Tuesday 1st June, 1977

The dreaded time had come.

O.W.L.s.

I'd spent the entire day yesterday in the library, barely allowing myself a break before I went back to studying, frantically trying to cram in as much as possible before my first O.W.L.s that occurred yesterday, which were both practical and theory exams on Charms.

I barely saw Regulus during O.W.L.s; I barely saw anyone really, too busy studying as much as possible for the upcoming O.W.L.s. I'd been in the library so much that I had my own corner that I used to revise, going through my notes like my life depended on it.

Sometimes the marauders would join me in my corner, helping me revise or studying for their own exams. Other times I'd find my friends from my own year level with me, also studying as much as possible before O.W.L.s. They all knew that the corner needed silence above all else since I snapped at anyone who made a noise.

When it was time to go into the Great Hall for my Charms theory, my heart was hammering in my chest. I'd been convinced I'd get every answer wrong and fail my O.W.L.s. I walked in with my friends, but we were all split up according to our last names, forcing me to leave them behind. I had Dorcas a bit in front of me and Evan right behind me though, so it wasn't too bad. The theory exam went surprisingly well, though. I'd answered every question, and while I wasn't sure about some of the answers I'd given, overall I was optimistic of my results, a big change from when I started the exam.

After lunch was Charms prac, something I was significantly more nervous about. I couldn't just study out of a book for this; I had to actually do the spell, and I was extremely anxious about it. I waited in a line with the other students who hadn't had their name called, waiting for my turn uneasily.

"Pifter, Potter, Rosier, Rowle."

I glanced at Evan nervously, relieved that I'd have one of my friends in the exam with me. We found each other's hands and walked with them intertwined for as long as we could before going to stand in front of our separate examiners, silently wishing each other good luck.

The exam went by surprisingly quick. The examiner, a short, stubby man, sent me a kind smile and asked me to do a few spells. I was given a rush of confidence when I completed the growth charm on a badger perfectly and the examiner complimented my skills. The victory was dampened when I tried to change the badger's fur green and ended up turning it a sickly yellow.

I walked out of the exam feeling a little down, though Evan helped perk me up when he recounted how he had shrunk the badger instead of enlarging it. When we met up with the others, they also told tales of their mistakes, and though some were worse than others (Avery had somehow managed to turn his badger hot pink) we were all comforted when reminded we were in it together.

Today I was faced with my Transfiguration O.W.L.s and spent as much time before hand in the library. Even so, as I did the theory test I spent a solid twenty minutes staring at the blank space where the vanishing spell definition was supposed to go. I knew what it did of course, but I couldn't remember the official definition the ministry gave it, which was what the test was asking for. In the end I wrote my own definition of it, which wasn't the correct answer but was hopefully similar enough.

After that I had a quick lunch, preferring to go to my corner and spend the rest of the break in the library before the practical Transfiguration exam. I felt sick as I waited in line for my name to be called again, wanting very badly to impress McGonagall with my scores but unsure if I'd be able to. I wasn't necessarily bad at Transfiguration, but I knew McGonagall had high expectations and I was desperate to reach them.

The exam went surprisingly well though, and I didn't mess up a single thing. I also did a very good switching spell and exited the hall quietly proud. Some of the others didn't have the same experience though, Barty having just stood there for 5 minutes, having a complete brain rot, and so I kept my own pride down to a minimum for him.

Dinner that night was quiet, everyone nervous for their exams tomorrow. I had Herbology that I took with Dorcas and Avery, but Regulus, Evan, and Barty had different exams, so we wouldn't be able to go over our answers with each other like we had the past two days.

I went to bed around 11:30, having crammed in a bit more studying before I retired. When I'd gone to bed though, Regulus was no where to be found, and I had been distantly aware of him finally coming to bed at around one in the morning, no doubt just finished with his studying.

The next day, Wednesday, came around and I was spending breakfast writing down notes instead of eating because the theory exam was right after breakfast. James found me neglecting my breakfast and took my notes away, much to my displeasure. In the end James tested me with some que cards while I ate, because he was nothing if not a mother hen.

The Herbology theory exam was a hard thing to tackle. I knew I messed up at least two different poisons from different plants, and I was also quite certain I'd labelled a harmless plant as carnivorous, so there was also that. When the exam finally ended I was relieved to get out of there, knowing my results for that class wouldn't be quite as high as I'd like.

Dorcas and Avery both seemed to do good on their tests, and while I was happy for them I was also quietly spewing that they both did much better than me. Another thing I'd discovered during O.W.L. week was that I was significantly more cranky than usual, hence why Dorcas and Avery doing better affected me so much. I got over it pretty quickly though when I completed the practical exam smoothly.

Thursday arrived, probably the only day I was looking forward to, and I entered the Defence Against the Dark Arts theory exam with confidence. I excelled at this subject, so much so that I was in a sixth-year class for it. I was certain I'd ace both exams.

I was given a different test than the others because of the sixth-year class I attended, which meant my class exam and my O.W.L.s were put into one exam, meaning I wouldn't have to do a separate one for my class. It also meant my test was full of all the stuff I'd learned this year, so thigs most sixth years would have in their exams.

I lost a bit of my confidence at the start, because while I'd known it would be harder than the standard test, I hadn't expected it to be this challenging. By the end of the exam I'd found my confidence again though after I managed to answer all the questions. I found myself more nervous for the practical exam though, because if my theory exam was anything to go by, I'd have a much bigger challenge than the others.

