O.W.L.s
The Ordinary Wizarding Level exams for 2010 commenced on the first Monday of May. After the countless hours spent studying, Liam felt relief to be at long last taking the exams. To his delight, the first exam on his schedule was Potions. There was a written exam in the morning and a practical after lunch.
He knew that, to impress the judges, his responses on the written exam should be robust. (Sadie and Morwena had both counselled him, separately, on this point.) The examiners tolerated neither fluff nor incoherent rambling. This was not the time for a rushed or terse answer, either. For the highest score, bring all relevant facts you could recall to your response.
In Potions, his favourite topic, Liam found this easy to do. He had to smile when he saw the second to last question: Explain the purposes of jasmine heather in poisons. Professor DeVere had questioned Liam on this subject during his very first Potions lesson five years earlier.
Tuesday, by contrast, featured his least favourite exam, and the one that he felt he did the poorest on: Ancient Runes. There were lines of text written in various forms of Runes that he had to decode into English. The text turned out to be quotes from Brothers Grimm fairy tales, Mother Goose nursery rhymes and from The Tales of Beedle the Bard. On subsequent pages, he had to rewrite sentences in various forms of runes. He was allowed neither notes nor charts to help him.
The decoding was far easier. Once he had a few of the letters, the rest of the word came to him. Re-writing sentences into runes was much more difficult, as Noldoric and Sindarin Runes tended the blend in his head. The sentences he had to code seemed to be selected especially for difficulty. The word “quixotically” involved both a “q” and an “x”, two letters that were rare in Ancient Runes. Another sentence involved the word “kitchen.” After spending a quarter of an hour wracking his brain, trying to remember the Noldoric rune for “k”, he finally remembered that they didn’t use that letter at all. He had to use the “c” rune for that letter.
After a grueling ninety minutes, he got up and turned his paper in. Umberto had finished thirty minutes prior and had been dismissed. Sadie, too, was done, but she was still there, obsessively checking over her answers. Vanessa had not bothered to turn up at all.
When he turned his paper in, Sadie did as well. They made their way down to the Entrance Hall. “How did you do?” she asked.
“As well as could be expected. The ‘k’ in kitchen threw me off.”
“Oh, Liam! I drilled you on that! The letter ‘c’ is a hard consonant, a ‘k’ in other words, while the soft ‘c’ is always ‘s’!”
“I did remember after a while.”
“That’s good! Do you think you’ll get an E?”
“God! And be expected to continue at the NEWT level? I hope not.”
While Liam was taking his written Runes exam, Lara and Morwena were taking their written exam for Healing Arts. This was Lara’s best subject. For some classes, History for example, she could hardly think of anything to say in response to an exam question. In Healing Arts, the words simply flowed from her brain through her hand to the paper.
The only downside was that her hand was starting to cramp up from clutching her quill too tightly. She set down her quill, cracked her knuckles and moved her fingers around before looking down at the next question on the exam.
7) Explain the Maxim of Opposites and give examples.
This one is easy! thought Lara. Though the name sounded a little pompous, the maxim was very simple. Work in the opposite of the symptom. If someone has a fever, then take actions to cool them down, etc.
She began to organize her thoughts when suddenly, she felt a Prophetic Doom pressing down upon her. REMEMBER THE MAXIM OF OPPOSITES!
The classroom vanished. Lara was on her knees. On the cold stone floor, a girl had collapsed, unconscious and shivering. The girl’s skin was so cold, touching her burned the tips of Lara’s fingers. Fighting a rising sense of panic, her mind latched onto her Healing Arts training. The Maxim of Opposites! Fight heat with cold, and cold with heat!
Just as suddenly, she was back in the present moment. Her brow was damp. She set her quill down and ran her hand through her hair.
Another prophecy! Why now of all times? And, who was that girl? What is happening to her? What curse could bring that deep of a cold upon someone?
Lara took several deep calming breaths and brought herself more fully into the moment. I know of a potent source of magical heat. When the time comes, I will be ready to save that girl.
Right now, I need to finish this test.
At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the Care of Magical Creatures class gathered for their practical. Philip had breezed through the assignments. He had picked up the Bowtruckle and let it run up and down his arm. With a silver Sickle, he had drawn out the Knarl from the pack of hedgehogs. He identified the proper grasses and leaves that would sustain a young unicorn just weaned from his mother.
