From friends to this -Year six (re-uploaded) Book 1/4

Chapter 16

"How do you do it?" Lee groaned, following the-now dead inside- sixth years out of the dungeons. He turned to Tara, with a long face, looking as though he hadn't slept since 1991. "You somehow always get above an E grade in that class"

"Well, aren't we supposed to have gotten an O in the O.W.Ls?" Fred scoffed, putting an arm around his friend's shoulders.

Lee shoved him off, "Oh shove off you got a 40 percent in class today" he retaliated

"I dunno" Tara shrugged.

"He always marks students, accept Bole and his posse, down" George sighed, "Never gives anyone above an A"

"Except for you" Lee sulked, marching ahead a couple paces, "You need to tutor me" he added quickly, looking over at her, "Help me actually pass"

"To be fair a 'poor' grade in Snape's class is a solid and guaranteed A for the real thing" Fred said, with a shrug, "So you should be fine"

"What does that say about you?" Tara sniggred, under her breath

He looked at her blankly, "I hate you"

The worst part about September first was that it wasn't unusual if the next day was a day of classes. This year was one of those unfortunate years. Worse part: it was a Friday. The weather was still decent, chilly but bright, clear skies and the students felt like they were being held captive.

"What do you think McGonagall's annual announcement will be about this year?" Lee asked, taking a breath as they came out of the underground floors, somehow the dusty air of an old castle seemed fresh.

"She'll tell us we're not OWL students anymore" George answered

"And tell us to catch ourselves on" Fred finished

"She always tells us to catch ourselves on" Tara grinned, "Every time we open our mouths"

"To be fair you and Fred never shut up" George reasoned

They both turned to him,  shooting him a look. He stepped back, "Ok, Merlin!" He exclaimed, defensively

"You two are scarily in sync" Lee mumbled

"I heard that" Tara snapped, elbowing him in the ribs, "Shut up"

"I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be nice" he complained, putting a hand to his side, "What happened to that?"

"Get on my nerves again and you'll know what mean is" she warned, with a smirk. Fred and George chuckled.

The rest of the school day went by so slow, that Tara had been convinced they had been forced to sit an extra after school study period, which was disproved when the bell in the clocktower struck. Fred jerked awake in front of her, a new seating arrangement chosen when the two had failed to stop laughing from their walk from Potions last year-evidentially it was still in affect. George closed his book hastily beside her, and Lee-who had not even bothered to bring his book, laughed silently at Fred. The classroom was quickly filled with the sound of benches screeching backwards as the sixth years jumped up, eager to leave.

"Just because I have decided to excuse you from homework for the first weekend, I still expect each and everyone of you to retain what I have said today" McGonagall called over the chatter which had slowly started to build up. There were some momentary sighs before a murmur of  acknowledgment.

Tara threw her book bag over her shoulder, yawning as she did. They followed the flood of students out into the corridor, breathing in the fresh air of Seventh years' tears as they relayed to their friends how behind they were despite it being the first day of term,  and the fresh new binding of books- a winning scent.