𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅, george weasley

chapter 11 - no more revisions

Exams. That was all Ileana had on her mind this week. They weren't bad but they also weren't necessarily pleasing. It was unbelievably hot, especially in the large classroom where they did their written papers. They were given new quills for the exams, which had been enchanted with an Anti-Cheating spell.

   They had practical exams as well. Professor Flitwick called them one by one to see if we could make a pineapple tap dance across his desk. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuff-box — points were given for how pretty the box was, but taken away if it had whiskers. Snape had them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember the composition of a Forgetfulness Potion.

   Their very last exam was History of Magic. After one last hour of answering questions about mad old wizards who invented self-stirring cauldrons and they'd be free. They'd be free for a whole week until their exam results come out. When Professor Binns told them to put down their quills, Ileana cheered loudly as the rest of the class.

   "That was far easier than I thought it would be," Hermione said as they joined the crowds gathering out on the sunny grounds.

   "What exam did you take?" said Ileana with envy.

   Hermione always liked to go through their exam papers afterward, but Ron said it made him feel ill. Ileana couldn't agree more, so they strolled down to the lake and slumped under a tree.

   "No more revisions," Ron sighed happily, outstretching on the grass. "Harry, you could look more cheerful, we've got a week before we find out how badly we've done. There's no need to worry."

   Harry was rubbing his forehead.

   "I wish I knew what this means!" Harry burst out angrily. "My scar keeps hurting — it's happened before, but never as often as this."

   "Go to Madam Pomfrey." Ileana suggested.

   "I'm not ill," said Harry, still rubbing his forehead. "I think it's a warning...something bad's coming..."

   "Harry relax," said Ron. "Ileana's right, the Stone's safe as long as Dumbledore's around. Anyway, we still haven't got a clue how to get around Fluffy. Snape nearly had his leg ripped off, and he's not going to try it again in a hurry."

   Harry nodded, but he couldn't shake off a lurking feeling that there was something he'd forgotten to do, something important.

   When he tried to explain it, Hermione said, "That's just the exams. I woke up last night and was halfway through my Transfiguration notes before I remembered we'd done that one."

   Harry suddenly jumped to his feet.

   "Where're you going?" asked Ileana.

   "I've just thought of something," said Harry. His face turned pale. "We've got to see Hagrid, now."

   "Why?" panted Hermione, struggling to keep up.

   "Don't you think it's a bit odd," said Harry, scurrying up the grassy slope. "that what Hagrid wants more than anything else is a dragon, and a stranger turns up who just happens to have an egg in his pocket? How many people wander around with dragon eggs if it's against wizard law? Lucky they found Hagrid, don't you think? Why didn't I see it before?"

   "What are you on about?" said Ron, but Harry, sprinting across the grounds, didn't answer.

   Hagrid was sitting in an armchair outside his house; his trousers and sleeves were rolled up and he was shelling peas into a large pot.

   "Hullo," Hagrid said smiling. "Finished your exams? Got time fer a drink?"

   "Yes, please." said Ron, but Harry cut him off.