The next day after their conversation, Harry and Ron swallowed their pride and approached Adam and Hermione for help with their upcoming exams. Ron, in particular, looked almost desperate; he’d already accepted that his talents didn’t quite align with subjects like Charms or Potions. Adam readily agreed, holding back a smile at Ron’s half-hearted attempt to mask his embarrassment. Meanwhile, Hermione had her quill ready, immediately sketching out a detailed, color-coded study schedule, complete with assigned topics and specific times for breaks. She even assigned each of them different study tasks based on their strengths, a plan which Adam couldn’t help but admire for its thoughtfulness.
After classes, they gathered in the library. Adam had always found comfort within the library’s towering bookshelves, surrounded by the scent of parchment and ink. There was a peacefulness in the quiet shuffling of pages, and the occasional distant clink of Madam Pince’s heels as she patrolled the aisles. To him, these study sessions were a welcome escape from the usual school bustle. Hermione’s methodical arrangement of notes only added to the atmosphere, the stacks of paper and reference books spread around them like pieces in a grand puzzle.
The first day of studying was intense. Hermione’s meticulous approach left no gaps, and she immediately began drilling Harry and Ron on their weaker topics. She quizzed them on wand movements, potion ingredients, and historical dates until they were visibly exhausted. Adam pitched in with some memory tricks and shortcuts he’d picked up during his own studies, tricks that made Harry’s eyes light up with relief and made Ron sigh in appreciation. Adam enjoyed being able to help in his own way; he knew Hermione’s rigorous approach could feel overwhelming, so his input added a bit of variety and, hopefully, encouragement.
As the days passed, their study group became a regular fixture in the library. Hermione and Adam often took turns explaining tricky concepts, easing the burden off each other as they worked through spells, magical creatures, and potion ingredients. Adam could see that Ron was slowly getting used to the rhythm of studying, though he still groaned every time Hermione bombarded them with flashcards. The sight of Ron holding his head in his hands while trying to remember the properties of gillyweed made Adam chuckle quietly. Even Harry, who was more inclined to follow instinct than memorization, seemed genuinely focused, his forehead creasing as he worked his way through questions.
The four of them became a team, each supporting the other in their own way. For Adam, the experience was more than just preparation for exams; it was a chance to connect with his friends in a setting where they could all share in each other’s struggles and triumphs. He also began noticing small things about each of them—the way Ron always brought snacks, usually chocolate frogs or pumpkin pasties, to help them “stay motivated,” or how Harry would doodle on his parchment as he listened to explanations, often drawing tiny golden snitches in the margins.
When exam day finally arrived, Adam felt a familiar wave of nerves. He had prepared thoroughly, but the high-stakes atmosphere still made him uneasy. His hands were slightly clammy as he lined up with his classmates, waiting to be let into the exam hall. Despite his knowledge, the lingering pressure sat at the back of his mind, nudging him with doubts. But as he glanced around and caught sight of Harry’s determined expression and Ron’s comically exaggerated sighs, Adam felt a surge of reassurance. They were in this together.
Their first major test was in Charms, with Professor Flitwick presiding over the classroom from atop a stack of books at his desk. The assignment: animate a pineapple and make it dance. As Adam took his turn, he steadied himself, remembering Flitwick’s advice to “focus on intent as much as movement.” He felt the familiar weight of his wand in his hand, grounding him, and carefully performed the precise flick and swish, uttering the incantation. His pineapple began to quiver slightly before breaking into a lively jig, twirling and bouncing across the desk in perfect rhythm. The sight made him grin, and when he heard Professor Flitwick’s delighted squeak—“Marvelous, Mr. Morgan!”—Adam’s heart soared with pride. It was moments like these that reminded him of how much he loved magic.
