𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 26

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH A PROPHECY IS MADE

. . .

The feeling of utter euphoria that came from winning the Quidditch cup lasted at least a week for the twins. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sunny, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.

But that was impossible and could no way happen - exams were very almost upon them, and any free time they had outside of lessons was spent forcing their brains to study rather than having fun in the sun. 

Marlie was particularly bad at studying, and tending to just sit there for hours as Harry, Ron and Hermione study. But around her, even those who nobody could imagine revising, were. 

Fred and George had been spotted studying, much to the shock of various people. But considering that they were taking their OWLs, they were probably taking it a bit more seriously than their end of years. Percy was getting ready to take his NEWTs, and as he hoped to go and work at the Ministry, he needed top grades. The head boy had become rather on edge, and was giving out rather harsh punishments to anyone who disturbed the quiet of the common room.

The only person who seemed to be even more anxious than Percy was Hermione, and whilst Ron, Harry and Marlene were still questioning how exactly she was going to so many classes, they couldn't help but wonder at just how much studying she was doing. 

And despite their lack of questioning about how the Granger girl had ended up in that position, they didn't restrain themselves when they got a chance to look at the exam schedule she had drawn up for herself, Marlie using it as an example as she drew out one for her and the two boys, seeing as they shared a class.

But as they looked at it careful, confusion soon covered their thoughts. In the first column for Monday, she had labelled four exams. Which wouldn't be strange, if she hadn't written Transfiguration and Arithmancy to be at nine, and then her Charms and Ancient Runes both at one, after lunch.

"Hermione?" Ron said cautiously, because she was liable to explode when interrupted these days. "Er — are you sure you've copied down these times right?" 

Harry and Marlie watched rather carefully, hoping that Ron just mentioning the fact that there a possibility of the girl making even a hint of a mistake wasn't enough to push her off the edge. 

"What?" snapped Hermione, picking up the exam schedule and examining it. "Yes, of course I have."

"Is there any point of asking how in the name absolutely anything holy you're going to be taking two exams at one?" Marlie asked, eyebrows raised.

"No," said Hermione shortly. "Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"

"Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading," Ron said, but very quietly. Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment, Marlie seeing the portrait opening and smiling at the person emerging  for the tunnel.