The entire week has been a tense one as the hours tick down to the final match of the season. If Gryffindor wins, it will be their first Cup victory in years. if they don't, they'll be stuck in second, a fate that is apparently worse than death if the attitudes of the team and most of the older students are anything to go by.

His dorm mates are antsy as well. Even Remi is oddly less destructive than normal, swapping his usual shenanigans in favor of worrying a dent into the floor with his pacing.

"Laurel has done pretty awesome things with the team this year and Hufflepuff isn't great, but Lola has proven to be a fantastic Seeker. She's caught the Snitch in both of her games this year which means we need to bank on being two hundred and fifty points ahead of them, and I don't think we can rely on an ice storm to help us with that like it did with Slytherin." Charlie has been obsessing over strategies and player proficiency for the entire week. Myr probably knows the save-miss ratios of each of the house teams' Keepers better than he does the recipes for any of the potions he'll need for the final exam.

"But Poole has been doing really well so I don't think it's fair to completely count him out." Remi points out, still pacing the length of the dorm. He and Charlie have formed a temporary bond through worrying about the Quidditch Cup, which Myr figures is the one good thing to come out of everyone going crazy over the match. "But I see your points about Abbott. Your brother is going to have to up his game - Smith and Warren are carrying the Chasers."

Charlie bristles slightly. "Laurel pressured him into it to start with! And he's perfectly fine, meanwhile Kent's save ratio is only a bit better than the Heartwell! Maybe he should work on that."

Remi shakes his head. "Sylvester does fine considering he's only fourth year. And as you pointed out he has a higher ratio than the Hufflepuff Keeper so what does it matter? He'll save more goals than she will."

"But if his ratio was significantly higher there wouldn't be so much pressure on the Chasers." Evera points out from where she's sitting cross-legged on Drake's bed, utterly failing to defend her older brother. She's become a near-constant fixture in the boys' dorm room after classes, joining in on the Quidditch chatter eagerly.

Drake himself is sitting next to his friend, his legs resting underneath the bed and remaining as quiet as Myr is. Though Myr is certain Drake knows as much about statistics as he does at this point, he's been oddly silent in the lead up to the final match. Especially considering Drake usually never shuts up about anything.

Charlie nods aggressively, pointing at Evera in solidarity. "Exactly! The Keeper needs to do his job as much as the Chasers do! Can't put everything on one person after all."

Remi rolls his eyes. "Oh let's be honest, if we knew for certain Poole was going to catch the snitch we wouldn't be so worried. The Seeker is the most important member of any team." He scoffs.

Drake clears his throat. "Abbott caught the snitch in the Slytherin-Hufflepuff match and they still lost by almost two hundred points." He points out. Next to Myr, Owen stretches, emitting a squeaking sound as he does. Evera melts.

"Aww, I think kitty agrees with you Drake!" She shifts her position so she's braced on her hands and knees on Drake's bed so she can lean across the gap and scratch Owen's neck just where he likes it.

"You girls spoil him way too much." Myr notes idly. He's kept a much closer eye on his kitten since the Training Grounds Tower incident, which has led to the girls spending a lot more time with him to coo over the black disaster. Even Nabila is speaking with him more openly than usual - as it turns out she's a major er for animals.

Drake grins. "Well that settles it then, Owen is clearly the most knowledgeable about Quidditch after all."

This gets the group laughing, the earlier tensions dissipating somewhat just in time for Brandon to bound in, arms laden down with snacks.

"Aw man, what'd I miss?"

"The great Quidditch master Owen declared that Seekers aren't the most important part of the team." Evera pipes up helpfully, and Brandon grins and leans over to affectionately rub the kitten between the ears, earning a particularly loud purr.

"Well if the great Quidditch master Owen says so, who am I to disagree?" He foregoes his own bunk and drops his pile of food on top of Charlie's bed, which is closer to the door, and sits beside it. "Cauldron cake anyone?"

Drake and Evera both raise their hands and the next few minutes are passed with Brandon tossing food towards whoever requests it and said requester trying to snag it before it flies past them and to the other side of the room.

Once the final bits of food have been distributed they fall back to Quidditch talk, as is the new norm for the week. Myr mostly keeps quiet as despite his ever increasing knowledge of the game - he's been reading up on it since deciding he wants to try out - he's still not quite as passionate as many of his dorm mates. He thinks he'll like it a bit more when he's the one playing rather than simply spectating the sport.

The debate continues through dinner and long into the night, until one of the prefects checks in and unceremoniously banishes Evera to the girls' dormitories. With her gone, the boys begin changing for bed, moving from their clump around Charlie's bed back to their own bunks.

Myr doesn't sleep very well that night due to Charlie, Remi, and Drake all whisper-arguing about Quidditch until well past midnight. He does eventually snag a few hours sleep, and as he stumbles, sleep deprived, down to breakfast the next morning he resolves to use their two free periods to nap before potions.

Remi ends up depriving him of this.

"Myr! Hey, so turns out I totally forgot about our Potions essay that was due today so is there any chance I could copy yours?"

Myr honestly contemplates punching Remi in the face for all of two seconds, which is far longer than he'd normally entertain such thoughts, before he simply sighs and grumbles.

"I'm not letting you copy because we'll both fail then. But I can help tutor you I guess. We have two hours."

They're the most miserable two hours of his life, and if it wasn't for the fact Snape would almost certainly take points off of Gryffindor for Remi's stupidity Myr wouldn't have bothered at all. As it is Gryffindor has been upping its game to try and edge Hufflepuff out for third place in the House Cup race so he does his best to deal.

Remi's final product is sub par at best but Myr has long stopped caring about quality when it comes to his loudest roommate. Having anything at all to turn in is a rare occasion with Remi as is.

