Part VIII
"What are you going to do after Hogwarts?" Francis asked one evening as they struggled with the inordinate amounts of holiday homework. Easter was here, but it didn't seem to affect the homework levels. On top of that, they were studying for the OWLs, which were only two months away now.
Arthur looked up from his notes on the International Confederation of Wizards. "Er…" he stammered.
Nataliya walked over with an armload of pamphlets from the table set up in the corner with the Career Advice notice tacked above it. "Curse Breaker for Gringotts sounds nice," she said off-handedly. "But Arithmancy isn't my strongest subject…"
"I'll bet you anything Alfred's going to try for that," Arthur said, taking the flyer. "Challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Yeah, that's what Alfred likes."
"I've heard something about him wanting to play Quidditch for America," Francis said off-handedly. "Or becoming an Auror."
"Aurors need top grades," Arthur said pointedly. "Alfred would really need to kick up his grades in Potions."
"Oh, just because you're brilliant at Potions…" Nataliya muttered darkly. "I like the thought of working in the Department of Mysteries…"
Francis frowned. "But becoming an Unspeakable is about as dangerous as becoming an Auror!"
Nataliya frowned. "Arthur, what are you going to be?"
Arthur bit his lip and took a pamphlet about the Department of International Magical Cooperation. "Ooh, I'd like to get a seat on the International Confederation of Wizards," he said after a moment.
"Is this because you're reading your notes on them?" Nataliya asked amusedly.
"No! I mean… it's only fitting if I got onto the Confederation, right? International relations, representatives of each wizarding body in each nation…" he trailed off. Francis and Nataliya nodded.
"Yes, well… I guess it fits, England."
"Enter, Kirkland," drawled Snape as Arthur appeared in front of his office for his Career Advice conference. "Take a seat."
Arthur sat down, looking around the jars of pickled creatures in the room and trying not to imagine what they once were.
"Your grades," said Snape carelessly as he held up a file. "Well, well. Your Potions grades are not too bad – I've definitely seen worse – and your other classes are going along fine. I see a bit of a dip in your Divination grades, though, and you're not exactly phenomenal at Astronomy. Now, we're here to talk about what you're going to be once you leave Hogwarts, and which NEWTs you must obtain in order to do so." He paused and looked at him for an extremely long time. "What career options have you considered?"
"Um… the International Confederation of Wizards," Arthur said.
"Is that so?" Snape raised an eyebrow. "And what might make such a job interest you?"
Arthur looked up at the pickled remains of something that looked suspiciously like a rat. "I… I want to work in international relations and represent Great Britain on the Confederation?" he asked uneasily, not sure whether Snape knew about him.
"And not because you are the persona of England?" Snape asked. Arthur blinked and sat up straight.
"How – how did you know?"
"Dumbledore," Snape said smoothly. "I can see why you feel like it's your duty to represent us because you already personify us, Mr. Kirkland. But to get onto the Confederation you need top marks in your History of Magic N.E.W.T. and you need to understand the laws of every country – both magical and Muggle. Being on the Confederation is – or so I've heard – quite tedious."
"I'm fine with that," Arthur said hastily. "I'm not exactly one who goes out to purposefully seek adventure..."
"It just comes to you," sneered Snape. "Like it comes to Messrs Jones and Potter. Very well, Mr. Kirkland, you may leave."
"That was relatively painless, right?" Nataliya asked later at dinner. Francis had just had his conference; she had hers before Arthur.
"Meh," Francis grumbled, resting his chin on the table. "I have no idea what I want to do with my life," he muttered. "All I know is that I want to be rich and powerful..."
"Become Ministre de la Magique of France or something," Arthur reasoned. "That'll give you lots of power."
"Too much responsibility," Francis muttered. "They'll pin everything that goes wrong in France on me." He grinned ruefully. "I think I'll just inherit my parents' fortune and become a wealthy bachelor..."
"A wealthy bachelor that'll squander all his money on booze and whores," Arthur said scathingly. "At least you'd get a salary if you got a job – a way to sustain yourself!"
"You sound like Maman," Francis groaned, rubbing his eyes blearily. "Nat, what are you going to be?"
Nataliya looked up from her Charms notes. "Reporter for the Štodzionny prarok," she said.
"Come again?" Arthur asked, frowning.
"The Daily Prophet, Belarusian edition," Nataliya said shortly.
"What? Why?" Francis demanded, looking scandalised. "That paper has no credibility whatsoever; it's Ministry-run…"
"I like stalking people, taking pictures of them, and writing derisive but accurate articles about them," Nataliya said matter-of-factly.