As expected, when I went into the examination hall I was asked to perform a nonverbal stunning spell instead of just an average one. I completed it with ease though, having practised tirelessly with the marauders until we'd all perfected the spell. The examiner, this time a tall willowy old lady, seemed impressed by the level of skill I had for a fifth year and gave me a kind smile before I left.

I had Ancient Runes on Friday, and since there was no practical exam it ended rather quickly. I thought I'd mistranslated two words, but other than that I was satisfied with the work I'd completed in the exam. I also had my Arithmancy exam that day, since it also didn't have a practical exam, and though some considered it one of the toughest subjects, I found that I completed it with surprising ease.

The weekend was a blur of studying and revision with small breaks dotted throughout the hours. I'd made the corner in the library my home, and Madam Pince would often walk by to see if I was still there, which I usually was.

Monday came around way too quickly, the day I was dreading the most. I'd spent majority of the weekend focused on potions, knowing it was the area I needed most work on, yet I still didn't feel prepared as I entered the examination hall and took my seat.

I was grateful for all the extra hours I'd spent with Regulus helping me revise, wondering what I'd done to end up with a genius of a boyfriend who specialised in potions. I was one lucky girl. I didn't know if all that work would be enough to get me through this though, and I stared at the sheet before me with a queasy stomach.

Like I'd expected, it was a real challenge, and I was certain I'd messed up the ingredients for the sleeping potion with the ingredients for the pain potion. I was very relieved when it was over, knowing I'd be lucky if I got an Acceptable for it.

The practical exam went reasonably better, since I was okay at actually brewing the potions. We were supposed to be brewing the Draught of Living Death, something I'd already brewed this year. Even so, at the end of the exam my potion was a deep magenta, when the ideal colour was a pastel violet. All things considered it wasn't too bad, though I knew I wouldn't be getting any exceptional marks for this subject.

Tuesday was Astronomy, meaning we had a break for the rest of the day after our theory exam before doing our practical exam at night. Regulus had been busy majority of the day with his own exams, so I spent the day with Sirius and Remus, the two of them helping me revise for Astronomy.

As night rolled around and our Astronomy practical exam commenced, I immediately searched for the Regulus star, feeling some of my nerves calm down when I found it. After that I followed the sheet and wrote down what I found, noting with some amusement that I found both the Sirius and Regulus star faster than anyone else. The perks of having two of the most important people in your life named after stars.

Wednesday was a day off, and I used it to revise for the last exam we had tomorrow, History of Magic. After being kicked out of the library by Madam Pince because she had to close up, I went to the kitchens where I stress ate, unable to stop worrying. I wasn't even that bad at History of Magic, but I'd had this whole day to revise making me wonder if the exam was going to be extra hard. Maybe I was just being paranoid, but even so it didn't stop me from going through half of the kitchens chocolate supply before Remus found me and forced me to go to bed.

Finally, Thursday rolled around, the last exam day. Anxiety was high in the fifth years, as well as the desperate need to get O.W.L.s over and done with. Like with some of the other O.W.L.s, this one only had a theory exam, meaning we'd only have to do one last exam before we were free from O.W.L.s forever.

Soon enough everyone was ushered into the examination hall and sent to their seats. This time I had no comfort of Evan because he was sick and was lucky enough to miss the last O.W.L., and since he's not going to be taking it next year there seems to be no need for examiners to stay just so one student who won't even continue on with the course can complete one single O.W.L. Also his dad is rich and has a lot of influence, so there's that too.

This meant, though, that Selena Rowle would be sitting right behind me instead, which was not ideal. Fortunately she'll probably be too busy doing the exam to bother me much.

I sat down at my desk and started answering the questions when told to. It wasn't too difficult, but then again I never really concentrated on the subject so there were some challenges I was faced with. Unfortunately it seemed that Selena had already finished her exam, and with 15 minutes left until the end of it, she was bored.

Until she noticed me.

As I tried to remember when the first goblin rebellion started, I heard rather than saw Selena lean forward in her seat and whisper something into my ear.

"Having fun with my fiancé?" she spat, her voice filled with venom.

I glanced around at the examiners, but they were busy escorting a student who had been talking, so no eyes were on us. Great.

"Ex-fiancé," I whispered back, staring directly at my sheet.

Selena scoffed, careful to keep her voice low. "Even worse. Do you know how mad his parents are? Walburga is probably going to skin him alive when he comes home, all because of you."

I felt like I'd just been dowsed in cold water at her words. I risked a glance at her and found her glittering brown eyes staring back at me. "What?"

Slowly, her lips curled into a smirk as her eyes lit with delight. "Oh, you don't know?"

I opened my mouth to ask her 'don't know what?' but an examiner caught sight of us and started swiftly walking in our direction. My gaze darted back to my test as I leaned forward, pretending to read a question as the examiner arrived in front of us. He observed my still half unanswered sheet and Selena's finished one and kindly asked her to leave the examination hall to avoid further disruptions.

She did so with a charming smile and a nod, sending a quick smirk my way before leaving. My heart was hammering in my chest at her words, and I was barely able to finish the exam before it ended. I knew I did badly, but as Selena's words plagued my mind, I couldn't find myself to care.

A/N:

double update bc it is @achlemyjeanss birthday!!! happy birthday darling!!! everyone wish them a happy birthday!!

the o.w.l.s have finally passed 😌

ngl this chapter was so hard to write bc i just Couldn't Be Bothered, but i eventually pushed through and here we are!!