The morning of the first exam, the level of tension had reached its peak. Everyone looked as pale as a sheet and had their mouths in tight lines. The breakfast was barely touched. However, the one who looked in the worst condition was Jacob. He had his forehead against the table, his whole body shaking anxiously. Noah, being the nice and caring friend he was, had started rubbing comforting circles on his back.

Jade who usually liked to make fun of him, said worriedly, "Maybe he should see Madam Pomfrey before the exam."

Everyone agreed and Noah and Isaac each put one of his arms around their shoulders, bringing the poor boy out of the Hall with some difficulty.

"He looks like a ghost. I think even his soul has left his body at this point..." added the girl.

The students were kindly directed out of the Great Hall in order to let the teachers and examiners prepare the room. The small group had decided, like many other people, to go outside, enjoying some rays of sun before going back inside.

"The sun gives energy. Take it guys," said Millie with a smile as she closed her eyes. She seemed like the most confident of them all.

When they were called in again, everyone entered the room slowly. Adena looked for her seat that she found at one of the last ranks. Two ranks before her, right next to the wall, Regulus was there, smiling confidently at her, not an ounce of stress in his features. She gave him an anxious smile in return and so the boy mouthed 'Trust yourself' and she nodded after he did before listening to the explanations.

Transfiguration was their first test. Adena's eyes quickly roamed the sheet of paper with her eyes before realizing it was nothing she didn't know. She was feeling more confident now. She should have felt like that from the beginning.

The young Ravenclaw finished rather quickly. She took her time to read again every answer she had put down. When looking towards Regulus, it looked like he was doing the same. She gave out her sheet of paper before heading outside, deciding some fresh air would be enjoyable.

Regulus joined her soon after.

"Seeing your relaxed face, I conclude you did good."

"Yeah and I guess you did too."

"I admit I'm rather confident."

Many students went out after but Adena decided to stay with Regulus, continuing their quiet chat. They parted ways not long after when people went back inside to have lunch.

"Jacob, it seems like you're feeling better. Did you succeed?" asked Adena, sitting at his side.

"Hehe I did. Happily, the guys brought my zombie self to Madam Pomfrey and she gave me a calming potion. And then I totally nailed the exam."

"Sometimes I hate you, you know. Barely studying to have such great results," muttered Jade though gritted teeth, jabbing her knife in the meat in her plate, making the Jacob stare anxiously at her.

"I'm a genius- Jade don't hit me!" screamed the blonde boy before hiding behind Noah who was laughing.

Everyone was feeling way more relaxed, they all found back their appetite and their usual moods.

However they became anxious again for the practical exam. Adena stayed confident and she was right to feel that way. The brunette definitely succeeded.

After gathering themselves in the park, Isaac asked, "How did it go for you?"

"I changed my frog into a rat instead of a mouse, I guess I was too nervous..." said sadly Eugenia.

"Don't worry. The Hufflepuff girl by my side just covered her frog with grey fur. I guess your result isn't that bad," replied Jade.

"I slept during most of McGonagall's classes and I still got a better result than that girl damn," laughed Jacob.

"Stop boasting you dolt!" hissed Jade, feeling annoyed again.

"Adena!" the brunette turned around when hearing a voice call out her name. Candace and Maylyn were coming their way.

"Hello kids, how did it go?"

"I think we all did well," answered Isaac and everyone agreed.

"It was Transfiguration, right? I totally failed this one," said Maylyn with a laugh.

The atmosphere was lighter now, confidence was back for many students as well.

Tuesday was the day of the Potions exam. Adena was confident again, unlike some of her classmates who looked just as anxious as the past day. She looked at Jacob desperately. Noah was still trying to comfort him, telling him it would be okay.

Eugenia had her notes displayed on the table. She looked nervous. She was reading the words so fast behind her black glasses. The three of them were in their own world, and so Isaac, Adena, Millie and Jade chatted lightly amongst themselves.

"Hope today's potion won't be too difficult. The last one we did was so hard, even the name was complicated."

"I'd rather have this than something we saw at the beginning of the year," sighed Jade while finishing her orange juice.

The same routine started again after breakfast. Students waiting anxiously outside as the examiners prepared the room then coming back after a few minutes and discovering the subject of the exam.

Adena started reading the sheet of questions then stopped at the second question, 'Give the proprieties of the Peace filter.' She smiled like an idiot in front of her parchment, remembering the day of that lesson, that same day she got paired up with Regulus for the first time. After some seconds she focused again, digging into her work.

It was long. It took her the whole two hours. The brunette had a hard time remembering some things as there was so much knowledge on Potions. But she finished just before the end, and even took time to read her answers twice just to be sure.

Once again, the atmosphere became relaxed, with Jacob and Eugenia all smiley like their usual selves as they talked about the exam and how they thought they were confident. It made Adena grinned lightly, feeling happy that her comrades felt better.

However, when the time for the practical exam came, most of the students were anxious again. The names were asked in alphabetical order just like the day before. Jacob was one of the first to go. Regulus was there too. Two girls went with them. After some minutes, they all got out. Jacob with a smug look on his face, one of the girls looking disappointed, the other smiling at her friends and then Regulus Black, not showing any emotions. Until his gaze crossed Adena's from the opposite side of the Hall. The male's lips tugged up into a small smile that she returned. She couldn't wait to do her task and join him.

