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〃Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once？〃 said Harry。
〃No；〃 said Hermione shortly。 〃Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica？〃
〃Oh； yeah； I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading；〃 said Ron； but very quietly。 Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment Harry； Ron； and Hermione plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid。
〃Beaky's gettin' a bit depressed；〃 Hagrid told them； bending low on the pretense of checking that Harry's flobberworm was still alive。 〃Bin cooped up too long。 But still。。。 we'll know day after tomorrow one way or the other 〃
They had Potions that afternoon； which was an unqualified disaster。 Try as Harry might； he couldn't get his Confusing Concoction to thicken； and Snape； standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure； scribbled something that looked suspiciously like a zero onto his notes before moving away。
Then came Astronomy at midnight； up on the tallest tower； History of Magic on Wednesday morning； in which Harry scribbled everything Florean Fortescue had ever told him about medieval witch…hunts； while wishing he could have had one of Fortescue's choco…nut sundaes with him in the stifling classroom。 Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology； in the greenhouses under a baking…hot sun； then back to the mon room once more； with sunburnt necks； thinking longingly of this time next day； when it would all be over。
Their second to last exam； on Thursday morning； was Defense Against the Dark Arts。 Professor Lupin had piled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken； a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun； where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a grindylow； cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps； squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk； then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new boggart。
〃Excellent； Harry；〃 Lupin muttered as Harry climbed out of the trunk； grinning。 〃Full marks。〃
Flushed with his success； Harry hung around to watch Ron and Hermione。 Ron did very well until he reached the hinkypunk； which successfully confused him into sinking waist…high into the quagmire。 Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the boggart in it。 After about a minute inside it； she burst out again； screaming。
〃Hermione！〃 said Lupin； startled。 〃What's the matter？〃
〃P P Professor McGonagall！〃 Hermione gasped； pointing into the trunk。 〃Sh she said I'd failed everything！〃
It took a little while to calm Hermione down。 When at last she had regained a grip on herself； she； Harry； and Ron went back to the castle。 Ron was still slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's boggart； but an argument was averted by the sight that met them on the top of the steps。
Cornelius Fudge； sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak； was standing there staring out at the grounds。 He started at the sight of Harry。
〃Hello there； Harry！〃 he said。 〃Just had an exam； I expect？ Nearly finished？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Harry。 Hermione and Ron； not being on speaking terms with the Minister of Magic； hovered awkwardly in the background。
〃Lovely day；〃 said Fudge； casting an eye over the lake。
〃Pity。。。 pity。。。〃
He sighed deeply and looked down at Harry。
〃I'm here on an unpleasant mission； Harry。 The mittee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff。 As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation； I was asked to step in。〃
〃Does that mean the appeal's already happened？〃 Ron interrupted； stepping forward。
〃No； no； it's scheduled for this afternoon；〃 said Fudge； looking curiously at Ron。
〃Then you might not have to witness an execution at A！〃 said Eon stoutly。 〃The hippogriff might get off！〃
Before Fudge could answer； two wizards came through the castle doors behind him。 One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes； the other was tall and strapping； with a thin back mustache。 Harry gathered that they were representatives of the mittee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures； because tie very old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice； 〃Dear； dear； I'm getting too old for this。。。。 Two o'clock； isn't it； Fudge？〃
The black…mustached man was fingering something in his belt； Harry looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe。 Ron opened his mouth to say something； but Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head toward the entrance hall。
〃Why'd you stop me？〃 said Ron angrily as they entered the Great Hall for lunch。 〃Did you see them？ They've even got the axe ready！ This isn't justice！〃
〃Ron； your dad works for the Ministry； you can't go saying things like that to his boss！〃 said Hermione； but she too looked very upset。 〃As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time； and argue； hi case properly； they can't possibly execute Buckbeak。。。。〃
But Harry could tell Hermione didn't really believe what she was saying。 All around them； people were talking excitedly as they ate their lunch； happily anticipating the end of the exams that afternoon； but Harry； Ron； and Hermione； lost in worry about Hagrid and Buckbeak； didn't join in。
Harry's and Ron's last exam was Divination； Hermione's； Muggle Studies。 They walked up the marble staircase together； Hermione left them on the first floor and Harry and Ron proceeded all the way up to the seventh； where many of their class were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney's classroom； trying to cram in a bit of last…minute studying。
〃She's seeing us all separately；〃 Neville informed them as they went to sit down next to him。 He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing。 〃Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball？〃 he asked them unhappily。
〃Nope；〃 said Ron in an offhand voice。 He kept checking his watch； Harry。 knew that he was counting down the time until Buckbeak's appeal started。
The line of people outside the classroom shortened very slowly。 As each person climbed back down the silver ladder； the rest of the class hissed； 〃What did she ask？ Was it okay？〃
But they all refused to say。
〃She says the crystal ball's told her that if I tell you； I'll have a horrible accident！〃 squeaked Neville as he clambered back down the ladder toward Harry and Ron； who had now reached the landing。
〃That's convenient；〃 snorted Ron。 〃You know； I'm starting to think Hermione was right about her〃 he jabbed his thumb toward the trapdoor overhead 〃she's a right old fraud。〃
〃Yeah；〃 said Harry； looking at his own watch。 It…was now two o'clock。 〃Wish she'd hurry up。。。〃
Parvati came back down the ladder glowing with pride。
〃She says I've got all the makings of a true Seer；〃 she informed Harry and Ron。 〃I saw loads of stuff。。。 Well； good luck！〃
She hurried off down the spiral staircase toward Lavender。
〃Ronald Weasley；〃 said the familiar； misty voice from over their heads。 Ron grimaced at Harry and climbed the silver ladder out of sight。 Harry was now the only person left to