Potions is as long and disheartening as it ever is, though Myr and Holly manage to avoid Snape's usual verbal assaults as they actually complete their potion correctly and with no fuss. Lunch goes by in a blur of sleepiness and Defense Against the Dark Arts is much the same. Thankfully Professor Whits is reviewing their midterm material so Myr doesn't have to attempt any practical spells. He's certain in his state he'd just blow something up, Remi style.

After class lets out he heads straight back to the dorms and immediately flings himself onto his bed, intent on sleeping until dinner.

He wakes up to the smell of turkey and hushed voices.

"Shouldn't we just let him sleep? He's been out of it all day, it's probably good for him."

"Mum says three meals a day are vital. We'll just wake him long enough to eat then we'll let him rest."

Myr recognizes both voices, but in his sleepy haze he can't quite make out who they belong to. Blearily he forces his eyes open and rolls over in his bed.

"Hello?" His voice rasps a bit and he blinks and clears it. "I smell food."

"You missed dinner."

Ah, that's Holly. She sounds amused, and he sits up as she plops down on his comforter.

"I guess Charlie wins. Here, we brought you a plate, then we'll let you sleep again. Don't want to sleep through tomorrow's match after all!" She grins, and Myr quietly accepts the offered dinner.

Charlie sits across from Holly and shoots his own grin at Myr. "We'll keep it down tonight. Sorry for keeping you up so late. I didn't realize you don't function well on low sleep."

"Been up late a lot this week, it's probably just catching up with me." Myr admits as he eats.

Holly grins sympathetically. "Well I'll keep the boys in the common room tonight so you can rest up." She takes his finished plate and hooks her arm around Charlie's, pulling him out of the room.

"Come on, you can tell me about dragons."

Myr grins to himself as he settles back into the sheets, quickly drifting back to sleep.

He's glad for the long rest - the game is intense and it would have been horrid to be half asleep throughout it.

Bill Weasley swoops a mere half meter over Myr's head, racing after one of the Hufflepuff chasers. Myr yelps as a foot brushes dangerously close to his nose and he jumps backwards into Drake, who laughs and helps him regain his balance.

Myr shouts a quick thanks over the roar of the crowd before looking back to the players over their heads.

Being an observer isn't as fun as being in the air himself, but this particular match is more charged than the rest. If Laurel's team can win by a hundred points the house will win the Quidditch Cup for the first time in five years.

The team is playing better than they have all season, but it's clear Hufflepuff has been training as well - they're refusing to make things easy for the lions. Their seeker Lola especially has been flying circles around Patrick Poole, initiating a game of cat-and-mouse between the two seekers.

In the goalposts Kent is maintaining razor focus. He's still the weakest member of the team, having lost fourteen goals already, but he's blocked nearly two dozen which is an improvement, as Evera notes proudly during a momentary lull in the crowd's screaming.

"And Warren scores on Heartwell. Come on badgers, put up a fight!"

"Mr. Avery!"

The announcer has been aggressively anti-Gryffindor as he always is, having twice already encouraged violence and repeatedly berating any Hufflepuff players who are outflown by a Gryffindor.

Heartwell's eyes don't leave the field, but Myr swears he sees the slim ravenette shoot a two finger salute towards the announcer's booth.

Brandon spots it as well and he looks impressed.

"There's a lady after my own heart." He jokes to Charlie, who glances over at him in confusion, having missed Heartwell's demonstration.

"She would be." Myr shakes his head before once again looking to the field. He's surprised to see that the Seekers are streaking across the field - he'd thought the crowd would get louder when the snitch was spotted, but apparently it's already at it's maximum volume.

He can't help getting a bit swept up in the moment, leaning forward apprehensively. The score is tied at 140 to 140 so it's very much anyone's game. Whoever makes the catch will win the game and determine the fate of the Cup.

Myr spots movement out of the corner of his eye, but that's the only warning he gets before Laurel Kiddell streaks across the field and expertly fires a bludger at what seems like an impossible angle. The ball rockets across the field and clips the back of Lola's broom - just enough to knock her briefly off balance and give Patrick the opening he needs to pull ahead.

Myr is pretty sure his roommates won't be able to talk for the next several days from how loudly they're screaming.

Lola is attempting to make up the lost ground but it's clear from her face that she's not optimistic.

And then suddenly she's grinning and Myr feels an apprehensive twist in his gut when her legs swing up in a very familiar position. Familiar because he'd seen the Slytherin seeker make the same move in their match against Gryffindor.

In one smooth motion Lola stands up on her broom. The two seekers are only a meter and a half above the ground but Myr knows if she falls it's still going to hurt pretty badly.

Lola seems completely unphased by the threat of bodily harm as she balances on her still speeding broom. One second, two, and then she runs, launching not off her own broom but instead using a foothold on Patrick's to fling herself ahead of him.

The stadium goes dead silent as everyone strains to see what has happened. Lola tumbles to the ground, a sickening thud accompanying the landing and Myr can see her brother wincing in the Hufflepuff stands.

Then she lets out an unearthly shriek and flings up her hand - the Snitch glinting proudly in her outstretched fist.

Hufflepuff explodes, as do Ravenclaw and Slytherin who had both been rooting for the badgers. Lola grins shakily, a trickle of blood making its way down the side of her face.

The Gryffindors however are dead silent. Patrick's expression is a twisted mess of anger, disappointment, and something Myr can't quite name. The rest of the team lands near the grounded seeker, and Laurel places a hand on his shoulder, giving him a brief smile before herding the team back towards the locker rooms.

Gryffindor quickly and quietly evacuate the stands. The taste of defeat is bitter in the air and on the back of Myr's tongue. Some part of him had believed there was no way they'd lose this match. Laurel is a fantastic captain, and the team has been practicing nonstop the past few weeks.

He sighs softly once the first year boys are back in their dorm. Evera and Drake aren't with them, having instead decided to wait for Evera's brother Kent to offer what comfort they can. "Well, there's always next year I suppose. The team can only get better."

Remi slams a fist against the wall. "What was that even? That last move can't have been legal." He growls.

