Chapter 4 – Of OWL Results and NEWT choices

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." Aristotle

After the pranks, many of the Order members drifted off. Sturgis Podmore gave Harry one last "Happy Birthday Harry" before he left.

Only the Weasleys, the Flamels, Gallagher, Killian, the Headmaster and Professor McGonagall remained. Moody and Remus were amongst the first to go, but Harry knew that they would also be amongst the first to return in the morning.

Everyone was talking amongst themselves when Harry heard McGonagall clear her throat behind him.

"First of all, Potter, Happy Birthday. Your gift, your Firebolt is in your room. All ministry decrees have been lifted and you have been re-instated as Seeker for the Quidditch team. Second of all," now addressing all of them, "I know you have been wondering about your OWL results, we decided to give them to you when you were all together."

McGonagall gave out thick envelopes to the four soon to be sixth years. Ron took his with a pale face and a trembling hand.

"Here's an idea. Why don't we all open each others?" suggested Harry.

Harry noticed that everyone had quieted down to listen to their results. Harry gave his envelope to Hermione, Neville gave his to Ron, Ron gave his to Harry, and Hermione gave hers to Neville. They all looked at each other, took a deep breath and opened the envelopes. Harry unfolded Ron's OWL results and scanned down.

"I'm sorry Ron," his face downcast. "Mate, you only got 7 OWLs."

Ron swallowed hard and paled, then his eyes widened as he comprehended Harry's words. He realised Harry's trick and scowled as he snatched his results from a smirking Harry.

"Congrats Neville, you got 8 OWLs," Ron said handing Neville his results.

Neville announced Hermione's 10 OWLs after hearing his own with a stunned expression.

"Harry, you got 8 OWLs," Hermione said, handing Harry his results.

"Congratulations Harry," she said with a smile.

They all exchanged the parchments to review their own results.

The twins looked to Ron in horror.

"First prefect, then 7 OWLs, what is the world coming to? Ginny, you're our last hope," said George in an appalled voice.

Ginny told them that she was made prefect, McGonagall having handed her and Luna their own letters. Fred and George leaned on each other and pretended to break down in tears.

Mrs Weasley was beaming with pride. Neville was also in shock; however his Gran was hovering around him in pleased manner.

Harry looked through his results

His results were:

DADA – O

Potions – EE

Charms – EE

Transfiguration – EE

History of Magic – A

Herbology – EE

Care of Magical Creatures – O

Astronomy – A

Divination – P

Harry asked if he could talk to Professor McGonagall in private.

"Professor, I um… I wanted to thank you for sticking up for me last year. You know, in front of Umbridge…"

"Ah, yes, about that Potter. Well, I promised you Potter that I would help you become and Auror even if I had to train you myself and that offer still stands. Professor Snape takes nothing less than Outstanding in his NEWT classes, but if you still want to pursue that ambition then I can organise Independent Potions studies with you."

Harry was slightly embarrassed and pleased at the same time. He respected Professor McGonagall. She had always been fair to him, and she had never treated him any different than she would any other student. She had given him a chance at being Gryffindor Seeker and had even given him his first broom. He still had the pieces of the Nimbus 2000, he had decided to store them his Gringotts vault.

"Actually Professor, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. I hope I didn't put you through too much trouble, but I kind of don't want to become an Auror anymore. I mean, it just seems that working at the Ministry isn't for me. There are so many corrupted people there; I don't see how I could work there."

"No problem, Potter. No harm done. But not everyone is corrupt in the Ministry, you know. "

"Yes Professor," Harry said glancing in Arthur Weasley's direction who was talking to Ron about his NEWT choices, "I know."

Harry quickly told McGonagall which NEWTs he wanted to take. DADA, Transfiguration, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology and but still he reluctantly added Potions as Independent choice. He would have to work extra hard to make sure he achieved a NEWT in that subject and figured he couldn't do worse than if Snape was teaching him. Hermione would help, he was sure she would lend him her notes but whoever McGonagall recommended would also tutor him in the essentials. Neville decided to take exactly the same classes as Harry and didn't even think to consider Potions when he could gladly drop it. Ron who had picked the same classes except for Potions and History of Magic. Hermione, being Hermione signed up for everything.

Harry saw his friends go quiet and turned around to see Dumbledore was behind him.

"Harry, if I may talk to you alone?" asked Dumbledore.

