Hogwarts.
After career guidance, the fifth-years entered their busiest stretch yet at Hogwarts.
Everyone was studying hard for their O.W.L.s, the most important exams they had faced in five years at the school. Unlike all their previous tests, these had a cutoff, much like entrance exams.
Only students whose overall results were good enough would be allowed into sixth and seventh year to continue studying for their N.E.W.T.s.
So whether it was Hermione and Michael, who always worked hard, or Ron and Seamus, who usually took things easy, everyone was studying night and day. Some of them, admittedly, were only cramming at the last minute.
In any case, the atmosphere in the High Tower had become intensely studious.
Most of the time, all anyone could hear was the turning of pages and the scratch of quills on parchment.
Will was the exception. He was probably the most relaxed fifth-year in the High Tower.
Lately, he had spent most of his time hunting down ingredients for the Dream Potion. But the Complete Guide to Potion Ingredients was so sprawling that he was making little progress.
As for Harry, he thought Snape was deliberately trying to make him repeat the year.
"Potter!" Snape stopped beside Harry in Potions Class. "If you're too stupid to brew a Shrinking Solution you should have mastered in third year, I don't see how you can pass your O.W.L.s.
"Two points from Gryffindor. Clearly, you weren't listening, were you?"
The yellow-green potion in Harry's cauldron was giving off a strange smell. Harry knew he had got it wrong; Shrinking Solution was supposed to be green.
"No answer? Very well. It seems your detention the other day taught you nothing. Report to my Office after class!" Snape strode off to inspect the others, leaving Harry fuming.
Snape kept