Professor Trelawney’s Prediction

           Harry’seuphoriaatfinallywinningtheQuidditchCuplastedatleastaweek.Eventheweatherseemedtobecelebrating;asJuneapproached,thedaysbecamecloudlessandsultry,andallanybodyfeltlikedoingwasstrollingontothegroundsandfloppingdownonthegrasswithseveralpintsoficedpumpkinjuice,perhapsplayingacasualgameofGobstonesorwatchingthegiantsquidpropelitselfdreamilyacrossthesurfaceofthelake.

           Buttheycouldn’t.Examswerenearlyuponthem,andinsteadoflazingaroundoutside,thestudentswereforcedtoremaininsidethecastle,tryingtobullytheirbrainsintoconcentratingwhileenticingwaftsofsummerairdriftedinthroughthewindows.EvenFredandGeorgeWeasleyhadbeenspottedworking;theywereabouttotaketheirO.W.L.s(OrdinaryWizardingLevels).PercywasgettingreadytotakehisN.E.W.T.s(NastilyExhaustingWizardingTests),thehighestqualificationHogwartsoffered.AsPercyhopedtoentertheMinistryofMagic,heneededtopgrades.Hewasbecomingincreasinglyedgy,andgaveveryseverepunishmentstoanybodywhodisturbedthequietofthecommonroomintheevenings.Infact,theonlypersonwhoseemedmoreanxiousthanPercywasHermione.

           HarryandRonhadgivenupaskingherhowshewasmanagingtoattendseveralclassesatonce,buttheycouldn’trestrainthemselveswhentheysawtheexamscheduleshehaddrawnupforherself.