Fred and George had left Hogwarts approximately seven days before their N.E.W.T.s. And before they did so, they had created a giant marshy swamp right in front of Umbridge's office. The Headmistress had to be transported across the whole mess by a struggling Filch as Professor McGonagall and Flitwick were tasked to find a way to rid of it. Since the two despised Umbridge completely, it was no surprise that they took their precious time in doing so.

Florence was able to talk with Sirius infront of Umbridge's fireplace. Fred and George were the distraction, buying the two a sufficient amount of time. Florence didn't know how much she missed him until they got to chat, and was disappointed when the conversation was cut short by Filch bursting in. She and Harry were able to conceal themselves in the invisibility cloak just in time.

The next few days were spent in solitude, Florence, Nicolai and Xander spending all their free time inbetween classes in the library, as they had detention with the DA directly after school.

There was still some trouble with Marietta, as the other members had held a firm grudge against her, the only person who was quite vocal about defending her was Cho. She had explained how Marietta was forced to snitch on the group, as her mother's career was in stake. This caused a strain in Cho Chang and Harry's relationship, and after a few days, their budding romance had no chance in rekindling whatsoever.

Amidst her busy schedule, Florence had comforted Cho about this, telling her that he would eventually understand, and if he didn't, well, Harry wasn't the only boy in the castle.

Sometime over the week, Florence had received a letter from the Auror's Department, wishing her good luck on her exams and at the same time reminding her how important it was that she did good, as her final admission's fate lied in the hands of her test scores.

The pressure was definitely on.

She needed the best marks in Defense, Charms, Potions, Herbology and Transfiguration, all of which were essential in the Auror field.

Late nights were spent in the common room infront of the fireplace, her study session with Nicolai and Xander beginning the moment they came back from dinner and ending at daybreak at the latest. Several late nights, tea cups and days later, they were finally a few minutes close to taking what would be the most important exams of their lives.

Transfiguration was first, the test starting as soon as the 5th years had finished with their O.W.L.s.

The N.E.W.T.s definitely lived up to it's name, as Florence found herself staring at questions a few seconds longer than she would have liked. She had also seen Nicolai scratch the crook of her neck several times from where she was seated a few rows infront of her, and Xander had also been doing his nervous mannerisms throughout the duration of the test.

They left the testing room feeling frazzled as ever, Nicolai complaining about how the test had given her a very real and very painful headache.

"No one bother me!" she yelled as soon as she crossed the threshold of their dorm room, making a beeline for her bed and burying herself in her blankets, "I am going to hibernate for the rest of the week."

"Nic, we have atleast six more N.E.W.T.s to take, including Herbology, which you cannot skip because you actually need that for your Mediwitch application."

"I know," she groaned into her blankets, "Don't remind me, please. Let me have my moment."

"Silly girl," Florence chuckled, before plopping down on her own bed, "I am definitely knackered too. I can't wait for all of this to be over."

Nicolai rolled over to lie on her back, looking at Florence with a somewhat troubled expression, "Can I tell you something?"

"Ofcourse."

"I'm actually scared of leaving this place," Nicolai sighed, "I mean, I'm an adult, but how exactly do you do all this...adulting..."

"That's not a word," Florence pointed out, "And don't worry. My mum told me before that no one exactly knows how to do things at first. They just...figure it out as they go."

"I don't know what I'm gonna do without you and Xander," Nicolai said, "You're always with me, and once we get out of here, we're all going to be working very different jobs. Me in St. Mungo's, you and Xander will be in the Ministry, yes, but you're gonna be in some super secret department so you probably won't see him as much."

"That doesn't mean anything, Nic. We'll still be the best of friends, I promise. We'll see each other everyday if you want, we'll make time for that."

"Will we really? What if we get caught up in our own lives that we forget to make time for each other."

"That won't happen," Florence reassured, "I promise you. I won't let that happen, neither will Xander, neither will you. We're a tight knit trio, Nic, ever since first year."

The shorter brunette sighed, "You're right, Flo. I'm probably just misplacing my test anxieties to the point where I'm worried about everything and anything."

