The Speaker and His Wraiths

Brave Enough

Chapter 52

Sunday
"I know it's the weekend and all, but I feel like I can't relax in the slightest." Millicent sighed, "I'm too keyed up for the last few exams."

"It doesn't help that this week is going to be much more stressful than last week." Hermione put in, and the group seemed to collectively groan at the thought.

"Yeah, next week is heavy." Daphne complained, "Anyone else dreading Potions tomorrow?"

"Is it true that the exam will last all day?" Harry asked, both curious and resigned.

"Yep." Daphne grimaced, "The written exam is breakfast to lunch, and then the practical goes until dinner."

"That's ridiculous." Ron muttered, "What in the world could they assign that'd take us that long? I mean, for an exam? Really?"

"No idea." Harry shook his head a bit uselessly, "I'm just glad Snape's let up a little, I actually got a fair few Potion grades recently that weren't totally abysmal."

"A whole bunch of us have been wondering what's changed with Professor Snape the past while actually, and we've been making guesses as to what might've happened." Daphne said with an excited grin, "I personally like the theory that he's got himself a girlfriend, and he's been splitting his attention between us and her."

"Daphne!" Millicent scolded, "That's none of our business." She paused, then added, "Besides, it's far more likely he's quitting and that decision has been distracting him."

"Nah, he can't quit, Dumbledore's got something on him." Ron disagreed, and Daphne shrugged.

"Well, Draco thinks he's hitting a midlife crisis or something." She said.

"I don't don't really care why, as long as he isn't bullying Harry or Neville or anyone anymore." Hermione said, "Besides, it's not really relevant for our O.W.L.s; all our exams will be supervised by Ministry officials, not Hogwarts Professors."

"That's so not the point." Daphne sighed, "The point is making fun of Professor Snape."

"Then by all means, guess away." Hermione raised an eyebrow, "I'll just be on my own then, worrying about the next week of exams."

"Aside from Potions, it shouldn't be that bad." Ron frowned, "What else is there?"

"Care is on Tuesday, and I know Astronomy is Wednesday." Harry answered, thinking. "And History's on Thursday."

"Yeah but you forgot that Divination and Arithmancy are on Wednesday too." Daphne stressed, "The Astronomy written exam is right after breakfast, then Divination is in the afternoon and Arithmancy is just after dinner. Then, of course, the Astronomy practical is in the middle of the night when it's dark."

"Ouch." Millicent winced, "Aren't you taking all three?" Daphne nodded a bit miserably.

"Well, at least we'll all be done after Thursday." Hermione said, "None of us are taking Muggle Studies, right? That's the last exam, on Friday, but almost nobody takes that class."

"A few Ravenclaws I know are, and I think one or two Hufflepuffs." Daphne shrugged a little, "There are exceptions, but I think it's mostly just the people who wanna get all twelve O.W.L.s and're complete overachievers."

"I wanted all twelve, but I had to admit defeat." Hermione sighed, "I'm testing for ten O.W.L.s instead of twelve; I dropped out of Divination and Muggle Studies after trying them out in third year. The workload was a bit much."

"You must've been given a Time Turner." Daphne grinned, and Hermione simply blinked at her in surprise for a few moments before nodding.

"I was." Hermione confirmed, "How'd you know?"