The next day brought a challenge that tested not only his magical skill but his patience: Transfiguration. Today’s task was to turn a small gray mouse into a snuffbox, and Professor McGonagall’s keen gaze swept over each student as they attempted the transformation. Adam took a deep breath, feeling a flicker of nerves; Transfiguration demanded not only skill but a level of concentration that made it unforgiving. Visualizing the elegant snuffbox he wanted to create, he focused on the texture, color, and shape. His wand waved steadily, and before his eyes, the mouse shimmered and shifted, finally morphing into a delicate, gilded snuffbox with a tiny pattern of golden ivy curling across its lid. Adam chuckled quietly to himself—he’d added a little flourish, a trick his family had taught him about imbuing finer details into Transfigurations. McGonagall’s approving nod filled him with pride, and he felt that extra detail had not gone unnoticed.
Then came the Potions exam, a test Adam knew would be tense under Professor Snape’s watchful eye. Today’s potion was a Forgetfulness Potion, which they had to brew entirely from memory. Adam found it ironic that they had to recall every step precisely for a potion meant to make someone forget. Snape’s presence was as intense as ever; his dark eyes roamed over the class with the air of someone expecting mistakes, perhaps even relishing them. Adam focused, recalling each instruction he’d practiced. His cauldron bubbled gently as he added the ingredients in careful succession, stirring until the potion settled into a pale blue—a sign he’d done it correctly. He caught Snape’s eye, and for a fleeting moment, there was a slight nod of approval. That rare acknowledgment from Snape felt like a small triumph, a silent affirmation that Adam’s hard work had paid off.
However, not all exams were as satisfying. The History of Magic test, overseen by Professor Binns, felt more like a marathon of endurance than a display of knowledge. The subject matter, a dry recounting of the invention of the Self-Stirring Cauldron by Gaspard Shingleton, was far from thrilling. Adam’s hand cramped halfway through, his fingers aching as he scribbled answers across endless lines of parchment. Despite his best efforts, his mind wandered more than once, straying to thoughts of the final exams being over and the freedom that lay ahead. Each tick of the clock seemed to stretch on forever, and by the time the exam finally ended, Adam felt mentally exhausted. Unlike the practical exams, which felt engaging and rewarding, this theoretical test left him drained.
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After nearly one weeks of exams, the last day finally arrived. The sun streamed through the windows, casting a warm glow over the exam hall as they tackled their last paper. Adam felt the collective tension in the room, each student deep in concentration, the silence punctuated only by the scratching of quills. When the final bell rang, signaling the end of their last exam, Adam set down his quill and exhaled, feeling the weight of exam stress lift like a dense fog clearing. Glancing at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, he could see their relief mirrored in each other’s faces. There was a shared sense of accomplishment, a feeling of having survived something significant together.
As they left the exam hall and stepped out into the courtyard, Adam’s heart raced with excitement. For the first time in weeks, he felt truly free.
The day after exams ended, Adam felt a deep need to unwind, craving an escape from the stuffy, tense atmosphere of study halls and classrooms. He made his way to the lake, eager for a bit of peace and, more importantly, to spend time with Argos, the giant squid. The morning air was crisp and refreshing, a gentle breeze ruffling the surface of the lake and carrying the faint, earthy scent of summer. Adam spotted a flash of movement beneath the water as he approached, and with a grin, he took out the small bucket of fish he’d brought along as a treat.
He called out to Argos, watching as one of the massive tentacles slowly broke the surface of the water, reaching out in anticipation. With a flick of his wrist, Adam tossed a fish into the air, laughing as Argos caught it with remarkable accuracy. "Good one, Argos!" he chuckled, feeling a lightness he hadn’t experienced since exams began. It was a one-sided conversation, of course, but somehow, talking to Argos had always felt natural. The giant squid listened with surprising attentiveness, his great, curious eyes watching as Adam spoke.
Adam settled onto a rock near the shore, his legs dangling over the water, and began recounting his exams. “You should have seen Ron during Transfiguration,” he laughed, shaking his head. “Tried to turn a mouse into a snuffbox, and it ended up with a whisker twitching every few seconds. Professor McGonagall looked like she wasn’t sure whether to be amused or exasperated.” As he talked, Argos gave what seemed to be a friendly wave of his tentacle, sending small ripples across the lake’s surface.
