Exam Time

EXAM TIME

Where: Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry

When: 7^th Year. Final exams minus 3 weeks

There was a spring in his step that never used to be there. Harry even whistled as he strolled about the castle, collecting “Hi Harry's” as he went; acknowledging them all. He'd stop to chat when time allowed, and apologised when it didn't. He spoke to the First and Second years, who would normally stand and stare as he walked past. After all he was the great Harry Potter; he (along with Hermione and Ron) had killed Lord Voldemort and helped to capture all his remaining Death Eaters. But to Harry, he'd prefer not to have to be constantly be reminded of something that wasn't there; his greatness. He much preferred to be someone else entirely; just Harry.

As he almost skipped the last few steps that led to the Great Hall and breakfast he heard his name called a few times from a few different tables. Even the Slytherine's for the most part would greet him as amicable as they knew how. The actions that day drew great honour upon the entire school. Harry walked to the table where his best friends sat and already saw she wasn't there; again.

“She's not here!” Ron, Ginny, Neville, Sandra and Collin all sang as one. Harry chuckled; it wasn't a surprise after all. If Hermione was here she was the first person he would go to, and kiss her. And on the occasions she wasn't (like all this week) he would seek her out.

“So I see,” Harry replied.

“Not in the dorm, or the library either,” Ginny said. “I had to return some books early and she wasn't there. No one was.”

Harry's eyes took on that sparkle that said he was thinking about her. He loved her so strongly his heart could almost feel when she wasn't around. “Maybe you just don't know where to look,” Harry said to Ginny. “She has her favourite places where she can be alone.”

Ginny sighed “I tell you, she WASN'T there. Unless she has your invis - - “

Harry pulled his invisibility cloak from beneath his robes; out of habit he went nowhere without it. “Nope!”

“Then she isn't there,” Ginny said decidedly.

Harry spun on his heels, pointing in the direction of the stairs that would lead him to the library, waited one second, and as if he had known (because he had) Winki had Apparated directly in from of him, carrying a tray of sandwiches. This has been the routine for the last 3 days.

“Mistress Granger didn't arrive for breakfast,” Winki said.

“I know, shall we?”

Harry headed up the stairs, with Winki scrambling with the tray of sandwiches behind him.

“She isn't there!” Ginny could be heard raising her voice, but Harry knew she would be. “And don't mention the exams. She's almost ready to snap!!!!!”

He walked into the library, saw that it was indeed deserted and walked to the back end of the library, in the restricted area. All of the seniors were permitted to be in this part of the library now, especially with the final exams so close. He stuck his head around the section almost hidden by the reference area. Normally empty this area had two cushions resting on the floor that Harry and Hermione had placed there themselves. This was almost Hermione's home away from home for the last month. As far as Harry knew no-one knew this of this oasis of learning. She wasn't there.

He turned, wondering where to start searching for her, and smiled. Winki saw the smile and knew what it meant. Over in the window pane a small hunched form could be seen huddled in the window, a blanket over her shoulders and books lying open on the floor.

Harry quietly walked to her, and smiled. He sat and shook her gently.

Hermione's head snapped up as her eyes open. Disorientated for the briefest fraction of time she quickly regained her senses. Seeing Harry, she smiled.

“I was - - “

“I know,” Harry said softly, quickly scanning the books around him. Not surprisingly they all had something in common. “Ancient runes. You studied, probably half the night and needed the moon to see by.” Harry smiled, to be with her is all he ever needed or wanted. He understood she was starting to experience heightened nerves due to the exams, but he didn't really understand.

Winki walked forward. “Mistress Granger HAS to have breakfast Ma'a'm”

Hermione smiled and took one of the offered bacon sandwiches, quickly taking a bite and realised she was hungry. “Thank you Winki,” Hermione said, and the House Elf departed with a `CRACK'.

“Thanks Harry.” She sighed but continued to eat. All the pressure, was getting to her, this was all too much. She looked at Harry and saw the mess of dark untidy hair, the scar hidden beneath his fringe, and then she saw his deep emerald green eyes.

He smiled, and sat next to her. “Hogsmead weekend,” Harry said simply, and she nodded, but continued to eat.”

“I know,” she said. “Last bash for fun before the exams.”

He took her in, her look; her colour; her expression. His heart sung.

“Hard to forget,” Hermione continued. “It's only tomorrow afternoon.”

