Dumbledore's investigation ran dry.
But the little wizards pressed on, cramming for final exams with fierce focus.
In the library, Sean coached Blaise Zabini through his review while pushing his own studies, aiming to match the Potions Club's fast-paced discussions before the school year ended. The room hummed with quiet whispers and the scratch of quills.
"Sean, exams are in two days," Blaise said, looking worried. "What if I fail?"
Sean kept his eyes on his book. "Don't waste time whining. Study the second part of my Transfiguration notes and practice tonight. Transfiguration exams are mostly hands-on. Get the practical stuff near perfect, and you'll pass with an A."
Blaise scratched his head, annoyed, but calmed down and dug into Sean's notes.
Sean's notes were a game-changer for Blaise, cutting hours off his prep. Without them, he'd be in a much worse spot.
First-years took seven core classes, plus Flying. Sean excelled in Potions, his top subject, then Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, where he worked hard and scored well. History of Magic, Herbology, and Astronomy lagged behind. Herbology, linked to Potions, was strong, but History of Magic and Astronomy? He was just okay, like other good students.
Sean already had a clear picture of his exam results.
After dinner in the Great Hall, Sean and Blaise split up. Blaise, gripping Sean's notes, headed to his room to study. He wouldn't risk seeing his girlfriend so close to exams—failing wasn't worth it.
Sean, books in arm, reached the Potions Club classroom. Jennifer Foley sidled up, her voice soft. "Sean, you selling potions with anyone lately?"
Selling potions privately broke Hogwarts rules, but the school looked the other way if the potions were safe and well-crafted. Slip up, and the consequences were steep.
Sean nodded. "Yeah, I've teamed up to sell some. What's up?"
"Just wondering," Jennifer said. "Interested in working with me? If your potions are solid, I can sell them through the Fry family's shop. I'd only take a 10% cut. How's that?"
Sean's eyebrows twitched. Her deal was better than Dorian's—shop prices beat Hogwarts' cheap rates, and 10% was a steal. Too good, almost.
But he held back. Not because of Jennifer's brother, Oliver, but because his cousin always seemed to want something deeper from him. He didn't trust her.
"Thanks, but I'm happy with my current partner," Sean said. "The Galleons I earn are enough. I'm not looking to switch."
Jennifer smiled, unbothered. "No worries. If you're good, I won't push. Oh, the professor's coming."
She slipped back to her seat as Snape stormed in, his black robes swirling, diving into the Potions talk.
When the club wrapped up, Sean sank into his chair, exhaling. After half a year of grinding, he could finally keep up with the club's chatter, if only just. Staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, despite his parents' complaints, had been worth it.
Keeping up wasn't enough. Sean mostly listened, rarely speaking. He had more to prove.
As the Potions Club emptied, Sean packed slowly, expecting Snape's usual book list. But Snape threw him off. "Exams are close. The school year ends after. No new book list. Want to improve? Review what you've studied. You'll see it differently."
"Professor, maybe point me to a couple books?" Sean asked. "I might get lazy over the break."
Snape's cold face curled into a mocking sneer. "If you'd slack off during a holiday, you don't belong in Potions Club or Potions at all, like those dim Gryffindors. You'd just take up space."
Sean managed an awkward grin. He'd tried a joke, but poking at the Snape's only got him burned.
In his room, Sean dropped his books and glanced at Kulkan, coiled in its nest. The snake had grown a lot since term began. At the magical zoo, the owner said Kulkan stayed small for years, but Hogwarts made it sprout. A bit bigger was fine, but too big? That could be a problem.
He reached to stroke Kulkan's head, but it shrank into its coils, wanting sleep.
Sean laughed softly, sat at his desk, and cracked open a book to keep studying.
Two days zipped by, and exam day hit.
Exams split into written tests and practical tasks. Written ones were a breeze for Sean. Practical? Unless it was Flying, he was ready for anything.
The first exam was Charms. Sean and Blaise, who was whispering prayers to Merlin for luck, entered the exam room together, bracing for the three-day test sprint.
Written exams were dull. A Hufflepuff got caught with an auto-quill, but nothing else stirred things up.
