"Stop," I smirked, pushing Draco's face away.

 "Mm, no," he said, kissing my neck again.

 "I have to study," I said, trying to sound exasperated.

 "You've been studying forever," he complained and I gently pushed his face away again.

 "Maybe you should do the same," I smiled.

 "I'm good," he chuckled.

 "Knock it off," Pansy groaned, staring at us.

 "Oh I'm sorry, it was your five month plan that caused this," Draco said and I smothered a laugh.

 "It's your fault," I nodded.

 "I take it all back!" she snapped and I glared at her.

 "Do not get all feisty with me," I said.

 "I'm just so stressed out!" she cried. I sighed and looked at Draco.

 "I'm gonna take her upstairs," I said and he gave me a pout.

 "Why don't you ever take me upstairs?" he asked and I laughed loudly.

 "Maybe it's because I go by the saying, 'Sisters before misters'."

 "That is the worst saying I have ever heard," he said, kissing me quickly.

 "I agree," I smirked and then pulled Pansy up the stairs.

 "O.W.L's start tomorrow," she whispered with her eyes wide and unfocused.

 "Sh, just go to sleep," I said, pushing her down onto her bed.

 "I'm unprepared," she was almost talking to herself. I remembered Severus teaching us about a Draught of Peace, and I decided that's exactly what she needed. I left her on her bed and went down to Severus's office.

 "Severus," I knocked on his living quarters door. I didn't hear any movement so I knocked louder.

 "Severus," I said again and I heard shuffling.

 "What?" he asked, opening the door. He pulled a robe on and I sighed.

 "Sorry to wake you, but I need a Draught of Peace," I said.

 "Can it wait until tomorrow?" he asked.

 "No, the whole point is so she can relax enough to fall asleep," I said and he started muttering to himself, pulling out ingredients. I watched as he began waking up the more he moved around and I took a deep breath.

 "Can I ask you something?" I asked in a rush. He glanced back at me and nodded.

 "Is there a potion, possibly, that could change your future; like...change one possible thing that just makes the outcome completely different?" I asked and he stopped working.

 "I- no, Leah," he shook his head and I felt disappointed, but shrugged it off.

 "I was only wondering," I said casually. Severus gave me a long look as if he wanted to say something, but then turned back to the potion.

 "Who is this potion for?" he asked.

 "Pansy, she's completely stressed out," I sighed.

 "Hm, how's Draco?" he asked.

 "Good, but I think the Inquisitorial Squad has gotten to his head," I rolled my eyes.

 "Why aren't you a part of that?" Severus smirked.

 "I'm not Umbridge's slave," I snorted and Sev chuckled.

 "Well, here you are," he said, putting the potion in a vial.

 "Thanks Severus," I smiled and he nodded as I turned to go back to the common room.

 "Alright Pansy, I have something for you," I said, pushing open the dorm room door. I stopped short and crossed my arms.

 "What are you doing?" I asked, looking at Pansy and Blaise.

 "I'm cheering her up," Blaise gave me a cheeky grin.

 "You're snogging and you ended up on my bed. Get off," I said, wrinkling my nose at them.

 "Don't be a kill joy," Pansy said and I glared.

 "I got you the Draught of Peace," I waved the bottle at her.

 "You take it," she shrugged and I glared.

 "Fine!" I snapped, stomping downstairs.

 "I thought you went to sleep," Draco said, circling his arms around my waist.

 "Yeah, well those two are snogging on my bed," I scowled.

 "Oh that's not good," he laughed.

 "Sleep on the couch," Thane suggested and I scowled.

"I am above sleeping on the couch," I said and Ariana started laughing.

 "It's just a couch!" she smiled.

 "I don't care," I shrugged.

 "Come on," Draco laughed, pulling me upstairs.

 "Oh, now you're taking me upstairs?" I laughed and he opened his dorm room.

 "Here, take my bed," he said and I smiled.

