Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter

Chapter 1

Alexander finally managed to drag his heavy bag from the Slytherin common room to the library. He began putting his things on the table, and sighed as he gave his books a reproachful look. Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Divination, Ancient Runes, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Arithmancy. Alexander felt like he was getting a headache just looking at them. Oh well, he thought, might as well get started.

"Hey Alexander, I've been looking for you, man. You wanna enter as a team in the New Term Exploding Snap Tournament?"

"Nah, Johnathon, I've got tons of homework."

"I'm not surprised, with your crazy schedule. You know, if you want, you could just come work with me at my family's shop after graduation."

"I know, but, still. I'm just chasing a dream right now."

"Alright then. Guess I'll leave you to your books. See you later, Alexander.

"Alright, Johnathon."

As he pulled out his notes from class, Alexander thought about Johnathon's offer. Heck, even Johnathon's father, Mr. Bott, promised Alexander a job. Entry-level, of course, but Alexander knew he would always have work. It'll be fine though, thought Alexander. I'm one year close to my dream. Better start now with this essay for McGonagall.

But as much as Alexander wanted to concentrate, he couldn't help but think about his meeting with Professor Slughorn a little over four years ago.

***

Alexander knocked on the door. "Professor Slughorn?" he asked timidly.

"Come in. Now who is it? Oh, Mr. Webster, I've been meaning to talk to you."

"You have, sir?"

"Yes, a bit of bad news, I'm afraid. Your other professors are worried about you. They say you give great effort in classes, but that when it comes to written work you struggle with comprehension, spelling, and mechanical errors."

"Oh yes sir. For as long as I can remember, it seems like letters within a word switch sometimes. Makes it terribly hard to study."

"Ahh, I had another student who complained of the same thing when he was younger. Let's see, Roger Fountz, a fourth, no fifth year Hufflepuff. He's doing loads better, so why don't you talk to him. Tell him I sent you. Well, now that we've got that out of the way, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well sir, I know you don't normally talk about careers until OWLs, but I was wondering if you could help me pick out electives?"

"Of course, Mr. Webster. Tell me, what career are you interested in?" Slughorn said with a smile.

"Professor, I want to be an Unspeakable. I mean, they work with stuff so secret they can't even tell the Minister-"

"Well, my boy, I wouldn't go as far as that-"

"But still, they have to be working with stuff so secret that it could change the wizarding world as we know it!" Alexander paused. "Professor, I really want to be an Unspeakable."

"Alright then, you'll need OWLs in Potions, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Divination. You'll also need an OWL in either Arithmancy or Ancient Runes. Then you need NEWTs in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions. You also have choices for your other NEWTs: Transfiguration or Charms, and Divination or your second elective."

"But would it be possible for me to take all the classes for OWLs, and then NEWTs? That way, if I didn't want to choose, I wouldn't have to ?" "I'm sure, but that would be quite a load. And you already struggle due to your letter problem…"

"Please Professor," Alexander begged. "I'm willing to do anything to become an Unspeakable."

Slughorn decided to give in to his young student. "Well, if anyone can do it, Mr. Webster, I believe you can. Tell you what, I'll go speak with the headmaster about you taking three electives. Now you realize you'll probably have to give up free period and that you might not take some of your classes with the rest of the house?"

"I don't mind, Professor."

"Well then I'm on my way to the headmaster's office right now. Good day, Mr. Webster."

"Goodbye and thank you, Professor." And with that, Alexander left, a huge smile breaking out across his face.

***

And so each year, the work load grew more difficult. Alexander could always be found with bags under his eyes, seemingly at his wit's end. Yet, he always managed to be near the top of his class each year.

Sadly, Alexander shook himself out of his daydream. No time to play around, he thought.

But it didn't come as a surprise to anyone that Alexander received top grades, an OWL score of O in all of the subjects, or that he would be taking NEWTs for all of the classes. His friends and family knew that Alexander always set high goals for himself. And they knew that Alexander always got what he wanted.

A/N: Switching letter within a word is a common symptom of dsylexia. However, I'm guessing in the wizarding world learning disabilities are not common.