Being a Greengrass after all should sound pretty serene.
But being a part of "the Emeralds" should not, especially when hearts become entangled with the infamous Regulus Black.
Goodness, lawfulness, or evilness. Which path will they tread in the ti...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
1st and 2nd week of June, 1977
As the O.W.L.s drew nearer, the atmosphere in every common room shifted dramatically. Avery could practically feel the stress radiating off the student body wherever she went.
Students who had spent the entire school year treating their studies as a mild inconvenience were suddenly living in the library. Hallways that had once been filled with laughter and gossip now echoed with frantic discussions about Goblin Rebellions, wand movements, and potion ingredients.
The Great Hall ran out of desserts long before dinner ended, and by half-past seven, most fifth-years had vanished entirely. Earlier in the year, they'd linger for hours after meals, talking nonsense and procrastinating together. Now they inhaled their food and vanished without a word. It was almost unsettling to see.
And today, matters had become even more real. Exam schedules. Avery looked down at the parchment Professor Flitwick had just distributed.
Her eyes immediately skimmed over the list of subjects. Charms first. Defence Against the Dark Arts last. A wave of relief washed over her. If she had been given the choice herself, she would have arranged them exactly the same way. She had absolutely no desire to face a practical D.A.D.A. examination until she absolutely had to.
Beside her, Pandora glanced at the schedule once. Then, seemingly satisfied, she placed it neatly on the desk and resumed doodling absent-mindedly in the margin of her notes. Across from them, Barty looked as though he had just received notice of his impending execution. His eyes darted frantically across the parchment.
Avery didn't even have to ask; he was already calculating grades.
"As you can see," Professor Flitwick announced, standing atop a pile of books so the entire class could see him, "your O.W.L.s are spread over two successive weeks."
The scratching of quills filled the classroom as students copied dates and times from the blackboard.
"You will sit your theory examinations in the mornings and your practical examinations in the afternoons. Your practical Astronomy examination, naturally, will take place at night.
"Most importantly," he continued, adjusting his spectacles, "I must warn you that the most stringent Anti-Cheating Charms have been applied to your examination papers."
The Ravenclaws listened attentively as he launched into a lengthy explanation. By the end of it, Avery was fairly certain breathing too suspiciously near an exam paper would qualify as academic misconduct. She realised Violet hadn't been exaggerating.
Flitwick listed prohibited quills, parchment, charms, enchanted objects, spells, and finally, prohibited potions. The list seemed endless.
Avery had barely set down her quill when a voice spoke from directly behind her.
"Don't talk to me starting from now on."
She turned around. Barty was staring at his timetable with the terrifying focus of a man preparing for war.
