Squib 23 January 1975
When they got back to school, they had discovered that many more of their classmates were beginning the 'A' Levels, or even the 'O'. Most of Hufflepuff had taken their placement exams over the holidays, and needed help setting up their daily goals and the study notebooks. Alice and Ted and the muggle born found themselves much in demand for tips! Never to be left out of learning something new, the Ravens were also setting up their own study group, with a little help from Lily's group.
In Gryffindor, Remus and James found themselves being beseeched for help by Peter! He had begun reading the Book list last Fall, because some titles James was reading looked interesting. They were, and he thought he might take the placement exams in the Summer Break after the OWLs. Susan had changed that, or at least made it into a serious goal. Hufflepuffs do everything together, so she was starting the program, too! Peter was drowning in her eyes, and could not say 'no' when she asked him to study with her. He followed her to the Puff study group once Remus showed him how to set up his notebooks. He wrote his Mother, who was pleased about both the studying and the girl.
The Slytherin were something else. Andi and Severus had roped all the half bloods into the lessons, and a few of the minor pure blood families admitted taking their 'Os'. Malfoy raged in the common room! "Scum! How can you break Tradition like that? No honorable Pure Blood has anything to do with muggle nonsense! Right Crabbe, Goyle?" Turning to his shadows, expecting them to chime in, he came to a dead stop. Both were looking at their feet, or at least away from him!
"Actually, Lucius, we're both set to take the 'A' level exams at Easter Break. We've already finished all but the last of the Maths. We did the Science work over each Summer, because it's too hard to do here."
"But, WHY? You'll go into your father's office. He's a Goyle of Skye, which means he'll be a blacksmith like his father!"
"You think my Dad got to be a good Contract Lawyer just by reading in his Father's office? No, I'm to go read Law and Government at Oxford with a tutor, and then spend several years as a Clerk before I can take the Bar Exams, which are muggle. THEN I can enter Dad's offices as a Junior, and maybe help you run your Import/Export business. Most of the Senior Partners have children in the system, and none of us will advance until we prove ourselves."
For the first time, Goyle didn't just grunt assent. "A blacksmith? We don't just hammer on hot iron. We're Farriers, which means we are Veterinarians as well. We're often the only medically trained person around, so we treat humans, too. I've already delivered a baby! I'll be going to Vet school, and get a Healer's license, at least be a Medic and take continuing Education credits all my life. I'll also get a Minister's License as a registered Druid, because the Smiths traditionally perform weddings and burials. When I graduate I'll be going back to work with my Clan, but as a young one I'll be working a Circuit team, going around to all the outlying farms and Faires instead of staying in one place."
Malfoy was gobsmacked! "WHEN have you done all this work? I know you're always in class or doing homework with me. We're even all on the Quidditch team!"
"Mostly in bed, at night with the curtains drawn. We don't sleep much."
At the other end of the common room, Sevvie and Andi and all the half bloods were snickering! Malfoy had completely forgotten them! Later, quietly, every one of the minor pure bloods who had admitted taking their 'O' levels, slipped up to Andi and asked for help getting started on the 'A'. Soon they had their own study group going, carefully avoiding Malfoy.
Winter was long and fierce. The lengthening days were still short and dark, with a lingering afterglow of the sunset, the nights often lit by the Borealis if it were clear. There was no Quidditch. It really wasn't decent weather for flying, too windy and cold even with charms. The Loch was frozen over, but few braved the snow and wind for skating or sledding. Everyone stayed indoors, using the interior passages to the greenhouses, and a classroom for CoMC. Everyone worked hard on both sets of lessons. Great progress was made and the teachers seemed to consider it reason enough to increase the workload on the fifth and seventh years. More than one student could not take the pressure, winding up in the Hospital Wing, put to bed with a sleeping draught.
Valentines' was barely noticed, even with the romantic violin players strolling through the Great Hall at dinner. All (known) Betrothed (and married) couples sat together at a special table with a tablecloth, red rose petals scattered profusely under the dishes. All the rest sat together at the other 3 tables, mostly study groups together. Each study group pooled their funds, the boys buying corsages for all the girls (tiny sweetheart roses tied with a crystal heart pendant), and the girls buying large chocolate bars for the boys. The few students not actually in a study group were given roses or candy by their Prefects, so no one was left out. Miriam spent the weekend with James, but both were very busy with papers to write. Miriam did bring heart shaped biscuits for everyone, giving them to the elves to put on the plates at dinner.
Defense remained an odd class. The teacher in his floating chair decided demonstrations of safety charms were in order. His chair was equipped with many, so he set out to demonstrate them all. It was clear there was a harness, because he never fell out. He waved his arms wildly, constantly forcing himself to tilt in all directions. It wasn't safe for anyone to be within about 6 feet of him, because you didn't know when he would do a flip. He glided down the halls between classes, but he actually hopped up the stairs as though he were on springs. Going down was worse, because he took to sliding down the banisters, throwing himself off at the end and dropping the last few feet to where he bobbed and laughed. Sometimes he finished with a spin or another flip, with his arms in the air as though he expected applause.
One day he skipped the stairs entirely. Tiring of waiting for the moving stair to turn to his landing, he hurled himself off the platform in front of dozens of students. The screams brought Minerva running on the lower floor. He had done a double flip in the air and landed right side up with his arms high. Minerva was furious! "How dare ye frighten the students so? I'll be putting a Black Mark on ye Evaluation! Elves!" Dozens of pops. "Take all of these children to the Hospital Wing for Calming draughts! Make sure there is plenty of chocolate at Dinner." She stalked away as the elves cleared the children. He was abashed, and never did that again, but he didn't stop his other stunts. Since his chair was silent, he was as bad as Peeves about sneaking up behind the unsuspecting.
At Easter the train was full of older students nervously quizzing each other. They had been told not to revise extensively, but they really couldn't help being nervous. Miriam had sent along a huge box of chocolate biscuits to help calm their nerves. Andi sat there complaining she would put on "Absolutely Pounds and Pounds," but she kept nibbling steadily! Siri had already agreed to 'take her shopping' the days of the exam. He would take Marlene out to lunch while he waited in London.
Lily and Sevi watched the nervous students with sympathy. Their turn would be next year. This was only their third year of what was normally considered to be a six year home study program, but it was not unusual for students to finish much faster by doing lessons on weekends, holidays, and school breaks. It was not unusual for home study children to complete two years in one, particularly if they had a tutor. It was quite normal for home study children to score 80 – 90% on the annual Achievement tests, the ones that were 'normed' at 50%, and Lily and Sevi did so every year. Many young ones scored very high on the "A" levels and earned early admission to prestigious colleges. Lily and Sevi were going to attempt the "A" exams in another year, when Petunia expected to take hers. They all expected Petunia to score well, but they hoped they also would score high.