Harry's turn to nod. Thursday normally led to Friday and Friday afternoon was the time Hogsmead weekends begun.

“I'm not going,” Hermione said, and was not surprised when Harry didn't argue the point. For the last weeks she had begun to get steadily more and more nervous about the final exams, and had spent every moment possible studying.

She looked at him, and reached for another sandwich and noted Harry had taken one too. “You?”

He shook his head.

Something in the way he did told her something. It told her he wasn't not going simply because Hermione had decided not to, so he explained.

“Kingsley wants to see me again,” Harry smiled. His almost monthly visits to the Ministry of Magic were something that had begun a few months back. During those times Kingsley would simply talk to him, see how Harry was going, offer advice and suggestions as well as to see if there was anything the Ministry could do for him.

“Owled me this morning.” Hermione nodded again; Harry's visits were approved by Headmistress McGonagall.

“How are you going?” Hermione asked him, and his reply was a smile. Not a smile of overconfidence, but instead one that said he knew what hard work lay ahead, she knew he was working hard, and that he was working towards his goal. “What did Kingsley say about your trial marks?”

“Good on Potions, excellent on DADA, make a better effort on charms because they are important, and don't leave anything to chance.”

She smiled. Harry HAD worked hard this year. Ever since Voldemort was killed it was as if something had happened within him, and he really had started to apply himself. His results were amazing considering how poorly he had studied up to now, but he still had work to do before he achieved a result he would be happy with; for the Ministry to accept him into their Auror training programme.

“If all goes well, I won't have to worry about too many catch up courses this summer,” Harry said. Realistically he might JUST scrape by without needing any, but that was something he wouldn't know until he had his results. “Ginny, said not to mention the exams,” Harry said with that grin and noticed the imperceptible flinch Hermione Jane Granger gave, at hearing the dreaded `E' word. “So I won't. Whoops, too late!”

She put her half eaten third sandwich down, and groaned. Harry picked it back up and handed it to her, and she finished it.

“I'm not going to make it,” Hermione said and shook just slightly. “Look at me. I'm going to----“

Harry took her in his arms and kissed her honey golden locks “---are going to do fine.”

“No I'm not - - “

He smiled again “What? Worried a 97 percent in Ancient Runes will bring your average down?”

She looked up at him sharply “Harry, Runes is - - “

“I know, THE hardest subject, and you've aced it because you work hard at it. You are nervous sure, and will get almost intolerable in the next three weeks. But I'm not letting you break. I won't let you fall apart. Hermione you've worked too hard come too far for that.”

She leant against his chest, and didn't see the look of sheer adoration on his face. He loved her, lived for her, and would be nothing without her.

“Come with me this weekend,” Harry said.

“The Ministry?”

He nodded. “Why not? We'll have an afternoon in London, seeing the sights, and then we can go to Grimmauld for Saturday and Sunday.”

She looked at him, and saw Harry's expression was kind and caring.

“That is - - ,” he continued “If Mum and Dad say it's alright.”

She smiled. Harry had had no hidden undertones behind the offer, merely the thought of getting her away from school for a few days and allowing her to clear her head.

“Stay at your place?” she asked.

Harry shrugged. “Why not? Tonks will be there and Remus too. It will be quiet, and of course you can have any - - “

Now it was Hermione's turn to interrupt him. “I know Harry. You wouldn't have made the offer just for - - .”

Now Harry smiled. They understood each other perfectly. “Bring your books, all of them, and we'll study for the whole 2 days. I figure if we get back just before breakfast Monday we can get a lot done.

Hermione thought, maybe this was what she needed. “But - -“

“Already taken care of. McGonagall said if your parents agree she will allow it. She EVEN said it was a nice idea and if she receives an owl from your parents before tomorrow evening she will give her permission.

Hermione thought, wondering how something so simple sounded so appealing.

“Though I CAN'T promise you,---” Harry said in an almost whisper “That there won't be some snogging.” His arms came around her and held her.

“I wouldn't go unless you promised there would be Harry,” She said and this time they laughed together, before she reached up and kissed his lips. They kissed very slowly, but tenderly for a very long time, and broke with smiles.

“Any room you like,” Harry said. “And I'm not kidding about the books. You will need them, all.”

“I know, I have lots to do.”

“No you don't” Harry said quickly. “You just think you do. But I'm here for you like you have always been there for me Mione, and I'll do whatever it takes to get you through the next three weeks.”