Of the seven core subjects, Potions and Transfiguration written tests were the toughest, followed by Charms and Herbology. The rest—History of Magic, Astronomy, Defense Against the Dark Arts—were simple. Not just memorizing, but close enough. For Sean, who knew the textbooks by heart, they were a breeze.
Blaise Zabini did fine in most subjects, sure he'd pass, but Potions and Transfiguration worried him. From the end of the written tests to the start of the practical ones, he kept groaning.
"Stop moping, Blaise," Sean said. "Practical exams count toward your final grade. Ace those, and they'll cover your weaker written scores. You'll pass, no sweat."
Blaise perked up, grinning. "Practical tests? I'm not scared. Written stuff's not my thing, but I'm solid with hands-on magic."
"Good. We're heading in now," Sean said. "First up is Charms with Professor Flitwick. He's nice. Mess up, say something sweet, and he'll let you retake it."
"I'm ready!" Blaise said, brimming with confidence.
Sean didn't push, following the group into the Charms classroom for the practical test, wand at the ready.
The test was to make a pineapple tap-dance across a desk. It took a mix of spells to pull off. Slack off during the year, and you'd struggle. Getting the pineapple to walk across the desk meant a passing grade. Tap-dancing earned a good score. A perfect tap-dance? Full marks.
Most Slytherin first-years did well, except Goyle and Crabbe, who clumsily moved their pineapples from one side to the other, barely passing.
Blaise went before Sean, doing decently. Sean figured he'd score an E—exceeding expectations, a step above passing, like a solid B in his old life.
Blaise left the exam room, waiting for Sean by the classroom's back door.
Professor Flitwick beamed at Sean. Despite Sean's Slytherin tie and that big fight early in the year, his smarts and hunger for knowledge won Flitwick over. The Ravenclaw head loved students like Sean—sharp, talented, and respectful of learning.
"Sean, let's see your pineapple dance," Flitwick said, eyes twinkling.
Sean drew his wand, gave a small bow, and said, "As you wish, Professor."
With a light tap, the pineapple sprang to life, spinning on the desk. It tap-danced left and right, gliding to the other side like a true performer, its steps lively in the classroom's warm light.
Sean moved his wand like a conductor's baton, guiding the pineapple to the desk's edge, where it spun three final twirls to close the show.
Flitwick clapped, delighted. "Perfect tap-dance! Flawless magic, Sean. Your score is an Outstanding O—full marks!"
"Thank you, Professor Flitwick," Sean said.
"You earned it," Flitwick replied.
Sean didn't stick around to watch the Hufflepuffs test after Slytherin. He and Blaise left the Charms classroom, with Transfiguration and Potions practicals still ahead. No time to waste.
The Transfiguration test was to turn a mouse into a snuffbox, as tough as the written exam. For first-years, it was a big challenge, so Professor McGonagall's standards were lenient. A rough snuffbox shape, even with whiskers, a tail, or mouse fur, passed.
With a bit of effort in Transfiguration, passing was within reach.
But getting an Outstanding O was hard. Even students with great written scores often fell short in the practical.
In the Transfiguration classroom, Blaise worked slowly, shaping his mouse into a golden snuffbox, his wand steady but cautious.
Sean paused, thinking, then waved his wand, tapping the mouse lightly.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
The mouse spun fast, morphing into a gleaming silver snuffbox. Intricate carvings covered it, with a crisp Hogwarts crest in the center, shining under the classroom's torches.
Professor McGonagall approached as Sean finished. Her stern face softened into a rare smile. "A flawless snuffbox. Full marks, no question."
"Thank you, Professor McGonagall," Sean said.
She lingered, then leaned in, voice low. "Sean, keep up your Transfiguration practice over the holiday. Don't let your skill slip."
McGonagall moved on to check others, especially Hermione Granger, Gryffindor's top first-year. She wanted to see if Hermione could hit an O, too.
Sean watched her go, catching her hint. McGonagall was eyeing him for the Transfiguration Club but wanted to see more. Her words were a nudge to train harder over the break.
The Transfiguration exam done, only Potions remained. Sean and Blaise headed to the Potions classroom, ready for the final, toughest practical test.