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CHAPTER TEN

N.E.W.T.s

With the Quidditch season over, that left the seventh-years with only one major event left,their Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (N.E.W.T.s). It began on Sunday night when the testers arrived at Hogwarts. Harry recognized Professors Marchbank and Tofty, as they had administered most of the Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) tests at the end of Harry's fifth year. Their arrival was also noticed by all the other fifth and seventh year students. As a result, their studying became more desperate and frantic. The library and the common rooms became tense places, as sixth-year Hufflepuff Arnold Whitby discovered. He set off a Decoy Detonator in the Hufflepuff common room Sunday night, and was found hours later tied to a staircase down the hall. One of the teachers had to be called in to free him since a particularly effective sticking charm had been used to keep his feet glued to the floor.

The first examinations on Monday were for Charms students. During breakfast, while the rest of the students ate without a care in the world (as their end of term exams were still a week away), the fifth and seventh-year students were either doing some last minute reading out of their notes or chanting charms under their breath as various items moved around the dining tables. Every time it appeared that Hermione was finally about to eat a bite of her breakfast, she would drop her fork on her plate and reach into her book bag to check out another thought which had suddenly struck her.

After breakfast, all of the fifth and seventh-years congregated outside the entrance to the Great Hall. At half past nine they were called back in to sit at individual desks for the written part of their examinations. After everyone was settled in, Professor Flitwick instructed them to turn over their papers and begin.

Harry read the first question, which was about the Protego Totalum and Repello Muggletum charms, ones they had used to hide their camp every night the previous year. Harry looked up and saw Ron grinning at him, while Hermione's quill was already flying over her paper.

After Harry completed his test, he looked at the clock and saw that he had finished ten minutes early. He then noticed that Ron had also finished and was napping at his desk. Hermione was still furiously writing away, and she even added a little more after Professor Flitwick told everyone to put their quills down ten minutes later.

As usual, Hermione spent the time immediately after the test discussing each and every question with Ron and Harry, who both did their best to ignore her. Ginny joined them at lunch, giving Hermione someone new with whom to discuss all of her answers.

After lunch, the fifth and seventh-years were ushered into the small chamber beside the Great Hall, from which they were called in two at a time for the practical exam. Harry had nothing to do while he was waiting, and found himself wondering why they always called the students in alphabetically. Hannah Abbott would be done and could take a two hour nap before Ron (who was always about last) was able to finish.

Harry was called in at the same time as Parvati Patil, who was sent to Professor Tofty while Harry was to be tested by Professor Marchbanks.

"Harry, it is so good to see you again. Well, do you see that glass of water over there?" he said as he pointed to a glass a table over. Professor Marchbanks pointed his wand at it and it tipped over, spilling water all over the table. "Show me how to clean up the water."

Harry performed a Drought charm which dried up the puddle of water. When Marchbanks asked Harry to bring the glass to him, Harry performed an Accio charm and it flew into Harry's hands. Next Harry was required to use a Locomotor charm to make the glass move through the air. Then he heard Parvati yell from the next table over.

"Oh, I am so sorry, Professor Tofty!"

In her nervousness, instead of the Locomotor charm Parvati had used the Locomotor Mortis curse, also known as the Leg-Locker curse. Tofty was laying on the ground, unable to move, and Professor Marchbanks had to rush over to reverse the curse, though he had the start of a smile at the corners of his mouth. Harry imagined that a good sense of humor was necessary to survive as an examiner.

After a few more demonstrations, Harry was free to leave, confident he had done better on the practical portion than he had on the written part. He took off for the common room to prepare for Tuesday' Transfigurations testing.

The Transfigurations tests the next day also went well. Harry was able to transform his rock into a pig, though Ron admitted that his swine was covered with pebbles all over its back side. At least they weren't in the room when Marietta Edgecombe turned her rock into a small herd of wild boars which ran loose in the Great Hall, overturning tables and scaring students. Hagrid was brought in to round them up. He was heard muttering something about an upcoming hog roast while he worked. Harry wasn't sure if that would be a violation of one of the five exemptions to Gawp's Law of Elemental Transfiguation or not.

