It was finals week, and I was a mess—a complete train wreck, as Justin put it. The Quidditch season was over, so I had no distractions except for Oliver, who, in his sweet, adorable way, always offered to help with Potions and Herbology. His support was invaluable, but it didn't completely ease the pressure.
I remember sitting in the common room last week with Ernie, trying to revise together but hitting a wall. Ernie was excellent with Potions; I was decent at History of Magic and Defense Against the Dark Arts. But we were struggling with the other subjects. "We should start a study group," Ernie suggested from the couch, his brow furrowed in concentration.
I looked up from my notes, considering the idea. "Hannah is good with Charms, Justin is basically good with everything! All we need to do is recruit some reliable friends and hit the library every weekend," he continued.
It took me a moment to process, and then I smiled. "Do it."
Within two days, we had approval from everyone we asked. Our study group was ten strong: me, Ernie, Hannah, Justin, Luna, Hermione, Ron, Harry, Neville, and Seamus. Each of us brought something unique to the table, and we meshed together seamlessly.
Our first study session was intense. We were so engrossed in our work that we lost track of time and missed dinner. But it was worth it. We divided our tasks effectively:
Ernie tackled Potions.I focused on Defense Against the Dark Arts.Hannah handled Charms.Justin took on Transfiguration.Luna and Hermione covered Astronomy.Neville worked on Herbology.Ron, Harry, and Seamus were in charge of sneaking in snacks, lifting our spirits when the mood got gloomy, and providing comic relief with their endless supply of jokes.
The two weeks of studying were grueling, but our teamwork made it manageable. Now, it was time for the real tests. I was heading to my first exam of the week—History of Magic. I felt prepared but a bit exhausted from staying up with Hannah the night before, revising the finer points.
As I walked into the classroom, the atmosphere was tense but focused. The exam on batty old wizards who invented Self-Stirring Cauldrons was challenging, but I felt confident. After an hour of answering questions, I was relieved to head to my next exam: Herbology.
The Herbology written exam was a beast—plants and earth had never been my strong suit—but the practical part was much easier. Time flew by, and before I knew it, I was walking to lunch with an exhausted Hannah leaning on my shoulder.
"All the studying was worth it," Harry said as he came up behind us, his voice filled with genuine enthusiasm. I turned and spotted Neville just ahead, blushing slightly.
"Thanks, Neville!" I yelled back, earning cheers from Hermione, Seamus, and the rest of our group. Neville's face turned a deeper shade of red as everyone clapped and cheered.
The camaraderie and support of my friends made the intense pressure of finals feel a little lighter, and as we all headed to the Great Hall for lunch, I felt a surge of gratitude for the amazing people in my life.
We stopped just outside the Great Hall, the noise of students and chatter barely muffling the din of my thoughts. I turned to Hannah, a bit self-conscious. "Do I look like a zombie?" I asked, smoothing down my wild hair with shaky fingers.
She took a good look at me and then grinned. "Nah, just a bit like a crazy old witch," she teased, ducking as I playfully swatted her shoulder.
"Oi! Just kidding," she added with a reassuring smile that made me laugh despite myself.
"You're going to sit with him, I suppose?" she asked, her gaze flicking toward the Hufflepuff table, where Oliver sat with a few third-year students.
"Yeah, see you at DADA," I said, giving her a quick hug before making my way to the front of the table.
