For the two week Easter break Harry, Hermione, Ron, and every other fifth year completely forgot about the outside world. There was only one thing that mattered to any of them: O.W.L.s. With the start of Easter break they could no longer count the time until the exams that would have a major impact on their future in months and they were down to weeks.
This lit a fire under all of them, even the non-serious students like Ron and Lavender spent most of their time with their heads in their textbooks or poring over their old class notes. The only real breaks Harry and Hermione had were their prefect duties and the boyfriend and girlfriend activities that Harry was sure were the only thing keeping him and Hermione from becoming complete nervous wrecks of stress.
They had seen first hand the issues that O.W.L. stress could have on their year mates. They had already had to take three of their year mates to Madam Pomphrey for emergency calming droughts. The stress was also leading to normally level headed students making stupid decisions. Like when Harry had to stop Dean Thomas from spending five galleons on powdered dragon horn being sold by a sixth year Ravenclaw who claimed it was how he had gotten straight outstandings in his O.W.L.s the year before.
Of course not only was powdered dragon horn illegal to use for your exams and banned altogether in Hogwarts because using it had some pretty serious long term health risks, but it also turned out to be fake. The Ravenclaw had just ground down some dried out chicken bones he had collected from dinner a few weeks before and was scamming the fifth years.
The only group of students who seemed to have it worse than the fifth years were the seventh years getting ready for their N.E.W.T.s. Not a single one of them looked like they had had a good night sleep in weeks and it was still weeks out from the exams. If Harry hadn't been so preoccupied with his own future just watching the seventh years would be enough to give him anxiety.
The twins Fred and George were the biggest surprise. It seemed that they had a deal with Sirius that if they got enough N.E.W.T.s then he would make a major investment into their business after school. Harry didn't know the details but it was apparently enough motivation to get the twins working hard enough to have some jokingly ask if they were Hermione under polyjuice potion.
The only break Harry took apart from Easter Sunday, where the entire school was more interested in chocolate eggs, was a relatively quick trip to St. Mungo's hospital at the end of the second week. There he remade Tanaka's leg and the two of them signed their contracts so that now Harry was actually limited in what he could demand of her and the cost was formalised. After helping out the cursebreaker, Harry and Charlus spent a couple of hours with the Director of St. Mungo's in her office signing the forms that finally gave Harry's spell the St. Mungo's seal of approval and set in place a standard contract.
The new contract was a little different from the one's Harry had with Krum and Tanaka. For one, St. Mungo's law wizards absolutely refused to let Harry continue with only one galleon a year. Harry would now be paid one galleon a month from each person going forward, for every limb that was replaced. Then Harry would have to give half of that gold to St. Mungo's. In return they would provide a space in the hospital for him to work in, cover a few administrative costs, and Harry's clients would be covered as St. Mungo's patients.
That was another thing, Harry was forbidden to use any formal language that suggested that the people he was helping were his patients. Harry wasn't a healer and he couldn't present himself as one until such time as he got a healers qualification. As that was something that Harry didn't think he was going to do, Harry had to make sure he kept to the correct language. It apparently had something to do with liability and insurance.
Harry wouldn't be helping anyone for a few months yet. First every adult around him agreed that he should be focused on his exams right now. Not surprising considering they were a bunch of healers and law wizards; those weren't jobs you got if you hadn't taken your own education seriously. Secondly they wanted Harry to wait until he was at least sixteen to before he started helping.
Even if he had to wait, the contracts and legal documents were signed and they already had Harry booked in for his first day on the second of August. Between now and then the hospital would reach out to everyone in their records who could use a new arm or leg and inform them of the new offer.
Harry did have one demand though. "About the people who say they want a new arm or leg. I want you to give priority to anyone who either works for the D.M.L.E. or anyone who left the D.M.L.E. because of their injury and are likely to rejoin after getting their new limbs."
"Why?" Asked Healer Jenner. The old witch was just an administrator now but she was still a fully qualified healer and made sure everyone knew it.