Myr and Charlie exchange tired gazes, not responding. It's certainly been a disappointing day, and neither wants to expend the energy to reign Remi's temper in when both of them feel similarly.

"Next year we'll be on the team." Charlie says tiredly. "And we'll know to look out for Lola's broom hoping."

Myr nods quietly, but he can't help wondering how much worse a loss feels when you're actually on the team. Next year may prove even more exhausting and disheartening if he does make the team.

Winning the Quidditch Cup turns Ravenclaw tower into a permanent party during the last week of classes.

Every time Ana returns to the common room she's greeted by streamers, balloons, and usually a faint hint of alcohol that the older years have hidden around the room. It's all rather childish but she can't help feeling rather proud of the accomplishment herself. Ravenclaw is, after all, often considered the nerdy house that spends all their time in the library, and now they've won the trophy indicating that they're the most athletically capable house this year. It's certainly nothing to turn one's nose up at.

She does wish the celebration would tone down some however, especially as final exams approach.

As it turns out, end of year exams are a bit more hectic than midterm ones, and Ana isn't very pleased with the revelation.

Studying is difficult as they're still learning new things that could be on the exam, so unlike the weeks leading up to winter break which contained material she studied on her own over Christmas she actually still has to pay close attention to her teachers and learn the new material, while additionally reviewing everything they've learned during the year.

Of course, there's an entire week set aside for the exams themselves and Ana has carefully planned out her study schedule so she can minimize the amount of cramming she needs to do. Unfortunately, the Charms final is first thing Monday morning, giving her no extra time to study for it.

At least the rest of the house is similarly frantic, making her feel a bit better that she's not alone in her scheduling conundrums. Amelia has been pushing the limits of the curfew in the library, returning to the dorms with seconds to spare before the prefects begin their rounds. Even Evie is cracking down after a very stern lecture from one of the third years when she overheard Evie complain that no one had time to hang out anymore.

Ana's usual spot behind the restricted section is busier as well, which is rather frustrating as some people don't know how to be quiet. The amount of whispering and giggling she hears when she's trying to study drives her to distraction and she's taken to studying in the Ravenclaw common room most days. It may be more crowded than the library, but at least it's dead silent. She once again is incredibly thankful for her Sorting.

The weekend is an endless flood of frantic revising as the first exams loom ever closer, and even Ana is feeling rather apprehensive about them. While she's certain she'll get an Acceptable on her Charms, she quite wants an Outstanding.

She nearly pulls an all nighter on Sunday but Eric calmly reminds her that sleep is as important to testing well as studying. So she reluctantly trudges up to the dorm where Evie and Amelia are already out cold in their bunks, and she joins them in sleep much faster than she'd expected.

She's glad for it as well when she wakes up the next morning feeling refreshed and more prepared than she had the night before. Eric shoots her a small smile at breakfast and she returns it before refocusing on the textbook lying open in front of her. There's one hour until the Charms exam and she intends to take any time she can to prepare.

The exam goes rather well, and Ana is feeling much better when she exits the examination room three hours later. Her apple's waltz had been a bit stiff, but she feels sure it was enough for an E, especially when compared against Evie or Jerry's disasters. She still has some of Evie's exploded apple in her hair she's pretty sure.

She heads straight for the library to check out a book she'd been eyeing for her potions final, which she has the next day, and is pleasantly surprised to run into Alasdair on her way.

"Hey! Haven't seen you in a few days." She greets with a smile.

He gives her a highly frazzled one in turn. "Yeah, studying is hectic. We've been pulling some pretty late nights studying in the common room."

She knows he's talking about the other Slytherin first years. They're an oddly tight-knit bunch, excluding one blond boy who seems to not get along with anyone regardless, and Ana sometimes wonders what it would be like to actually be able to talk with any of the first year Ravenclaws without developing an annoyance-fueled headache.

"I have as well. I do hope exams in the future won't be this hectic, though I'm not holding my breath on that one." She responds idly.

He nods in response and they walk quietly together the rest of the way to the library. She can feel judgemental eyes following them, as she always does when she's walking with Alasdair, from people of all houses.

It never bothered her before, after all she has better things to do with her time than concern herself with what other people think of her. But for some reason the weight of them is heavier today.

She shakes it off as exhaustion from studying and asks Alasdair if he wants to join her to study for potions.

He declines politely and turns off to head for the Slytherin common rooms, and she heads back for the Ravenclaw Tower, feeling a bit dismissed. She suddenly wonders if not seeing Alasdair recently is as much his fault as it is hers.

She shrugs it off and buries herself in her potions books, determined to do well in her worst subject no matter what Snape may throw at them. He's known for being unfairly brutal and particular with his year-end exams, so she makes sure to revise every potion they've discussed, no matter how briefly, and goes over every ingredient in the textbook even if they never used it or went over it in class.

Sure enough a good third of the ingredients they need to identify in their written paper the next afternoon are ones only found in the books. Ana feels rather certain she'll earn at least an Acceptable, which really is all one can hope for when it comes to Potions.

The practical half of the Potions exam takes two hours, and Ana very nearly mixes up two steps on the forgetfulness potion when Professor Snape stares at her critically for a solid five minutes before moving on to intimidate Fitzwilliam.

Evie is of course absent from most of the test after she managed to melt half her cauldron despite apparently having been doing the potion correctly. Ana is more certain than ever the girl must have come under a curse at some point in her life - no one has luck that horrendous without there being some reason behind it.

The excitable girl is waiting outside when the rest of the first year Ravenclaws depart and she slips back into the dungeon room. Ana wonders briefly what she's doing, and then decides she doesn't honestly care what Evie Jones is up to.

The week blurs together, a mess of studying, stressing, and occasionally sleeping or eating although Ana is rather sure she's lost a few kilos since the start of exams.