Wednesday was Herbology, one of Harry's weaker subjects. He and Ron persuaded Neville to help them study the night before. Neville was so complimented that someone was actually asking him for help that he spent several hours reviewing the Herbology materials with them. It soon became apparent that Neville was very good at explaining material he knew to others so that they would be able to understand it.

"Neville, you really ought to be a teacher," concluded Ron as they put away the books and got ready for bed.

"Professor Sprout has been letting me do a little bit of teaching with the first years. The fact that I killed Voldemort's snake this spring seems to get me a chance to have their attention at the start, but I've also been doing fairly well at keeping their interest. Professor Sprout says I have the potential to earn a job as a teacher here."

"I guess we'll find out tomorrow how good of a tutor you are," added Ron. "But you helped us out a lot tonight."

Wednesday morning's Herbology written test seemed to go well for Harry. He thought he did particularly well on the question of when it was better to use Mooncalf Dung as opposed to using Dragon Dung as a fertilizer. The afternoon practical exam included harvesting Bubotuber pus as well as transplanting Mandrakes. Ron mentioned that he lost his grip on a Mandrake and he had to chase it throughout the greenhouse before he could complete the transplanting process, but both of them were pretty happy as they finished their tests.

"You know what the best part is?" Ron asked Harry. "We have four days off until our Potions tests next Monday. We get out of tomorrow's Defense Against the Dark Arts tests, and Hermione has her Ancient Runes tests on Friday so she won't be around to make us feel guilty while we spend the day goofing off."

A little goofing off was something Harry hadn't had a chance to do for a long time. Ginny had a load of homework to do that night, while Hermione was deep into her Ancient Runes books, so Harry spent an enjoyable evening getting beat by Ron in several games of wizard's chess. While Hermione was studying again on Thursday and everyone else was in classes, Ron and Harry decided they were overdue to visit Hagrid.

As they walked through the halls they came across Professor Trelawny anxiously pacing back and forth.

"Potter, Weasley, why aren't you in the Great Hall taking your Divinity N.E.W.T.s.?"

"We're not in Divinity this summer," answered Ron, who was working hard to keep from laughing out loud.

"Yes, yes, I knew that. Oh, I hope my students are doing well. With a new headmaster in charge it would reflect poorly on me if my students would do poorly. By the way, be careful of a giant surprise you two have coming your way."

Before Harry could reply, Professor Trelawny was off to start pacing in another hallway.

"I sure am glad we don't have class with that bloody basket case this summer," said Ron. "What do you suppose she meant by a giant surprise?"

Harry chuckled.

"Who knows, I'm just glad she wasn't predicting my imminent death. I found that to be quite the pleasant change."

Harry and Ron continued outside and towards Hagrid's hut. Harry pointed out that there seemed to be a lot of smoke coming for Hagrid's place.

"I hope he's not burning the place down."

"Whatever he's doing," added Ron as he sniffed at the air, "it sure does smell good."

As they approached closer to the hut, they could tell the smoke was coming from behind Hagrid's home instead of from the hut itself. Ron and Harry decided to check out the back before knocking on the front door. Out back they found Hagrid tending to three wild boars roasting on separate spits.

"All right, yeh two. Come down ter visit meh? Ron, where's Hermione? I hardly ever see the two of yeh separated anymore."

"Hermione has a N.E.W.T. tomorrow she's studying for. We had a couple of days off from our tests and thought we'd get away from Hermione and the others who are hitting the books right now."

"Why don't yeh lot stay fer lunch? This crew is almost done cookin'."

Harry looked at the three large boars roasting over the flames and wondered who else was coming to visit for lunch.

"We don't want to get in the way, Hagrid. Looks like you must have a large gathering planned."

"Nah, just the three of us, and me half-brother Grawpy, of course. He should be comin' any minute, now. While we're waiting, I'll get yeh lot some plates and utensils."

"That must be what Trelawny was referring to," said Ron. "Grawp must be our 'giant surprise'. Wonder how the old fraud knew that Grawp was coming to lunch. Hagrid, did you tell Professor Trelawny that Grawp was coming?"

