C.S.A.E. Ⅲ

The hours passed and the potion was nearly brewed. Observing the color and texture Rowan personally thought she had done too badly. Her suspicions were confirmed when Master Linnaeus placed a leaf into the Draught of the Living Dead only for the leaf to successfully disintegrate into the potion. Severus, on the other hand, had Master Linnaeus absolutely salivating. If a higher grade could be given than an O, Master Linnaeus would have given it to Severus for his perfect Felix Felicis. In fact, Master Linnaeus promised to slip a vial later to Severus after the exam as a reward.

But then again, Rowan had left Master Linnaeus drooling during her Herbology exam. And it was all due to how easily Rowan had trimmed one of the most difficult and dangerous plants in the wizarding world, the Snargaluff. Not only had she successfully extracted several pods, but all without so much as a single scratch. It was Severus, who had barely managed to defang the Venomous Tentacula. Still, a pass was a pass, and that was all that counted in the end.

Thursday was to be the final day for the practical exams in the following order: Transfiguration, Charms, and DADA. To be followed, after lunch with the remaining written exams. Rowan would be taking Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, while Severus took Care of Magical Creatures and Divination. Considering that Madam Berk and Master Strauss would be each other's witnesses, Master Linnaeus would be the witness for Madam Marchbanks, who was to preside over the remaining practical exams.

Thursday morning, when they were back in the same classroom, the classroom had returned to its original state. Madam Marchbanks had them stand before her, while Master Linnaeus took a seat in the corner to observe the proceedings.

Madam Marchbanks nods at both youths and says, "We shall start with Transfiguration. Please perform any of the 7th-year required textbook spells. I will judge you on your wand movements and the final effect of the spell. Which of you would like to go first?"

"I will," Rowan hastily said. She'd rather get this over with as quickly as possible. Over the course of the last few years, she had realized that Transfiguration was her least favorite subject. Not that she wasn't good when it came time to do theoretical work. The issue lay now when it came time to actually cast a transfiguration spell on living things. She simply didn't understand why an inanimate object couldn't be used all the time; it simply didn't make sense!

Pointing her wand in the air, Rowan says, "Avis!"

A flock of blackbirds emerged from the tip of her wand and loudly begin to flutter around the room. With a wave of her wand, Rowan vanishes them away as Madam Marchbanks is somewhat impressed, but it was nothing she had not seen before.

"Mr. Prince, you are up," Madam Marchbanks said as Severus stepped up.

Pointing his wand at himself, Severus mutters, "Crinus Muto!" Transforming his sleek black hair, bright red and curly including his eyebrows and eyelashes.

Madam Marchbanks is quite impressed as most wizards had difficulty transforming their eyebrows in coordination with the rest for a complete, but rather difficult transfiguration. With a gesture from Madam Marchbanks, Severus returns to normal and smugly steps back.

"For Charms, I require that two 7th-year charms be performed nonverbally," Madam Marchbanks sternly instructed. "Therefore, let us continue in the same order."

Rowan and Severus glance at each other in silent agreement, Rowan goes first. "Augamenti!" Rowan thought in her mind as clean drinkable water begins to pour out onto the floor from the tip of her wand. Waving her wand, the stream stops as she thinks of the drought charm, which instantly dries the puddle on the ground.

"Excellent!" Madam Marchbanks seemed rather pleased at how effortlessly both high-level charms were cast.

"Your turn, Mr. Prince," Madam Marchbanks instructed. Severus with great care performs the exact same two charms as Rowan did. He also received the same praise from Madam Marchbanks.

Satisfied with their performance, Madam Marchbanks says, "For Defense Against the Dark Arts, the practical exam will consist of two portions. The first portion will require each of you to undergo the Imperious curse and successfully fight it off. And secondly, successfully cast the spell required to banish a Dementor."

Seeing the twins nod at her, Madam Marchbanks points her wand at Rowan and says, "Ready, Miss Prince?"

Rowan takes a deep breath, nods her head, and holds till. "Imperio!" Madam Marchbanks cried out as she pointed her wand at Rowan.

Rowan suddenly feels as though the world is tilted as she hears a soft voice in her ear say, "Jump up and down ten times." About to begin to move, her mind defenses click into place as she feels as though a pail of cold water is being poured over her.

Resisting the urge to wince, Rowan blinks and says, "I think, I'm fine."

Madam Marchbanks looks rather impressed as she says, "Not all trained Aurors are as quick as that to throw off the Imperius Curse that quickly."

Ignoring the dizziness in her head and stomach, Rowan walks away as Severus goes up next. Severus was even faster than Rowan at throwing off the dark curse. But it should be no surprise considering his talent for Occlumency. After all, he did manage to fool one of the greatest dark wizards of all time, Lord Voldemort.

Madam Marchbanks makes a quick note of this, before saying, "Go on ahead and cast the spell."

Rowan is still for a moment as she closes her eyes and tries to think of a happy memory. So far, she had only created mists of light and had yet to successfully cast a patronus. She thinks of a memory from Hogwarts which causes a tiny smile to spread on her face.

"Expecto Patronum!" Rowan cried out. From the tip of her wand burst out a silver creature that caused her to blankly stare in surprise as did everyone else. It was a Thestral. The reptilian, horse-winged creature fluttered around before vanishing through the wall.

Clearing her throat to cover her shock, Madam Marchbanks firmly says, "Your turn, Mr. Prince."

Severus flushes and hurries forward as he easily only needs to think of a certain red-headed girl. He hadn't been successful yet, but if Rowan could do it, so could he! "Expecto Patronum!" Severus cried out as a winged stallion emerged from his wand and began to proudly trot all around.

Rowan smiled despite herself with pride for Severus' accomplishment. Thank goodness his patronus wasn't a doe! It was just the small reminder she needed to be reminded of that everything had changed even if it wasn't how she wanted it to be.

Madam Marchbanks claps her hands with pride and says, "Well done, you both. We'll have lunch now and afterward; the two of you will wrap up your final two exams and be allowed to leave. Your results will be sent later in the mail including a copy to Hogwarts."

"Yes, Madam Marchbanks," Rowan and Severus said as their meal was brought in by the female clerk, before leaving the two of them alone to eat in the classroom. It was a simple soup bowl again with a slice of bread and a cranberry scone. It was a tad bit salty but given how hungry they were they didn't complain.

Severus takes a sip of the soup and murmurs, "I guess it's a good thing that we listened to you."

"Yes, well, I was fairly certain that I wouldn't be anything normal," Rowan drily concluded with a shudder as she couldn't picture herself as a Thestral.

"Well, you would have been somewhat horse-like and would have been able to fly too," Severus teased with a grin.

"Yes, Bramble," Rowan smirked back causing Severus to glare at her.

"Oh, do shut up!" Severus huffed, before returning to their meal.

Their break ended much too soon as Rowan and Severus were back to taking their final two written exams. The only good news about the entire situation is when they finished their exams, their grandfather would be waiting for them inside the C.S.A.E. office to take them home. And then they'd have a nice long bath and a delicious meal prepared by Dawn, before sleeping until midday the next day.