The night before the big match against Slytherin, even Hermione can't work as everyone is so nervous about the game - especially Harry, who is relieved when [Oliver Wood] finally calls the team to bed.

At night, Harry's dream about the [Quidditch] match going terribly awry ends when he wakes, and out the window, he sees Crookshanks meeting with a gigantic black dog. When he tries to wake Ron and show him, though, Ron falls back asleep and the dog, and Crookshanks, both vanish.

Both the Great Hall and the [locker rooms] are tense in anticipation of the big match against Slytherin. Harry's nerves are a wreck, but before he knows it, he's walking out on the [pitch] to begin the match, with the Slytherins walking out from the other side.

The Gryffindor-Slytherin match begins, and it's a nasty one. After a number of illegal moves and penalty shots - including Malfoy dragging down the tail of Harry's broom when he spots the Snitch - the Gryffindors finally pull ahead by fifty and Harry zips in front of Malfoy to grab the Snitch, winning the [Quidditch Cup] for Gryffindor at last.

With exams approaching, the weather is beautiful and the students wish they could spend their time outside, but instead are busy studying - even Fred and George.

Hermione is nearly going insane with her schedule, which Ron and Harry still can't figure out. They also learn, while studying, that Buckbeak's appeal date has been set - and that an executioner will be attending.

The third years' exams begin and seem to fly by: in Transfiguration they turn teapots into tortoises; in Charms, it's [Cheering Charms], among other things; in Care of Magical Creatures Hagrid is so upset that all they need to do is keep [flobberworms] alive; in Potions, [Confusing Concoctions] give Harry trouble, and Astronomy, History of Magic, and Herbology pass without incident, leaving only two exams to go.

The third years' second to last exam is Defence Against the Dark Arts, for which Lupin rigs an obstacle course they must pass through. Harry gets full marks, but Hermione panicks when her [boggart] turns out to be Professor McGonagall telling her she's failed everything.

On the way from their Defence Against the Dark Arts exam, Harry, Ron, and Hermione run into [Cornelus Fudge], with an executioner. Though Ron is irate, Harry and Hermione manage to stop him, and they all go inside to eat lunch.