"Because Voldemort is still a massive threat who wants to kill me and a lot of other people. I won't try to push anyone into fighting but if everyone is stable then I think the people who are volunteering deserve to jump to the front of the queue." Harry told her.
Healer Jenner was reluctant. It went against her years of experience as a healer. To her you treated the most injured first then moved on to the next to save the most lives. However the people Harry would help would have already had their wound site closed and healed like they had done with Tanaka's. So there was no medical reason not to do it Harry's way and if Voldemort and his group of terrorists could be stopped sooner than less people would be being hurt and killed.
After that Harry and Charlus took Tanaka back to the cottage where she could rejoin her colleagues. That quickly turned into a celebration among the curse breakers. Celebrations amongst curse breakers quickly devolved into curse scar show and tell. Each of them would take a turn, show off a scar then tell the story of how they got it. Harry shocked them all when it was his turn, by showing not the scar on his forehead that everyone already knew about and was expecting, but the scar on his left forearm that he got from the basilisk.
It was one thing to know Harry had slain a basilisk because of the publicity used to drive up the price of the harvest. It was another thing for four seasoned curse breakers to listen to a fifteen year old tell the story of how he got bitten by a monster that had one of if not the most deadly venoms known to all magical kind, while he stabbed it through the roof of its mouth with a sword. Honestly if Harry had been with any other curse breakers he would have probably won the game but Tanaka of course took the top spot. Losing an arm and a leg to two Horcruxes was a prize winning story. Especially when the 'scars' she was left with were so unique. At least unique for now. Not long after that it was back to Hogwarts in time for dinner for Harry and Charlus.
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After the Easter holidays lessons changed for the fifth years. No class was teaching them anything new anymore and had shifted to full on revision lessons. Each professor took the time to remind them that there was only five weeks until their exams and with each subject only having about three in-class hours a week, that was fifteen hours per subject to review five years worth of education. Every single professor told them that they expected the students to put in just as much time revising out of lessons as they did in class. Eight hours a day, every day for five weeks. And that was the minimum that was expected and was given to them as homework.
Over the next few weeks Harry and his friends lost track of everything as they got closer to the date of their exams. Harry and Hermione even let their prefect rounds lapse, too busy going over their last five years of education to care about who was sneaking around after curfew.
The night before Harry and Hermione's first exam the Ministry testers arrived. This led to a lot of rubbernecking from the fifth year students. All of them were curious to see the people who would be marking their exams. If Harry had to boil his impression down to one word it would be 'experienced' if he was being diplomatic or 'old' if he was being blunt. Every single one of them looked like they had at least two maybe even more decades on Dumbledore who until then was Harry's benchmark for the oldest person he had ever seen. Or at least the oldest human, he had no idea how other magical races aged.
Their schedule was overwhelming for the next week. Harry had nine subjects to sit exams for and five of them had both practical and theory exams. Hermione had more because she was taking arithmancy in addition to every subject Harry took. With eighteen exams to fit in five days, even if the astronomy practical was to take place at night and no student taking all of the electives it left their days rather cramped.
There were four scheduled exams on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday with two on Thursday. The reason for the two on Thursday was because their astronomy practical was on Wednesday night and at some point someone with some sense had worked out that keeping everyone up all night then expecting them to sit exams first thing in the morning was a recipe for disaster.
Monday was given to two of their core subjects: potions and charms. They did their potions theory first thing in the morning, after that had a fifteen minute break before they went back and did the practical. Professor Potter got to sit in at the front of the room for both potions exams and whenever Harry started to feel nervous he glanced up only to find his grandfather beaming with confidence at all of his students reassuring them all that he believed they could do this.
For the practical they had to brew one of the many potions from memory and Harry couldn't help but smile when he found that not only was skele-gro, the potion his grandfather had drilled into him and Hermione for their dueling practice first aid kit on the list, as a more complex potion it was actually worth extra points.
After that it was time for lunch. Only none of the fifth years took the time to talk and barely even noticed what food they were eating, all too engrossed in a book of charms theory or a pile of notes to do anything else.
