turn, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for it.

As she sat in her dorm room, Clarissa pondered on how her future would affect her loved ones, including Draco. She was prepared for anything that came her way, having been raised to be resilient and adaptable since she was young. But she also knew that Draco's family was afraid of the impending events, which was one of the reasons why her parents had referred to them as cowards. They talked about blood purity, but never had the courage to take any action towards it. Despite the connections and love that she shared with Draco, Clarissa couldn't help but feel that his family's fear might become a problem for them in the future.

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Since the day of her divination exam, Clarissa had been on high alert, acutely aware of every movement she made and every decision she took. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something bad was lurking around the corner, waiting to pounce on her. Despite her apprehension, her studies continued as usual, and she was grateful that the exams had not been cancelled, as they had been the previous year. All the time and effort that she had put into her studies would have been for nothing if that had been the case.

Her next exam was for 'defense against the dark arts,' a class taught by Professor Lupin. It was no ordinary exam, however. The students were required to navigate their way through a series of obstacles, each one designed to test their courage, their wits, and their magical abilities. First, they had to step across a deep paddling pool filled with a vicious grindylow, a nasty creature with long fingers and sharp teeth that could easily drag an unwary student under the water. Then, they had to cross a treacherous path, full of potholes infested with Red Caps, malevolent goblin-like creatures that would attack anyone who came too close. The students squelched their way through a patch of marsh, trying to ignore the misleading directions given by a mischievous hinkypunk, a ghost-like creature that carried a lantern and delighted in leading people astray. Finally, they had to climb into an old trunk and face their deepest fears, as a new boggart emerged to challenge them.

As the boggart emerged from the trunk, the students watched in anticipation, wondering what form it would take for each of them. Clarissa felt a knot in her stomach as the creature approached her, knowing that it would transform into the figure she had seen in her divination lesson. And just as she had predicted, the boggart transformed into a shadowy, menacing figure that sent chills down her spine.

But Clarissa was not one to show her fears to others. With a deep breath, she shouted, "Riddikulus!" The boggart began to shift and change, morphing into a ridiculous, comical version of the figure that had haunted her dreams. A wave of relief washed over her, and she couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of it all.