Darwinism | hp

012: Beyond the Trapdoor

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Theodore Nott did not harass Marilyn during their exams, and she wondered why, exactly. She doubted it was Riddle's doing, but also had noticed he was much quieter than usual anyway, so maybe Nott was more focused on that than anything else. 

The exams themselves were so stressful that Marilyn struggled to stick to her eating plans in her binder, and if the slightest thing would go wrong, from someone walking slowly in front of her, to someone trying to speak to her who she didn't plan to speak with would cause her to almost burst into either tears or a complete rage. She never did burst into tears, though the rage was becoming much too often for Ron, Hermione and Harry's liking, as she would be unable to speak normally to them for the rest of the day, and would be upset if she misdirected her anger at them. Harry just made sure to bring Hedwig to dinner so that Marilyn could stay quiet and calm herself down by feeding her.

The exams were different to Muggle ones - or what Marilyn believed them to be. She had dropped out of school long before exams were brought into her classes. Some exams, such as History of Magic, were questions to be answered. These ones were rather easy, as though Marilyn didn't believe it, she was incredibly smart, and passed most of them without must hassle. Others, however, were more practical, such as turning a mouse into a snuff-box in transfiguration. 

Marilyn did well with this, and didn't know it, but received higher marks for being able to transfigure the box back into a mouse after. After Harry gave his box to Marilyn after class to turn back to a mouse, most of the rest of the class did the same, Marilyn easily turning them back. It wouldn't suffice to say that she was proud of herself for how well she'd done with her transfiguring of animals. 

In Charms, they had to make a pineapple dance across the table, which ended up being quite a mess though most people achieved it. And finally, in History of Magic, Professor Binns told them to put down their quills, and the class cheered, which caught an exhausted Marilyn by surprise, but there was no denying the instant relief - they were done. now, they had an entire week of bliss before their results came in.

Though the school was filled with people celebrating of all ages in all kinds of places, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Marilyn made their way outside to a large willow tree by the lake, the same tree where Riddle and Nott had thrown Marilyn's binder into the water. Ernie was already around, and she spotted him playing in the water with Lee Jorden, Fred and George, who were tickling the giant squid's tentacles.

"No more revision!" Ron cheered, stretching as he lay down on the grass. His eyes fell on Harry and Marilyn. "You two could look a little more cherrful. No results until a week, no need to get stressed out now."

Marilyn looked up from her binder, which she was organizing, due to forgetting to do so during the exam period, having that all timed and written down, but nothing for the upcoming week. "My eating reminders aren't written down yet."

"Eating reminders?"

"Lay off, Ron." Harry rubbed his forehead. "I wish i knew what this meant! It's hurt before, but never like this. My scar - it's hurting."

"My scars hurt sometimes, but only if I lay on them." Marilyn thought for a moment. "Could curses leave cursed scars?"

Hermione shook her head. "Don't be ridiculous, Marilyn. Harry needs to go to Madam Pomfrey."

"No! I'm not ill! I think it's as Marilyn said - a cursed scar. I think it's a warning. Dangers coming." Harry kept rubbing his forehead.

Marylin shut her binder. "We can go check on things, if you want?"

Harry shook his head. "Check what?"

"Everything. I mean - okay, let's just think." She took a breath. "Snape isn't getting past Fluffy, first of all. The only way he could work out how to get past Fluffy is through Hagrid or Dumbledore, neither of which are going to spill-"