On the examination table was a broad bladed leaf. The examiner was a kindly old woman in a purple cardigan and matching pillbox hat. Like many people from Ministry, she had been in Ravenclaw, and she knew his father and uncles. She had yet to call attention to the leaf. Sensing that the exam was at its end, Philip asked, “What are we doing with the leaf? Did I miss a task?”
The woman nodded and smiled. “The task is there for those who wish to attempt it.”
Philip waited for further instructions, but none came. He gazed at the leaf and then at the surrounding trees. His heart leapt when he saw, emerging from the trunk of wood, a pair of yellow-green eyes: the dryad!
Slowly, Philip approached the tree. He communicated with her the same way he did with Gillian. Good afternoon. It’s good to see you again. Do you remember me?
Yes, came the answer. You are the boy whose mother has died.
Yes, that is me. What can I do for you?
The yellow-green eyes bored into him. The winter has been long, and the recent rains were cold and harsh. I long for a gentle summer shower.
Philip at once understood what to do. He walked back to the table and gently picked up the leaf and set it in the palm of his left hand. With his right, he drew his wand and conjured a sizable drop of water. It sat on the leaf like a crystal marble. Gingerly, he brought the leaf to the dryad.
From the tree, the image of a young girl emerged. She was as green as a spring branch, and her hair was the color of moss. Her arms and legs were still one with the tree, so he held the leaf up to her mouth. As she parted her lips, Philip rolled the drop of water into her mouth.
She gazed at him a moment longer. Fear not the darkness! she told him. You will call her from the depths of night, and she will come back to you, for she will know your voice.
And then, the dryad was gone. Philip walked back to the table and set down the leaf. “That was well done!” said the Examiner. “Most students do not even notice the leaf, much less the dryad. It looked like you two had quite the conversation.
“Yes,” said Philip. “She spoke to me, and I gave her some water. Some of what she said didn’t make a lot of sense.”
“Think on what she said. She may appear as a young girl, but she is hundreds of years old, and she will be alive a hundred years after you are gone. She has wisdom that is beyond us, and her sight is far and deep.”
Philip nodded. “Thank you for the opportunity.”
“The opportunity was there for everyone. You seized it. That’s worth some extra credit on top of an already strong Practical score.”
“Thank you,” said Philip. “Too bad I can’t apply that extra credit to my Arithmancy test on Friday.” The examiner laughed.
Philip stepped aside and walked to the edge of the grass. About half the class had finished the practicals and had left. Philip waited for Stacy to finish so that he could tell her about the Dryad.
As he waited, his mind drifted back to Pauline. He had hoped to speak to her after the exam, but she had already gone with Rhiannon and Tess back to the castle. Why can I find the words to speak to one beautiful green-eyed girl, but not to the other?
On Wednesday, the Fifth Years took their Astronomy written test, followed that evening by the practical. After a late night on the parapet, they were allowed to sleep in. Morwena convened a study session at 10 am for last minute preparations for their Arithmancy exam. Calliope organized a competing session at the same time, but hers was attended only by the Ravenclaws. Everyone else from the Arithmancy class, including Sadie, who was never on good terms with Calliope, attended Morwena’s session. Alma Krauss put aside inter-House rivalries and also attended Morwena’s session.
As expected, Morwena ran a vigorous session, rehearsing the conjuring of several difficult and ethereal numbers, contracting, expanding and combining them together to great magical effect. It proved to be an effective rehearsal for the final exam.
After lunch was the History exam, which few besides Liam and Ronald had any enthusiasm for. One of the Seventh Year Ravenclaws handed out the exam papers. Binns floated around the room to make sure no one was cheating by referring to crib notes, memory vaults or other tricks.
The finale of the first week of O.W.L.s was Friday morning at 10 am, the simultaneous final exams of Arithmancy, Divination and Muggle Studies. About half of the Fifth Years took Arithmancy. Most of the rest took a strange written exam from Professor Firenze. As Vanessa had often said, it was mostly a creative writing exercise. The remainder of the Fifth Years, including Stephanie and Monique of Hufflepuff, took a written exam in Muggle Studies.
