Demigods at Hogwarts | the rescue mission ✔

45| Exams And Unrequited Love

Leo's POV

"Homework is bad enough," I grunted, slamming my fist on the table as I stood up, throwing my copy of Advanced Transfiguration across the room in frustration. "And now we have to take these stupid exams made for wizards as well, which we actually have to pass in order to make sure Percy doesn't get himself killed rescuing Annabeth."

We were a week away from the final task of the Triwizard Tournament, and a few days away from the N.E.W.T. exam. Frank, who didn't have dyslexia or ADHD, seemed to be the only one completely fine with studying. Piper was on her seventh cup of coffee, and Nico looked even paler than he usually did.

"Come on guys, we can do this!" groaned Thalia through a mouthful of gummy worms. "Remember, we have to pass at least half of these subjects in order to sit in on the third task." She didn't seem to be doing any better than the rest of us, but the daughter of Zeus was clearly set on doing well in the exams.

If only I was as motivated as her.

"I really wish we had Annabeth with us," Hazel sighed, gently setting a stack of fresh library books on the table as she came over to join us. She tucked a strand of cinamon-coloured hair before her ear and sat down beside me. She seemed so much more mature than the rest of us—it was hard to believe that she was biologically the same age as Harry, Ron and Hermione. Then again, of course, she was way older than the rest of us chronologically.

"Yeah, we could really use some help right now." I agreed, folding my arms across my chest. "Remember how she stayed up all night, every night after the Second Giant War?" I asked wistfully, thinking back to how Annabeth had stubbornly refused to go to sleep the first few weeks after our quest.

"Yeah," Piper said slowly, the look in her eyes unreadable. "She wanted to be there to comfort us in case woke up screaming from, you know, the nightmares." She chuckled softly, hugging her knees to her chest. "Annabeth was always-"

The daughter of Aphrodite suddenly fell silent, her eyes fixed on me—no, behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and caught sight of Percy, who was standing at the doorway. He was dripping wet, and was leaning against the wall like he didn't have any energy to stand anymore.

"Percy," Hazel began softly, her eyes widening in concern. But he had already turned away from us, slamming the door shut behind him.

"We should not have had that conversation," Hazel muttered under her breath, getting up from the floor. Head held high in the air, she walked swiftly up the stairs to our dormitory. I couldn't help but notice the slight quiver in her voice as she said a brisk "good night" to all of us.

Letting out a deep sigh, I picked up Advanced Transfiguration and slowly started reading.

+++

Hermione's POV

I cast a quick glance to my left. Yep, he was still there—sitting in the armchair near the fireplace, laughing lightheartedly as he and Ginny played a game of Exploding Snap. My stomach twisting in jealously, I quickly diverted my gaze back to the pile of notes I had taken before anyone noticed anything.

I would never hear the end of it if I got caught staring at Harry Potter.

Still, I looked up again, allowing myself to gaze at him for just a few more seconds. It had all come so suddenly...after all, I had never been attracted to him before. But somehow, I felt comfortable and overwhelmed with longing at the same time whenever he came near me.

"Focus, just focus," I groaned through gritted teeth, ignoring the stares I got from my housemates as I stormed off to the other end of the room. The farther away I was from Harry, the better. Opening my Charms textbook with renewed vigour, my eyes immediately fell on a particular spell. Wingardium Leviosa.

I smiled to myself as I recalled our near-death encounter with a mountain troll during our first year. Ron had managed to pull off the spell just in time to save our necks, but Harry was the one to hold my hand all the way up to the common room after the traumatic event. He'd been the first person at Hogwarts to reach out to me, to socialize with the bossy eleven-year-old girl I used to be.

And Viktor? He was nice—very nice, but I didn't know him very well. Not to mention the fact that he was a world-famous Quidditch Seeker who deserved much better than a fourteen-year-old schoolgirl as a romantic partner.

"Hey, Mione. How's it going?"

I had been so caught up in my thoughts, I almost didn't notice Harry walking up to me. The goofy smile on his face showed that he was in a very, very good mood. I blushed, staring at the ground shyly. "I think I'm finally getting sick of all this." I confessed, laughing as I scooted over to make space for him. He sat down beside me and I felt tingles of electricity run down my spine.

"About time you did," he joked, wincing when I playfully hit him with a pillow. Shaking my head, I gathered up my quills and ink. I'd had enough of studying, anyways, and there was no harm in a one-night-break.

"So I'm going to ask you something, but you must never mention it to anyone else."

I leaned back in my seat, surprised and eager at the same time. I could already feel my heartbeat quickening as he raised his pinky finger up in the air, wiggling it in my direction. I laughed and rolled my eyes. "You're such a dork! Okay, okay, I promise." I added quickly as he turned away in mock hurt.

"Ginny hasn't been able to take her eyes off me all night." Harry said, his voice low as if he was disclosing a national secret. Suddenly, I felt sick to my stomach. Ginny. Maybe it would be good for her if she learnt to crush on boys her own age for once.

"Is that what you wanted to tell me?" I managed to stammer as Harry nodded ecstatically. Was it me, or did he look...pleased about it? Tasting blood in my mouth, I realized that I had been biting down hard on my lip.

Of course he's pleased. Relax, all men like it when girls go crazy over them, I thought to myself as I gathered all my quills and textbooks. I forced a smile as Harry looked at me in confusion."I'm actually tired right now, so I'm going to bed," I quickly explained, my voice wavering.

"But I never get to talk to you these days, Mione. You can't be that tired, can you? You just hit me with a pillow." he pointed out, looking disturbingly like a kicked puppy. And there it was again—Mione. The only people who called me that were my parents, even after I had told them several times that I hated it.

I blinked back the tears in my eyes. "I'm sorry, I don't feel that good right now. We can talk tomorrow." Harry nodded in understanding, walking back across the room where Ron and Ginny were.

My vision blurred and my breath shaky, I raced up the stairs to the girls dormitory.

I actually really like the second part of this chapter, even though I feel guilty for putting Hermione in this whole situation.