"Relax, Ginny. N.E.W.T.s really aren't as frightening as you imagine."
In the corridor between the stairs and the Great Hall, Kyle looked at Ginny, whose face had gone pale with nerves. "Just treat it like an ordinary exam, and you should feel much better."
"But we don't usually take exams in the Great Hall, and there aren't people from the Wizarding Examinations Authority watching us."
Ginny rubbed her face.
Before this, she had never thought N.E.W.T.s were anything to fear, and she had never understood how Hermione could get so nervous before exams that she couldn't sleep.
But now she understood.
Ever since the people from the Wizarding Examinations Authority had appeared in the Hogwarts Great Hall right on schedule the previous evening, she had felt her heart begin to race.
The last time she had felt like this was during the Quidditch final.
Before the Slytherin Seeker caught the Golden Snitch, she had scored a crucial goal in time, winning the match by the narrow margin of ten points.
Her heart had been racing then too.
"They're not actually that scary," Kyle said. "Professor Marchbanks only looks strict."
"I really don't understand..." Ginny took several deep breaths. "Why wasn't Ron nervous at all around this time last year? I even heard him discussing what to have for lunch with Harry before heading to the exam room..."
"Probably talent," Kyle said with a smile. "You and Hermione may never learn their ability to stay so relaxed."
"You're right." Ginny tried to calm herself down and looked around. "Where's Kanna?"
"Still in the Potions classroom," Kyle said. "She hasn't come out in nearly a week."
"Aren't you worried?" Ginny asked. "I heard that the more complicated a potion is, the more dangerous it becomes if the brewing order goes wrong... If