 "Thanks," I said and crawled in, downing the potion. I felt a calm settle over me and I quickly drifted into a peaceful sleep.

***

I woke up feeling very warm next to who I assumed to be Draco. I gave a soft sigh, cuddling deeper into his arms and then shot straight up, making the both of us fall.

 "Ah, God!" he yelled and I jumped off the floor with wide eyes.

 "Get up, we have our O.W.L's today!" I said and the other boys started waking up.

 "We have a whole hour before we actually have to be awake," Draco groaned, getting to his feet.

 "I don't care, get dressed! You are in desperate need of studying," I ordered and he shook his head as I ran out and into my own dorm. I found the girls wide awake and scrambling to get dressed so they could look over their books. Blaise, of course, was sleeping on Pansy's bed still.

"Jesus," I muttered, pulling out my trunk and putting on a simple black dress.  I put my hair in a side braid and smudged on some black eyeliner before grabbing Pansy and pulling her downstairs. Draco was sitting lazily in his chair wearing the usual uniform, but he still looked cute as ever.

 "Start studying," I said and I grabbed my other notebook, scanning through it.

 "You're amazing in school, I don't see why you're fretting," Ariana said.

 "I draw a blank every time it comes to exam reviews. Even if it's the easiest thing ever," I said, memorizing the incantation for the bat bogey hex; just in case.

 "Well if she has to catch anything on fire, that won't be an issue," Pansy smirked and Thane laughed.

 "Relax," Draco muttered in my ear and I sighed, leaning against him. It felt great to be back together and I was enjoying every second of it.

 "Come on, let's go to breakfast," Blaise said, coming down the stairs. I nodded to Crabbe and Goyle on my way out, and I realized they hadn't been around too often. They ducked their heads down and walked off quickly much to my surprise. I took Draco's hand as we walked to the Great Hall, and I glared at the educational decrees on the wall.

 "Ouch, dammit!" Draco shouted, jumping away from me and I realized my palms sparked again.

 "I'm sorry Draco!" I cried, taking his hand and looking at it.

 "Um, yeah it's okay Leah," he nodded, healing it.

 "I didn't mean to, honestly," I said and he looked at me with a soft smile.

 "I know," he said, kissing me softly.

 "See what I mean? No problem catching things on fire," Pansy smiled and the others laughed nervously as well.

 "Oh God it's them," my eyes widened as I saw the O.W.L testers walking into the school.

 "This is it," Ariana muttered.

 "This is it," I agreed.

 "I'm sorry...are you a student?" one of the older testers asked.

 "Yes, sir," I nodded.

 "You aren't in uniform," he frowned and I shifted nervously.

 "No sir, I'm not. I tend not to wear mine," I said and he nodded with a frown.

 "What is your name, dear?" he asked.

 "Leah Riddle," I said and the others whispered to each other.

 "Well I can see why you wouldn't have to obey the rules!" he laughed and gave me a genuine smile.

 "I'm Professor Tofty dear, and I just want to wish you all luck," he said to our group and we said our thank you's quickly so we could eat.

***

After eating very little breakfast, we waited around for the Great Hall to be transferred into an examination room. Once that was complete we were seated alphabetically. Potter was seated in front of me, Zacharias Smith was behind me, and to my left there was Ernie Macmillan. Each row held eight people, and no one was to my left since there were only four students left over it that row. I suppose I was about six people down in my row. Our first exam was Charms and once our parchment was handed to us, I was in the zone. I don't think I actually stopped to think about the questions, all the information just flowed from my brain and into my hand where my quill was held, which was indeed moving rapidly down the paper. In front of me I could see that Potter was doing the same, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ernie having a little trouble. I finished relatively early and not so patiently waited for the others to finish.

 "That was easy," Draco said as we walked out.

 "Tell me about it," I rolled my eyes and he took my hand.

 "Well we have our practical exam next," he said and I gave him a look.

