star shopping ✰ d.m.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

As exams drew nearer, the atmosphere in the castle became more and more intense. Arabella studied almost constantly and even when exams were months away, forced Seamus and Dean to study with her. She was quite surprised to see Fred and George studying as well. She had never even seen them do their homework, but they weren't failing their classes by any means, so she knew they must be doing it at some point. She knew this sudden change in behavior was due to the O.W.L.s. Since Fred and George were fifth years, they would be taking them this year, though Arabella hadn't really expected them to care much. Alicia Spinnet, Angelina Johnson, and Olivia Wood, who were also fifth years, were to be found in a corner of the common room quizzing each other every evening. Percy, who was a seventh year taking his N.E.W.T.s, was also very stressed. But somehow, Hermione seemed worse off than them all.

She seemed to be taking every single subject Hogwarts offered to third years. Arabella hadn't a clue as to how she was managing. She had caught a few glimpses of Hermione's schedule and saw that a few of her classes overlapped with each other, meaning Hermione would have to be in multiple places at once in order to attend every single lesson. Arabella had been tempted to ask her how she was doing it, but Ron had told her he and Harry had asked multiple times and never gotten an answer, so she held off.

As usual, Arabella had performed well in all of her exams. She was most confident with Astronomy, Charms, Transfiguration, Arithmancy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, her favorite and best subjects. She was also completely confident she had received full marks in Care of Magical Creatures since Hagrid was so distracted with what was to happen to Buckbeak, he hardly gave them an exam at all. She blew through her Herbology and History of Magic exams, and though she hoped she had done well in Potions, she couldn't be sure. Professor Snape heavily favored the Slytherins and seemed to absolutely despise the Gryffindors. He seemed to especially hate that Hermione and Arabella had the nerve to do well in his class. Besides that, the only other exam she was nervous about was Divination.

For the Divination exam, they were to tell stare into a crystal ball and tell Professor Trelawney exactly what they saw. Arabella knew perfectly well she wouldn't see anything and sure enough, she didn't. However, she refused to do badly on an exam if she had a choice, and if she had to lie to do well, so be it. Fortunately, she knew that Professor Trelawney loved to predict awful things happening, so Arabella told her she saw something devastating happening over the summer holidays. Professor Trelawney wrote something down and then told Arabella she was free to go, seeming satisfied.

"How was it?" Ron asked as soon as she had finished descending the stepladder from the Divination classroom. "What does she ask?"

"Just make something up," Arabella told him and Harry, who were the last ones waiting to take their exams. "Preferably something bad. She'll eat it up."

Ron nodded, indicating he understood. Then, Professor Trelawney called his name and gulped nervously before climbing up the ladder through the trapdoor.

[word count: 576
[written: 4/27/20]
[published: 5/29/20]
sorry this chapter is so short anbgdb