As the final exams draw progressively closer the 5th and 7th years went into overdrive. Their tension increased to the point they were like landmines able to explode at the drop of a hat. As a result, the Slytherin common room is almost desolate except for a few brave souls who had the audacity to share the common room with the aggressive 5th and 7th years.
Though there is one notable exception, Alchemy. After the fight in the first year's dorm room (Terry and Severus vs. Rosier and Evans), Alchemy is greatly favored by Head Boy Lucius Malfoy and the other 7th years. As a result, the person or rather the cat with the highest authority beyond Head Boy Malfoy is Alchemy…
Alchemy is treated like a King by the highly stressed 5th and 7th years. Most of the time Alchemy is most willingly kidnapped despite Terry's valiant attempts to rescue his cat. However, he knew better than to pry Alchemy out of the arms of the 5th and 7th years (especially from Lucius Malfoy and Narcissa Black). Terry is many things, but he didn't have a death wish!
With the 1st year exams drawing closer Rowan spent less and less time researching. Her project is near completion and she is confident she will finish before the end of the term. She mostly concentrates on studying for her exams in preparation for them.
Even the Marauders had set aside their own research on werewolves. The four Gryffindors earnestly studied to the amazement of themselves and others. Then again even the Marauders didn't want to actually fail a class.
Personally, Rowan did not believe it possible for them to review an entire year's worth of notes in such a short time frame. Then again, Lupin is quite studious and regularly kept up with their studies. Even James and Sirius had put in some effort throughout the year, they should be theoretically fine. And as for Pettigrew, it would be a hail mary to be perfectly honest. But hey, wizards are known to make miracles happen.
From outside, warm light streams inside the windows down the hallways revealing a warm day with blue skies. The library is a tad warm at this point in time. Sitting next to Rowan is Terry, who bites the end of his sugar quill thoughtfully repeating the dates of goblin rebellions.
Rowan frowned at Terry biting the sugar quill, but then again, the idea of biting a realistic, sugar quill gave her the shivers. "Gross," she huffed under her breath returning her gaze to review potions and their ingredients for their potion exam.
Memorization is not as difficult, but rather the actual brewing is. Rowan is not very good at handling living specimens. Her final potions grade would depend entirely on her luck. If the final potions exam included handling living specimens, she would not be receiving a very good grade, an Acceptable would be her best possible shot.
Under his breath, Severus silently mouths charms and spells lest they be accidentally cast. "Can we have a break?" Terry tiredly groaned rubbing his aching head with one hand.
Glancing up to make sure Madam Pince is not around, Rowan whispers, "As soon as we finish memorizing the dates of magical discoveries."
Terry groans in despair and buries his face in his hands. "We're never going to leave, are we?"
"Quiet, I'm trying to memorize charms!" Severus huffed.
With another miserable cry, Terry returned to studying. However, his hazy eyes seemed to be misty as if unable to read anything more. For better or for worse, the exams are only a week or so away.
With little less than a week left until the final exam several fifth and seventh years are taken to the infirmary due to extreme exhaustion. The rest are anxious and irritable snapping at each other and everyone. In fact, Professor Slughorn and Head Boy Malfoy at one point were forced to sit in the common room because two 7th years went for each other's throats after one of them spilled ink all over the other's notes.
Although strangely enough all tensions abruptly vanished right after. Rumor had it that Professor Slughorn had finally had enough. Apparently, he had secretly doused the 5th & 7th years with a calming draught. Personally, Rowan thought the rumor is true. With the help of the house elves, all of the 5th & 7th years would have easily absorbed the calming draught via food or drink without their knowledge.
It definitely helped ease the tension in the common room, especially among the 5th & 7th years. Although Slytherins tended to appear cold and ruthless that did not mean that they were not studious. That isn't to say everyone studies or is studious, but during their 5th & 7th years, they most certainly are. The children of pureblood families had an image to uphold. And even if they were not an heir or powerful or seeking power, the families expected them to do well in the final exams for appearance's sake.
