On the day the O.W.L. examinations began, even students from other years could clearly feel the tense atmosphere pervading the Great Hall.
Even Wizet's roommates were not in particularly good shape.
Today's examination was Herbology. Anthony had One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi spread open before him, but his gaze was not on the book. Instead, he absentmindedly poked at the potatoes on his plate.
Terry was not doing much better. He tore his bread into small pieces, kneaded them into little balls, and arranged them neatly across his plate.
His eyes were fixed on the plate, staring blankly at the bread balls before him. Every now and then, his lips moved, as though he were reciting some incantation.
Michael looked fine on the surface, having already demolished more than half the food on his plate.
The problem was that the amount on his plate far exceeded his usual appetite. At least five sandwiches remained, along with several pieces of bacon and pickled herring piled there, yet he kept stuffing food into his mouth without seeming to notice.
What was more, his free hand was not idle either. His fingers kept tapping on the table, growing louder and louder, though he did not seem aware of it.
Chris was much like Michael, trying to hide his nerves by eating and guzzling pumpkin juice.
By the time Wizet and Luna sat down, he had already drained an entire jug of pumpkin juice.
"Morning..." Chris burped, and pumpkin juice could even be seen rising in his throat.
He paid it no mind and looked at Wizet. "How did you sleep last night?"
"Pretty well." Wizet nodded and poured Luna a cup of warm milk.
"Ugh! Even Calming Draught doesn't work anymore!" Michael rubbed his stomach and said miserably, "I woke up once