Herbology ends up being rather a disaster as it's on the same day as her Transfiguration exam, and she dedicates more study time to the latter rather than the former. This results in her accidentally dropping her puffapod and taking an entire thirty seconds to clear it up as she tries to remember the exact method needed to do so.

She considers it a fair trade off however. The Transfiguration exam goes smoother than any other exam she takes.

The written portion she finishes with twenty minutes to spare, time which she uses to edit her paper to be more eloquently worded, and then she uses the last five minutes to add on a few extra lines with additional information, not really needed but which is pertinent to the subject, that she had read up on in her own time.

The practical portion she completes in ten seconds and she nearly skips out of the examination room, high on the smile and nod she'd received from Professor McGonagall after completing the assigned tasks.

She definitely got an Outstanding, and the thrill of that carries her through the remainder of her exams.

Astronomy goes well enough she thinks, considering it's her worst subject. She actually manages to locate every star requested by Professor Sinestra and she even manages to locate what she believes are the bonus planets in the fifteen minutes she has left once her main chart is completed.

History of Magic proves just as boring in an exam format as it is when pouring monotonously from Professor Binns, and Ana spends an hour of the three hour written exam staring mournfully out the window and wishing she could ask to leave early. However the ghost had made clear that no one could leave until everybody was finished, and Ana was one of only three people to have put their quills down.

She catches Finnigan's gaze for just a moment, and she rolls her eyes slightly, momentarily feeling a kinship with the equally bored boy.

The moment passes swiftly when he ignores her attempt at connection and she remembers why no one ever talks to him. Fitzwilliam spots the exchange and offers a small smile of understanding. Ana returns it briefly before looking back out the window and starting to check off what she needs to do to prepare for the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam that they have first thing the next morning.

Professor Whits has proven to be a highly unpredictable person over the course of the year so Ana settles on going back over everything they've ever discussed just in case.

She's surprised when Fitzwilliam walks over to her when they're finally released from the History room, and even moreso when he asks if she wants to join their study group to go over everything from defense in preparation for the following day's exam.

In the end she agrees to come meet them in the library after lunch, somewhat curious and also thinking that studying with others might have some merit. After all, one should try everything at least once.

She of course still studies on her own before and during lunch and she covers quite a bit of the first section of their textbook before she decides it's time to head over to the library to check out Fitzwilliam's study group.

It's a surprisingly large group, and she decides to sit next to Shaun when she recognizes her potions partner at the edge of the group's claimed table.

He smiles in greeting and scooches his book over so she has room to drop her own armload on the table.

Fitzwilliam smiles and quickly introduces the group, though Ana forgets everyone's names almost as soon as they're said. Jerry and Ftizwilliam are both sitting across from her, so she doubts she'll really be interacting with the kids from the other houses.

The group is alright for about an hour, but Ana soon find herself glancing towards the door every few minutes as she realizes they're behind her in terms of material and she could be getting more done back in her own corner of the Ravenclaw Tower common room.

Shaun notices her distraction and uncertainly taps the table to get her attention.

"Um, Ana? If you wanted to leave you can. Sometimes group work doesn't help and I don't want your grades to suffer because you learn differently than we do." His voice is low and soft as ever, and Ana is grateful for it as the rest of the group doesn't notice the exchange.

She nods thankfully and quietly gathers her things. She's soon back in the common room, poring over her Defense textbook and working on perfecting her wand movement for the few hexes and defensive spells they've covered in the past few months. By the time curfew rolls around she's feeling confident about how her final exam will go.

She exchanges a small nod with Shaun as he and the other two Ravenclaws from the study group enter the common room just as she heads up for the dorms.

As expected, the Defense exam goes well. Her paper is neat and eloquent and though the practical portion isn't quite as flawless as her Transfiguration exam, she accomplishes everything expected of her.

With exams over, all that's left to do is wait for grades to come in, and then the final Feast will occur and it will finally be time to return home.

The entire weekend proves a rather stressful one as the members of the Ravenclaw house await their final grades. People attempt to pack up their things as distraction, Ana included, but the nervous tension remain palpable until breakfast the following Monday, when Professor Flitwick passes out grades to all but the fifth and seventh years, who Ana quietly feels bad for.

She's sitting next to Eric at the table, and he shoots her an evious gaze as her grades are handed to her.

"I already miss getting grades back so quickly." He sighs. "I'll be biting my nails all summer."

Ana smiles sympathetically at him as she unfolds the parchment in her hands - and them immediately forgets about sympathy when she sees the line of Os (and one E but honestly you can't expect more from Potions) in front of her.

"Yes!"

Eric glances down a grins. "Congratulations, looks like you're top of the class again." He compliments her, genuine despite his own voiced frustrations not moments earlier.

Ana beams, hugging the parchment close to her chest to protect it from being stained by the food in front of them. "I suspect so." She agrees happily. "Though it's all for the best. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if the top student wasn't in Ravenclaw?" It isn't really a question - Ana truly believes the answer is a yes, and beyond that she doens't honestly care. She's top of the class, and she fully intends to stay as such for the remaining six years she has.

Hogwarts hasn't turned out so badly after all. Even if it still isn't Durmstrang.

When exams finally finish there's an almost audible rush of relief among the Slytherin first years.

The group of them have been studying relentlessly for their exams, pulling several late nights until Rajani is certain her sleep schedule will remain ruined for most of the summer.

But now the crunch is over and the group is taking full advantage of their newfound freedom.

"See! Look, just past the craggy rocks over there, that's totally a merperson!"

The first year Slytherins have taken complete control of the common room. They've pushed all the chairs and couches over to the wide windows looking out into the lake and are engaged in a game of 'spot the magical creatures and/or the giant squid', something they do a lot during down time.

"No way, that's just seaweed. You need glasses."

"Actually I think she might be right."

Rajani just grins as she watches her friends debate whether Clary should get yet another point, which would officially put her ahead of Eugene who is heavily protesting this turn of events. For her part Rajani doesn't much care about the points, but more about spending time with the people she's come to consider extensions of her family. Especially considering she likely won't be seeing much of them in the coming months.