After dinner it was almost exactly the same as their potions theory that morning. They all filed into the great hall again after it had been reset for exams and sat at individual desks that were at least arms width apart from the next desk, they were issued quills and ink that had anti-cheating charms on them and then booklets of questions were handed out that they weren't allowed to open until the exam was started.
It was after the theory that it switched up a little. Instead of them all being led into the great hall to do their practical, like had happened with potions, instead they had to line up outside the hall in alphabetical order of their last names. That put Harry between Sally-Anne Perks and Oliver Rivers, both from Hufflepuff. The examiners then called them in groups of five.
Harry's turn came well after Hermione and well before Ron. His group was eventually called "Parkinson, Patil, Patil, Perks, Potter. The five of them walked into the great hall together with Parkinson shooting Harry a disgusted look. Unfortunately if Harry understood how they were running the exams he would be in the same practical group as Parkinson for all of the core subjects this week. 'Great.' He couldn't keep the sarcastic thought out of his head.
Harry was sent to one of the examiners who introduced herself. "Afternoon Mr Potter I am Griselda Marchbanks and the exam is straight forward. I will tell you what effect I want you to produce and you will use any charms you know to produce the effect. Sometimes if you manage the task without the use of a certain charm I will ask you to perform the charm I need to check your competency. Now first can you make this large die jump six feet in the air, do a somersault, change colour, and land with the six facing up please."
Harry took a second to think about what combination of spells would be able to do that and immediately the sound of Hermione's voice the day they became friends poured into his memory, 'it's levi-O-sah not levio-SAR' and he smiled to himself; he had this.
Professor Bagshot finished her list of tasks and asked. "Anything you would like to demonstrate for extra credit?"
Harry smiled, if this was going to be something he could do for all his practical exams he was going to have to work out just what he was going to do for them all. But right now he had just the spell in mind "Expecto patronum!" Harry called out and the silvery stag that resembled his fathers Animagus form burst forth from his wand and ran around the room.
"Very good Mr Potter, that isn't just post Owl education, that's post Newt. Very well done. Now off you go and be sure to get plenty of rest before tomorrow as well as studying." The examiner dismissed him and Harry was sure he had done pretty well.
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Tuesday Harry actually had it pretty easy because of the four exams that day, they were all for the O.W.L. electives and they were all written. The reason Harry had a break was simply because he, like most of the students, only took two subjects. Only about 30% of his year mates, Hermione among them, took three subjects. So Harry had his exam for Ancient Runes and Care of Magical Creatures, Hermione had the same but also Arithmancy. Ron actually had it the easiest as Divination was split into theory and practical so it was the only elective that wasn't being tested that day. However he would pay for it on Thursday as the only two exams that day were for divination.
Both of Harry's exams were in the morning, Care of Magical Creatures first and runes right after that. Of all of his exams so far, runes was the hardest. Harry supposed that was because of how late he joined the class. Despite managing to test into the subject in his fourth year the truth was he had only been learning the subject for two years rather than the three of his classmates. Still he was sure he had done enough to get into the N.E.W.T. class if he wanted.
After lunch Harry hit the books for his exams the next day: History of Magic, Herbology and Astronomy. Hermione joined him for a while sitting in the library quietly only, she was going over her Arithmancy notes for her exam that would be after the Muggle Studies exam that was being held at that moment.
Madam Pince actually committed what Harry thought she would never and shouted in the library. "The next exam starts in ten minutes! If you are due to sit the Arithmancy exam, pack up your things and get moving!" Harry wasn't taking that exam but he packed up along with Hermione and walked her down. He wouldn't put it past some of the more vindictive people in the school to curse Hermione in the back if they saw her alone leaving her in the hospital wing during the exam.
Once the doors opened, the Arithmancy students in Harry gave his girlfriend a quick hug, wished her luck and sat his arse down to wait. As it was right outside the exams hall, there were professors milling around out of curiosity over how their students were doing and that meant that Harry felt pretty safe where he was and opened one of his history books to go over what he needed to remember for tomorrow. History was after all his weakest subject.
