Jordyn had quite a bit of reading to do in order to review for her finals.  She was positive she would do well at the end of this year.  She recovered nicely from the ridiculousness that marked the middle of her sixth year and now she was finishing on a strong note, at least she thought she was.  It would really benefit her in all ways to do well on her finals. 

St. Mungo’s would probably require transcripts before she was allowed to begin interning (she had the pamphlet in her trunk with all of her other important papers – she’d check again later), and a strong academic performance was required for head girl.  It was the most nerve wracking part of the end of this year: when she returned on the Hogwarts Express in the fall she’d either be Head Girl or a complete failure.  There was really no other option. 

It made anxiety bubble up in her stomach and Jordyn grabbed the remaining piece of her scone from her plate and nibbled on it.  She usually sat near the front, away from the rowdy younger years and no one was bothering her – Neely had been chatting before, but Jordyn had cracked open a book and that was about all it took to have Neely heading off to do something else – probably find Julian. 

Regardless, Jordyn had been cramming for her exams – especially DADA, which was blessedly right near the end of term.  It occupied most of her study time, though, and when she looked up from her book, she realized just how empty the great hall was getting.  How long had she been reading?  Pressing the cover closed, Jordyn turned around on the bench and glanced toward the hufflepuff table. 

It couldn’t hurt to go over and see if Jai had already left or not.   She pushed herself up, put her book in her bag and then sauntered over, glancing down the long table.  Generally, Jai was easy to find – tall, dark hair, adorable.  It appeared he had already left, as Jordyn couldn't find him.  Frowning, she wrapped her hands around the strap of her bag and began to walk down the Hufflepuff table.  She didn’t even notice if her bag had knocked into anyone. 

Verity had become a mess of nerves as finals approached. Even her constant self-reminders that this wasn't a test year didn't ease her stress, as she continued to pour over her textbooks in hope that she would retain the information during her tests. Because while she didn't need to be concerned about NEWTs, these grades would affect her chances of nabbing the Head Girl position. She had to prove that she was the best candidate for the position. And on top of studying for finals, she was also getting crash courses in several Muggle subjects in preparation for her A-Levels next year. Her only 'social' interactions anymore were more study sessions than anything else, and she felt sorry for Sasha as he got the worst of it.

Come now, Verity. You have less than a week remaining. You can do this. She told herself as she nibbled on an apple while skimming through old notes from Potions. Verity was focusing intently on her studies, unaware that most of her friends had already left, though she wasn't exactly the most entertaining company as of late. Once this next week was over however...

She shuffled her Potions notes back into her book bag and pulled out her Charms book, but as she was about to delve back into studying mode she was smacked in the head with a hard object, and winced from the pain.

"Ow!" She muttered a curse, and rubbed her forehead gingerly before looking around to see what hit her. Verity saw the Slytherin girl walking away, and her heightened nerves made her slightly prone to irritability. "Hey, you might want to watch where you are swinging that thing with the bricks you appear to be holding in there." The Hufflepuff chuckled, hoping that would lessen the snappiness of her comment.

 Jordyn did not even realize that her bag had been swinging; much less that it had hit someone.   Stopping in her tracks, Jordyn turned to see who had called out to her and she drew her eyebrows in, noticing that the victim in question was Verity Bell.  She didn’t exactly have the sweetest way of calling out that she’d been hit by Jordyn’s bag., which did not do very well for Jordyn, who immediately pursed her lips and put her hand on her hip. 

“I wasn’t aware it hit you, Bell,” she snipped back, tilting her chin up just a little bit, to make sure that she had the highest ground on this one.  She hadn’t known, that was true, and even more than that, she hadn’t even intended to run into anyone but Jai and Jai wasn’t here. 

But here she was dealing with someone who was giving her sass for barely any reason at all – then laughing about it?  Really?  That was strange.  Jordyn didn’t know how to deal with people who couldn’t decide what emotion they were feeling.  Pick something: anger, she could be fine with, humor, she could also be fine with, even sadness (as awkward as that always was) she could deal with.  But mixtures of feelings – that was more complicated. 

“Sorry,” she shrugged with no commitment to the actual apology.  “I’ll watch where I’m going next time.”  It might have had a tinge of sarcasm in it as well, but it wasn’t her fault, Verity had started it.   

Jordyn's sassy retort caused Verity to grimace, and she sighed heavily. Whelp, this was off to a piss poor start. Verity smiled apologetically, and smoothed out the pleats of her miniskirt.