There was something oddly soothing about sharing these little stories and mishaps with Argos. Adam felt a release as he shared the burdens of the past two weeks, letting them melt away into the lake’s calm waters. The fresh air, the comforting silence punctuated only by the occasional splash, and the easy companionship of Argos provided a much-needed balance after days of intense focus.
As the week went on, the school atmosphere lightened considerably. The buzz of exams was gone, replaced by the usual hum of students enjoying the warmer weather and savoring their newfound freedom. Professors shifted into a gentler pace, assigning summer work but without the same sense of urgency. Adam noted with satisfaction that the summer assignments were fairly straightforward. He made a mental list of topics he’d need to cover, vowing to tackle the work promptly once he returned home. The thought of enjoying his summer without the weight of unfinished assignments was motivation enough.
In class, Professors took the time to revisit some key concepts from the year, sprinkling in advice to prepare them for the next one. Professor Flitwick offered helpful insights into spell precision, while McGonagall demonstrated complex Transfiguration spells, each lesson feeling more like a conversation than a lecture. It was a chance for Adam to consolidate his understanding in a relaxed setting, without the looming pressure of exams. For him, it was a perfect way to close out the school year, feeling both grounded in what he’d learned and excited for what lay ahead.
Finally, the day before the end-of-year feast, the exam results were posted in the entrance hall. A crowd had already gathered around the bulletin board, eyes scanning eagerly for their scores. Adam joined Harry, Ron, and Hermione, feeling a mix of anticipation and curiosity, and they elbowed their way through to get a closer look.
They found Harry’s results first: he had managed an Acceptable (A) in every subject. Harry let out a visible sigh of relief, breaking into a grin as he looked at Ron. “Well, that’s not so bad,” he muttered, clearly pleased. Adam could see the genuine relief on Harry’s face—a reflection of the effort he’d put into those long study sessions.
Ron’s results, however, were more of a mixed bag. He had scraped Acceptable (A) grades in about half of his subjects but had unfortunately earned a few Poor (P) grades in the others. His face went pale as he stared at the scores, muttering, “Mum’s going to be mad.” Adam could hear the worry in his voice; the Weasley family placed a high value on doing one’s best, and Ron wasn’t looking forward to facing his mother’s disappointment. Harry clapped him on the back, offering a comforting, “Hey, at least you passed!” Ron forced a weak smile, and Adam gave him an encouraging nod, hoping to help ease his nerves.
When they reached Hermione’s results, her name was at the top of nearly every list, with Outstanding (O) in three subjects and Exceeds Expectations (E) in the rest. Her eyes sparkled with pride as she took in the scores, her hard work clearly paying off. She turned to Adam, beaming, until her gaze fell on his results—and her expression softened with admiration.
Adam’s name sat at the very top of the list, each subject showing an Outstanding (O) next to it. He’d managed to top the scores in every subject, and he felt a flush of pride, a sense of accomplishment that spread warmly through him. But more than his own satisfaction, it was the reactions of his friends that made him happiest. Hermione was the first to congratulate him, her eyes shining with respect as she said, “Adam, this is incredible! You’ve really outdone yourself.”
Harry grinned, genuinely happy for him, while Ron shook his head in exaggerated disbelief, his eyes widening as he looked at Adam. “Adam,” Ron began, a glint of humor in his eye, “if you ever feel like adopting someone, I’d be a great choice. Think of all the exam tips I’d get!”
They all burst into laughter, the stress of exam season finally dissipating in the warmth of good-natured teasing. Adam couldn’t help but laugh, a weight lifting from his shoulders as he took in the cheerful faces of his friends. There was no jealousy or competitiveness here, only mutual support, and he felt immensely grateful for it.
As they headed back to the common room, Hermione was already talking animatedly about their plans for next year, her voice filled with excitement about the possibilities. Harry listened, a smile tugging at his lips, while Ron joked about finding a way to “accidentally” misplace his textbooks. Adam listened to them all, feeling a deep sense of belonging. The scores mattered, but the friendships he’d forged throughout this year meant so much more.