 "I'm perfectly fine when it comes to actually doing the spells," I said and he kissed my forehead.

 "Yeah, yeah I know," he chuckled.

 "Ugh!" Sapphire screamed in frustration, storming up to us.

 "What?" Pansy asked, joining us as well.

 "I messed up with that tickling charm!" she raged and I smirked.

 "It's fine, I promise," I said and she just glared and sulked.

 "Well I for one flunked that piece of crap," Thane glared.

 "What?" I raised my eyebrows.

 "Yeah, I didn't learn half of that stuff, okay?" he asked, hitting the wall in frustration.

 "Why didn't you ask me to study with you? I went over everything that they did from years 1-3!" I said and he groaned.

 "I don't know!" he snapped.

 "I did amazing...so..." Blaise shrugged.

 "So did I," I laughed.

 "Same!" Ariana chirped, slinging her arm around my shoulder. I bumped my hip into her and she laughed.

 "We are killing it," she winked and I rolled my eyes with a smile.

 "Obviously," I said, and we went back into the Hall to eat our lunch and prepare for the practical exam.

I was laying on the floor with Ariana and Pansy's heads on my stomach...both at the same time, while waiting to be called in. I swear my stomach is going to die before they get up. If that's possible...which I would like to dramatically think that it is. Draco was with Blaise, throwing pretzels at each other trying to catch them in their mouths, and Thane was rolling his eyes at them.

 "You guys are idiots," he said.

 "They wouldn't share with me," Damon pretended to pout while playing with Daphne Greengrass's hair. I don't know if they're a couple or not, but I really do not care.

 "Yeah because you need to resort to being that bored," Daphne snickered. The door opened and the two quickly inhaled their pretzels, to which I smirked. I looked at Flitwick hopefully and he called out the next four names.

 "Jones, Megan... Li, Su... Longbottom, Neville...Loveland, Damon," he said and Damon left Daphne's side to go take his test and I gave him a supportive nod. It was about a five minute silence in the Hall before the next people were called.

 "Loveland, Sapphire... Macmillan, Ernie... Malfoy, Draco... McDougal, Morag," he said and I gave Draco a wink as he walked in, and nodded to Sapphire.

 "Think we'll be next?" Pansy asked and I shrugged.

 "Are we going to be in the same group?" I asked.

 "Our last names are close," she reminded me.

 "I think I'll be in the next group," Ariana said.

 "Oh yeah, you still go by Clarissa Moon according to the teachers and just about everyone else," I said. I didn't see the others come back out at any time, so I'm assuming they left out a different door.

 "Moon, Clarissa... Parkinson, Pansy... Patil, Padma... Patil, Parvarti," Flitwick called and the two girls finally got off my stomach.

 "Good luck," I said to them and they smiled.

 "Thanks!" they chorused. I guess I won't be with Pansy after all.

 "Well, it's just you, me, and Thane!" Blaise said, sitting next to me.

 "Oh joy," I teased. I looked around the hallway and only saw about eight of us left... I should be with Potter I believe. After about ten minutes, longer than the other sessions, the doors opened again.

 "Potter, Harry... Riddle, Leah... Smith, Zacharias... Thomas, Dean," he called and we all walked towards the door. Potter nodded at me and I nodded back as we split up.

 "Professor Tofty for you, Miss Riddle," Flitwick smiled and I nodded, walking over.

 "Hello Miss Riddle!" he smiled and I smiled back slightly.

 "Hello, professor," I said.

"Ah...now I believe you are very talented with wandless magic, correct?" he asked and I nodded.

 "Yes," I said.

 "Would you mind doing your examination without a wand...a few extra bonus points can be added," he winked and I smirked.

 "Of course," I said.

 "Okay, just make this goblet spin around in midair please?" I held out my hand and raised the goblet, and then twirled my index finger, making it spin faster and faster until it started making a musical whistling sound. Tofty started clapping and I gently set it down.

