Their second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new boggart.

 "Excellent, Harry," Lupin muttered as Harry climbed out of the trunk, grinning. "Full marks."

 Flushed with his success, Harry hung around to watch Ron, Amelia Hermione. Ron did very well until he reached the hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist-high into the quagmire. Amelia got through the course the fastest and even asked to go again, much to Lupin's amusement. Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the boggart in it. After about a minute inside it, she burst out again, screaming. 

"Hermione!" said Lupin, startled. "What's the matter?" 

"P -- P -- Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. "Sh -- she said I'd failed everything!"

 It took a little while to calm Hermione down. When at last she had regained a grip on herself, she, Harry, and Ron went back to the castle. Ron was still slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's boggart, but an argument was averted by the sight that met them on the top of the steps.

 Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, was standing there staring out at the grounds. He started at the sight of Harry. 

"Hello there, Harry!" he said. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?" 

"Yes," said Harry. Hermione, Ron, and Amelia,not being on speaking terms with the Minister of Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background. 

"Lovely day," said Fudge, casting an eye over the lake. 

"Pity... pity..."