SCARLETT: THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

Chapter 25: OWLs

OWLs were finally among us at Hogwarts. And if I wanted to pursue a career as a Healer, I had to get no less than "O" in Potions, Herboligy, Transfiguration, and E in everything else, according to a meeting with Professor Sprout. No pressure...

I was studying harder and harder every night leading up to the week, until it finally came and I could do no more preparation. It was time. And I didn't feel ready at all.

"Well, it's not what you know," Draco said with me, Crabbe and Goyle outside Potions a few days before exams started "it's who you know. Now, Father's been friendly with the head of the Wizarding Examination Authority for years - old Griselda Marchbanks - We've had her round for dinner and everything."

This didn't really help me much, because I didn't know anybody.

We got our exam timetables and details of OWL procedure that class.

"Your owls will extend over two successive weeks." Snape said as I copied down the dates and times of our exams (which I said I'd copy for Draco.) "Theory papers will be written in the morning and practical exams in the afternoon. Obviously, your Astronomy examination will take place at night.

I must warn you all that the most stringent anti-cheating spells have been applied to the examination papers. Auto-Answer Quills, Rememberalls, Detachable Cribbing Cuffs and Self Correcting Ink are all banned from the testing hall."

I shot my hand up in the air "Sir, when do we discover our results?" I asked.

"An owl will come to you sometime in July." Snape said before returning to his lecture about the exams.

"Great," Draco muttered "we don't need to worry about it until the holidays."

*

Our first exam was Theory of Charms, which took place that Monday morning. All the Hufflepuffs when I went down for breakfast were muttering answers and quizzing each other as I plopped myself in between Eliza and Eden. Posey, Hannah and Amelia were across from me as I pulled over a stack of toast.

"Morning." I said. "Will someone quiz me on jinxes?"

*
After breakfast all the fifth and seventh years were left to mill about in the Entrance Hall as everyone else left for regular lessons.

The fifth years were called first to write their exam papers and I looked up to Draco, terrified. The house tables were gone and were replaced with single desks.

"Ok, now I'm a nervous wreck." I muttered.

Draco hugged me "You'll be fine, love!" he said for the millionth time "You were one of the first besides Granger to get Wingardium Leviosa spell the first time."

I smiled "Thanks." I said as one of the examiners from the Ministry lead me to a seat "Good luck!"

Draco smirked "I'm a Malfoy, I don't need it!" he said sitting down a couple of rows away from me.

McGonagall stepped in front of a teachers desk facing all the desks when everyone was quiet, putting a hand on a large hourglass resting with extra quills, ink and rolls of parchment. "You may begin." she said, turning the hourglass over.

I flipped the page over and smirked at the first question:

A) Give the incantation and B) describe the wand movement used to make something fly.

I smiled as I scribbled down the obvious answer. This exam was going to be a cakewalk.

*
Confidently, I left the exam an hour and a half later, sure that I'd passed.