"Raj, back me up here, that was totally a merperson!" Clary pokes her shoulder imploringly, pulling her out of her reverie.

Rajani can only shrug. "I honestly wasn't paying attention."

Queenie laughs as Clary collapses back onto one of the sofas dramatically. "Rajani Misra, you wound me! Just back me up blindly, that's what roommates are supposed to do!"

"Only against teachers and lions." Rajani quips back cheerfully, which sets off an entirely new debate about when and in what contexts blind defense should be utilized. Rajani does get involved with this particular debate, and she finds herself laughing at some of the logic her friends are employing.

Queenie just shakes her head. "Clary, this is why you're at the bottom of the year." She sighs in mock disappointment.

Clary throws Nia's stuffed black sheep at the other girl's head. The little joke gift has turned into something of a mascot for their friend group and is usually present during their common room hang outs.

Queenie bats it away and Eugene catches it, placing it down on the chair arm beside him. "Now girls, no need to get violent."

Nia grabs the sheep from the chair and places it in her lap. "And no need to bring innocents into it!" She adds with a grin.

The rest of the weekend passes peacefully, and on Sunday afternoon Rajani has her final private flying lessons with Mayra Byrne.

The two have been meeting biweekly since they returned from winter holiday, and Rajani is proud to say that she's definitely shown progress. While Mayra has warned that she's not quite good enough to replace anyone next year, she'll likely be on the field in third or fourth year, and Rajani is content with that.

She's decided to try out for a Chaser position so in recent practices she and Mayra have been using makeshift Quaffles composed of wads of towels and extra sheets to throw around.

"Alright Misra, let's start out with some speed tests." Mayra greets the twelve year old briskly, tossing their practice 'ball' causally between her hands.

Rajani quickly mounts the borrowed school brooms (Mayra turns out to be a favorite of Coach Crowell's so the teen had no trouble gaining access to the broom shed) and launches into the air, hovering less than half a meter from the ground. They usually start with these, and Rajani thinks they're quite useful as warmups.

Mayra pulls out her wand, and with a quick flick the ball fires off across the field.

Rajani shoots off after it, keeping low to the ground and focusing purely on her speed. She overtakes the ball and snags it out of the air before rocketing back to where Mayra is waiting, wand up and a tempus charm glimmering in the air above it.

"Twenty two seconds. You're improving every time." The Irish girl smiles slightly, brushing a black curl out of her face. "Not better than me, or even Taylor, but you're getting there. Keep practicing these over the summer, yeah?"

Rajani nods and dismounts, handing the ball back to Mayra. "Eugene got me a broom for Christmas, so I can use that."

Mayra nods. "Excellent. It's always best to have your own broom to practice with. Honestly the fact they don't let first years bring their own brooms is ridiculous, one always flies best with one's own broom I always say."

Rajani nods respectfully, having heard this particular rant several times before, and waits for Mayra to indicate that they're either moving on or running another speed test.

They continue flying throughout the afternoon, able to stay longer than normal as there's no official Quidditch practices scheduled for the day since the season is over. Rajani wouldn't say that she adores flying around, but there is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when she completes a complicated pass or scores a goal - even if the hoops aren't guarded at the moment so it's a bit easier than it would be in a real game.

She returns to the dorms in dire need of a shower, which Clary isn't afraid to loudly announce to the entire common room. Rajani rolls her eyes but does make her way up to the showers - she doesn't much like marinating in her own sweat.

She's dressed and ready to go just in time for dinner and she gladly joins her friends as they head up to the Great Hall.

"Grades are in tomorrow." Queenie remarks. "I'm starting to get a little nervous. What happens if you fail something?"

"I'm sure Clary can tell us." Eugene quips cheerfully, earning a shove from said girl.

"I'm going to pass everything just fine Slughorn." She grumbles, but there's little bite behind it and he grins and slings an arm around her in surrender.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm sure you'll stun us all." He offers. She shoves him again.

Nia leans back to roll her eyes at Rajani around the bickering pair, and she laughs slightly in return. She's definitely going to miss this.

They get their grades back the next day and Rajani is happy enough with her results. They're mostly Acceptables with a few Exceeds Expectations scattered around, but she didn't fail anything which is all she was hoping for.

Clary is proudly shoving her straight 'A's in Eugene's face as the other looks properly admonished. Nia is pestering Elspeth about her potions grade while Queenie is very carefully folding her grade sheet into her bag to prevent wrinkles.

Lenox taps Raj lightly on the shoulder. "How did you do?"

She smiles over at him. "Well enough. Nothing exceptional, but there's always time to improve."

Lenox nods in agreement. "I was hoping for higher grades myself but you're right. OWLs and NEWTs are what really count in the end regardless."

They spend the rest of the day in the common room, comparing grades and teasing each other about any poor marks received. It's comfortable and familiar and Rajani is probably going to miss it when they go home for the summer tomorrow, so for now she engages as much as she can manage, wanting to create memories for the summer.

Then Queenie and Eugene corner her just before they're getting ready to go up to the farewell Feast.

"Hey, so we were talking and we wanted to know if your parents might be interested in possibly having a dinner with ours sometime this summer? Eugene's parents love throwing parties and mine love attending them and since we're friends Eugene says we'll definitely get invites if we want them." She's grinning and there's a trace of excitement underlying her usual cool demeanor.

Rajani smiles at them both in return. "My parents would be thrilled honestly, and I wouldn't mind myself. The manor does get rather monotonous at times."

Eugene grins. "Great! Clary says she'll try to come as well but I guess her parents are a little weird about socializing."

Rajani grins. "With her table manners it might be better if she didn't come." She jokes.

"I heard that and I take offense!" Clary calls from across the room where she's chatting with Finn and Nia. Elspeth is sitting with them as well, but from what Rajani can see the brunette isn't speaking much, not that she ever does.