"Don't think I told no one. I didn't even know the two of yeh were comin'."

"Ron, Trelawny didn't even know the two of us were coming out here. It is not exactly a normal Thursday morning stop for us. Do you think she actually got a prediction right this time?"

"I guess it had to happen sooner or later."

At that time Harry and Ron noticed birds scattering out of the forest. Soon some of the trees at the edge of the forest were shaking, immediately followed by the 16-foot tall Grawp lumbering out of the forest towards Hagrid's place. Grawp came all the way up to the roasting boars, then looked at Ron and Harry.

"Where Hagger? HAGGER!"

Hagrid came out the back door of his hut.

"Here I am, Grawpy. You remember Ron and Harry, don't yeh?"

Grawp looked at Ron, then stared at Harry.

"Harry. Where Hermy?"

Harry pointed back towards the castle.

"Hermione is in the school. She is studying."

Grawp looked at the castle and smiled. He remembered the students there throwing food out the window to him after the big battle a few months ago.

"Grawp like school. Grawp like Hermy."

"Blimey, Harry, the big lug still has a crush on Hermione."

"Seems like all the big, quiet types fall for Hermione," kidded Harry. "There is Grawp, Krum and that red-headed guy she's seeing now."

"Ha, ha. Very funny."

Hagrid started passing out plates to Ron and Harry.

"Well, come on yeh all, let's be eatin'."

Hagrid, Ron and Harry cut slices from one of the boars. Meanwhile, Grawp grabbed an entire carecass and starting ripping large hunks from it. By the time Grawp was on his second boar, several discarded bones had hit Ron and Harry and splattered debris on their plates. With their appetites somewhat lessened, they excused themselves with a promise to return Saturday and decided to tour the rest of the grounds.

First they walked by a Herbology class composed of second-year students. Sure enough, there was Neville, leading the class with Professor Sprout standing nearby, ready to lend a helping hand if one was needed. They watched for ten minutes, and Neville worked the class without a hitch, until he saw that Harry and Ron were watching, at which point he became nervous and started to stutter a bit. They decided it was time to move on.

Further along they found Mr. Weasley was taking advantage of the good weather by bringing his class of third-year Muggle Studies students out to be introduced to his car. Harry wondered how Mr. Weasley would describe a car to the kids. Would he comment on its top speed, how fast it accelerated, how expensive it was, how roomy and comfortable the interior was, or any of the other things that would have been important to Uncle Vernon or other Muggles he knew growing up? Harry suggested to Ron that they sneak a little closer so he could hear the class.

Mr. Weasley had the driver-side door open as he talked to the class.

"Now this is a part of the vehicle I find greatly fascinating. Everyone watch what happens when I turn this crank. Look! The window is going down. If you turn the crank the other way, the window goes back up. Ingenious! It always amazes me the things Muggles can do without magic. Now, everyone in a line and you will all get your turn to move the window up and down."

The students rushed to get in line and try their hand at the window crank. Harry signaled to Ron to move away. When they were out of sight, Harry burst out laughing.

"Wait until he shows them the windshield wipers. They'll be fascinated for a week!"

"What are windshield wipers?"

"They manually wipe water off the car windshield when it is raining outside. It works kind of like when Hermione uses the Impervius Charm to repel the water from my glasses when I play Quidditch."

"Strange. Do you think we ought to be heading back in?"

"Yeah, it is probably time to hit the books for a couple of hours if we want to avoid incurring the wrath of Hermione."

Harry and Ron put in a few hours of studying that night for their Monday Potions test. Harry wanted to do very well on this test. He had lost the Half-Blood Prince's book with all its useful notes in the Fiendfyre which swept through the Room of Requirement during the Battle of Hogwarts. Without it, Harry's work in Potions class had become downright ordinary. At first, Professor Slughorn was willing to attribute this to the trauma caused by the battle, but he was starting to worry out loud that Harry had permanently lost his 'gift' for Potions. Harry wanted to score well on his tests, if only to please Professor Slughorn.