She sighed, SO in love with this boy.

“How are you going Harry?”

He smiled “Lots to do. Potions is the worst, regardless of what Kingsley says. Charms I FEEL okay about, and well, - - - HEY I only have one chapter to go in `Hogwarts A History.”

“Only one?” she asked with a wry expression.

“Yep. I'll have that done before lunch today. And you know the REALLY clever thing about leaving it this late?” Harry asked to Hermione's giggle.

“What?”

“It will all be fresh.”

She kissed him again and smiled “That ALMOST makes sense.”

“So Owl your Mum and Dad and THEN decide what you want to do.”

She agreed “THAT does make perfect sense. Okay I'll do it. But when you said see London, what did you have in mind?”

Harry shrugged. “Whatever you like. I'll take you shopping if you'll let me, see a movie, whatever. YOU need a break.”

Hermione was too tired to argue.

“I know you are going to get damn near the best results possible, your assessments have all been A+ or close enough to, and I understand how tightly wound you are.”

“Is that how I feel?” she asked with a grin “Tightly wound?”

“Very. You need a break, and the weekend off.”

“This sounds like the old Harry,” she said “Always trying to put off schoolwork and study.

“Except it isn't. You've seen my results this year, and you have helped more than I can say. Mione without you I am nothing. I'd be - - “

“Shhhhhh” she placed a finger on his lips. By almost silent agreement they rarely spoke about that.

“Ron was there,” she reminded him.

“And YOU stood beside me the whole time. You, me and Ron all defeated him. Now that is our past and our exams are a few weeks off. Take the weekend off, though it won't be like that because I am serious about studying.”

“I know you are,” she said, loving the feel of being in his arms.

“I love you,” he said simply, and Hermione felt her heart beat in reply. “I always will.”

She sighed and purred, loving this moment. “I know. And I know I'll always love you too.”

He kissed her head.

“You're going ok?” she asked again.

“Yep. I figure I should be okay for the essay part of the Potions exam.”

“Really?” she asked looking up at him. “How? Even I wouldn't say that.”

“I've looked long at hard at the last 3 years exams. They all had generic questions meant to be as wide ranging as possible. As long as I have an opinion relevant to the subject, and can logically and consistently argue my points I'll get reasonable marks.”

“Which will be?” she asked.

Harry paused “The Unnecessary Difficulty of the Polyjuice Potion.”

Hermione smiled.

“I could almost write the essay now,” Harry said. “I've spent weeks researching it.”

“I must admit, it's not a view I've read before.”

“Which scores me points for originality doesn't it?” and Hermione nodded.

“So - - -?” Hermione asked and Harry proceeded.

“Consider the ingredients; lacewing flies, leeches, powdered bicorn horn, knotgrass, fluxweed and shredded boomslang skin.” Harry had mentioned not only all the ingredients correctly, but in the order they were listed in the text, and in a manner that said he was confident. “Leeches are fairly common, no problem there, and the powdered bicorn horn is stocked by every potion supply sore. The knotgrass is, as you would say, problematic as it only grows a few months of the year - - “

“Spring mostly,” Hermione added and Harry nodded.

“And has to be prepared well if it is to be stored. Even Neville said it took an expert hand to treat it properly. Of course you know the fluxweed has to be picked at full moon and that DOESN'T keep so you have to be Johnny on the spot.”

“Where did you- - - ?”

“Shhh.” Harry continued. “The Boomslang skin, also common, but there are three different varieties.”

Hermione was surprised to hear that. “Really?”

Harry nodded “European, Asian, mostly found in Mongolia, and the Northern Boomslang. Which did you use for the potion you made in 2^nd year?'

She thought back “I don't know. I didn't even know there were three different types.

“Makes no real difference, but if I want my essay to be complete I have to mention it. Snape told me. I know I know, but he asked and I told him what I had planed. He heard me out, made some suggestions and thinks I may be able to scrawl together something reasonable.”

“Does it surprise you he stayed with Potions when he came back to school?” Hermione asked. “I mean he always wanted DADA.”

Harry thought. “Surprised me he came back. I told him too. I thought it was very courageous of him to do that. After all - - “

Hermione nodded. Dark territory; lets not go there.

“But the most interesting ingredient are the lacewing flies.”

She shifted her weight to make herself more comfortable. “Why?”