"I'm sorry that I snapped. I guess my nerves are a tad more shot than I had anticipated," she shook her head. "And they tell us that this is supposed to be the relaxing year in between five and seven." The Hufflepuff cracked a grin, and despite the dull throbbing she didn't have a problem with Jordyn, and didn't wish to create unnecessary drama. Though other people often tried to pit them against each other since the Slytherin seemed to be Verity's main competition for the Head Girl position.

"How has your studying been going? I think that I had been reading the same sentence in my notes for the past half hour," Verity quipped with a small chuckle.

Jordyn wasn’t really sure what Verity’s angle was.  One moment ago she’d been calling after her with some kind of attitude over something that had clearly not been intentional – or even noticed, and now she was making small talk and smiling?  Sometimes she felt like it was hard to believe she was dating a hufflepuff – she supposed sometimes she just attritubed Jai’s place as a fluke with the sorting hat and he was probably supposed to be in Ravenclaw.  Especially if this was what a typical Puff was like. 

Whatever the case, Jordyn stood up straighter.  She didn’t want to appear as though she had dimmed down or stood less strong in the face of someone being apologetic.  “I don’t think there’s any relaxing after fourth year,” she commented with a quirk of a smirk on the corner of her mouth.  Just because she wasn’t cowing to anyone didn’t mean she couldn’t be amused.  Verity did, perhaps by her namesake, have some truth in her words. 

Besides, both of them were probably more than aware nothing about the last three years of one’s Hogwarts education was supposed to be easy.  It was a challenge, designed to weed out those that couldn’t hack it.  (Not to mention the fact that both of them were usually mentioned in the same breath for the most prestigious position a girl at school could hold).  Jordyn was ready to compete though.

Losing things really tended to sharpen one’s focus after a little bit of wandering.  Of course, focus was short in studying this morning and Jordyn battled for a second with herself: to be truthful or to intimidate?  Perhaps both. 

“I’ve been productive,” she said truthfully. There was no caveat about for how long she’d been productive or when.  “Though it is quite a lot to prepare for.  What notes are you looking at?” she raised her eyebrows and took a step closer. 

Verity smiled at Jordyn's response about how there was no relaxing after their fourth year. If the Hufflepuff didn't have friends like Ji-Hyun who would often drag her away from her scholastic endeavors, she would probably have turned into a hermit long ago. Though, if she didn't have her AS levels to complete in a few days so that she could get into Uni, Verity would probably feel relatively stress free. At least in comparison.

While the crowd within the Great Hall had been dispersing just a moment ago, apparently news of the two girls interacting traveled fast, and Verity noticed a few fellow classmates watching her and Jordyn's conversation. She thought she caught the exchanging of sickles and knuts between some of the students, and rolled her eyes at their antics. To think that they didn't have anything better to do with their time. She quirked her head at their peers with a smile to Jordyn.

"Seems like we have drawn an audience," she chuckled. "But I was just looking over some Potions notes. Though, I really need to look through some Sociology stuff for my AS levels... Those are coming up, and currently my bigger concern. They're like NEWT tests for Muggles, but split over two years. I have three of those to look forward to."

At the suggestion that other people were watching, Jordyn began to cast a cursory glance around.  There were a couple of people looking and a few were definitely whispering while casting cursory glances at them.  “People always need something to talk about,” she said without any indication that she was impressed by the display. 

Whatever people wanted to do on their own time, Jordyn found it hard to pay mind to them.  She was interested in other things: mainly to see what Verity was up to and if she had any edges up on the testing for this exam period.  She didn’t want to miss out on a golden opportunity to get some kind of advantage.  She knew Verity was friends with some of the right people.  Jordyn couldn’t claim as much.  Her relationships with Whitman and the others were lukewarm, at best.  Verity… not so much. 

“I’ve been doing a lot of potions as well,” she affirmed.  “Defense occupies most of the rest of my time.  In comparison, I’m fairly sure the rest of my finals will be easy.”  It was true.  She wasn’t worried about the rest of her classes quite as much as though two.  They were the scary tests.  Listening to Verity, she didn’t really what she was talking about.  Some kind of muggle tests, maybe the same as NEWTs? But for muggle school?

She vaguely remembered Sasha having mentioned things about muggle tests.  It was a wonder sometimes, the lengths wizards would go to understand the muggle world – or participate in it.  Jordyn had no interest.  “Why take them?” she asked, raised eyebrows and only a hint of curiosity.  “Don’t you have enough opportunities after Hogwarts?”

