Ink and Parchment ~ blood and bone

43

Eliza hated OWLS.

They weren’t hard, if anything it was more of the fact that they were an inconvenience. That was it, they were simply inconvenient. They made her court stressed, they made the whole of slytherin stressed actually, and they took up far too much time.

Every morning Eliza had to sit two, two-and-a-half-hour theory exams, eat a quick lunch and duck into the great hall for a second pair of practical exams. So far, she had completed her arithmancy and divination, alongside her transfiguration and charms. Which meant she only had 16 exams left, two for each remaining subject besides muggle studies and magical theory which both only had one.

She would break Tom’s OWL record or she would die trying.

Thankfully she didn’t have to schmooze up to her examiners that much for a chance to show off. Apparently, from what she had learned eavesdropping using the Weasley twins’ extendable ears, the examiners had been watching her in the Triwizard tournament and were very impressed.

None of them were impressed with Umbridge however. It seemed every time the toad was in the same room as them, they all decided to complain about Hogwarts’ sub-par standards. Nothing had calmed down outside Hogwarts, a thick layer of tension settling across all of Wizarding Britain as the time of the election drew closer.

But Eliza couldn’t focus on political manoeuvrings right now – she had some exam arse to kick.

“Eliza Potter” an elderly greying witch called and Eliza moved forward slipping into the chair at the desk. She had finished her muggle studies and defence theory exams earlier that morning. The practical side was an absolute breeze, she didn’t even have to show case any duelling although she was told that changed by NEWT year. Eliza had just finished demonstrating a (non-verbal) stupefy when the witch in front of her leaned forward curiously.

“Is it true that you can produce a fully corporeal patronus?” she asked and Eliza smiled smugly. There was no way she wasn’t beating Tom’s score now. She raised her wand, focusing on her happy memories and cast the spell.

Her patronus was still a hippogriff, not that she ever expected it to change, and the beast leapt out of her wand and started prancing around her desk distracting the other students. The hippogriff faced Marchbanks and bowed slightly on one of its scaly legs before it disappeared in a flash of silver vapour.

“Oh excellent” the lady fawned, and Eliza smiled sweetly in response.

Another exam, aced.

The week dragged on and Eliza drank more coffee than she ever had before in her life. Her court were barely awake around her as they sat at the table for dinner in the great hall. Blaise was softly dozing, face mushed up against his alchemy textbook.

“At least it’s Friday” Eliza offered as a means of consolation and Draco let out a distraught groan.

“There is no weekend anymore Eliza, it’s just cramming and cramming and more cramming”

“You don’t need to cram for potions” Daphne cut in “you don’t get to complain”

“Watch me”

Theo sighed heavily as they started arguing, Blaise continued to sleep at the table. OWL’s couldn’t end quick enough.

Eliza’s exams had all gone well today, ancient runes and her magical theory paper. The examiner for ancient runes had been ridiculously impressed with her project which Eliza was happy to say hadn’t blown up. She had cycled through many materials before realising she was an absolute idiot. She had barged into the boys’ room and had started unceremoniously digging through Blaise’s wardrobe until she found an old dusty Remembrall. She knew Blaise would have one, Blaise always had a collection of stupid trinkets like that. She nabbed that, and also took one of his sweaters for good measure.