After a busy weekend which included the opening of the Quidditch season, the Fifth Years were back in class for their second week of O.W.L. exams. Everyone had completed the exams for their elective classes. The exams in the second week were all for the core Formal Magic classes: Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts. There were two exams per day: a written exam in the morning and a practical in the afternoon.
Sunday evening, after dinner, Sadie held a study session for the Charms practical. This session was well-attended, except by students of her own house. Fortney was especially keen to attend, as Sadie’s practice sessions in prior years had helped him attain passing scores. Even Morwena, who was strong in Charms, came. Her mind was on becoming Head Girl, and she felt strong O.W.L. scores across the board would help in that effort.
Monday evening, Stacy took the lead for the Transfiguration study session. She was the best Transfiguror of her year by far. Liam and his friends were happy to pick up pointers from her.
Philip led the Herbology study session Wednesday evening, assisted by Adam Clayton of Gryffindor. To prepare for the Defence final, the Ravenclaws and Slytherins paired up, with Calliope and Umberto leading the session. The Hufflepuffs paired with the Gryffindors. Their session was led by Paul and Dave. Sadie joined them and sat next to Jill.
Liam, for one, was grateful that the toughest exams were behind him. After the weekend on the Quidditch pitch, he suddenly had much more on his mind than just his studies. For each test, he pushed aside his other worries and gave each exam his best efforts. He was grateful for the study sessions. His friends had prepared him well for each exam.
After the Defense written exam, Liam and his friends gathered on a sunny spot outside on the castle steps. Gillian and the Gryffindors joined him. When she sat down next to Liam, Gillian’s eyes were even brighter and more animated than usual. Instead of speaking telepathically, she spoke out to the group. “Guess who is coming to judge the DADA practical tonight? The Famous Harry Potter!”
“We’re going to have a dueling tournament!” continued Paul. “Some aurors will be judges, and Potter’s one of them.”
“Cool!” said Liam.
Paul set a hand on Liam’s shoulder. “Just go easy on us, alright? Between your custom spells and your fancy wand, I don’t think anyone of us want to go against you.”
“I promise not to do that stinging spell I used on Kane as a First Year,” said Liam, and the others laughed.
Dave said, “Hey Wren, your brother said that you met Harry Potter once.”
“Oh yeah. That was a few years ago now. I doubt he’ll remember me.”
That evening, the Fifth Years assembled in the Entrance Hall for the dueling tournament. The younger students gathered at the railings on the second floor to watch. There were four Aurors acting as judges, two men and two women. All eyes were on the man with round glasses and untidy black hair. Liam remembered him well, and he recognized the other man, Jennings, too. Jennings was shorter than Harry Potter. Both men had been on the Morrow case three years earlier. Liam remembered hearing that Jennings had been in Hufflepuff.
Potter surveyed the group before speaking quietly to one of the women. Jennings looked straight at Liam and nodded. He remembers me, at least.
Potter pointed at the tapestry on the wall and said, “That’s new, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” said McGonagall. “It’s on loan from Beauxbatons.”
“It’s lovely,” said the famous auror.
The students were separated, boys in one group and girls in the other. Slytherins were then paired off against Gryffindors while the Hufflepuffs faced Ravenclaws.
Liam’s first opponent was Ronald Reuel. Jennings was the judge. “Thought we’d pair prefect against prefect,” he said. “Now, we want to see at least one defensive spell and one attacking spell. No Unforgiveable Curses, mind,” he added with a laugh.
Ronald glared Liam, his face pinched tight. Liam was relaxed, yet on his face was a rakish grin. He was eager to win this duel. He drew the Dragon Wand with a flourish that ruffled the hem of Ronald’s robe.
“You’re jumping the gun,” said Ronald, crossly.
“My wand is just letting you know that she’s there. Flapping her wings is all.”
“On my count,” said Jennings. “One, Two, Three!”
Liam did not say a word, but held his wand out in front of him. The Dragon Wand, eager for a fight, stretched out a tense, threatening aura. Philip, watching, crossed his arms. Michael and Fortney grinned in anticipation.
Finally, Ronald shouted “Protego!” The aura drew back. It hung in the air just a few feet from the boy. Ronald pointed his wand at Liam and cried, “Expelliarmus!”