 "Beautiful! Now turn this little snake black," he said and I looked down at the snake, which looked back up at me.

 "Hello," it said and I smiled. Without thinking, I spoke to it.

 "Hello, I'm Leah," I said and it stuck its tongue out.

 "I am Madu," he said.

 "Miss Riddle!" professor Tofty gaped at me and I looked up in shock.

 "I'm so sorry sir!" I gasped, putting a hand over my mouth. I quickly waved my hand so the snake turned black and anxiously looked up at the examiner.

 "What's next, sir?" I asked and he just shook his head with wide eyes.

 "Your examination is over, please leave through that door," he gestured a shaky hand to the other side of the room.

 "No, I have so much more I can do!" I pleaded.

 "You're done," he said and I was becoming desperate.

 "But-"

 "Miss Riddle your examination is complete!" Tofty raised his voice so that it rang through the whole Hall. Others looked over at me and I dropped my gaze, quickly leaving the Hall, leaving a wake of silence behind me and the click of my heels ringing in my ears. I walked through an empty hallway and then turned a corner when I saw Draco, Pansy, and Ariana waiting for me.

 "Well?" Pansy asked excitedly, and I hugged her, beginning to cry.

 "I failed!" I cried.

 "I'm sure you did fine," Pansy soothed and I sobbed.

 "I got kicked out after one spell!" I said.

 "What?" Draco gasped, taking me away from Pansy.

 "I accidentally spoke parstletongue to the snake I was charming!" I cried and he hugged me, stroking my hair. I suddenly felt extremely angry at not only myself, but Professor Tofty. I shoved away from Draco and screamed in frustration, my hair setting fire as well as my palms.

 "How could I be so stupid, and let's not forget about Tofty! Yes, just because the Riddle girl can do powerful things that we can't, let's kick her out!" I raged and they all slowly backed away.

 "I'm going to fail because of that son of a-"

 "Miss Riddle," said a quiet voice, but it quickly cut off my rant.

 "Hello Professor McGonagall," I said between clenched teeth.

 "What seems to be the matter?" she asked calmly, her gaze moving to my hair and then to my palms.

 "I was simply kicked out of my examination," I clenched my hands.

 "Why?" she raised one eyebrow.

 "I was talking to the snake," I said lowly with a glare.

 "I see...well I'm sure we can work this all out, Miss Riddle. There's no need to rage. Now calm down before Umbridge see's you and sends you to Azkaban," she said, looking around cautiously and then briskly walking over.

 "Come on now, put yourself out," she waved her hands over me in a frantic gesture. Despite my anger, I smirked at the wording of her demand. I took a deep breath and concentrated on putting my hair out, and then my palms.

 "Good, now follow me," she said and I did as I was told. We made our way back into the Great Hall and I saw the last student leave their exam.

 "Professor Tofty!" McGonagall called, waving him down.

 "Yes?" he asked, eyeing me wearily.

 "Hello, I hate to bother you, but it seems you kicked out a student unreasonably," she said and he sputtered.

 "Un-unreasonably?" he asked, completely bewildered.

 "Yes," she said firmly, "it seems that her talent and bloodline has intimidated you, and you failed to do your job properly! She committed no crime and deserves a fair examination," McGonagall said, with a challenging tone to her voice.

 "She was speaking to the snake!" he exclaimed.

 "Yes, and it is no different than speaking another language. Just because you cannot do it, it does not mean it is a threat!"

 "I see...very well then, Miss Riddle. Come, we'll finish up your exam," Tofty said stiffly and McGonagall nodded in satisfaction.

 "Very good, I shall see you after your exam," she said to me, and then walked off with a purpose.

 "Well let's see here... I need you to make this plate grow larger," he said and I did so, without my wand as before.

 "Yes, very nice," he nodded.

 "Now could you reduce it back to its normal size?... Yes very good, very good," he nodded.