Jordyn's attitude caused Verity to raise an eyebrow quizzically. The Slytherin girl seemed to be intently focused on her, and the Hufflepuff prefect wondered if she had purposefully smacked her in order to size up the competition. Don't be daft, that would be completely pathetic. Funnily enough, the interaction had a positive effect on Verity, making her less concerned with the Head Girl vote going towards Jordyn instead of her. Not that she didn't think that Jordyn had a shot, if anything she might have a better chance than Verity, but competition invigorated the Hufflepuff. And Jordyn's 'too cool' façade always seemed a tad forced to Verity, who sensed some very serious insecurities beneath the surface.

"I want to be a psychologist after my schooling, and there isn't really training for such within the Wizarding community. However, it's abundantly clear that therapists are needed, what with so many people still suffering from untreated PTSD after the war, among a host of other issues within the magical world," Verity explained. It seemed that she had to explain her reasoning quite frequently, and it was odd as she had frequently seen Jordyn leaving Mai's office when she would go for her routine counseling sessions. If anyone would understand, she'd have thought the Head Girl hopeful would. "If I don't pass these tests, then I won't be able to get into a University that will teach me the subjects necessary for that job. Does that make sense?"

The blasé expression on the other girl's face made Verity question if Jordyn actually was interested in why she needed to take the AS Levels, but she decided that she couldn't worry about whether or not someone didn't understand her reasoning, or found her goals to be pointless. I almost want to give her the Head Girl position just to see if she is physically capable of smiling or genuine happiness... Verity mused.

It was interesting to hear Verity talk about what she wanted to do.  It was similar, she supposed, to her own interests – healing people in a different way.  Mental illness scared Jordyn, to a degree.  Her own anxiety was a source of constant frustration.  She’d seen Jai have a freakout in front of a store owner and though she didn’t blame him and she hadn’t been scared of him at all – it wasn’t like what she read about in the Janus Thickey Ward – people who were really messed up.  She knew that was not what she wanted to specialize in when she actually worked there. 

Power to anyone who did, like Verity.  The girl was obviously a good person.  Most hufflepuffs were.  Jordyn had a very candid discussion about something along those likes with Ms. Maiko before, coming to an awkward conclusion that Jordyn wasn’t a bad person – but that never seemed right to her – she was certainly not anywhere close to the type of person that Verity or Jai were.  “Of course it makes sense,” Jordyn replied easily, “I suppose, though, if that didn’t go your way, there are options available in the wizarding world – even if they aren’t exactly what you’re looking for.” 

To the Janus Thickey Ward with her, if worse came to worst.  After all, she did sound a little patronizing to Jordyn – as though she wouldn’t possibly understand that tests were important to the future.  Jordyn felt like she was building her entire life around tests at this point.  They certainly helped give her a sense of herself at least, and she sincerely hoped that Head Girl would also validate all of the heard work that she’d put into school. 

“I suppose your exams are after we go home for summer?” she asked, readjusting the strap of her bag.  “Or are you going on the summer trip?” It didn’t even occur to ask if she had an internship.  Most of the students, it seemed, were spending their time with one another in Southeast Asia – Jordyn was, of course, the odd one out. 

“I suppose, though, if that didn’t go your way, there are options available in the wizarding world – even if they aren’t exactly what you’re looking for.”

Verity nodded, though she hoped that it wouldn't come to that. While she had thought about working at St. Mungo's originally, she had already put in too much effort to fail now. It was not an option. All she had to do was manage to get an A or higher for all of her A Levels and she'd be on her way.

"I am taking the AS Levels this weekend, actually. I am going with Mai tomorrow to do my testing and then Floo back to Hogsmeade right after. Which is the reason for the cram fest," the Hufflepuff worried her lower lip slightly. She'd studied immensely with both Mai and Sasha for her three subjects and had still managed to find time for her Prefect duties and Hogwarts studies. And once Iroh - the tanuki she was training for Care of Magical Creatures - had mastered shapeshifting into her, she had even been able to catch up on sleep while he sat in a couple classes and took extremely detailed notes.

"I am not missing the trip this year. I had to miss it last year due to taking the GCSEs. But Mai is going on the trip, so she was going to help me with some of the final touches on my Uni applications." Honestly, Verity wasn't sure what she'd do without Maiko. The counselor was truly a godsend. "What about you? I didn't see your name on the sign up list for the trip. Any tidy plans for the summer?"

