𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐏A𝐑𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄, jp

Exams.

Exams had started, and Izzy was drowning in stress. A week and a half had gone by since her argument with Remus, and she was doing her best to ignore every single one of her friends. Her focus was on her exams, and that's where it was staying.

She sat eating her dinner in the kitchens after hours, a plate of chicken pie in front of her whilst she read through the letters she had received over the past few weeks. She'd been neglecting them for so long, spent so much time focusing on studying, but she was allowing herself the time to read and reply. She'd done well in her defence against the dark arts exam, so she was feeling positive, she had something good to write back.

Dear Izzy,

I know your exams have started now, and I'm looking forwards to seeing how your turnaround shows up in your end of year report. I know McGonnogal said that you're doing well, but I really hope that you're keeping that up. Please remember to keep your head down and focused, I know it's hard, but you're more than capable of doing it, we both know that.

I'm looking forwards to seeing you, Iz. Christmas is not far away now, and I'm so excited to hear about your time at Hogwarts. We must have a girls day together, perhaps we could go shopping together or get our nails done. Something nice so we can really catch up, does that sound good?

I know you're busy, but I hope you're doing well and I hope you'll write back soon. Remember that Dad and I are proud, keep up the good work!

Love, mum x

Izzy could tell her mum was doubting this turnaround, which, she couldn't quite blame her for. Her exam results hadn't been good in years. She was praying things would go well, but she was ever so nervous for potions and transfigurations, those were bound to go wrong.

She folded the letter carefully and set it beside her plate. The kitchens were all but deserted now, only Mrs. Whimple, the head house‑elf, flitted in the corner, stacking clean dishes. Izzy spooned a bite of chicken pie and sighed as the pastry flaked apart. She needed something to steady her mind.

Pulling her parchment and quill from the pocket of her robes, she tapped them thoughtfully against the table, then dipped the nib into ink and began.

Dear Mum,

Exams have been difficult, but don't worry, I've been keeping my head down. I've had my DADA, Charms and History of Magic ones so far, and they went okay I think, and that's given me a little more confidence. I have my doubts about Potions and Transfiguration, to be honest. Yesterday in Slughorn's class, I spilled my leech juice again—although I managed to recover a bit of it for the cauldron, the color wasn't quite right. I'm revisiting all my previous notes and I've been going over all of my textbooks, but they're still hard, I'm determined to do well though, so I suppose we'll see.

I miss you and Dad more than I can say. A Christmas shopping trip sounds amazing, especially right now. I've been cooped up in the castle for so long, it's killing me.

I'll see you soon, and we can talk properly then. I still have so much more to go over, and I have my Herbology exam tomorrow, so I better get back to it.

All my love,
Isabella x

She sealed the parchment with a swirl of red wax, and stamping it. As she slid it into an envelope addressed in her neatest writing, she felt a small swell of calm.

Next she moved onto her letters from Kaitlyn and Francesca, which were a lot more exciting to read. Plans had been finalised to see each other at Christmas, so she had something to look forwards to once these exams were finally over. She wrote back with the latest Remus drama, told them how her exams were going and gave them a little update on how James was (which they'd begged for, still convince the pair were going to fall in love.)