A Dementor's Kiss - Phan

OWLs

Phil has exams, and Dan is neglected.

The castle grounds were gleaming in the sunlight as though freshly painted; the cloudless sky smiled at itself in the smooth, sparkling lake; the satin green lawns rippled occasionally in a gentle breeze. June had arrived, but to the fifth years this meant only one thing: their OWLs were upon them at last.

The purposeful, feverish atmosphere had well and truly taken over Phil. He was in a daze of stress, his hand twitching involuntarily as he ate breakfast (sending his toast flying into the milk jug) as he tried to recall the wand movement for a summoning spell. PJ too was spending a lot of time muttering to himself, pouring over Arithmancy equations that made Phil feel physically sick. Carrie had developed an annoying and slightly terrifying habit of interrogating everyone she met about their revision practices.

“How many hours do you think you’re doing a day?” She demanded of Phil and Chris as they queued outside Herbology, a manic gleam in her eyes.

“I dunno,” Chris stammered. “A few?”

“More or less than eight?”

“Less, I guess.” Said Chris, looking slightly alarmed.

“I’m doing eight,” said Carrie, tugging somewhat manically at her hair. “Eight or nine. I’m getting an hour in before breakfast every day. Eight’s my average. I can do ten on a good weekend day. I did nine and a half on Monday. Not so good on Tuesday, only seven. Then on Wednesday-”

Thankfully she was cut off as Professor Sprout ushered them into the Greenhouse. Herbology was Phil’s favourite lesson, but he still found himself staring wistfully out through the glass at the third years relaxing by the lake. He wondered if Dan was with them. Phil’s stomach twisted uncomfortably. He knew he’d been neglecting Dan lately, brushing past him with a glazed look in his eye, listening to him talk for several minutes before realising he’d completely zoned out thinking about Cheering Charms. Dan had been understanding of course, making an effort to ensure Phil didn’t feel guilty, but with all his closest friends in fifth year Phil knew this must be a hard blow to Dan. He sighed into his bubotuber pus. He longed more than anything to be lazing out in the sunshine in Dan’s arms, perhaps with a flask of cool pumpkin juice and something sweet.

“Lester. You nearly had my eye out! Concentrate.” Professor Sprout bustled past disapprovingly as Phil muttered a ‘sorry’.

On his left, Chris wasn’t doing much better. He looked half asleep, his eyelids drooping, as he prodded repetitively at the plant.

“Er, you know, that’s just a leaf. The swellings are a bit lower down. There you go.”

Chris sighed sadly, staring forlorn at the little puddle of yellow-green pus he had completely failed to collect. It was hissing angrily as it slowly burnt through the table. Phil and Chris watched it go with another sigh.

~

They spread their books out in the shade of the Beech tree and settled into sitting positions while Dan lay back in the long grass, staring somewhat smugly up at the blue sky.

Chris stared at him longingly. “I think we should get rid of Dan. He’s definitely not good motivation for study.”

“Yes,” Phil said irritably, turning a page of intermediate transfiguration and glaring at a series of diagrams depicting and owl turning into a pair of overalls. “He’s going all brown as well while we’re cooped up in revision classes. He looks like a bloody golden panda.”

Dan rolled over, grinning impishly up at Phil through dark lashes. The sun danced off his eyes reflecting flecks of gold and Phil sighed dramatically.