Arthur and Francis looked at each other nervously.
"I'm never going to remember all this," Arthur complained loudly to Kiku in the library. It was a week before the OWLs and the pressure of said examinations was already descending on the fifth-years. Arthur found himself virtually buried in information from all of his books and he had taken to haunting the library like his Japanese friend – although Kiku did that even without the OWLs.
"Don't worry, Arthur, you'll do fine," Kiku mumbled, his cheeks tinted rouge as he reread a chapter in their Charms textbook.
"What's the first test again?" Arthur wondered. "Charms?"
"Hai," Kiku agreed, holding up his textbook.
"Well, then I think I'll go ask Francis for some help with that." There was a sudden thud as Kiku dropped his book.
"I-I can help," the Japanese boy stuttered, his cheeks an even brighter shade of red as he said that. "I-I mean, it'd be no trouble and I'm sure Francis will be busy studying as well." Once again, Arthur could hear that slightly bitter intoning of Francis's name.
"Nah, the frog never studies until the night before," he said after a moment. "This way I'll be able to remind him to."
Kiku heaved a sigh. "R-right. I'll... um... see you then."
"Yeah." Arthur smiled and packed up. He brushed lightly past Kiku on his way out, and he could have sworn he heard another little sigh from the Japanese boy as he left.
The final task of the Tournament would take place on the twenty-fourth of June, after their OWLs took place.
"Y-you're an Animagus?" Kiku asked curiously as he and Arthur did some last-minute studying the Sunday before the exams started.
"You just found out?" Arthur asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked up from his book. "I thought Alfred told everybody."
Kiku flushed bright pink, but Arthur only laughed and concentrated on turning into a rabbit. The Japanese gave a little cry of delight. "Oh Arthur-san, forgive me for saying this but you are... s-so c-c-cute!"
Arthur twitched his nose as Kiku picked him up, delightedly nuzzling him. "Sore wa totemo kawaii desu!" Kiku cooed.
Arthur didn't understand him, but he nuzzled up to Kiku, too.
The OWL examinations began, and panic filled the air amongst the fifth-years.
"I forgot the incantation for Cheering Charms!" Nataliya moaned as they walked out of the Great Hall after their written Charms examination in the morning. The practical examination would be held in the afternoon.
Arthur patted her on the back. "Don't worry; I mixed up the Growth and Shrinking Charms."
Francis looked smug. "I think I got all the questions right," he said with a smirk. Nataliya and Arthur both glared at him.
In the afternoon, they were summoned back into the Great Hall in fours for the practical part of their examination. Arthur's examiner was a balding old wizard named Professor Tofty.
"Now, can you please take this eggcup and levitate it for me?"
After the examination, Francis, Nataliya, and Arthur met up in the library – already stuffed with other students – and started studying for Transfiguration.
"Harry, Harry, we should try this Reductor Curse," Hermione was whispering as she and Ron hurried Harry out of the library with gigantic towers of books floating behind them. Arthur took a seat at their recently vacated table, got out his Transfiguration textbook, and began to reread the chapters he didn't understand.
After Transfiguration was Herbology. After Herbology was Defence Against the Dark Arts. After Defence was Ancient Runes. Nataliya and Francis didn't have to take that one, and they waited for him outside the Great hall.
"How'd you do?" Francis asked. Arthur shrugged.
"I might have mistranslated a line or two," he said. "Race you down to the tree?" With a blink, he was in rabbit form, hopping out the door.
"Hé! That's not fair!" Francis chased him. "You're a rabbit; you run faster than humans!"
Arthur stopped at a tree in front of the lake and Francis tackled him. The two nearly rolled into the lake. Arthur changed back into a human; Francis kissed his nose and he snuggled up on his chest.
"Mon lapin," he giggled.
"Who would have ever guessed that your greatest weakness was a little lop-eared bunny?" Arthur teased.
"I'm betting on you getting at least an 'Exceeds Expectations' on Transfiguration – I heard something about you getting extra credit for becoming an Animagus," Francis whispered.
"Good," Arthur replied with a cheeky grin.
Potions was on Monday. Arthur felt rather confident about his collection of antidotes, all in neat little vials on his desk. Care of Magical Creatures was on Tuesday; Francis nearly was burnt by a fire-crab he was trying to feed and clean.
Astronomy and Divination were on Wednesday. Arthur walked out of the Divination exam feeling rather melancholy.
"Stupid crystal ball," he complained to Alfred as they met up with Francis and Nataliya.