"Why don't you invite everyone from the class?" She asks, though she's rather sure she knows the answer.

Eugene shifts awkwardly. "You know how parents are about connections and stuff. I mean, Finn was raised by Muggles - I think my mother might faint if he came over from the audacity of it."

Queenie nods quietly. "I mean, obviously he has magic blood somewhere but it's something to ease our parents into." She agrees.

Rajani nods as well. She understands the sentiment of course, though she thinks her mother would actually quite like Finn if she took time to get to know him. He's something of a sweetheart among the staff already and they like to that he's already lined up to be a prefect and then head boy.

"Hey, are you three done scheming? I want to bask in victory as long as possible over here." Nia sounds excited, as they all are. Slytherin had managed to secure the House Cup and the entire great hall will be decorated in silver and green tonight. Nia has been proudly striding around the castle, ignoring any attempts at heckling for once.

Queenie just laughs. "We're coming, calm yourself. We still have ten minutes."

Nia tuts. "Close enough. I want to be the first ones in!"

The whole first year class finds themselves herded out the front door, even a very annoyed Cadfael who had been talking with Alasdair by the unlit fireplace.

They arrive early, as Queenie had predicted, but Professor Snape allows them to enter the Great Hall regardless of some dissent from the Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw heads of house.

Rajani's respect for him grows just a bit right then. Slytherins really do always look after their own.

The Hall is beautiful, with Slytherin banners hanging from every wall space not covered by windows. Candles float in the air, illuminating the space alternately in green, silver, and their usual orange warmth. Directly behind the staff table, a huge silver snake banner sits proudly, and Rajani feels herself swell up slightly. They'd earned this.

The first years crowd their usual spot at the Slytherin table, the hall echoing with their chatter until it's muffled somewhat by the arrival of the rest of the school.

Rajani can't help the smirk that emerges when she spots the Gryffindors looking extremely disgruntled at the other end of the Hall. Not only had Slytherin come out of top, Gryffindor was right at the bottom thanks to their embarrassing Quidditch loss to Hufflepuff a few weeks prior. After all the snide comments they've exchanged it feels rather nice to be quite firmly above them now.

Once everyone has arrived, Dumbledore rises to speak. Rajani hasn't seen much of the headmaster except at meals, but she applauds proudly regardless. Today he'll be honoring her house, and that makes him incredibly important in this moment.

Dumbledore waits a moment to let the applause die before he speaks. "The year has passed, and be it good or bad you have made it to the end! Excellent job!"

Rajani spots Nia rolling her eyes and Clary biting down on a snort in response.

"Tomorrow you will be heading back home for the summer. I'd like to remind all the first years that you are not permitted to use magic outside of school until you are of age, so no one get in trouble over the break!" He pauses to clear his throat. "Finally, I must extend congratulations to The Slytherin House for showing excellent behavior and exceptional magical ability this year, earning them the house cup!"

The Slytherin table erupts in cheers and applause, which the first years happily add to. Once they calm down - and Rajani pointedly ignores the fact the other houses don't even offer polite congratulatory applause - Dumbledore nods.

"Well then, let's eat!"

The food appears on the table, a Feast to rival the one they'd had on that first night.

This one is much better though, Rajani thinks, as Queenie offers her some hot mustard for her salad.

"I'll never understand your love of that stuff." Lenox wrinkles his nose slightly. "It's a bit too bitter for my taste."

She laughs as she mixes a small spoonful of the mustard into her food before returning the bowl to the center of the table. "I don't either truth be told. I tried it thinking it might be spicy, but I ended up still liking the result."

Lenox shrugs. "Well whatever works for you."

It's a lively discussion that follows, and even Alasdair gets involved, as he does when things get really loud with their group. In fact the entire Slytherin table is more animated than Rajani thinks she's ever seen it, and it's a wonderful feeling.

They keep talking on the way back to the common room and they stay hudled around the couches until well after curfew should have sent them to bed. Eventually Sahana comes down and orders them all back to their beds, so the girls say goodnight to the boys and retire to their dorm room.

However almost no sleep happens as they chat away until the water outside the window is tinted pink with the first rays of dawn.

"I'm going to miss you guys." Clary sighs. "I mean, I have other friends obviously but this year has been the best."

Nia glances over, looks like she wants to say something, but then simply nods. "Same here. It's going to be a really long summer. You guys better write more than you did over Winter break." She adds threateningly.

Queenie grins. "I promise as long as you respond."

The two shake on it, and then Clary grabs Queenie's open hand as well as one of Rajani's and begins shaking them as well.

Nia laughs and grabs Elspeth into the group handshake. "It's decided, then, we all have to keep in contact over summer vacation." She says solemnly.

"We'll have to get the boys in on it too, when we go back down." Clary's statement is elongated by the shape of a yawn, and the rest of them follow suit shortly after.

"Agreed." Queenie mumbles. "But maybe we should try to get some rest before the trip."

Rajani curls up tight under her covers after they say their goodnights. She means to memorize the feelings since it's the last time she'll sleep here until September, but she's so exhausted she passes out moments after the comforter settles around her.

Franziska can admit that she tears up a bit when they file out of the castle to head back to the train station. Maybe she has missed home something terrible, especially recently, but she knows she'll miss school something terrible once she's home.

She'll especially miss all her friends who she won't be able to contact because of the distance. That, she thinks, is the worst part about leaving. Everyone has been agreeing to owl one another over the break, but because of the cost of international mail she can't make those same promises or ask anyone else to spend the money to write her.

So she's a bit quiet as they board the train to head back to King's Cross. Her Hufflepuff friends do their best to comfort her, but they're also wrapped up making plans with each other. Eventually Franziska bids them farewell with the excuse that they won't all fit in one car and she wants to see her other friends as well.

She decides the excuse is actually a good idea, and she manages to track down Nabila in one of the cars furthest down the train.