Friday morning Hermione went to her Ancient Runes written test while Harry and Ron took one last chance to goof off in the common room with a few games of wizard's chess. Harry thought he was finally going to beat Ron, only to find out Ron had set yet another trap for him. As usual, Harry's pieces paid the price for his blunder.

At lunch they met up with Ginny and Hermione. Hermione kept repeating questions from her Ancient Runes test and asking them if they thought she gave the correct answer. Ron had told Harry on the way to meet the girls that the secret was to show that you were listening and pretend that you understood what she was talking about. Then, you had to shove food in your mouth at just the right time so that you had a good excuse not to answer.

"When it asked what the symbol for the number nine was, I put down that it was Acromantula, then I switched my answer to the Hydra. I think the Hydra has nine heads, doesn't it?"

Ron was just pulling his fork out of his mouth, which was full of sausages. He mumbled a little and gave a shrug of his shoulders. Hermione turned to look at Harry.

"Well, does nine heads sound right for a Hydra, Harry?"

"Err … isn't the hydra that thing that grows two new heads whenever you cut one off? If so, how would anyone know how many heads it had at any one time?"

Hermione grunted in disgust and pulled out her Ancient Runes book. Ron gave Harry a big thumbs-up when Hermione's back was turned.

After lunch, Hermione went to her Ancient Runes practical test. Ginny had the afternoon free, so she and Harry used the time to figure out the Quidditch team for next Friday's scrimmage against the Slytherins. Harry was technically still in charge as team captain, but since he was sure Ginny was going to be captain next year, he wanted her to have a little practice running the team.

"This is supposed to be a practice game for next year's Quidditch team, so you need to replace Dean, Ron and me. Let's start with Ron's spot. Who do you want to be the Keeper?"

"Well, Sean McLaggen was the next best Keeper at the tryouts, and Emma Dobbs was the only other one close. I guess I have to give the spot to McLaggen, since he was the best at the tryouts."

"That would be the way to go that is easiest to defend," said Harry. "McLaggen may well be the Keeper you want, but you have to make your decision based on what is best for the team. For instance, look at Ron. He may not have been named Keeper based solely on the results of his tryout, but Angelina thought she saw talent in him and thought he would be better for the team in the long run."

"I didn't like the way McLaggen was blaming those Slytherin Chasers for his tryout results, and I really didn't like the way he seemed upset when we beat the Hufflepuffs. He just reminds me so much of his brother Cormac, and I remember what a disaster it was the one game he played."

"I don't remember it so well," said Harry. "My brain got a little scrambled when McLaggen hit me with that Bludger."

"Do you think Emma is ready, though?"

"I think if you make Emma the Keeper, she will have a rough scrimmage. She will have had no practice and will be very nervous. If she learns from the experience, I think she could be a very good Keeper next year. If she loses her confidence like Ron tended to do, it could be disastrous."

"I believe that I'd better have a talk with Emma before I make up my mind on that one."

"Then comes my position, the Seeker."

"No one even tried out for Seeker this year. Everyone knew they weren't going to be able to beat you out for the job, Harry. I didn't even see anyone at the tryouts who flew well enough to be a Seeker."

"I saw one such person," hinted Harry.

"I know, but I don't want to play Seeker. I'm a good Chaser. You heard during the match when they said I was good enough to play for the Holyhead Harpies. I know it was just Lee Jordan saying that, but I'd like to try to be a Quidditch player after I get out of school. I'm going to need all the practice at Chaser I can get."

Harry had to think for a moment. Part of him wanted to selfishly look out for whatever was best for Ginny. Another part of him was more concerned with the overall Gryffindor Quidditch team than with any one individual. In the end, he knew which way he had to go.

"This is just like the Keeper decision. As captain, you have to be concerned with the entire team, not just one player. I don't think you could live with a decision to help yourself at the possible expense of the team. Besides, thanks to Lee's broadcasts, the Quidditch teams ought to have heard of your name by now."