When it as finally her turn, only a few students remained in the Hall. Adena and three other students directed themselves to the adjacent room.

"Adena Winsten," said an old and short man, looking in his hundreds.

"Miss Winsten, today I am asking to make a Peace filter." Adena's hazel orbs were suddenly illuminated by a glint of surprise and joy. 'Again this one' , she thought happily. The Ravenclaw didn't take more time before starting the preparation. The serious eye the examiner kept on her wasn't making her the slightest bit nervous. This was the best potion she could have got. Maybe Regulus' grin after his own passage was because of that. He hadn't forgotten as well.

After a while, the potion was ready.

"That was quick, Miss. Are you totally sure of you?" asked the old man suspiciously.

"Yes, sir," answered Adena confidently. When reading the recipe, it felt like she already knew the steps even though she had done it months ago. Memories of that day were still so vivid that the potion was made so easily.

"Fine, you can go." He gave her a small smile, enjoying her confident attitude. She nodded and left the room. Her unique goal was to find Regulus now. The girl glanced outside, looking for a certain boy that she noticed talking with a group of Slytherin fifth-years under a tree. Very slowly, Adena made her way towards them, hoping Regulus would notice her before she reached them. And happily, he did. His eyes remarked her before he completely turned away from his housemates to make his way towards the brunette. The raven-haired boy had a faint grin on his lips, and Adena mimicked it, except that hers grew larger the more he got closer.

"The Peace filter," was all she said to him.

"Yeah, this one. What a coincidence."

"So, you remembered it as well?"

"Of course, I did. Our first potion as a pair, we did so well."

"Too bad you weren't there this time..." she gave him a disappointed smile and he chuckled.

"I don't think you needed me."

"Not to make the potion, but just for your presence."

"Would you be able to focus?"

"Well, no, I think you would have been too distracting."

None of them knew what their words meant but they couldn't help saying them and continuing talking in that light cheerful tone.

They parted ways when everyone started going back to their common room, but still walked together inside, enjoying their last seconds in each other's presence.

The next day, students started with Astronomy. Adena had no trace of nervousness in her. It was the exam she was the most confident for. It was nothing she didn't know, stars, planets and natural satellites of their galaxy, she had learned that a long time ago. The practical exam was at midnight. The summer night was enjoyable, not too fresh but not too hot. She was enjoying the quiet moment, looking up at the stars. Just like last time, students had to be in pairs since they couldn't have one telescope for everyone of them.

Adena and Regulus chose to work together of course.

"Winsten, look at your paper," had whispered Regulus as she was watching the starry sky once again. The brunette took her own piece of parchment, starting with the first question.

"First question: name and give the position of the brightest stars of the Aries constellation."

Her lips turned into a joyful smile after reading the question out loud.

"The Arietis stars..." whispered Regulus, his bright eyes looking deep into her own.

"Let's find them, then. Again..."

And so, they started answering the questions, actually having a great time completing the exam together, even laughing quietly sometimes.

"Pss, Adena..." muttered a voice behind them. Both teenagers turned around to see Jacob and Noah, the first having a panicked expression on his face and the second an embarrassed one.

"Can you give us your sheet of paper please, I know you answered all the questions." He had a pleading look in his blue orbs. She rolled her eyes and lent them her work after checking if the examiners weren't there.

"Thanks, Adena, you're the best!" said Noah.

"You're cheating. And you brought me in your cheating," whispered Regulus quietly, his eyebrows perched up in a fake offended manner. He was rarely so expressive and Adena appreciated each and every one of his rare expressions.

"I'll take all of the responsibility if we get caught, which won't happen, since it has never happened. Even if Jacob isn't the discreet type."

"You're such a nice friend."

Those words surprised the girl a little, but she smiled, nonetheless. "It's normal. Jade or Isaac would have done the same thing even if they didn't want to. I'm pretty sure you would have too, you didn't even try to stop me."

"But I'm not his friend though."

"You're not that mean, you know him, and nobody can resist Jacob's desperate look."

"You really like him..." muttered the boy more plainly, frowning a little. The Ravenclaw didn't know what that meant so she answered jokingly, just as quietly.

"Liking him? That child is unbearable."

"Hm, if you say so."  He avoided her gaze, looking up at the sky instead.

She was confused by his reaction. The Slytherin boy looked upset but she wasn't sure. Adena walked closer to his side, her hand reaching out as if wanting to touch his black curls but instead falling on his shoulder.

"Jacob's an annoying git. People like him are irritating, I could never like him."

She did like him but, in that context, the word had a different meaning for both of them, she could feel it without him needing to explain it. The brunette placed her head on his shoulder, hoping the proximity would make him stop being upset. She still couldn't understand him but at that moment, she couldn't understand herself as well. Adena ignored her confused thoughts and feelings to instead enjoy the moment.

"Time is up, give me back your work before leaving," said the examiner, signaling the end of the exam.