"Hey, mind if I join you?"

Nabila offers a faint smile and shifts over so Franziska can sit beside her.

"We haven't talked in a while, huh? How have you been?" Franziska prompts hopefully, and Nabila nods.

"It's been hectic since break. I'm rather happy to be going home. I miss Ohus terribly."

The name rings a bell but it takes Franziska a moment to place it. "Your pet erumpent, right? I bet he misses you as well."

Nabila smiles wistfully. "Mother says he does. I do wish I was allowed to bring him to school."

Franziska smiles awkwardly. She hadn't known what an erumpent was before Nabila had talked about hers, but upon looking it up she understands completely why he isn't allowed on Hogwarts grounds. "Well, I mean, where would you keep him? Erumpents grow as big as rhinos so he couldn't fit into the dorms."

Nabila sighs. "I know I know. He's still rather small now though."

Franziska pats her arm lightly, but pulls away quickly. Nabila isn't big on physical contact.

The door opens again just before the train starts moving, and Franziska grins brightly when she sees Fitzwilliam standing in the hallway.

"May I come in?"

Both girls nod and Franziska helps him put his trunk on the overhead compartment before he sits down across from them.

"Crazy year huh?" He muses awkwardly after a long moment of silence stretches between them, only broken by the rumbling of the train as it begins its long journey back to London.

Franziska nods. "Definitely. It was rather exciting though, wasn't it? The year seemed to pass by so quickly." She sighs. "I'm half-way sad it's over so soon honestly."

Fitzwilliam glances over at her uncertainly. "Only half?"

She laughs. "Oh well, I am excited to see my parents. I haven't seen them since September last year after all. But I'll miss you guys."

Nabila shrugs. "It's only three months. Not long at all really."

Franziska nods. "True enough." She grins suddenly. "Of course now that you've said that I worry I won't get enough of my family before second year starts!"

Fitzwilliam smiles faintly and Nabila sighs again.

"And I won't get enough time with Ohus." The young Saudi girl grumbles. "He's going to be full grown and off to a reserve before I know it and I'll have missed all of it."

"Why do you have an erumpent for a pet anyway? I thought they were illegal to keep as pets?" Fitzwilliam pipes up a bit uncertainly. "I mean, they are a class four beast..." He shifts awkwardly under Nabila's narrowed gaze.

"My parents got him for me when I was five." She sniffs. "And he's been a dear."

Fitzwilliam doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't dare ask any more questions and risk annoying Nabila further.

"So do you think you'll work with animals in the future Nabila? Maybe in the Beast Division at the Ministry?" Franziska quickly interjects before an awkward silence can fill the car.

Nabila perks up again. "Oh definitely. I don't know exactly what I'd do, but I definitely want to do something with beasts."

"I've heard there's a good higher learning institute for Magizoology studies in France." Fitzwilliam suggests. "You could consider going there - you'd be closer to home as well."

Nabila eyes him uncertainly for a moment, and then she smiles, clearly forgiving him for his earlier slight against her beloved pet.

"Of course you'd suggest more school after graduating Ravenclaw." She teases. "But I have actually thought about it. We'll see what happens - we do still have six years to think about all that."

Franziska is relieved that the awkward moment has passed, and the three fall into more comfortable chatter about magical beasts and which are their favorites. (Talking about animals is really the only way to get Nabila to engage in conversations that doesn't involve pissing her off, which is Brandon's usual technique.)

They eventually get onto exams and their scores. Franziska is rather surprised when they find that Nabila had actually tested better than Fitzwilliam overall, something that clearly bothers the Ravenclaw though he unsuccessfully tries to hide it.

"Cheer up Fitz, you've got six years to outclass me." Nabila offers, though she's sporting a smug grin that detracts somewhat from the attempt at comfort.

For her part Franziska has straight Acceptables and is as such the worst tester of the group. She doens't really mind though. She's just happy to have passed everything.

"Nabila is right! And we'll always have the study group too, that really helped me this year so I bet it will be even better next year!" She encourages her friend, and Fitzwilliam finally smiles.

"That's true. Hey, Nabila, you should join us next year!"

The two spend the next thirty minutes trying to convince Nabila to socialize with them but she resolutely insists her own methods work perfectly well for her, thank you very much. They eventually give, just in time for the trolley come by.

Franziska eagerly orders three chocolate frogs, whispering quiet pleas for new cards as she tears them open.

Nabila gets a Chocolate Frog and a few pumpkin pasties as well but Fitzwilliam passes on any food.

Nabila glances over at Franziska's cards as they eat their sweets. "Say, would you trade me Falco Aesalon for Tilly Toke? I already have her."

Franziska bites her lip. "I dunno, I don't have him yet. Would you take a Manticore instead?"

Nabila chews her lip. "I already have the entire Beast collection."

Fitzwilliam smiles slightly. "Surprising no one."

Nabila tosses the Tilly Toke card in the general direction of his head. "Start your own collection you nerd."

Fitzwilliam fumbles the card and it drops onto the floor. Blushing he quickly retrieves it. He fiddles with it as the girls finish eating and Franziska happily stores her new cards in her trunk for safe keeping.

"Say, are you excited about going home Fitz? You haven't said anything about it yet." She suddenly realizes, turning a warm smile on the male in the compartment.

Fitzwilliam shifts uncertainly. "Well, I suppose so. I haven't seen my parents in a while."

Nabila raises an eyebrow. "Such enthusiasm." She notes. "Not a fan of your parents?"

Fitzwilliam immediately shakes his head. "No! No, I do love them, I think I'm just used to being at school now, that's all." He quickly clarifies.

Franziska nods in understanding. "I get that as well. It will be weird being back in my own room and not in the Hufflepuff dorms."

Fitzwilliam nods in agreement, while Nabila just shrugs.

"I suppose. Personally I'll be glad to have my own room back. Sharing with three other girls is not something I've particularly enjoyed."