Ms. Maiko was a rather nice lady, she should have guessed that she would be the person helping anyone with what they wanted.  She certainly helped Jordyn sort through most of her problems.  Though she tried to stay as discreet as possible about when she saw Ms. Maiko and who she saw on her way there or out, she was very familiar.  “I believe, most of the time, by the time the test is happening, you’ve studied all you can.  Cramming doesn’t necessarily do much.” 

That was just her perception of it.  Jordyn had never been the type of person to study right before something, she always prepared well in advance and took advantage of every opportunity.  “I do wish you good luck though,” Jordyn added.  She would never wish anyone ill on exams.  It seemed like terribly bad luck for herself.  She didn’t want that following her.

She wasn’t the type to believe in karma or anything – but it never hurt to avoid taking chances.  Jordyn was very good at playing it safe (clearly).  That was part of the reason she hadn’t signed up to go on the trip.  “Oh, I’m not going,” Jordyn clarified – that would be why her name wasn’t on the list.  She couldn’t afford to do that.  “I am going to have an internship at St. Mungo’s for the summer, hopefully making connections and learning some new things.  I did the healing seminar this year and I hope to sharpen my skills further.” 

“I’ve heard the destinations are in Southeast Asia though – that should be worth experiencing.  And by boat?” she quirked her eyebrows.  “I give you credit.  I wouldn't enjoy that."

Verity conceded that Jordyn was probably correct about cramming and it's lack of effectiveness. The end of the year had snuck up on the Hufflepuff, and she was counting the days until she could have a bit of a breather (if only because her friends would not allow her to crack open a textbook over break).

"Thanks, I can always use good luck. I've heard that the AS Levels are quite brutal," she responded. "And best of luck with your internship, that'll definitely help you in getting your foot in the door. Make sure to take care of yourself, though, and leave enough time for the beau at least," Verity snorted. "Look at me, advising someone to not overwork themselves. I'll be sure to at least try to take my own advice."

"The boat was probably the biggest draw for my decision to go on the trip. Well, besides that fact that the majority of my friends are going, of course. I can understand how boats aren't for everyone, though." Verity gave a small shrug. "Though, I best be off. Zel and I have a date with some Billywigs that are supposedly somewhere on the third floor which should probably be dealt with. I've always wanted to walk on air, so we'll see how this goes." Dealing with the infestations was quite possibly her favorite part of COMC, due to the excitement involved.

She held out her hand before leaving. "I do wish you the best of luck with getting the Head Girl position. But I have no intention of losing, either. Take care!"

“A legitimate point,” Jordyn acknowledged.  She had no intention of easing up over the summer.  She’d be studying away when she wasn’t at the hospital, and if she made time for Jai, she was sure it was going to be very different.  She imagined the atmosphere would be a lot less conducive to meetings with no expectations or time that they could just… spend together.  When you got together in the outside world, you had to have a plan.  Hogwarts had a unique little bubble where it didn’t seem to matter what you were going to do, because you were there and you had to be.  Home was so different. 

It made her throat start to close just thinking about it.  Anxiety management was not one of Jordyn’s strong points.  Despite the Hufflepuff’s seemingly friendly and carefree exterior, she imagined Verity couldn’t be much different.  To have success you had to have some chance at being Head Girl.  Jordyn knew it was a distinct possibility and no matter how much she wanted to, Jordyn could not underestimate this girl. 

The bubbliness aside.  Nodding curtly, Jordyn acknowledged her point about the boats and figured it was probably true that more gregarious people would be going on the trip.  Large groups overwhelmed Jordyn to some degree, she preferred a few close friends over the prospect of many in one space.  When she mentioned billywigs, Jordyn’s eyes went a little wider and tried not to look startled.  She hoped it was just for a potions review.

The inner prefect in her wanted to ask, but she also knew Verity was a prefect and if she was doing something that would compromise her badge – well, that wasn’t on Jordyn, was it?  It would come out. Eventually.  “I wish you the very best of luck in that endeavor – and do be careful to not float away,” she smirked.  That’d be far too easy. 

Wrapping her hands around the strap of her bag again, Jordyn lifted her chin and met the opposing girl’s gaze.  She was certainly confident.  “The feeling is mutual,” she finally replied.  “Best of luck, Bell.” It was as much of a departure as she needed and Jordyn turned on her heel to make her way back to the Slytherin table to collect her friends  (if they were still there) and then make her way out.  She had revising to du.