In Harry's mind the screams of his soul mate as she endured the Cruciatus Curse while being tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange echoed. "Beside you, Harry, no matter what," He heard in his head. Looking at Hermione he nodded, knowing in his heart that as much as he would want her safe, he needed her beside him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against him. "I wouldn't want you any other place," He said sincerely.
Hermione leaned her head against Harry's shoulder as the two of them lapsed into a comfortable silence.
"How much sleep did you get last night?" Harry asked finally. "Do you need to go to bed?"
"Not as much as I should have, but... do you have any idea what time it is?"
It was only after Harry's hand had instinctive reached for his pocket that he remembered the watch he'd received from the Weasleys on his seventeenth birthday wouldn't be there. ""No, but I remember the party broke up very late because Ron woke me up when he finally came to bed. It's got to be three am, at least," Then looking back at Hermione, he tapped her wrist which had a watch on it.
"Oh, I didn't have it on this morning and forgot…" She said, and then looked down at the device in question. "Close, it's actually almost four. I guess we should just stay up and make plans."
"You should get some sleep," Harry suggested.
"No, I'll be fine. Besides, after the last year, we're both used to going without sleep when needed," Hermione reminded him. "Let me grab my planner so we refresh our memories of what is going on right now," She raced up the steps but she came back down at a much slower pace as she glanced at the planner.
"What about the OWLs, Harry?" Hermione whispered.
"What about them? Hopefully we don't have to study as hard this time for them, since we have other things to do."
"No, I mean my name? Remember how they called our names for the practicals? What if they call me Potter?"
"Don't worry, dear. That's why I put you at this particular time," Miranda voice reappeared in their minds. "They copied off the student lists and testing materials last night. You will still be Hermione Granger, according to the OWLs. Any earlier, and it would've been Hermione Potter. You can still request the name change on the exams or results at any time, if that is your desire."
"How'd you know what we would decide about disclosing our marriage?" Harry asked.
"I didn't, but this is the earliest spot where you could make the choice. It gives you over a week before the testing starts and almost three weeks before the Department of Mysteries event happens."
Harry waited for the shriek from Hermione about how little time was left before the exams, but it never came. Looking over at her, he was surprised how calm she looked. "Only a week before OWLs Hermione, are you alright with that?"
"I'm fine Harry."
"So, no short tempers, no hitting me with books this time?" Harry asked. "No tormenting and terrorizing the tower?"
"Was I really that bad?"
Harry shrugged. "It felt like it."
"Well, it's not going to be like that this time," Hermione said. "I already know what's coming. I'll need to brush up on some of the written portions, and definitely history, but the practicals won't be a problem."
"Easy for you to say," Harry replied. "I wonder if I can ask McGonagall if I can just not take History OWL?" Harry said. "I have no chance of passing it. I mean got a Dreadful last time and I've forgotten most of what I knew then."
"You can pass it, Harry," Hermione said then after a few seconds of chewing on her lip. "I...well I remember what was on the test, and I can help you study what you need and if you really need help…well…..I can help," She finished in her mind.
"You would cheat?" Harry asked in amazement.
"I'm not saying I'm going to help you get an Outstanding," Hermione replied with a huff. "But I will help my husband get an Acceptable; that is IF he at least tries to study the material. Besides, we're cheating already, aren't we? We've already finished our sixth year, and had an additional year of practical charm and transfiguration work while we were on the hunt. I can't imagine you not getting an O this time in charms or transfiguration."
"Yeah, I can't wait until I see McGonagall's face if I do get an Outstanding. Let's see, career counseling was several weeks before the exams, and she was telling me then my work was only Acceptable. I definitely won't mix up the color change and growth in charms this time," Harry looked back at Hermione, "Can I at least drop the Divinations' exam? You can't help me in that one."
"True. Though you could make some startling accurate predictions currently, but that would draw some very unwanted attention to you. I wished you had dropped the class when I did and started Ancient Runes," Hermione said and at the look on Harry's face she continued.
"See, that's the Ron part that rubbed off on you that I find frustrating. I don't expect you to keep my schedule, but trying to always take the easiest path wasn't the best way to go either. Runes are the basis for Wards and other static magic, you know."
"You love Defense, and I think Runes is a complimentary course to Defense. But yes, love, talk to Professor McGonagall and say you would prefer to concentrate on the tests you feel you have a chance in. I know she thinks Divinations is a joke,"
Hermione looked away for a few moments, and then back, "What do you think of telling Professor McGonagall about our marriage? She does the administrative work for the school, and if my name does pop up somewhere she might be able to help."
"But not anything else?" Harry asked.
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