In the Melancholy Moonlight

Chapter XIX: Made to Fly

LUCY:

I thought it was incredibly fitting that the exam I was dreading most was my last for the year: History of Magic. Cedric had helped me a lot by comparing his notes with mine; he always went back and put stars next to whatever had been tested in class, and I started to do the same. It made studying for the final exam easier, but I was still nervous. Charms and Care of Magical Creatures and Herbology were my easiest exams by miles, but I felt I had done well in everything else too. But when it came to History of Magic, I was something of a nervous wreck.

"Good luck, Lucy," Neville said with an anxious smile as we neared the classroom. "You look nervous, but I know you'll do well."

"Thank you, and so will you," I replied, offering the most encouraging smile I could find.

"Do you want to go to the greenhouses with me afterwards? To relax a bit? Professor Sprout said she could use some help, and when I asked if you could come too, she said you were more than welcome if you wanted."

"Sure, Neville, that'd be great." Assuming I survive this exam, I thought to myself. But he smiled even wider, and we entered the room together with Harry, Ron, and Hermione. We took our seats and set to work.

My hand ached with how much I had to write, but to my immense relief, I had studied everything that was tested. When the bell rang, a massive weight lifted from my shoulders.

"We're going down to the Black Lake," Ron said as we poured out of the room. "You coming, Lucy?"

"I'm heading down to the greenhouses with Neville, but I'll catch up with you later in the common room!"

"Alright, see you later!"

I turned to Neville. "Ready?"

He nodded. "Plants are better than history anyway."

I laughed. "I couldn't agree more. I feel so much better now that exams are done. How about you?"

"Well, I'm glad I don't have to study anymore, but I don't want my grades back," he admitted. "I don't think I did well in anything other than Herbology."

"Nonsense, Neville, you worked hard! Remember all of those hours spent studying in the Quidditch stands?"

"Yeah," he said reluctantly. "I just hope my hard work will be enough."

"It already is. You did your best, and that's all that matters, right?"

"Not to my gran. I don't want to disappoint her. I already did with the whole... dragon thing."

"Even then, you tried to do what was right, and that means a lot even if it didn't work out the way you wanted."

"I guess."

"But don't worry about that for now," I said quickly as we reached the greenhouse, "because exams are over and now all we have to worry about are these plants."

We pushed the door open.

"Hi, Professor Sprout!" Neville called. "Lucy and I are here."

"Excellent!" she said, clapping her gloved hands and beaming. "How were your other exams, dears?"

"They were okay," Neville said with a shrug. "Yours was still my favorite."

"How can we help?" I asked.

"I have a special task for you two today," she replied, eyes twinkling. "Follow me."

We followed her into another greenhouse filled with empty pots and bags upon bags of soil and fertilizer and wood chips lining the walls.