Harry shifted from one foot to the next. He was mind-numbingly bored and would rather face a dragon than the long line of students that now stood between him and the hospital wing. His green eyes flicked up and down the line, watching the interactions.

Seamus was flirting with a fifth year from Holland - Harry could not remember her name. A few students away Ron and Hermione were trying not to brush against each other. Every time they accidentally touched, they would jump away from one another and blush. Harry felt embarrassed for them. He wished they would admit their true feelings for each other already.

With a heavy sigh Harry closed his eyes and tried to remember the answers for the Potions NEWT exam from memory or as close to the questions as he had been able to wheedle out of McGonagall. Apparently being the "savior of the whole bloody universe and then some" was a good way to get cheats.

Harry normally tried not to use his fame, but sometimes he was not strong enough to ignore the pull of desire. He wanted so badly to be an Auror and in order to do that he needed to get good grades on his NEWTs.

The line moved forward several steps and then stopped. Harry blew his cheeks out and then sucked the air back. He wondered if it was possible to die of boredom.

- - -

Forty-Five minutes later, Harry groaned and took a seat on the empty hospital bed. He always hated inoculations, but this was way worse. Madame Pomfrey, being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of students, had recruited some of the teachers to help her and Harry had been shoved to the bed assigned to Severus Snape.

The black-haired man looked like he was sucking on a lemon, his face twisted into a distasteful scowl. He brandished his wand like a shield as he maneuvered between students. Severus reached Harry and paused.

"Mister Potter," he said. "This will not hurt."

Harry took the words at face value and seconds later regretted that profoundly.

"Holy Merlin's Nightgown!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Sorry," Severus apologized in words only. "I might have made the spell a tad bit stronger than necessary." The teacher turned towards the line of students. "Next!"

A timid first-year was thrust towards the bed by a couple of cowering third-years. Harry bit his lip and jumped off the bed. He hated inoculations.