It was a hot day in mid-August and at Number 4 Privet Drive a young man with a lightning-bolt-shaped scar on his forehead stood in the backyard staring furiously at a lawn mower. His Uncle had demanded that he make himself useful and had quickly devised a list of things for him to do weekly. Mowing the lawn was one such chore and currently, the lawn mower simply refused to start.
Harry Dursley sighed and decided to replace the engine oil one last time. He unscrewed the drainpipe and watched as the oil poured into the waste bucket. His Uncle would be furious that he had wasted so much oil. Re-screwing the pipe, he refilled the engine oil and snapped the lid shut.
Here goes nothing. He grabbed the release valve and yanked the engine cable. For a moment, the engine roared to life. And then it died and a cloud of smoke filled the air. Coughing violently, Harry swore under his breath and decided to forego mowing the lawn; his Uncle could do that himself, for all he cared.
Stowing the lawn mower back in the garage, he climbed the steps two at a time and entered his room to find Hedwig snapping at another owl on his desk. "It's okay, Hedwig. I think he's from the Ministry. Hermione mentioned that OWL results would be out about now." He tore the letter apart and began to read.
To Harry Dursley,
Please find attached your results for your recent OWLs. I would like to congratulate you on achieving the highest mark in Defence Against the Dark Arts in over a century. Please decide which courses you will be taking during your 6th year at Hogwarts and reply to Deputy Headmistress McGonagall via this OWL.
Thank you,
Grizelda Marchbanks
Ordinary Wizarding Levels (O.W.L.) - Harry Dursley
Astronomy - P
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Charms - O
Defence Against the Dark Arts - O+
Herbology - E
History of magic - A
Potions - O
Transfiguration - O
Total Number of OWLs: 5
Wow!, Harry thought. I got an O in Potions! Wait till I tell Hermione! As if on cue, Hedwig irritably swung out her leg and Harry noticed that she had a few letters for him as well. Harry untied the letters and tore through the first one to recognize Hermione's neat handwriting.
Dear Harry,
Have you got your OWL results yet! I just got mine. I got 8 OWLs! I missed only the Astronomy one, and we all know why that was. I thought about writing to Grizelda Marchbanks about extenuating circumstances, but Lily said it didn't really matter. Sirius and James decided to laugh at me, but my parents were really proud :)
Anyway, not sure if Ela's told you as yet, but the Potters are inviting you over for the rest of the summer. I know it's just the last two weeks, but for some reason they weren't able to convince Dumbledore to let you leave the Dursley's until now. Sirius will be dropping by tomorrow morning to pick you up!
Hope you're doing well. I should get back to reading - Emma leant me the 6th year Transfiguration book, and it's so exciting! We start conjuration!
Love,
Hermione
Leave it to Hermione to get the most OWLs out of all of us and still be studying during the summer, Harry thought. He opened Ron's letter next. Unlike Hermione's, it seemed to have no structure at all.
Hey mate! Got my OWLs from the Ministry I got 3 OWLs. Mum wasn't too happy but at least I didn't get less than Forge. Hermione got 8! Mental that one. Anyway mate the Potters are inviting you over tomorrow (no idea why it took so long) and it's dull without you so start packing now. Everyone's exciting to see you again! Cheers, Ron
Putting it aside, Harry opened the last letter.
Dear Harry,
I hope you're doing well and that the Dursleys aren't slave-driving you. Sorry about not being able to invite you over before (Mum and Dad said Dumbledore wouldn't allow it - can you believe that! The nerve of him). But good news! Sirius will be over tomorrow morning to pick you up :) We're all really looking forward to seeing you - been missing you lots! Mum can't stop talking about you and Dad just wants your cooking (don't tell Mum that) :)
Ron, Hermione, Neville, and Luna have all got their OWLs now. Dumbledore said he'd sent yours to you directly - did you get 'em yet? I know you did well.
Haven't heard much about You-Know-Who, they're keeping everything secret from us. Once you get over here, we'll crash an Order meeting :)
I'm really excited to be starting 3rd year! Hogsmeade weekends start! Hermione leant me some of her books and offered to teach me a few things before school starts. She refused to teach me Defence though; I think she wants you to start the DA again. On that note, I have no idea who our new DADA prof will be. The adults and (for once) Sirius are all staying quiet about it.
Anyway, see you tomorrow. Take care until then :)
Love,
Ela P.
Harry stowed the OWLs aside and took out a few rolls of parchment. He decided not to reply to his friends, since he'd see them tomorrow anyway, and instead focused on trying to choose his courses for next year.
Last year's events had taught Harry that he absolutely didn't want to become an Auror. Apart from the Ministry's incompetence, the Battle at the DOM had made Harry fear for the lives of his friends. Seeing Hermione lying unconscious after she was hit with Dolohov's curse, and seeing Ron's face covered in brains had made him realize that an Auror's life was never peaceful. And Harry longed a life where he could start a family free from danger.
Before term had ended, he had decided to speak to his head of house, Professor McGonagall. After nearly an hour-long discussion, she presented him with two options that suited him: healing or teaching. Harry felt that both of those had fit him well.
Harry thought back to all of those times when he had been in the Hospital Wing. He had thoroughly disliked the endless nights of bed rest the school matron had assigned him, but he had always felt a sense of excitement every time she treated him. On more that one occasion, he had wished that he could heal his friends whenever they had been injured.
And so, knowing that we would be able to teach at any point in his career, Harry decided to focus on trying to become a healer. He realized that the healing class would take up most of his time, which meant that he wouldn't be able to take Defence Against the Dark Arts. Harry shrugged, and mentally committed to teaching himself any defence that he'd need to know. He quickly wrote a note to Professor McGonagall expressing his desire to take the NEWT-level Healing class, as well as Charms, Potions, and Transfiguration, and sent it off with the Ministry OWL.
Next, he grabbed another piece of parchment and hastily scribbled a note on it. Sounds great, I'll see you tomorrow. Got 5 OWLs :)
He tied the note to Hedwig's leg. "I need you to take this to Ela." Hedwig hooted happily. "Stay there, since I'll be leaving this place tomorrow morning." She hooted as if in nodding, nipped Harry's ear affectionately, and flew out of the window.
Harry turned around and surveyed his room. Finding books and quills and parchment hastily stashed in various corners of the room, he decided to get to packing.