"Well, It's natural for you to worry about what will happen in the next few months. Change is hard to deal with." Florence got up from her bed to lie beside Nicolai, "But we'll be okay."

"I sure hope you're right, Magdalene"

"I'm right most of the time, Bridgette."

                                      ———————
An incident about Hagrid's arrest rocked the school the next day. Nicolai had heard about it from a bunch of fifth years who had taken the Astronomy O.W.L.s that night. She, Florence and Xander had spent a good amount of time from what was supposed to be their reviewing sessions to gossip, as it had somehow landed Professor McGonagall into the Hospital Wing.

"Umbridge stunned Professor McGonagall?" Florence gasped, "That's horrible!"

"It wasn't clear who did," Nicolai clarified, "But I heard she was stunned four times."

"That's really bad, considering how old the Professor is." Xander quipped in, "Did they say why Umbridge ambushed Hagrid dead in the night like that?"

Nicolai shrugged, "No, but I think it has to do with the fact that she despises half-humans. Hagrid is half giant, and now that Dumbledore's gone and she's the Hagmistress, she can do whatever the hell she wants."

"That's just terrible... Umbridge is an awful, awful woman."

"You can say that again," Xander said, louder than he had planned to do so, which resulted in Madame Pince sending a sharp glare their way.

"Either quit the chatter, or I kick you out!" She yelled from across the room, which was a cue for the three to get back to their studies.

Their next few exams were just as dreadful as their first. Herbology, Potions, Charms, all of which ran smoother than Florence had anticipated.

She, however, had been very worried about her Defense Against the Dark Arts scores, seeing as she was one of the many students that Umbridge held a special grudge again, but she was confident that she got most of the stuff right using the things that Harry had taught them.

"Bless that boy," said Xander, the three gathering at the courtyard for a breath of fresh air minutes after their Defense exam, "There were a significant amount of Patronus-based questions on that test. I don't recall Umbridge ever teaching us any of the material."

"Ofcourse she didn't," Nicolai snorted, "Those were second year level books she used to teach us. If Harry hadn't taught us anything, we would have failed that exam tragically." she pressed a hand against her temple, "It was still very hard, though. I'm pretty sure I have another headache."

"Well look alive, you two, we only have History of Magic and Arithmancy—"

"Ancient Runes," Xander and Nicolai corrected together.

"...right, Ancient Runes for the both of you, and then we'll be all done with school! For good!"

"Honestly Flo, Arithmancy is suicide. We still can't fathom how you've endured that class for four years." Nicolai said.

"It's fun, okay? Get off my back."

"You have a very twisted definition of fun, then."

"You two just chicken out from the challenge, is all," Florence joked, "And speaking of, I better go over my Arithmancy notes. I have it tomorrow." she said, collecting all her belongings and bidding her friends goodbye, before bounding towards the castle

"Should have taken Ancient Runes!" Nicolai called towards Florence's retreating figure.

The Arithmancy exam, despite what everyone had been saying, was surprisingly one of the easiest exams that Florence had to take. The material wasn't as nitpicky as what they usually had in class.

She came out of the Great Hall feeling confident about her answers, and then spent the rest of the day half relaxing and half studying for History of Magic, which was the shortest exam.

Florence was only a few bullet points into her study sheet when the library doors bursted open, a very frazzled-looking Hermione Granger's eyes searching the crowd of people until it landed on her.

The Gryffindor girl rushed over to Florence, a look of urgency on her face, "Florence, you have got to help me. Harry—he's—he's had another one of his..." her voice dropped down into a whisper, "Visions."

Florence's stomach churned, remembering the rather accurate one that he had of Arthur Weasley before the holidays, "Who was it this time?"

"Sirius," Hermione whispered, "Florence, there's just something iffy about this whole thing. Harry's gone in to a spiral. I need you to help me talk him out of making rash decisions..."

Florence was now on her feet, practically scooping all her belongings and dumping it into her book bag in a swift, clean motion, "What does he want to do?"

"He wants to go to the Department of Mysteries. He said that's where he saw him in... Harry said Sirius...he...he was being tortured by Voldemort."