Sunny June 10
June brought two pieces of good news: Filch's resignation and the removal of the Dementors from Hogwarts. The students rejoiced, though some, like Joey, felt a pang of boredom without their usual antagonist.
"Filch must've struck gold or found a girlfriend!" Ron exclaimed at the breakfast table. "He didn't even take Mrs. Norris with him! Maybe his girlfriend hates cats!"
Joey, stealing a slice of lamb chop from Fred's plate, smirked. "That's your dream, Ron."
Ron, too excited to care, puffed out his chest. "I've already struck gold with my Firebolt! Who needs a girlfriend?"
Joey laughed. "Looks like Wood's got a successor! Angelina, you won't have to worry about the goalkeeper next year—we've got Wood 2.0 here!"
Angelina, sitting down after a chat with Ryan, raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who's that?"
Joey pointed at Ron. "This guy! Tall, strong, and just as brainless as me!"
Angelina turned to Harry. "Harry, your Patronus Charm was perfect in the last match. You'll make a great captain next year."
Harry glanced at Ron, who looked embarrassed, and nodded. "Thanks, future captain."
Joey winked at Ron. "See? Even with your Firebolt, no one's impressed."
Ron fumed, but the table erupted in laughter. Joey, feeling mischievous, tried to climb over the table to confront him, but Fred held her back, laughing.
"Fred, let me go! I'm going to shove his head into his stomach!" Joey yelled, her feet on the table.
The Gryffindor table roared with laughter, drawing the attention of the entire hall. Percy, ever the prefect, tried to intervene. "Joey! Get down! I order you as prefect!"
But the chaos only grew, with students cheering and laughing. Ryan, sitting calmly among the Ravenclaws, muttered, "Thank Merlin for Ron. At least he's the one making a fool of himself this time."
---
The O.W.L. exams arrived, and Joey's confidence wavered. Defense Against the Dark Arts and Transfiguration went well—her enhanced wasp spell impressed the examiner. But Potions was a disaster. Her final potion, a glowing yellow-green concoction, was placed in a box labeled "Dangerous Goods." Joey groaned. "That's a P for sure."
The written exams were even worse. Joey emerged from the last one pale and sweaty, collapsing at the entrance. "Don't pull me up," she moaned. "Let me mourn my exam papers! I've failed them!"
Students passing by laughed, their own exam stress lightened by Joey's dramatics. Even the examiners chuckled.
Cedric patted Fred on the shoulder. "You've got your hands full with her."
Fred grinned. "She's worth it."
---
In Astronomy, Joey decided to have fun. She wrote the names of the Black family members she knew in the constellations on her star chart. "I never thought I'd be drawing the Black family tree on an exam!" she said proudly afterward.
Fred laughed. "If you pass, you'll have to thank Sirius's ancestors."
George groaned. "I only wrote three constellations! How did you manage that?"
"Maybe because you were too busy snogging Flami at Sirius's house," Fred teased.
Flami, walking ahead with a group of Slytherins, turned and smiled. Joey and George waved, each claiming she was looking at them.
"She's looking at me!"
"No, she's looking at me!"
Fred stepped between them, dragging Joey away. "You two are impossible."
---
The Gryffindor common room was alive with celebration after the exams. Butterbeer flowed, and Weasley's joke shop products were a hit. Canary Creams turned students into chirping birds, and Nosebleed Nougat had everyone laughing through bloody noses.
Fred and George stood proudly, watching the chaos. "This would make a great advertisement," Fred said.
Joey, transformed into a canary, flew to Fred's shoulder, then shifted back into her human form, landing in his arms. "Do you need me to fetch Colin from the boys' dormitory, Mr. Weasley?" she teased.
Fred kissed her. "You're not going anywhere without me, Mrs. Weasley."
George groaned. "I'll go find Colin myself!"
---
The House Cup went to Gryffindor, thanks to Harry's spectacular catch with the Firebolt. Wood cried on Harry's shoulder, declaring him the best Seeker he'd ever known. Joey, ever the troublemaker, teased Wood about his brother Charlie, earning herself a smack on the head. She retaliated by stuffing a rotten ball into Wood's hat, which exploded moments later.
The end-of-term feast brought bittersweet news. Professor Lupin revealed his werewolf identity and resigned. Though rumors had circulated for months, the students were heartbroken. Even Slytherin, usually quick to gloat, remained somber.
Professor Lupin received hugs from the staff, except for Snape, who offered a stiff handshake. "Thank you for your help this year, Severus," Lupin said.
Snape grimaced. "Shut up."