All too soon the day of the first exam arrived. On the morning of, Rowan awoke to a strange feeling of being damp and a terrible aching pain in the pit of her stomach. She let out a whimper of pain causing the other girls to startle awake.
"Mandrakes don't eat butter!" Tiffany shouted out half-asleep still.
Ignoring Tiffany's sleep-addled remark, Bethanie quickly removes her bed robe hanging from a hook on the side of the bedpost. Wrapping herself up, she pulls back the emerald and silver bed curtains surrounding Rowan's bed. "What is wrong?" She asked looking over Rowan's pale face.
A deep flush crawled up Rowan's face. "I'm fine, really," she grimaced through clenched teeth.
"You sure don't look it," Silvia snorted in disbelief as she approached Rowan's bedside. Without any warning, she tugged Rowan's sheet away.
The flush on Rowan's face deepened as her ears turned bright red to match. Bethanie and Silvia quickly spot the red-stained sheets. Sympathy flashes across the two girls' faces as Tiffany pokes her head around Silvia and sleepily blinks. Her eyes widen in recognition, "OH."
"Oh, no! And on the first day of exams too!" Bethanie lamented. "Not to worry, Rowan you are not alone. We have all started ours during the course of the school year. Though it certainly seems that you are the last one of us to gain her blood moon."
"Congratulations, you are now a woman," Silvia drily remarked causing Tiffany to accusatory blink at Sylvia as if Silvia was stupid.
"No need to worry, Rowan," Bethanie reassured as she reached for her wand resting on the side of her bedside desk. "Get dressed as best as you can dear, we'll help as needed. Do you need to use some of our supplies?"
Rowan crawls out of bed with her legs tightly clenched together feeling something wet creeping down her thighs. She is utterly mortified as Bethanie points her wand at the bed. "Tegero!" The red stains fade away from the sheets.
"There now," Bethanie said in satisfaction. "Do you know what to do, hon?"
"I know," Rowan murmured in embarrassment hurriedly grabbing a clean change of clothes only pausing too deep into her trunk to pull out a feminine pad, before rushing into the girl's bathroom.
"Well, that is just horrible," Tiffany yawned loudly only half covering her mouth with one hand.
"Does any of you have any pain draught's left?" Bethanie pursed her lips in a pretty frown.
"Nope," Silvia ruefully shrugged. "Tiffany and I had ours two weeks ago, we used up all of ours. And you did too if I correctly recall, just last week."
"Mm," Bethanie bit her lip in thought. "We have exams early this morning and I think the infirmary is low on stock. It may take Madam Pomfrey some time to brew the potion. Do you think anyone else would have one on hand?"
"Maybe," Tiffany scrunched up her face in thought. "But I don't think anyone would willingly share. And besides, this is not the type of thing we want to announce either."
"In that case, we will want to make sure Rowan has plenty of chamomiles or peppermint tea served at breakfast," Bethanie thoughtfully concluded. "Alas, we don't have any moon tea, moon tea is the best for cramps."
"Ug, the first time's the worst," Silvia painfully recalled with a shudder.
All three girls solemnly nod their heads in agreement before Tiffany half-yawns again, "I hope this is not some kind of omen."
The three girls shiver at the mere thought. "Well, no matter, we best get ready ourselves," Bethanie quickly changed the subject. The three of them hurry to change as well when Rowan emerges from the bathroom with a pale face and bright red ears.
"This is so embarrassing," Rowan thought to herself. At the same time, it is a relief to find out that her roommates are so compassionate. Glancing at the time, she gently rubs her belly and tries to not hunch over from the pain.
"What I wouldn't do for some painkillers right now," Rowan solemnly thought to herself, before another thought occurred to her. "Do painkillers even work on witches and wizards?" Either way, she'd make a personal note to find out during the summer.