Franziska smiles wistfully. "Well I'm going to miss my roommates personally. Jemma is fantastic to talk to when you're lonely or sad, and Kiera and Dora are great fun. And of course Leona always has the newest gossip." She sighs. "I'm really going to miss everyone."

Fitzwilliam half reaches out, as if intending to pat her on the shoulder, but he withdraws before his hand gets very far and he settles for verbal comfort instead. "Well it's only two months before you see them again. And I'm sure Rosalinde will be happy to see you."

Franziska perks up at the mention of her long-time best friend. "That's true! Although," She frowns. "I don't love that I'll have to lie to her about school. She's a Muggle after all, and she'll definitely want to know all the details about my year and I'm not sure I'll be able to lie very convincingly."

Nabila shrugs. "So be vague. You've obviously been lying about your magical powers for years, how different can this be?"

Franziska frowns. "I guess. It feels different though."

Fitzwilliam shifts uncomfortably but doesn't contribute. Luckily for the three, the awkwardness is very abruptly tossed out the window when the compartment door bursts open to admit two blonde girls.

"Frannie! There you are, we've been trying to find you to say bye for hours now!" Kiera complains, tossing herself into the seat next to Franziska.

Dora sits next to Fitzwilliam, who is clearly uncomfortable with the turn of events, and he becomes even more tense when his new seatmate's hair turns bright red. "You just ran off without a word Fran, what's up with that?" She accuses, though with no malice.

Franziska smiles apologetically. "I did, just maybe too quietly for you to hear." She admits. "I wanted to see these guys before I left for two months"

Dora looks over at Fitzwilliam. "Fair enough. Hi, I'm Dora!" She promptly sticks her hand out to Fitzwilliam, who simply nods in return.

"Fitzwilliam Selwyn." He responds, and Dora frowns as she takes her hand back.

"And this is Nabila." Franziska introduces the other girl before Dora can say anything that might upset Fitzwilliam.

Dora turns her attention to the Saudi girl. "Hey. Gryffindor right?" She grins. "I think we met out in the forest over Easter break!"

Nabila nods. "That's possible. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of a Unicorn, I hear there's a small herd that lives there."

Franziska gazes at her friend with a mixture of shock and dismay. "Nabila I thought you were one of the sensible Gryffindors." She stutters out. "Why would you go breaking rules like that?"

Nabila raises an eyebrow at her. "I wanted to see a Unicorn." She responds, as if that answers everything.

Dora laughs. "I like this girl!" She declares happily, nudging Fitzwilliam with an elbow. He retreats quickly away from the contact, sliding down the seat so he's centimeters away from the window.

Dora gives him another look and again Franziska hurries to intervene. "So what are you two doing over the summer vacation?"

This successfully distracts the group for another two hours as Dora and Kiera happily share their plans.

"I'm going to visit Kiera's family's farm and learn about farm work." Dora grins. "We organized it all during the past few weeks so mum has already okayed it."

"July eighteenth!" Kiera agrees excitedly. "My pa is excited to show off the family business, he says he hopes you did well in Herbology."

Dora looks exaggeratedly horrified. "And if I got a Troll?"

Kiera mimes throwing something at her best friend and both girls start giggling incessantly.

Nabila shakes her head and Fitzwilliam looks extremely confused by the turn of events while Franziska just grins at the familiar shenanigans.

The rest of the ride is spent with Dora and Kiera sharing amusing anecdotes from the year as well as from their childhoods. Franziska offers a few tales herself though she ends up spending most of her stories explaining Muggle concepts to the other four, who she belatedly realizes all grew up in the Wizarding world and are unfamiliar with a lot of the things she grew up taking for granted.

Halfway through attempting to explain how exactly an air conditioner works Franziska realizes that it's getting quite dark outside the carriage, and they must almost be back to King's Cross. The knowledge that she's going to be saying goodbye for the next three months suddenly comes crashing back into the forefront of her mind, and her explanation falters as she gazes out the window.

Kiera pokes her. "Um, Frannie? You okay?"

Franziska blinks. "Oh, um, yeah. I guess I didn't realize how close we were getting." She grins but it feels strained even to her.

Fitzwilliam glances out the window as well and frowns. "Me neither." He mumbles.

Kiera on the other hand perks up. "Oh awesome! I can't wait to see pa!" She grins, eyes bright. "You guys should come say hello! Maybe you can visit the farm sometime!"

Fitzwilliam mumbles something about being allergic to farms, but it's mostly lost under Nabila's surprisingly loud agreement to the suggestion.

"You have animals, right?" She double checks. At Kiera's nod, she gives a small smile. "Then I'd love to take you up on that offer."

"I can't." Franziska frowns. "International travel is really complicated."

Kiera pouts. "Aw, are you sure? You could come at the end of the summer and go straight to school with me!"

Franziska rolls the idea round in her head. It's certainly viable, but she's not sure her parents would go for it. But still.

"I'll ask my mom." She promises, which earns a beaming smile from the curly-haired blonde next to her.

"Excellent! It's settled then. Owl me as soon as you know, okay?"

Franziska nods and Kiera goes back to discussing details about how Nabila could come visit as well. As the train pulls into the station Kiera and Dora have to run out of the car to retrieve their trunks from further down the train while the other three carefully get their own trunks down from overhead.

Franziska spots her mother almost immediately, and she waves goodbye to everyone she can see as she makes her way over.

"Lida!"

Franziska finds herself grabbed into a tight hug, and she drops her trunk to return it.

"Hi mom. I missed you."

Pannidda Reinhardt pulls back to smile down at her daughter.

"So how was your year Lida?"

Franziska looks down, her mind racing through laughing in the Great Hall with Jemma, chatting with Holly during flying lessons, and throwing snowballs with Nabila and Brandon over Christmas.

Finally she looks back up at her mother and grins. "It was pretty good."