In just two days, the exams for all their courses would finally be over. Hermione, known for her diligence, had aced almost every subject except Potions, where she struggled a bit. On the other hand, Luke had slipped up in Magic History, barely managing to pass.
Comparing their performances, it was evident that Hermione's hard work had paid off this time.
"The Magic History class is ridicuLukesly hard to memorize..." Luke remarked, watching Hermione gleefully clutching her report card.
He couldn't help but suspect that perhaps the ancient specter teaching the course had purposely graded him poorly. After all, hadn't he just dozed off a few times during class?
"But didn't you once confess to dozing off on the desk every Demon History lecture?" Hermione teased, amused by Luke's plight.
Among all the subjects, Demon History was the only one where Luke had struggled, earning his lowest grade.
"He's such a bore!"
Luke let out a frustrated sigh, dropping his report card on the table, only for it to slide over to Harry and Ronald by accident.
The duo's eyes twitched as they glanced at the nearly perfect grades on Hermione's report card, a stark contrast to their own.
Harry examined his report card, noting Snape's harsh grading in Magic 13 Medicine, with most other subjects barely passed.
Ronald, on the other hand, fared even worse, managing only two passing grades.
"My mum's going to have my head when she sees this! 99" Ronald lamented, envisioning Mrs. Weasley's reaction upon laying eyes on his report card.
"How did you two fare?" the Weasley brothers chimed in as they approached.
George seized Ronald's report card, his expression tinged with a hint of schadenfreude.
"You're in for it, Ronald. Mum's definitely going to have a word with you," he remarked, relishing in his brother's predicament.
Ronald slumped in his seat, defeated. "Wow, all O's," George exclaimed, marveling at Hermione's impeccable performance.
Fred stared at the transcript spread across the table, a mixture of awe and surprise painted across his face. Hogwarts had been his home for numerous years, yet he had never laid eyes on such a meticuLukesly organized report card. The only exception was the magical history class, where he consistently earned an A.
His gaze shifted from the document to Luke, who sat beside him. There was a spark of amazement in Fred's eyes as he exclaimed, "You're quite the all-rounder, aren't you?"
Luke responded with a modest smile, revealing the report card of the girl seated next to him to the two brothers.
As they glanced at the grades, a few onlookers couldn't help but murmur about the natural compatibility between the two. The consensus was clear – they were truly a perfect couple.
With exams behind them, the looming prospect of the last night at Hogwarts hung in the air. Tomorrow night's grand finale would be the graduation ceremony in the auditorium, marking the beginning of the summer vacation.
Hermione, however, had chosen not to visit the Room of Requirement that night. Instead, she was busy preparing her luggage in advance, anticipating Luke's return to the dormitory.
Meanwhile, Malfoy, who had been confined to a hospital bed, lay there with a letter from Harry in hand. News had reached him that Harley had transferred schools following the recent incident. It seemed that poor Malfoy had unwittingly become a pawn in Harry's hands.
Luke, observing the unfolding events, shook his head.
The Hogwarts Hall, decked out for the graduation ceremony, exuded opulence. Bright candles adorned the ceiling, casting a warm glow across the room. As the last meal of the term unfolded, Luke took his usual place in Gryffindor's seat, surrounded by the familiar green and silver hues representing Slytherin.
Fred and George, seated nearby, couldn't help but voice their complaints about the perpetually monotonous color scheme. It seemed that the Gryffindor twins found the decor nauseatingly repetitive each year.
The professors, including the school doctor's wife and Hagrid, graced the occasion. Snape, seated in the corner, exuded contentment, clearly pleased with Slytherin's consecutive championship. Professor McGonagall, despite the challenges faced by the Gryffindor house this year, maintained her composure.
As the festivities unfolded, Professor McGonagall turned to Luke and asked, "Luke, what are your plans for the holiday?"
Fred took a refreshing sip of juice and casually inquired, "Any plans for the holidays?"
"Perhaps I'll head to Diagon Alley to tend to some business," Luke replied, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
He harbored a desire to rent a shop to peddle potions, yet the specifics regarding the store's rent remained a mystery.
"Feel free to drop by the Burrow outside San Catchipole whenever you have some free time!" Fred invited, his enthusiasm evident.
If nothing else, he and George planned to spend the holidays crafting cards.
"Sure thing, I'll swing by when I have a chance," Luke responded with a smile and nod.
Ding-ding!
A crisp sound reverberated across the room as Dumbledore tapped the silver goblet with a fork, drawing everyone's attention.
"Before we proceed with dinner, let's announce the winners of the Academy Cup," Dumbledore declared, his tone brimming with joviality.
"Even though everyone is aware of the winning house's colors, it's only fitting to uphold the tradition of announcing the victor.
Without further ado, the winner of the Academy Cup is Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table erupted in cheers upon hearing their house announced as the victor.
Meanwhile, at the Gryffindor table, Fred, George, and their friends raised their glasses of juice to toast Luke.
Though they might harbor some reservations about Slytherin, it was clear that Luke was not among their grievances.
"Congratulations, Luke!" Neville exclaimed, joining in the celebration with his juice in hand.
"Thank you!" Luke replied, raising his chocolate milk to toast with his friends.
Meanwhile, Hermione let out a helpless sigh as she observed Gryffindor's score.
She had truly given her all, yet Gryffindor still came up short.
Luke leaned over and affectionately pinched her cheek.
"Don't worry, Hermione. I'll let you win next time!" he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
"We'll see about that!" Hermione retorted, her cheeks flushing slightly as she gently patted Luke's hand.
While Hermione might have emerged as the academic victor, Luke had secured the Academy Cup for himself.
"Alright, everyone, I believe you've all endured enough of my rambling," Dumbledore interjected, tapping the goblet once more.
"Now, let the feast begin!"
Kaboom!
An array of sumptuous dishes suddenly materialized on the once-empty tables, eliciting cheers and applause from the young wizards and witches.
As the festivities drew to a close, Hermione quietly looped her arm through Luke's, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Come on, Luke, open wide!" she encouraged, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.
Luke chuckled and obligingly accepted a piece of fruit from Hermione's hand.
With a dazzling display of fireworks signaling the end of the dinner, the students eagerly anticipated the arrival of the holidays, eager to embark on new adventures and create lasting memories.
....
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