The Girl Hidden In the Shadows (Harry Potter Fanfiction)

~15 1/2~

"All those times we were in that bathroom, and she was just three toilets away," said Ron bitterly at breakfast the next day, "and we could've asked her, and now..."

Nova gave him a reassuring pat trying to calm the heavy bitterness of the boy. She could understand him and really couldn't blame him either. Much could've been avoided if this was discovered earlier; especially if it meant avoiding the almost death with the spiders.

Although that was the least of their worries; on their first lesson for Transfiguration, anything dealing with the petrification's and the Chamber of Secrets was blown out of the two boys mind once Professor McGonagall gave the class the news of the starting of their exams would be on the first of June.

"Exams?" howled Seamus Finnigan who was sitting next to Nova.

Harry and Ron were behind her and behind them was Neville whose wand slipped, vanishing one of the legs on his desk. Professor McGonagall restored it with a wave of her wand turning to Seamus with a frown.

"The whole point of keeping the school open at this time is for you to receive your education," she said sternly. "The exams will therefore take place as usual, and I trust you are all studying hard."

The muttering and murmurings were almost unbearable as the students were all showing expressions of stress and anxiety, although few showed neutrality seeing as they have kept up with their studies, one of these being Nova.

"Professor Dumbledore's instructions were to keep the school running as normally as possible," she said. "And that, I need hardly point out, means finding out how much you have learned this year."

More murmuring accompanied by groans of despair sounded throughout the room as the steely gaze of the Transfiguration professor cut the class silent before she sighed.

"If you have studied and practiced so far what we've learned, given with the circumstances, you need not worry," said McGonagall who then gave the subtlest glance towards Nova. "I know some of you will pass these exams easily. I dare say they would be good tutors for those who need it."

Those who knew of Nova's advance classes, mainly Harry, Ron, Seamus and Dean, all glanced her way already knowing where to go for help for the finals.

The girl herself felt many eyes on her as she glanced at Seamus who was grinning and looked back towards Harry and Ron who were also giving the same grin as Seamus. She gave them all looks.

"Just because I'm willing to help, doesn't mean it's going to be free," said Nova the boys all nodded. "I expect something in return, understand?"

They all eagerly nodded; she didn't ask for much anyway so it was easy to comply with that as they all grinned wider. A shiver went down her spine as she shook her head sighing; she was going to have a long week that was for sure.

>

Three days before their first exam, Professor McGonagall made another announcement at breakfast.

"I have good news," she said, and the Great Hall, instead of falling silent, erupted at her next words.

"Dumbledore's coming back!"

The cheers could be heard even louder than before at this. Many were cheering for the fact that this meant that the Heir of Slytherin was caught; even Oliver Wood was excited. For him, it meant that the Quidditch matches were back on.

When McGonagall raised her hand, the cheering seized as they waited for her next words.

"Professor Sprout has informed me that the Mandrakes are ready for cutting at last. Tonight, we will be able to revive those people who have been petrified. I need hardly remind you all that one of them may be able to tell us who, or what, attacked them. I am hopeful that this dreadful year will end with our catching the culprit."