"Okay, okay. You convinced me. I'll play Seeker now, but I'll try to find a new one next fall. That means I have to find two new Chasers to replace Dean and me. Dennis Creevy and Natalie McDonald were by far the best of the others at the tryouts, but neither one was that impressive. I'd hate to commit to either one being on the team next year."

"Just make sure you tell both of them that there will be full tryouts in the fall and that you don't know for sure what position you are going to play next year. Think of the scrimmage as a good extended tryout."

Ginny sighed.

"I guess that will be the team, once I decide between Emma and Sean at Keeper. On paper, it sure doesn't look as good as our team this summer."

"I can't imagine a team as good as the one we had this summer. But don't sell yourself short. By the time the first match comes along next fall, your team just might be that good, if not better."

It took Hermione several hours to settle down after her Ancient Runes test, but then she, Ron and Harry got to work spending the weekend preparing for their next test, Monday's Potions N.E.W.T. That was going to be Ron and Harry's last test, though Hermione still had Advanced Arithmancy coming up on Thursday. Ron spent most of Saturday complaining about being inside studying on a beautiful weather day, but with Harry and Hermione both determined to do well on this test, he had little choice but to join in the preparations.

By Sunday night Harry was convinced he had studied every Potion known in the Wizarding world. Ron had long since grown tired of looking at his books and instead suggested breaking out the cauldrons and brewing something up. He first considered doing a Forgetfulness Potion, but was afraid if he breathed in too many of the fumes he might not remember all he had studied over the weekend. He next proposed a Draught of Living Death, until Harry pointed out that if something went wrong they might sleep through the test.

"Why don't you make a Wit-Sharpening Potion?" pleaded an exasperated Hermione. "That surely couldn't hurt you with the test."

"Great idea!" yelled Ron and he took off out of the common room in search of a cauldron and the necessary ingredients.

"He'll be back shortly," said Hermione as she shook her head. "He forgot to take the book that lists all the ingredients he needs."

Sure enough, Ron soon came back without his cauldron or any ingredients. However, he also said that Professor Slughorn had opened up the Potions classroom for anyone who wanted some last minute practice, so Ron, Harry and Hermione decided to give it a try.

Neville was already in the room intently working on some sort of concoction. Ernie Macmillan was also stirring a bubbling cauldron, though the smell coming from his cauldron did not seem like that of any proper potion that they were aware of.

Ron went to the cupboard and got all the necessary supplies for Harry and himself to make a Wit-Sharpening Potion. Hermione decided to try her hand at a Shrinking Potion. While Ron was still sorting out the ingredients and Hermione was already chopping her daisy roots, a sudden yell came from Ernie. He had burned through the bottom of his cauldron and a slimy potion was leaking all over the floor.

"Ugh, that shouldn't have happened," griped Ernie. "I was doing everything right."

"You weren't using one of those cheap foreign cauldrons, were you?" asked Ron. "You should always use standard size 2 pewter cauldrons."

Harry and Hermione looked at Ron in amazement.

"Hey," said Ron defensively. "When you have a brother who spent a summer living and breathing cauldron sizes, you are sure to remember some of it."

Ron and Harry carefully prepared all of their ingredients and began to make their potion. Meanwhile, Harry kept hearing Hermione muttering the instructions for her Shrinking Potion as she was working. He and Ron were only about halfway done when they saw Hermione was already turning a toad into a tadpole with her potion. When the boys completed their Wit-Sharpening Potion, it turned out a dull gray color instead of the expected shiny silver hue.

"Go ahead," prompted Ron. "Take a drink, Harry."

"I don't think so. I think I will go with an unsharpened wit for tomorrow's tests."

"That might be the best idea," gulped Ron as he stared at the slowly gurgling potion.

Monday morning after breakfast they returned to the Great Hall for the written Potions test. Ron flashed a smile at Harry when the first question asked what standard size should be used for pewter cauldrons. Harry's confidence grew as he was familiar with most of the questions. He knew that Mandrake Draught was the antidote for Petrification, and he remembered Everlasting Elixirs from Professor Slughorn's class last year. Harry also figured he knew most of the uses of moonstones in potions from the essay Snape once made him write. After talking with Ron and Hermione during lunch he was even more certain that he had done well, though not as well as Hermione.