When Hermione got out of her exam she broke down barely two steps out of the door. Two days of exams was just too much for her and she was now convinced she had failed everything and was going to have her wand snapped and her memories of the magical world erased. Despite the plan to go and revise, Harry needed to help Hermione first. Luckily Hermione wasn't the first high strung student to have a minor breakdown over their exams and there was a fairly simple way to deal with it.
First Harry escorted a crying Hermione to the hospital wing for a calming draught. It was a little work to get Hermione to drink it but once she had she relaxed almost immediately. That and a second draught to take before bed was as much help as Madam Pomphrey could give Hermione, now it was Harry's turn.
"How are you feeling now?" Harry asked, crouching in front of Hermione who was sitting on the edge of one of the hospital beds, her eyes locked on her lap in embarrassment.
"I'm fine." Hermione said dismissively trying to get the attention off her.
"Come on, let's go for a walk and clear our heads." Hary suggested holding his hand out to her invitingly.
Hermione took it and Harry led her out of the wing then out of the castle itself. It was only when they were strolling along the shore of the lake he asked. "So what happened?"
Hermione blushed. "I couldn't answer one of the questions, then I started thinking about what would happen if I failed, then about if I failed everything and had my wand snapped. I was terrified they were going to obliviate me and I would lose everything. Not just all the work I put into my education, but the people as well. Ron, Ginny and the Weasleys. Uncle Charlus and Sirius…" she barely muttered the next word but Harry heard it anyway. "You."
"Hermione, I promise you you will never lose me." Harry reassured her
"You can't promise that Harry, the Ministry has some pretty strict rules about failed muggleborns." Hermione said as she looked over the lake.
"Yep and there are ways to keep you in the magical world long enough to pass your O.W.L.s if by some miracle you have managed to do what I suspect not even Crabbe and Goyle have managed and failed everything." Harry reassured.
"Oh yeah, how would you do it?" Hermione sounded like she didn't believe him.
"I'd just marry you." Harry said with a tender smile.
"Harry, we agreed not to talk about that for a few years yet. And you're only fifteen." Hermione said.
"I know, but if it's a choice between losing you and getting married early then I would gladly take that step with you." Harry leaned in, put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her temple.
Hermione leaned into his chest just taking comfort from his presence. They stood there like that in silence for almost twenty minutes. "While you can't panic and worry, what do you think you have done on your exams so far? Not your grade, just pass or fail."
Harry could see Hermione thinking so he remained quiet. He asked her this now while she was still under the effects of the calming draught for a reason.
"Well I'm pretty sure I passed potions, even without the written part brewing a skele-gro potion was enough to get me an Acceptable. And same with charms I was able to cast a protean charm for extra credit so again I think I definitely passed. Care of Magical Creatures was pretty easy and looking back I may not get the Outstanding on the Runes or Arithmancy papers but I'm sure I scored at least an Acceptable."
"What you consider acceptable or what is considered acceptable by the education system?" Harry prodded. He was fully aware of how high a standard Hermione held herself to.
She blushed at being called out. "My acceptable."
"So the truth is you have already secured yourself a passing grade in five subjects. What do you actually need to keep your wand?" Harry prodded.
"One OWL." Hermione admitted.
"So what does that mean?" Harry pressed he needed Hermione to realise something.
"That I'm an idiot who gets to keep her wand to do house work." Hermione said self disparagingly.
Harry actually growled in frustration. "No it means my beautiful and amazingly smart witch has already secured herself five Owls, probably all Outstandings and on the off chance she hasn't managed to get a grade she needs then she has every opportunity to take the exam again in the future." Harry told her. "So you don't need to worry about losing your wand, your friends, or even me, because you have already won. Now it's just about seeing how high you can fly."
The metaphor was a bit clunky but it got Harry's message across. They stayed there together for a while as Harry helped Hermione with the worst of her anxieties and provided a sympathetic ear for the smaller ones. They stayed like that until it was time for dinner.
-ϟϟϟ-
Harry was sure he did well for his Herbology exam. Unfortunately he doubted he did too well because he had trouble remembering which plants were from where and because of that what climate they were best suited for. However he was sure his knowledge on how each plant could try and defend itself was enough to keep him from failing.