But, to cast the second spell, Ronald had to push aside the magical shield. As he did so, the Dragon Wand’s magic wrapped around his wand arm. With a hard twist of his wrist, Liam sent Ronald’s arm downward. Ronald’s spell hit the stone tile ten feet in front of Liam.
With a dramatic upward motion, Liam yanked Ronald’s arm into the air. Ronald’s wand slipped from his hand and went airborne. Ronald cried in alarm, but Liam stretched out with his magic and gently deposited the wand into Ronald’s hand.
“I thought we were supposed to use spells we actually learned in class,” said Ronald.
“Oh, that looked like a reverse-Alta to me,” said Jennings. “And then, Expelliarmus, same as you did. Extra credit for not using the incantation.”
“That wasn’t Expelliarmus,” muttered Ronald. “That was just Wren waving his arms.”
Jennings shook Liam’s hand. “I hear that’s a Stilgrevsen. Did you have it last time I was here?”
“Yes sir,” said Liam. “I’m better with it now.”
“That you are.”
Liam looked to Michael, Fortney and Philip. “Go get ‘em,” he said.
The Gryffindor boys outnumbered the Slytherin boys, and Roan McLaggen was, once again, the odd boy out. The judges paired him with Philip, and Roan quickly won the duel. Liam, watching with contempt, noted that Roan’s shoelaces were both untied.
Liam called out, “Alright, McLaggen, you made it through the first round. Now, you get to deal with me.”
Roan was game. Jennings set them up and counted off. Roan was quick to strike, as he did with Philip, but Liam was ready. With a swipe of his arm, Liam sent Roan’s spell crashing against the stone wall. Liam made a quick flick with his wand and suddenly, Roan’s shoelaces were lengthening and rising up his legs like snakes. In a moment’s time, the tall Gryffindor was completely entangled in his own laces. The crowd laughed and clapped.
There were some spirited contests between the girls as well. Lara went quietly against Sadie, but then Sadie challenged Calliope, who had beaten Stacy. The two girls shouted incantations at one another, their voices echoing off the high castle ceiling. Finally, the judges called it off. “Very well, girls. High scores for both of you.”
Morwena and Alma performed a cordial contest, more an exhibition than a competition. Morwena’s attack was a bit quicker, and she was declared the winner. She was then challenged by Gillian, who had quickly dispatched Tess. This second duel was fierce, but unlike the duel between Sadie and Calliope, this one was completely silent, except for the swishing of the wands through the air.
Again, the duel was called a draw with a promise of top scores. Gillian, however, was not convinced. She said to Liam, later, “I had Felwich on her heels the whole time. She hardly got one attack off against me. The judge was biased. I bet she’d been a Slytherin!”
When each student had been given a chance to duel, Paul said to Liam, “I don’t want it said that I was too scared to face Liam Wren and the Dragon Wand.”
“Fair enough,” said Liam. “Let’s do a little exhibition for the crowd.” The two boys shook hands, then paced off against each other. The whole crowd was at attention.
Again, Liam held his wand aloft and waited for Paul to make a move. Paul cast the Bat Boogie Hex. As the green slime hurled at Liam, he swung his arm. Liam gathered the slime up with his magic and flung it high in the air. He ran the greenish-greyish blob along the gallery, making the crowd leap back from the railings. Then, he dropped it hard down on Paul. Paul used the Protego spell to block the blow. The slime spattered in all directions.
The two boys laughed and shook hands again. “Nicely done!” said Paul.
“Now we’ve got to clean it up,” said Liam. They took a moment to clean away the slime from the tile.
Jennings and Potter approached Liam. “You gotta see the kid’s Stilgrevsen, Harry,” said Jennings.
Liam drew his wand and let the two aurors examine it. “That’s a fine example,” said Potter. “Don’t see many Stilgrevsens in England. How did you acquire it?”
“Long story,” said Liam. He shook hands with the famous auror. “Do you remember meeting me a few years ago?” he asked.
“Of course I do,” said Potter. “Cracked the Morrow case for us. Now you’re a prefect. No surprise there. Well done.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Fancy becoming an auror?” asked Jennings. “I hear you have the Potions scores for it.”
Liam shook his head. “My mum’d have a heart attack if I became a wizard policeman. She’d rather I became a banker.”
The others observed the conversation with awe. That was the last time anyone questioned if Liam Wren had really met Harry Potter.