After lunch they returned to the Great Hall to find a pewter cauldron (standard size 2) and ingredients waiting for each of them. Professor Marchbanks welcomed them and asked them to each brew up a Shrinking Potion. Hermione could barely contain her excitement at correctly guessing which potion to practice the night before. Harry decided to go slowly, trying to remember the instructions he heard Hermione mention the previous evening.

Harry was careful to evenly chop his daisy roots, to fully skin his shrivelfig and to evenly slice the caterpillar. He added one rat spleen and prepared to add a dash of leech juice. Harry knew that the final potion was supposed to be a bright acid green and that too much leech juice would turn it orange.

Hermione had already brought up a sample of her potion and was testing it on a toad in front of Professor Tofty. One of the Ravenclaws was doing the same in front of Professor Marchbanks, causing quite a commotion when his toad turned bright red before bursting into flames. Several other students were struggling with orangish looking potions.

Harry added a small dash of leech juice and began stirring his potion. It reached about the same color of green as Hermione's did last night, but not the hoped for bright acid green. He decided to try something from his old Half-Blood Prince potions book. After every seventh counterclockwise stir, Harry added one clockwise stir. As he did so, the potion became a brighter shade of green. Harry quickly bottled a sample to use on the toads. He approached Professor Tofty just as Ron was in front of Professor Marchbanks.

"Mr. Weasley, your potion looks to be acceptable," said Professor Marchbanks. "Why don't you give it a try on this toad?"

Ron fed some of his potion to his toad. For a minute it just sat there, then it slowly started to shrink. It did not turn into a tadpole, but it did look a lot younger and smaller than the original toad.

Professor Tofty then spoke to Harry.

"Mr. Potter, your potion looks very nice. Shall we give it a try?"

Harry fed his potion to a toad and it immediately began to shrink. It kept shrinking and changing until very young tadpole was all that remained. Harry was ecstatic. He had done it!

"Marvelous! Professor Slughorn told me last night that you seemed to have inherited some of Lily Evans' natural talent for Potions. I tested her myself years ago, and she was one of the best I've ever seen. Horace also told me he was afraid your talents seemed to have diminished since your time away from school and your trials with the Dark Lord, but this is excellent work, Potter."

"Thank you, sir."

With their Potions test over, Harry and Ron were done with their N.E.W.T.s. Hermione still had her Advanced Arithmancy N.E.W.T. on Thursday and Ginny still had several end of the term tests to go. That left Harry and Ron free for a few days. They also realized that they only had a few days left as students at Hogwarts so they tried to work in a bunch of their favorite activities.

They snuck into the kitchens one night to talk with the house-elves and nick some food. They used Harry's favorite secret passageway out of Hogwarts to get into Honeydukes so Harry could buy a huge supply of sweets to share with their fellow Gryffindors. Hermione and Ginny broke away from their studies long enough for one last tea with Hagrid. They even put together a couple of pickup Quidditch matches, including one where they talked Neville into being a Keeper and Luna into being a Beater. It was the least serious game Harry had seen or heard of, with peels of laughter constantly erupting from the players. Once, Luna was distracted and flew her broom right into the ground when Ron called out that he had spotted an Umgubular Slashkilter. Another time she hit the Bludger the wrong way and it almost knocked an unsuspecting Harry off his broom. Ernie Macmillan scored his only goal when he shot at Neville, who caught the Quaffle only to have the momentum from the shot drag Neville, his broom and the Quaffle through the center ring.

After Hermione and Ginny finished their last tests and Hermione spent an hour agonizing over every question on her Advanced Arithmancy test, the couples spent Thursday night and Friday on long walks around the grounds and quiet talks wherever a little privacy could be found. It was some of the best times Harry and Ginny had spent together since the week before summer classes started. Harry knew that in the future when he looked back on his time at Hogwarts, this week would bring back many happy memories.

Bye! *waves*