Ti marched on at its own pace, unstoppable and unbothered. Slowly, Hogwarts erged from the cold grip of winter and ward under the breath of spring. The lake thawed, trees sprouted new buds, and Anne Reeve found herself spending less and less ti lingering in bed. A major reason for that shift? Final exams were approaching.
Anne’s visits to the greenhouse grew rare, and eventually, she avoided it altogether unless necessary. The Slytherin common room was filled with students studying and working on assignnts, and the library's tables were packed. As exams drew nearer, it felt like every student in the castle had a string pulled taut inside them.
The exam week arrived on a particularly stuffy day in May. Classrooms were even hotter than the air outside. The teachers handed out special quills enchanted with anti-cheating spells.
In addition to written exams in subjects like Herbology, Astronomy, and History of Magic, there were also practical tests. Professor Flitwick’s Charms exam required students to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk using the Levitation Charm. Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration test had them turn a mouse into a snuffbox, the more detailed, the higher the grade. For Potions, Professor Snape asked them to brew a Forgetfulness Potion from mory.
Anne, who’d been quietly anxious about Transfiguration all term, did well. Her mouse-turned-snuffbox had no tail, no whiskers, nothing of its forr self left. She credited half her success to having seen and handled many real snuffboxes in her past life, a good chunk to Aaron's coaching over Christmas break, a bit to Fanny’s review sessions, and a sliver to Hermione’s notes.
The last exam was History of Magic. For Anne, whose mory was sharp as ever, it was barely a challenge. Once she was done, she snuck off to the kitchens, grabbed a bucket of ice cream, so tarts, and two bottles of iced fruit juice, then sprinted up to the Astronomy Tower, the highest point in the castle.
Anne had discovered during a dull afternoon of sun-watching that so areas of Hogwarts remained shaded all afternoon thanks to the taller towers blocking the sun. On hot days, those places were perfect retreats.
Sure, the Slytherin common room was cool, but it was too crowded and lacked the breeze. When Anne climbed the Astronomy Tower, Fanny was already there, waiting.
Anne shut the wooden door behind her and cast a locking charm. Then she pulled the bucket of ice cream from her bag and handed it to Fanny. Digging a folded checkered cloth from her bag, she shook it out and laid it on the floor. She placed the tarts and drinks in the center, then flopped down on the cloth, arms behind her head, gazing up at the cloudless sky above Hogwarts. The neighboring tower cast shade over them, shielding them from the harsh sun. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ novel★fire
“This is perfect,” Anne murmured, eyes on the sky.
Fanny sat beside her, not lying down like Anne but clearly enjoying herself. She scooped the ice cream slowly and steadily, savoring each bite.
When Anne had dragged her up here two days ago after the Transfiguration exam, she’d been nervous. But Anne had just pulled out the sa cloth, laid it down, and spent a peaceful hour staring at the sky, sighing that it would be better with food. So when she’d been summoned again today, and there was food, Fanny wasn’t surprised. She even liked it here: it was breezy, shaded, and far above the stifling lower floors.
The early sumr wind slled of grass and flowers, with a touch of lake water. The Astronomy Tower caught it all, making the spot feel like a cool oasis.
After a while, Anne sat up and downed her drink in a few gulps. Her eyes drifted to Fanny’s ice cream bucket.
With a smirk, Fanny passed it over. "Anne, I’ve been aning to tell you, when it cos to food, you’re like a bottomless little mouse."
Anne took the bucket and pulled out another spoon from her bag. Her cheeks puffed out with ice cream. "I think being a little mouse sounds great."
Fanny walked to the tower’s edge with a tart and a drink in hand. From there, she could see the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid’s hut, and the far-off mountains.
Anne joined her, ice cream bucket in hand. She stood on a wooden crate she’d pulled from a dusty corner.
"Beautiful view," she said.
Fanny nodded, her eyes just peeking above the wall. "I think you need the crate. Full head in the breeze, feels amazing."