History though was a complete disaster. Sure there were some topics such as witch burnings, the establishment of the Statute of Secrecy and the Wizengamot but over half of the exam was on goblin rebellions and you needed specific dates and names for each rebellion. In the end Harry had just scrawled messages like 'the Wizengamot tried to take something that wasn't theirs again and the goblins kicked off until the wizards took their heads out of their ass.' He was sure he would get a terrible grade but it was a subject he had little need for in his future and he just didn't have the capacity to care when he still had far more important exams to deal with.
They had their astronomy theory right after lunch and this one Harry was sure he did fine on. If you memorise the constellation map, something he and most students did to make their theory exam easier, then you would work out most of the answers. He wasn't sure how much of it he would remember next week but it was enough for now.
After that was a free afternoon until their astronomy exam at half past eleven that night. A lot of the fifth years hit the books immediately but Harry took a different tack, he went to bed. His idea was simple. Take a nap between now and dinner and then hit the books after he ate. This way he wouldn't be as worn out when it was time for their practical.
Hermione tried to convince him not to but he won her around. "Hermione, I'm not going to be able to fill out and label a star chart if I'm too tired to keep my eyes open. I'm not refusing to revise, I will go over my notes after dinner. What I am doing is making sure I am in the best condition to take the exam. Why don't you come with me and take a nap?"
Hermione hesitated but went with him and despite Ron wiggling his eyebrows suggestively he and Hermione did nothing but nap. After dinner they were refreshed and hit the books hard. Harry pointed out to Hermione just how many of their fellow Gryffindor year mates looked like they wanted to go to bed while they felt fine and she was glad that Harry had convinced her to take the nap.
The exam itself was easy enough if somewhat monotonous. Harry used his telescope for all of twenty minutes until he had one constellation mapped out on his star chart. After that he filled out the rest from memory only having to check the position of the planets for that day.
-ϟϟϟ-
On Thursday Harry focused on his spell work. The only exams he had left were Defence against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration, two of his better subjects, so he really wanted to impress for his bonus points. He already had the perfect spell for Defence, the lightning spell he had used to take down a dragon more than a year ago so what he needed was a way to make it safe to demonstrate. You couldn't just randomly go shooting lightning bolts in the great hall without causing significant damage.
Then he needed to transfigure something impressive. Luckily for him a suggestion from Ron gave Harry the key to doing both at the same time so when it came time to show off his transfiguration ability the next day Harry transfigured part of the floor into a fine looking suit of armour. It was mirror polished dark metal and taking inspiration from the lesson he had from Mrs Weasley last year it was overlaid with a pale golden metal forming an intricate celtic knot that Harry had once seen somewhere, he couldn't remember where, probably an art book in junior school.
That had earned Harry a smile from his examiner and Harry was off to get ready for his next exam as soon as he had set the floor to rights. He worked through his Defence theory and practical and it was finally time to show off. He remade the suit of armour and was just about to continue when the examiner said. "You will need to do something you haven't shown me yet Mr Potter."
"Oh I know professor but what I'm going to show you needs a target. Now where was I? Oh yes I just need to transfigure a stone in the wall into metal and run a metal cable directly into the ground outside." Harry suited his actions to his words and the suit of armour now had a chain wrapped around its ankle and going along the floor and out of the wall into the ground outside.
"Stand back and Professor, you may want to warn the others to take a second because this is going to be flashy and loud." Harry warned.
The examiner called for the other five to stop and they all turned to watch him, Parkinson looking like she wanted to hex him. Then once everyone was out of the way Harry cast "Fulmenactus!" Pushing more into the spell than he had ever been able to before. A bolt of lightning burst froth from Harry's wand and impacted the suit of armour and reduced it to molten slag.
The examiner looked at Harry, shock evident on his face. "Very well Mr Potter. If you can just set everything back to how it was before you can go."
Harry did just that and left the hall and as soon as he was out he felt a huge wave of relief wash over him. The exams were over, it was done, now it was just two weeks until he could go home for the summer.