"I know, right?" Alfred said sympathetically. "I told Professor Marchbanks that what I saw in the crystal ball signified that there'd be a lot of fog tonight."
Arthur snorted. "I told Professor Witwickle that his tea leaves meant that he'd be meeting a dark, soggy stranger in some dark soggy alley."
Alfred laughed. "That's sad," he howled.
Astronomy took place that evening. The next morning heralded their last exam – History of Magic.
It was also the one that Arthur had to pass in order to pursue his dream of being on the Confederation.
What were the purposes of the Goblin Rebellion of 1725, led by Ragnac the Ruthless?
Arthur made a face at his paper and scribbled something that he hoped would at least earn him half credit.
Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of the International Confederation of Wizards and explain why the warlocks of Liechtenstein refused to join.
"Wasn't it because Switzerland was paranoid about Liechtenstein attracting the attentions of Austria?" Arthur muttered to himself, frowning at the paper. He visualised his notes in his mind and began writing.
"The... International... Confederation... of... Wizards... was formed..."
"I think I mixed up the roles of Bogrod the Beardless and Uric the Oddball," Francis groaned as they left the Hall.
"Look on the bright side," Nataliya exclaimed. "The exams are over and we only need to care about them again when the results come back over the summer."
"That's not exactly bright," Arthur said grimly.
They walked down to the tree in front of the lake. "Just imagine," sighed Francis. "Everyone else has their exams next week... and then the third task will take place..."
Arthur suddenly twitched. "Who pinched me?" he demanded.
"What?" Francis and Nataliya said at the same time.
"I felt something like a pinch!" Arthur exclaimed. He blinked – and suddenly he felt another pinch. "There it is again!"
"You should go to the Hospital Wing," Francis said, nervously. "Come on, Arthur."
"No," said Arthur. "I need to see Dumbledore."
"What?" Nataliya exclaimed. "You can't be serious! He wouldn't want to hear that you're feeling pinches..." she trailed off. They were inside the castle, and Harry had just descended the marble staircase. "Aren't you supposed to be in class, Harry?"
"My scar," Harry said shortly. "It was hurting in Divination class. And I had a dream..."
"I felt a strange pinching sensation," Arthur said. "I wonder if it's linked to your scar."
"Maybe." Harry strode off. Arthur suddenly didn't have the heart to follow him again.
The third task took place in the Quidditch pitch on the last day of the rest of the school's exams. Arthur, Alfred, Francis, and Nataliya took their seats in the stands.
"It's a maze," Alfred breathed. "It's so awesome!"
"Creepy, too," Arthur added, frowning slightly.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the third and final task of the Triwizard Tournament is about to begin!" Ludo Bagman called. "Let me remind you how the points currently stand! Tied in first place, with eighty-five points each – Mr. Cedric Diggory and Mr. Harry Potter, both of Hogwarts School!"
"Woo! Go Harry!" Alfred hollered. Arthur clapped.
"In second place, with eighty points – Mr. Viktor Krum, of Durmstrang Institute!" Nataliya clapped wildly.
"And in third place with seventy-five points – Miss Fleur Delacour, of Beauxbatons Academy!"
"Vas, Fleur, vas!" Francis called, clapping. She looked up and waved at him. He waved back.
There was a whistle blast. Harry and Cedric entered the maze first. Moments later, at the cue of another whistle, Krum entered the maze. The whistle sounded for the third time, and Fleur left as well.
"Wonder how long it's going to take?" Arthur wondered. The stands gave a decent view of the maze and several of the creatures inside it. The champions were rushing about in various directions, obviously lost. In the centre of the maze was the Triwizard Cup, glowing blue.
There was a sudden scream.
"Fleur!" Francis hissed. Arthur's hairs stood on end. He bit his lip nervously. Come on, come on...
Moments later, there were more yells. "That's Cedric!" Nataliya whispered. Arthur gaped. Moments later, red sparks flew into the air. Professors McGonagall and Hagrid rushed into the maze towards the sparks.
"Hey, that's Krum!" Alfred exclaimed as they lugged a body out of the maze. "We heard Cedric screaming..."
"Something happened, obviously," Nataliya said.
Fleur suddenly staggered out of the maze, ushered by Professor Moody. Francis sighed in relief.
"I'm cold," Nataliya said suddenly.
It was June, but the nights were still a bit chilly. Arthur took off his robes and put them around her. She smiled gratefully at him. Francis put an arm around Arthur.
"Now you're cold, aren't you?" he whispered into Arthur's ear.
"Shut up and sod off," Arthur muttered stubbornly, spots of colour appearing in his cheeks.