Fanny fetched a crate too, and together they looked out over Hogwarts: shimring lakes, dense forests, winding hills, and even the small dots of people near Hagrid’s hut.
Fanny tugged Anne’s sleeve. "Look, Anne! Soone’s heading to the hut, three of them."
Anne squinted at the path. Three figures. Wait… they looked familiar.
"Them again?"
"You an your Gryffindor friends? What are they doing out there? Does this have to do with the dragon?"
"I told you, Fanny, the dragon’s long gone. I don’t know what they’re doing, but whatever it is, I want no part of it. One more week and we’re ho for sumr. I’m not getting dragged into any more nonsense."
Anne hopped off her crate. "Let’s go. Looks like most exams are done. Ti to head back."
Fanny lingered, craning her neck toward Hagrid’s hut like she could sniff out a secret. But Anne was already packing up.
"Fanny!" Anne called from the door.
"Alright, alright!"
But just because you don’t go looking for trouble doesn’t an trouble won’t find you.
As Anne and Fanny walked down a quiet hallway on the way to the Great Hall, three people suddenly blocked their path, Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Harry and Hermione stood in front, Ron behind, hemming them in.
Harry looked desperate. "Anne, we’re in serious trouble. You, "
Anne cut him off, her voice cold. "I don’t want to hear it. The last thing is over. I’m done helping. I’m not involved with you anymore."
She took a step forward, but they didn’t move.
Hermione pleaded, "Please, Anne. It’s really bad. Professor McGonagall doesn’t believe us…"
"And what do you expect to do? I’m a first-year Slytherin. If a professor won’t listen, what makes you think I can do anything?" Her words were fast and sharp. "Now, move. Don’t make draw my wand."
Still, they didn’t move.
Then Ron shouted from behind, "Soone’s trying to steal the Philosopher’s Stone! He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Nad might co back! Don’t you care?"
Fanny trembled. "What? The Philosopher’s Stone? Voldemort?! That can’t be…"
Anne turned, her voice ice. "No. I don’t care about the Stone. Or whether Voldemort returns. Okay?"
She pushed forward.
Harry snapped, "If he cos back, Hogwarts could be destroyed! You can’t be this selfish!"
Anne gave a dry laugh. "Congratulations, Mr. Potter. You’re right, I am a selfish Slytherin."
With that, she took Fanny’s hand and walked away. This ti, they weren’t stopped.
Behind them ca the whispers.
"I can’t believe her, how could she be like that?" "I’m sure she has her reasons…" "What reasons? She’s just selfish! And I thought she was my friend." "What do we do now? She’s right, we have to face this…"
On the walk to the Great Hall, Fanny and Anne didn’t speak. At dinner, Fanny barely touched her food, eyes flicking toward Anne again and again. She ate just one tiny tart before setting down her fork.
Finally, Anne snapped. "If you have sothing to say, say it. Stop staring at ."
Fanny hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Anne, I just think… maybe you should’ve heard them out. It sounded serious."
Anne softened slightly. She tried to sound calm. "So I hear them out, then what? Go running into danger again? I’m a first-year. I don’t have that kind of strength. I just want a normal life, Fanny."
Fanny looked steadily at her. "But if it is Voldemort… that’s not a small thing. Anne, you should help."
"If it’s Voldemort, then they should tell a professor. That’s what they’re there for."
"But they did. The professors didn’t believe them. They believe you. Whether you like it or not, Anne, you are their friend."
Anne had no response. What could she say? That they were the main characters? That everything would work out in the end anyway?
She poked at the at on her plate. "I can’t argue with you. But I’m not going."
When dinner ended and Anne stood to leave, Fanny followed. She glanced toward the Gryffindor table, frowning.
"They’re not here."
Anne said nothing.
They made their way to the dungeons. The Slytherin common room was just past Professor Snape’s office, and the path included a long, dim staircase. As they descended, they heard faint sobbing.
Fanny moved closer to Anne. Anne figured so poor student had been scolded by Snape, nothing unusual. But sothing about the voice tugged at her mory...
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