WILDEST DREAM ➛ʜ.ᴘᴏᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴡɪɴ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ

019

The euphoria at finally winning the Quidditch cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling in to the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing casual game of Gob stones or watching giant squid. 

Madeline Potter sat in a corner of the Gryffindor common room, a fortress of books surrounding her. The vibrant buzz of students chattering and laughing nearby seemed like a distant echo as she immersed herself in a thick volume of "Magical Theory." Her dark hair fell in waves over her face, partially obscuring her brown eyes.

"Madeline, you've been at it for hours," Fred Weasley called from across the room, his playful tone unmistakable.

"Yeah, Maddie, take a break!" George chimed in, his grin as wide as ever.

She lifted her head, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "I can't, you two. Exams are in a week, and I need to be prepared. Besides, shouldn't you both be studying for your OWLs?"

Fred and George exchanged a look. "We've got it under control," Fred said, waving a hand dismissively.

"Speak for yourself," George muttered, rolling his eyes. "I'd better get back to it before Mum sends another Howler."

Madeline watched them retreat to a quieter corner of the common room, their usual jovial demeanor slightly subdued by the weight of upcoming exams. She sighed and returned to her book, her determination steeling her against distractions.

The next morning, Madeline was up early, heading straight for the library after breakfast. She found a familiar trio already there: Hermione Granger, her brother Harry, and Ron Weasley. Hermione's table was, as always, covered in meticulously organized notes and textbooks.

"Morning, Maddie," Hermione greeted, looking up from her parchment.

"Morning," Madeline replied, settling into a chair. "Ready for another round, Ron?"

Ron groaned, slumping in his seat. "Do we have to? My brain's going to explode."

"Yes, we do," Madeline said firmly, though a hint of amusement played at the corners of her mouth. "You need to get this stuff down, Ron. Now, what's the incantation for the Summoning Charm?"

"Accio," Ron replied quickly, looking hopeful.

"Good. And who was the founder of Hufflepuff?"

"Helga Hufflepuff," he answered, sounding more confident.

Madeline nodded approvingly. "Alright, now let's go over the Goblin Rebellions again."

Ron's face fell. "Not the Goblin Rebellions... Please, Maddie."

Hermione and Harry exchanged a glance, both stifling laughs. Madeline shot them a look but couldn't suppress a small smile herself. "Come on, Ron. Just once more. Who led the first rebellion in 1612?"

Ron scratched his head, his brow furrowing. "Er... Bodrog the Bearded?"

Madeline sighed, exasperated. "It was Urg the Unclean. We've been over this!"

Ron threw his hands up. "I'm trying, alright?"

Harry leaned in, grinning. "Maybe you need to be scarier, Maddie. He'll remember out of sheer terror."

"Oh, ha ha," Madeline replied, rolling her eyes. "I'm serious, Ron. You need to focus."

Ron gave a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Hermione snickered, unable to help herself. "You're doing fine, Ron. Just keep at it."

Madeline glared at Hermione. "You're not helping."

"Lighten up, Maddie," Harry said, patting her arm. "We'll get through it."

Madeline sighed, her expression softening. "I know, I know. It's just... I really want us all to do well."

Ron nodded, a more genuine determination in his eyes now. "I'll get it. Promise."

"Good," Madeline said, a small smile breaking through. "Alright, let's take a quick break. But just a quick one."

As they chatted and laughed, the tension in the group eased. For a moment, the pressure of exams lifted, replaced by the warmth of friendship and shared struggle. Madeline looked around at her friends, feeling a surge of affection and gratitude. They would get through this, together. And with that thought, she knew that all the hard work would be worth it in the end.

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Madeline was on the brink of pulling her hair out. The library, usually a sanctuary of calm and order, felt like a battlefield of crumpled notes and whispered frustrations. She glared at Ron Weasley, who looked utterly miserable and slightly terrified under her intense scrutiny.

"For the last time, Ron," she said, her voice low but laced with frustration, "who was the first Minister for Magic?"

Ron swallowed hard. "Er... Ulick Gamp?"

"No!" Madeline groaned, slamming her hand down on the table, making several heads turn in their direction. "It was Ethelred the Ever-Ready! How many times do I have to tell you?"

Ron flinched, shrinking back in his seat. "Sorry, Maddie. I'll get it next time, I swear."

Nearby, Fred and George Weasley were barely containing their laughter. "Poor Ron," Fred whispered loudly to George. "He's going to have nightmares about Ethelred the Ever-Ready."

"Imagine failing history because of a name like that," George added, snickering.

"Shut up, you two," Madeline snapped, turning her glare on the twins. "Shouldn't you be studying for your OWLs instead of mocking your brother?"

Fred and George exchanged a look, their amusement fading under Madeline's fierce gaze. "Right, studying," Fred muttered.

"On it," George added quickly.

They scurried away, leaving the others in the library trying not to laugh too loudly. Harry covered his mouth with his hand, his eyes twinkling with suppressed mirth. Hermione had her head down, her shoulders shaking as she tried to stifle her giggles.

Madeline sighed heavily, her anger dissipating as she saw the humor in the situation. "Alright, Ron, let's try this again. You'll get it eventually."

Ron nodded, a nervous smile appearing on his face. "Thanks, Maddie. I'll get it right this time."

As they resumed their studying, the library settled back into its usual quiet, punctuated only by the soft rustling of pages and the occasional whispered question. Madeline glanced over at Harry and Hermione, who were now fully focused on their own work, and felt a wave of gratitude. Despite the stress and frustration, she knew they were all in this together.

"Okay, Ron," she said, her tone gentler now, "let's move on to the Giant Wars. Who negotiated the treaty of 1876?"

Ron's eyes lit up with recognition. "It was... Griselda Marchbanks!"

Madeline smiled, relieved and proud. "Yes, that's right. Good job, Ron."

Ron beamed, the earlier tension melting away. "Thanks, Maddie. I couldn't do this without you."

"None of us could," Harry added, looking up from his notes with a grin.

Hermione nodded in agreement. "You're really good at this, Madeline. Maybe you should consider teaching someday."

"Me? Oh shut up, It should be you who should be teaching, if you weren't here, we wouldn't Abel to get perfect in potions and transfiguration." She chuckled. 

"Yeahh, thank you Mione" The boys said.

Hermione looked down at her book with a hint of blush. "No need to thanks."

As they continued their studying, a sense of camaraderie and determination filled the air. The pressure of exams loomed large, but together, they felt ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

I decided to go with the 3rd pov's ow but of course there will be switching of pov now and then.