The Light in the Dark | Neville Longbottom

Chapter 69: Lunatic

*CW: Violence*

April 2nd, 1997

"My O.W.L.s are in two months, and I've barely studied," Ginny sighed, "I haven't had time with quidditch and everything else... I just feel like I'm gonna vomit."

"I'm sure you'll be fine," I assured, "The written exams are pretty easy, as long as you look over your notes before the test begins. For the practical exams, just make sure you know how to perform the spells, memorizing isn't enough."

"Dawn, you only got two O.W.L.s..." Ginny hesitated.

I rolled my eyes as I sighed deeply, "I'm speaking for the ones I took: Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and History of Magic. Charms and History of Magic are easy as long as you review the material beforehand. You were in Dumbledore's Army last year, and, as much as I hate to say it, Snape's a decent teacher, so I'm sure you'll do fine on that exam."

"I can't believe you just called Snape a decent teacher..." Ron scoffed.

"I'm not defending his behavior. I hate him as much as the rest of you do," I protested, "But you can't deny the fact that he's a fair grader. He loathes all of us, yet we're some of the only Gryffindors in N.E.W.T. Potions this year."

"She makes a good point, Ron." Hermione stammered before she took a bite of her blueberry muffin.

"Yeah, I guess... He still sucks though." Ron sighed.

"Well, what about Potions?" Ginny asked, changing the conversation back to the topic of O.W.L. exams, "And Care of Magical Creatures? Divinations? What about all of the other classes?"

"Oh, I can't help you there," I chuckled, "I take Ancient Runes and Arithmetics, and again, I couldn't take my O.W.L. exams for either of those subjects."

"Nerd..." Harry choked, causing me to narrow my eyes at him.

"Hey! I heard that!" Hermione scolded, "And for your information Harry, Ancient Runes and Arithmetics are very interesting subjects that Dawn and I enjoy very much."

I didn't really enjoy Ancient Runes and Arithmetics; I only took them because they were the only other subjects available. At the end of second year, we were required to trial different electives for our third-year time-tables. I wanted to do Care of Magical Creatures until I saw a fire crab, and lost my shit. Divinations was a short-lived trial too, Professor Trelawney read my tea leaves, screamed about a "penetrating evil from the outside", and told me to get out of her classroom. I also took Muggle Studies for Hermione, but she ended up dropping it at the end of third-year. I stayed in the class until this January, only dropping it because of the situation with Bellatrix.

"I failed my Divinations O.W.L.," Harry chuckled, "I didn't understand anything going on. I thought I could get away with writing a bunch of disasters in the blanks, but Professor Trelawney didn't appreciate that."

"I told you that class was rubbish," Hermione scoffed, "And Ginny, the Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L. is easy, so there's no need to worry about it."

"I don't think Divinations is all rubbish," I hesitated, earning a dirty look from Hermione, "Like the whole part about Astrology... I think that's cool."

"What do you know about Astrology?" Ron asked.

"I dunno..." I shrugged, "But, apparently, I'm a Gemini... I think."

My birthday was something that I haven't given any thought to since my disappearance. I was no longer twins with Draco Malfoy, whose birthday was on June 6th, so I truly had no clue when my birthday was. I wasn't going to mull over this at the breakfast table though.