Final exam week hit like a freight train.
The castle felt tighter every day. Students wandered the corridors muttering spells under their breath, eyes bloodshot from late-night cramming. Some clutched vials of Ox and Horse Potion like lifelines, chugging the wake-up brew between classes. The library stayed packed from dawn till midnight, and even the quiet corners of the hallways had been claimed by desperate kids with open textbooks.
Room of Requirement.
Lucien's tutoring sessions ran on schedule. The long table was buried under notes and textbooks. After they mapped out the big-picture review, Lucien had Harry, Malfoy, and the others take turns teaching the subjects they were strongest in. It helped everyone else and locked the material deeper into their own heads.
During a break, Ron glanced at Hermione.
"Hey, Hermione—can I borrow your History of Magic and Astronomy notes from last term?"
Hermione set down her quill, eyebrows raised. "Last term?"
Ron shrugged, looking a little sheepish. "Yeah. Ginny asked. That girl's hopeless when it comes to studying."
He shook his head, the classic big-brother sigh. Ginny loved running around with Luna, chasing whatever weird thing caught their fancy. Ron had been thinking—maybe he should drag his little sister into these sessions next year. Let her taste real studying for once. His mum would love it; she'd kill for another academic star like Bill or Percy in the family. Ginny herself? She was too young to know what was good for her. As her brother, it was his job to plan her future.
Exams kicked off for real.
History of Magic, Astronomy, Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Herbology—one brutal round after another. Most students came out looking like they'd gone ten rounds with a troll. Written tests were manageable if you'd actually memorized the material, but the practicals—Transfiguration, Charms, Potions—left plenty of hands shaking while they waved wands or stirred cauldrons.
The one bright spot? No Defense Against the Dark Arts exam this year.
Between Lockhart's clown show, Snape's temporary takeover, and the rotating heads of house filling in after the cauldron incident, the teaching had been all over the place. McGonagall had just canceled the final. Students whispered about it everywhere—in the corridors, the Great Hall, the common rooms.
"What's next year's Defense professor going to be like?"
"Think this one will last more than a few months?"
The gossip gave everyone something to talk about besides the exams crushing their souls.
When they finally walked out of the Potions exam—the last one—the sunlight hitting the stone floors felt almost too bright. Hermione and Harry looked relaxed. Potions had never been a problem for them. Ron wasn't as natural at it, but with the tutoring crew backing him up, passing had never been in doubt.
He stretched, arms cracking. "Snape didn't even prowl the exam hall this year. No death stare. No making everyone clench up while he walked past. Weird."
In past years, Snape's slow circuit around the room had been its own kind of torture. One look from those black eyes and students froze mid-stir, terrified of screwing up under that glare.
Lucien kept his face neutral, but inside he smirked. The old bat was probably in a great mood, already picturing himself as the permanent Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next term. Once you've tasted real power, going back to the dungeon feels like punishment.
Still… next year could get ugly.
Snape and Lupin had hated each other since their school days. Add in Lupin stealing the job Snape had wanted for years, and those old grudges were going to explode. New fights on top of the old ones. That was going to be one hell of a year.