Exams
HARRYS EUPHORIA OF WINNING THE QUIDDITCH CUP lasted about a week as it seemed the smile couldn't leave any of the Gryffindor quidditch team players faces with the way Wood kept bursting into happy tears at random moments of times, the way Fred and George constantly making fun of the way the Slytherins and Snape were looking these days, and with the way Freya continuously told him about new ways he was brilliant in the match. The more she retold the stories, however, the more extravagant and impossible his stunts seemed.
"And then, you basically did a backflip on your broom-"
"He did not." Will frowned. "He most definitely did not do a backflip on his broom."
Freya huffed, "Well, that's why I said basically-"
"He didn't even basically do a backflip on his broom." said Will exasperatedly before meeting Harry's glance and smiling, "But that didn't make it any less brilliant, of course..."
Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.
But they couldn't. Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows.
Even Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working; they were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels).
"Owls smowls, it's not like Freddie and I actually need them," said George with a sigh.
"Don't you?" asked Harry confused, "To get a job and everything?"
"Well, the job we want won't entail Owls," stated Fred with a huff. "The only reason we're taking them is that, well, mum would blow."
"What job are you planning to have that doesn't entail taking owls?" asked Freya curiously, "Don't tell me you actually take Filch's occasional lectures of 'all you'll ever be our criminals' to heart!"
"Of course not, we-" George started annoyed before he paused, sharing a glance with Fred. Then he gave a sigh as he smiled, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his red hair. "Actually, yeah. A criminal. That's our biggest ambitions."
"I've always dreamed of having my face on a wanted poster," said Fred dreamily.
Neither Harry nor Freya bought it, but they wouldn't tell them the truth no matter how many times Freya threatened to tell their mother about their supposed 'life goals." But only because they knew she wouldn't actually tell.
Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings. In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than Percy was Will.
Except for being scarily angry though, Will was eerily calm.
"Hey, Will," said Harry when the common room was once again mostly empty except for the three of them and Percy, though it was more of the two of them since Freya was sleeping on her open Divination textbook. Nudging Freya who startled awake, Harry looked back over at his studious friend, "Come on. It's late."
"Is it?" Will looked up calmly with red tired eyes at the clock. "Oh, it is. Goodmorning, both of you."
"It's morning?' Freya murmured sleepily as she looked around with bleary eyes, shaking her head, "No, five more minutes...I'm okay with being late, go without me...save yourselves..."
"Both of you," said Harry tiredly. "Up to bed."
"Five more minutes," they said in unison, Freya off to dreamland again while Will hastily flipped another page.
"Just go without us," said Will as he, for the first time that evening, looked up from his books with a small smile. "Like Freya said, save yourself."
Harry sighed.
Then he settled back onto the couch, allowing Freya to turn and lean her head on his shoulder (Harry managing not to blush by the action somehow because it was normal, a friend and Freya like thing to do) as he leaned his head back on the couch with an amused huff.
"Nah. I guess I'm good for now."
* * *
Both Harry and Freya, despite their earlier thoughts on being done with asking Will how he managed to get to all his classes, couldn't help but once again begin their questioning when they saw his Exam schedule.
"Will?"
"Not right now, Harry." said Will as he flipped through the pages of his Runes textbook on muttering feircly.
"But Will-"
"Not now, Harry."
Harry glanced at Freya who looked back at him and nodded, holding out her hands in a 'wait, I got this' gesture before turning to Will, cupping her face in the palms of her hands as she leaned forward and asked sweetly, "William? Could it be that you're a tad stupid?"
Though Harry knew it wasn't the nicest approach, it did get Will to look up from his studies with a scowl. "What?"
"I asked are you stupid," Freya raised her brows as she waved Will's exam schedule in front of him, "Your schedule is bloody bonkers."
It truly was as the first column that Will had written down read:
Monday
9 o'clock, Arithmancy
9 o'clock, Transfiguration Lunch
1 o'clock, Charms
1 o'clock, Ancient Runes
"Is there...any point in asking you how you're going to take two exams at once?" Harry questioned.
"No," Will said shortly as he ran a hand through his hair, "Now have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?""
"Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for some bedtime reading," said Freya with a roll of her eyes but seeing Will's expression she frowned, looking a bit hurt as she said. "Only joking. It's under your bag, isn't it?"
"Oh, it is." Will looked relieved, "We can go now. Unless I'm forgetting something?"
"Unless you want to suddenly remember that you can't in two places at once then, no, I don't think so," said Freya stretching as she yawned.
"Can't be in two places at once..." Will cast her a glance before a tiredly amused smirk crossed his face and he shook his head. "Honestly. And I'm the muggle born."
Freya froze in her tracks, looking affronted, and Harry paused with her as Will continued walking still looking rather amused.
"Can I..." Freya paused. "Hit him?"
"No," Harry laughed as he patted her shoulder, and they made their way over to Will who noticed their absence as he chuckled. "No, you cannot."
* * *
After their second to last exam with Professor Lupin the trio said goodbye, Lupin waving off looking a bit amused and-though Harry couldn't understand why-a a bit sad as they walked off. Harry made a note to wonder about it later, already having to deal with the problem at hand as he forced himself to keep a natural expression as he walked beside a grim-faced Will, keeping one hand on the shoulder of Freya, steering her for her hands were covering her face as her shoulders shook.
Other people passing may have thought she was crying. And maybe she was.
Just not out of sadness.
Will, after a few seconds of this passed, finally tsked, turning to glare over Harry's shoulder.
And, Harry gave a sigh that was half despair and half amusement, here we go. "
Stop that, Freya," said Will through gritted teeth.
"St-st-st-" Freya's shoulder trembled slightly under Harry's hand, "Stop what?"
There was a moment of silence, and it seemed like Will would say nothing.
Then Freya let out an obvious snicker and Will snapped.
"STOP LAUGHING AT MY FEARS."
With the words being said in such a strangled tone mixed in with Will's red-faced and slightly wide-eyed expression, even Harry couldn't help himself as he was now using Freya's shoulder for support as the two of them laughed.
"We're sorry William, but it's just that your fear," Freya gave a giggle as she wiped her eyes, "You might be the silliest of us all."
Will opened his mouth angrily but Freya held up a 'wait' gesture.
"Only because that fear of yours? It's bloody impossible. Honestly William, you getting bad grades in one of your classes much less all of them is utterly ridiculous."
Freya shook her head, still grinning.
"I thought you knew everything, but I guess even brilliant people need reminding. William, I say this as a fact, you are literally the brightest wizard of your age."
***
Will blinked as he stared at Freya, grinning at him as though like she said, she really was just stating a fact instead of saying something that was...
How do you do that? Tell me, Freya, because there's another thing that I, who am apparently the brightest of my age can't understand.
"Hey, is that Fudge?" Freya asked, changing the topic as if she didn't know the world had paused by her words.
"Err, uh-" Harry blinked and turned, "Oh, yeah. And he seems to be worried about something, what do you think it is?"
"Maybe something about Black? Let's go check..."
His friends began going towards the minister of magic and Will followed behind, less frantically, as he stared at the back of Freya's head and sighed.
Why do you, one of the most infuriating and annoying people I've ever met...
Somehow always have the words with the strength to lift the pressures on my shoulders?
I take back what I said earlier, you know... Will thought as Freya's jaw dropped by something Fudge had said, something he was sure would infuriate him too if he were paying attention, but only she was brave enough to still get mad at someone of his stature. I feel like the muggle born with you around, I do.
Because I can memorize the spells, Freya...
But everything you do is magic.