Once most of the younger students had finished their exams, the fifth- and seventh-years were only then about to face their real challenge.
That challenge was the O.W.L.s for the fifth-years, the Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations, and the N.E.W.T.s for the students graduating from Hogwarts, the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests that every wizard had to go through.
The Hogwarts Great Hall.
Dinner was still quiet that evening. Partly because the fifth- and seventh-years still had exams ahead of them, and partly because no one was really in the mood to celebrate the coming holiday when it might very well turn into a very unusual break spent hiding at home the entire time.
Unless, of course, someone wanted to risk being attacked on the road by some unknown Death Eater or dark creature...
Just as the atmosphere at dinner was growing somewhat heavy, the doors of the Great Hall were suddenly pushed open.
Hearing the sound, Draco looked over. "So they're here... this year's examiners."
Everyone in the hall turned to look.
Umbridge, who had not appeared again since her last disappearance, was now walking in with a small group of elderly-looking wizards.
It seemed that the curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, the one that supposedly never let anyone last a full year, had not truly taken effect yet.
Or perhaps the reason it had not taken effect was that Umbridge had never actually fulfilled her duties as a professor in the first place.
Compared to teaching, Umbridge seemed far more interested in causing trouble in other professors' classes...
In any case, everyone noticed that Umbridge, who usually wore that fake smile, was showing a rare trace of nervousness on her face this time.
Clearly, it had something to do with the elderly wizards who had come to Hogwarts with her...
"They're here? I wonder which of them will be in charge of our exams."
"Who knows. I'm more curious about why Umbridge came too. Does she actually care about our exam results?"
"As if."
The younger students were not exactly unfamiliar with this scene. Every year around this time, these old wizards would appear, and some of the seventh-years could even recognize examiners who had once overseen their own O.W.L.s.
As the arrival of the old wizards stirred things up a little, Umbridge could be seen speaking respectfully to one elderly witch in particular.
The old witch seemed a little hard of hearing, because the two of them were standing very close together, and when she spoke, her voice was especially loud, as though she were afraid Umbridge would not hear her.
The next moment, Dumbledore stepped down from the staff table and walked over to the examiners.
Only then did that face of his, so burdened with worries lately, finally show a long-absent smile.
Apparently, when Dumbledore himself had taken his N.E.W.T.s, these examiners had been the ones in charge as well...
...
Once the O.W.L.s began, almost everyone forgot that Umbridge had reappeared. No one gave much thought to why she had come back.
Even though the Ministry of Magic was in greater need of people than ever, Umbridge, as the Senior Undersecretary, had instead shown up at Hogwarts.
It was only after all the exams were over that Hermione finally remembered Umbridge's presence.
To be precise, what Umbridge had been doing during that period had simply been too conspicuous to ignore...
"How many was that?"
Hermione looked back at the wizard who had just passed by them, and only when he was about to disappear around the corner did she finally blurt it out.
The reason she said that was the badge pinned to his chest. That badge was proof that he was about to join the Ministry of Magic and become one of them.
And that position was naturally that of an Auror reserve, one of the products of that emergency Special Decree Number Three...
Hermione's remark made Pansy, who was holding Draco's arm, turn around with a curious look as well. "That one looked like a Hufflepuff too?"
"Looks like Cedric really does have quite a bit of influence in Hufflepuff. This is probably another of his 'achievements.'"
Pansy was thinking of Cedric Diggory, who had returned to school along with the others.
It had to be said that after disappearing for a while, he seemed to have changed quite a bit. Aside from the colder air about him, the most obvious difference was how much his magical power had grown.
It seemed he had learned quite a lot at the Ministry.
"Even if becoming an Auror is possible, at a time like this..."
"That's perfectly normal, isn't it? Not everyone can resist the temptation of becoming an Auror."
Knowing exactly what Hermione was trying to say, Draco directly pointed out the Ministry's cleverness.
What puzzled Draco, however, was that the school did not seem to have any intention of stopping Umbridge. At the very least, Dumbledore had not shown any reaction to the matter at all...
Shaking his head, Draco decided not to think about the reason and instead brought up something else to the girls beside him.
"On the last day of term, we're not taking the Express. Send word home by owl and tell your families not to wait at the station. And Pansy, let Goyle and Crabbe know too."
"Not taking the Express? Then how are we leaving? And will the professors really agree to something like that?"
Hermione froze for a moment before voicing her confusion.
Beside them, Pansy obediently nodded her little head.
In response to Hermione's question, Draco began explaining as they reached the lakeside. "Don't worry. This time is an exception. For students who need it, the professors have specially opened up fireplaces connected to the Floo Network so we can leave the school safely."
Hermione nodded hesitantly. "I see... all right. I'll send a letter home in a bit."
"And your house probably is not connected to the Floo Network, so you'll come to my house first. Then I'll personally take you home."
"Mm... Wait, wait, wait?!?! To your house first?! That... that Malfoy Manor?!"
Hermione had answered on instinct, but only a few seconds later did she finally process what Draco had just said.
Go to Draco's house?
Wouldn't that mean meeting Draco's parents?
At that thought, a rare trace of insecurity appeared on Hermione's face. She even looked a little uneasy as she reached out and tugged at the corner of Draco's robe.
It might not have been very nice of him, but the timid little expression on Hermione's face, so hesitant and wanting to say something but not quite daring to, made Draco narrow his eyes in delight.
Now that he suddenly felt like teasing her, what was he supposed to do?