By the time the news hit the school, it reached all ears. Albert was becoming popular among students and teachers at Hogwarts, since he was the person who fought the giant squid (that was the mysterious creature in the lake that took everyone) and won it. Albert (along with the people who were practising with Dumbledore) also saved all of the people who were taken by the squid. There were ten days left until the end of year exams started. Everyone was studying for what seemed to be hours. Olivia was by then fully recovered and kept on wondering what spell Snape might have used. 

‘Olivia! Focus!’ Isabell said, when Olivia told them what she was thinking, while they were revising in the library on a fine June day. ‘The tests are in ten days! You didn’t even start revising charms! It is the first test we have! This is not like you!’ Amelia said. 

‘I’m sorry, but that spell Snape used… it was so painful… like a sudden heart attack. He also used it on my dad...’ said Olivia, wondering. ‘Hey, do you think you can help me find it? Then I’ll start focusing.’

‘Sorry, but no. We have to revise,’ said Isabell. ‘I can’t believe we have this much to revise!’ she said, looking at all her notes then to Amelia.

‘Fine, if we pass our tests will you help me find it?’ Olivia asked.

‘Ok, deal,’ agreed Amelia. 

‘Sure, that is if Snape didn’t assign a million word long essay about whatever we learn the next day,’ said Isabell, staring at all the things she had to revise.

‘He won’t,’ said Olivia.

‘How do you know?’ Isabell asked.

‘Eh…’ she shrugged. ‘Professor Dum-’ 

‘You know,’ interrupted Isabell. ‘After this pile of revision I think I won’t be able to tell the difference between what’s possible and what’s not.’

‘Yeah, right,’ laughed Olivia. 

The girls studied into the night and after these ten days, it was finally time for the exams. 

Their first test was a written Charms exam. The girls entered the Charms classroom and Professor Flitwick was standing there. All the desks were separated apparently to prevent anyone from cheating. 

‘Hello everyone!’ squeaked Professor Flitwick. ‘We will start with the written test first.’ 

The professor started handing out exam sheets and giving them to students.

‘Now, I just want to point out that everything is enchanted to prevent cheating!’ warned Professor Flitwick. ‘So don’t bother trying to cheat or use correcting quills or anything, or else you will fail your exam.’

Everyone nodded stiffly.

‘Start, please.’

Olivia and Amelia were seated next to each other, Isabell was seated next to Hermione and Albert was next to Padma. They each received their test sheets and started writing almost at once.

‘So, what is the incantation for the Levitating Charm?’ Amelia whispered to herself. ‘Um…Wingardium Leviosa…’ She wrote the answer down. 

‘What is the wand movement for Wingardium Leviosa?’ Isabell brushed her head with her quill to help her remember. ‘Oh yeah, swish and flick.’  

One hour passed quickly and next there was a Transfiguration exam. Professor McGonagall watched them turn a mouse into a snuff box.

‘I think I did well…’ the girls heard Hermione say to Ron and Harry while they were going to the Charms class for the practical test. 

‘Of course she did,’ Isabell said, rolling her brown eyes. 

Amelia and Olivia laughed. Next, Professor Flitwick called them one by one into his class to see if they could make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk.

‘The test was quite easy actually,’ said Amelia, while they were going to the dungeons. 

‘I made the pineapple do the salsa too,’ Isabell laughed.

It was the potions exam next.

‘You will try and make a forgetfulness potion,’ Snape said in his cold voice when they entered the classroom. 

He made them all nervous, breathing down their necks while they tried to remember how to make a Forgetfulness Potion. The exam ended and the girls had to do a written Transfiguration assessment after that. They had a History of Magic test later on. 

‘One hour of answering questions about batty old wizards who'd invented Self-Stirring Cauldrons and we’d be free…’ Isabell said as they were going to the History of Magic classroom.

‘Batty old wizards! Knew you were gonna say that!’ Olivia laughed.

‘Who are these batty old wizards anyways? I never listen in History of Magic!’ Amelia asked worriedly.

‘Me neither, we have to waste most of our day just to watch a ghost who thinks he is still alive explain wars between wizards and some freaks who hate magic,’ Isabell said, laughing.

‘I guess so…’ said Amelia, grinning.

‘But would learning History of Magic affect our future? Know what I mean? Like when we would work…’ Olivia asked, slightly nervous.

‘Chill Olivia, this is still our first year-’ 

‘BUT WHAT IF THE SUBJECT DOES AFFECT MY FUTURE?’ Olivia started freaking out. ‘AND YOURS TOO!’

‘Don’t mention me in your moment of depression,’ Isabell said, stepping away from Olivia.

‘Guys we have the Defence Against the Dark Arts test to do tomorrow, last one I believe. Why don’t we just revise for it and hope we will get full marks, ok?’ Amelia said, yawning.

‘If I get less than 95% you will never see me again,’ Isabell laughed forcefully. ‘My parents will murder me.’

‘I don’t really know what my parents are going to do…’ said Amelia.

‘Excuse me, your father is in Azkaban, and your stepmom doesn’t even care,’ Olivia said. 

‘I don’t want to live with her, I’d rather live with Mrs. Malfoy and Draco…’ said Amelia, frowning. 

‘Or with us!’ Isabell said cheerfully.

‘I’m not sure I can though, my stepmom will force me to live with her or with them.’

‘Ah well, at least they will let you visit us?’  

‘Not sure… Anyways, time for the History of Magic test.’

‘No! Why?’ said Isabell, groaning. 

‘I dunno… we just have to do it…’ Olivia said.

The girls entered the History of Magic classroom and they sat in their normal seats, but Professor Binns wasn’t there, instead…

‘Snape,’ Olivia said under her breath.

‘WHAT?’ Isabell groaned even more. ‘Why have another test with him?’

‘Professor Binns couldn’t come, there have been some... issues, so fortunately, I am here,’ said Snape, grinning wickedly. ‘I would like to change up seats to prevent cheating…’

‘Worst… teacher… ever…’Isabell said as she stared at Snape with pure loath.

Snape changed up some seats such as: Ron, Hermione and Harry from each other and the girls. Amelia ended up sitting with Draco, Isabell with a Hufflepuff called Hannah Abbot, and Olivia with Pansy. The test went pretty badly, Snape kept on staring at them and was watching very closely with his dull black eyes.

‘I-I think I did good… OR DID I DO BADLY?’ Olivia said after they headed to their Dormitory.

‘Relax Olivia. Nothing will happen if-’ began Isabell.

‘NOTHING WILL HAPPEN?’

‘I did not complete my sentence but ok,’ said Amelia. ‘You really sound like Hermione right now.’ 

‘Well, I would blame Snape if I do fail. With his long nose dug into our parchments for the whole day.’

‘Time to go to bed for the last test tomorrow,’ Isabell said, laughing. 

They bade each other good-night and went to bed. They didn’t sleep for a while. They were all trying to remember everything they had in Defence Against the Dark Arts, but Olivia couldn’t stop thinking about her results, hoping they were at least above 95 percent.