“Not for the flies, they are common place. But it's the nature of preparation. Stewed is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as a gentle simmering. But the point is if you cook them too hard they boil and you lose the potency, too little and the active ingredients aren't released.”

“Active - - - ?”

Harry grinned; she had seen the crux of his essay in a single heartbeat.

“Exactly. The Bicorn horn can be powdered but the lacewing flies can't? See my point is that it should be possible to prepare the lacewing flies more simply and in large quantities without reducing the potency of the potion.”

Hermione interrupted Harry with a kiss. Sweet, gentle, loving and very long.

“I am so proud of you,” she said. “And I can see you know your stuff.

“So do you,” Harry said and moved so that he now held her in his arms and kissed him again. Sloooow and deep, his hands around her waist and hers coiled around Harry's neck as she drew him closer. She was not going to let him go. Her tongue met and found his own, and at the first briefest touch a shudder leapt up Harry's spine and down into Hermione's. The heat started to rise in his cheeks as he fell into her kiss.

He broke reluctantly. “Enough about me. You?”

Pointless to avoid the subject, she knew what he was asking. “I don't know. Something with books.”

As a career option, the idea of Hermione Granger and books just went together like hand in glove, or heart in heart.

“Writing or reading?” Harry asked. The same question her own father asked her too many times.

She sighed, she really didn't know. “Both?”

Harry looked at her now, she had something in mind. “I received an owl from the Manager of Flourish and Blotts,” Hermione told him.

“The bookshop?”

She nodded. As far as Hogwarts and Diagon Alley was concerned there was only one bookshop. “They have asked me to apply for School Corrections Officer.”

Harry thought and knew he didn't know the term.

“That is?”

She grinned. “They want to take on board ALL the school texts, and not just for Hogwarts but ALL the Magic schools. They need someone to review the existing works and make corrections as well as to liaise with the Department for additions.”

Harry let out a soft whistle. “Sounds like you HAVE the job already.” He looked at her with admiration and pride. “I love you so much, and I'm lucky to have you.”

She smiled and felt her heart start to melt “Harry - - “

“I know. You're not sure but you don't have to make a decision now. Consider it.”

She let out a soft laugh “The EXACT words Mum used.”

“Good. Then listen to good advice. Mione you can do ANYTHING. I love you and I want to be with you always. And if I have learnt only one thing this year it's that you have nothing to worry about. YOU are perfect even though you work so hard. Stop trying to prove anything. You can't work any harder.”

She fell against his chest and once more his arms enveloped her. He continued to stroke her ego with soft whispers, whispers that come from his heart.

“The bossy brown haired girl that I bumped into on the Hogwarts express has shown over the last 7 years that there isn't anything she can't do. When she realises that, it's time to get out of her way. Snape even asked about the Polyjuice in 2^nd year and he is impressed. He added that had he known at the time he would have shown you how to make the potion last longer.”

She grinned at him. “Hmmmmmmm, I'm trying to decide who I'd like you to look like.”

Harry laughed “What? So you'd fancy me more if I was cuter?”

“That isn't possible, either that I could fancy you more or that you COULD be cuter.” She brushed his cheek and ruffled his hair, just the way he loved. “I love you Harry. And have for a long long time. At times you made me crazy, or annoyed the crap out of me - - .”

Harry chuckled.

“But that's only because I knew how much you were in my heart.”

He smiled and thought about kissing her again. He didn't because first lesson was only a few minutes away and Harry knew if he did they would be likely to be snogging all morning.

“Any room?” she asked and it took Harry a second before the relevance of the question registered.

“Sure. You name it. Plenty on the 2^nd and third floor, and the Room of Requirement is at your complete disposal should you need it.

Hermione looked to be in deep thought, but she wasn't. “Okay. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend the weekend Harry. Thank you, I accept.”

He looked at her and saw a sparkle in her cute brown eyes.

“Studying?” he asked.

She nodded “I know. I have tons to do. But I choose the largest bedroom.

Harry chuckled, he knew that room well. It was his.

“You'll have to share,” he said and now couldn't NOT kiss her; she looked too lovely, and once more their lips met and his heart melted.

“I wouldn't have it any other way.”

They kissed again, and 15 minutes later both snuck into charms lesson, to the snickering of Ron but strangely no-one else seemed to notice; invisibility cloaks came in so handy like that.

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