 "I see you also do silent spells?" he inquired.

 "Yes sir, I do," I nodded.

 "I see...could you produce a flame for me?" he asked and I smirked, holding up my hand and letting my palm cradle the familiar flame.

 "How interesting...I've never seen that done before," he muttered in amazement.

 "Alright...yes now... one last thing. Just lift the goblet, set it on that table over there, and then bring it back with a retrieving spell."

I lifted the goblet with wingardium leviosa, of course, and then set it down neatly on the table. As for this one, I could not quite do it as well silently, so I had to say it.

 "Accio goblet," I said, and it flew right into my hand.

 "Amazing job, Miss Riddle," he nodded and I smiled.

 "Thank you for giving me another chance," I said.

 "Well you certainly proved yourself," he smiled back, and I walked off to tell the others.

***

Transfiguration went well the next day, and I was able to turn my needle into a match and my rat into a water goblet. I knew I would, but sometimes you just never know. Tofty was much more relaxed the more he realized I wouldn't be talking to anymore snakes. Herbology I breezed through, and when it came to DADA, I was a pro.

 "Alright, get rid of the boggart," Tofty said as it turned into a giant ass praying mantis. Seriously, those things are the creepiest things in the world, and I hate them with all my heart.

 "Riddikulus," I said, and I made its head fall off before the boggart disappeared.

 "Very good," Tofty chuckled.             

 "I hate those nasty things," I glowered.

 "Now...you can do some amazing things Miss Riddle. Have you ever produced a Patronus?" he asked and I swallowed hard.

 "No sir, but I could try," I offered.

 "Brilliant, try away," he smiled. I took a deep breath and pulled out my wand for this one. Let's see...happiest memory...

*Flashback*

"Do you?" Draco asked and I bit my lip. Of course I wanted to get back together. I mean, it's the least I can do after they came up with that five month plan, right? 

 "Of course," I whispered and he smiled.

 "So do I," he said and an unbelievable sense of pure joy crashed over me, and I hugged him so tightly I thought he'd break. He didn't return the hug though, he pulled away just enough so his lips could trap mine and we melted into each other.

 "I've wanted to do that for a long time," Draco muttered against my lips.

 "Wanna play a prank on the others?" I smirked.

 "Explain," he smirked back.

 "Well...let's start a fight," I said with a glint in my eyes and we both laughed.

*End Flashback*

"Expecto Patronum!" I said and much to my delighted surprise, a silvery figure made its way out of my wand and around the room. I realized that the Patronus I had was in the form of a phoenix.

 "A phoenix...yes do you know what that means?" Tofty asked with a chuckle.

 "I have an idea," I said as the phoenix walked around me fondly.

 "It probably has something to do with your fiery personality," Tofty smiled, looking at me knowingly.

 "Yes, probably," I laughed.

 "Very good, your examination has come to its end...and it looks like your Patronus just won't go away!" he chuckled. I realized that even though I had every intention of ending the spell, including the fact that my wand was away, the phoenix was still sitting beside me.

 "That's okay," I smiled and then walked out to see my little crew.

 "What is that?" Ariana asked and Thane smiled.

 "That is a phoenix, dearest Clarissa," he teased.

 "Oh shut up, there's no one around to hear you call me Ariana," she rolled her eyes.

 "That's a Patronus!" Sapphire gasped.

 "Indeed," I nodded.

 "I can't do one of those," Damon sighed.

 "I've never tried," Blaise shrugged.

 "Neither have I," Draco agreed.

 "I'd never heard of one until now," Pansy laughed.

 "Well I just did it for the first time. It's a phoenix because of my fiery personality," I laughed at Tofty and so did the others. 

 "Oh yes, that is most definitely yours," Pansy nodded.

 "Well it's the weekend, let's go relax," I said and we went to go hang around the common room. Finally, after I went to sleep, my Patronus disappeared, but I could still feel the happiness that lingered inside of me.

***