"You have a whole semester to get a better handle on things," Lester said gently. He pulled his knees up onto the chair and wrapped his arms around them. Sloane was going to make it through OWLs with enough classes to continue at the NEWT level — she might just metaphorically kick and scream the whole way. He didn't have to push too hard tonight, though — they were so close to winter break.

"I'm surviving," Lester said. "N.E.W.T. level is hard, but — it's different hard." The pressure of OWLs would feel more familiar next year, when he needed good exam scores. Right now, it was mostly just a lot to learn.

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