"Sure," Harry shrugged and followed Dumbledore out. From the corner of his eye, he noticed that Gallagher and Killian were watching him walk out.

"You've been avoiding me Harry." Dumbledore stated after they had found some privacy.

It was true, Harry had been avoiding Dumbledore. He had noticed the glances Dumbledore had sent his way, hoping desperately that Harry would look at him. Harry found it ironic that Dumbledore had spent all last year trying to avoid eye contact with Harry. Whenever Harry had been trying to find some comfort in Dumbledore's presence seeking his help, at the trial, in his office when Fudge had tried to expel him, Dumbledore had steadfastly steered clear of Harry. Yet this year he was doing just the opposite. This year, Dumbledore wanted Harry to come to him with his problems, wanted Harry to know that his door would always be open. But Harry knew that he wouldn't go.

So he just said, "I don't know what you mean, Headmaster."

He was lying and they both knew it.

Dumbledore sighed. "I know you are angry with me Harry. But I did what I did all for the best."

Harry resented that argument. That seemed to be his argument for everything. Forcing Sirius to stay in a house he had desperately wanted to escape, a house full of bad memories and even worse people. Making him stay with a house-elf whose loyalty fell towards a portrait of his mistress, the only person he would willingly take orders from. Forcing Harry to stay at the Dursley's, with people who hated him enough to lock him a cupboard for ten years, who hurt him mentally and physically, who starved and beat him, who locked him in Dudley's second bedroom with multiple locks that were still there, who put bars on his windows so he couldn't even let his owl out. The best for whom? Harry thought to himself. The best for Sirius who had but his own bitter memories of the house made worse courtesy of Azkaban? The best for Harry who was treated as nothing more than a house-elf and told repeatedly that he was worthless and looked upon as he contained the plague? The best for Petunia Dursley and her family who had wanted nothing to do with the wizarding world yet found herself dragged into it regardless of her feelings? Harry didn't really understand the reasoning behind Dumbledore's intentions, and even if he did he didn't have to like it.

"Yes, Professor," he answered calmly instead of letting spew his real feelings. "I understand that you thought what you were doing was right. Was there something in particular you wanted?"

Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at Harry's words, but sighed and said, "Yes, Harry. Your Occlumency lessons will take place once school is in session again. You will be tutored by both myself and Professor Snape."

Harry simply agreed with a "Yes, Professor."

"After lessons have started in earnest you will be informed by Professor McGonagall when you will be required to come to us."

"Yes, Professor." Harry repeated.

The pain in Dumbledore's eyes should have made Harry feel guilty. But it didn't. For some reason it made him even angrier, though he tried not to let it show. The silence lengthened as Dumbledore expected Harry to speak some more, but when he didn't Dumbledore told Harry he was free to go.

Harry slowly made his way back to kitchen and spent the evening chatting to his friends. Dumbledore and McGonagall had left after 10 more minutes. Bill, Charlie and the twins departed soon after the two professors as did Gallagher and Killian. Neville and his Gran left soon after as well, as did Luna and her father. Soon only the Grangers, the remaining Weasleys and the Flamels remained.

Harry was about to help with the clearing away but Mrs Weasley waved him off telling the children that they should go to bed. Harry and Ron were sharing a room and they quickly changed. Harry changed his t-shirt and slipped off his pants so he was sleeping in his boxers.

They wished each other good night before Harry cleared his mind and drifted into a dreamless sleep.

Not so far away in a location unknown, Kevin Gallagher and Alanna Killian walked side by side, and talked amongst themselves.

"So what did you think?" asked Killian.

"He seemed kind of quiet. I know he was laughing and joking and all that, but he seemed kind of different."

"Well, he has lost his godfather you know," said Killian, giving him a significant look. "He may have accepted that Sirius Black is dead, but it doesn't mean he won't mourn. In fat, he has mourned and he's moved on. It's been nearly over a month. Now he's filling in that empty space that left by his godfather. Remus Lupin is doing it quite nicely don't you think?" she said giving him a sideways glance again.

Gallagher didn't' say anything as they walked on.

"Ready for Hogwarts?" Killian asked after a while.

"Yeah. Ready as I'll ever be."

"Stop sulking," Killian said with a smirk. "I know you're starting to feel guilty for this deception. But I gave you a choice of whether you wanted to join me or not. You could have easily stayed away." She stopped and turned to him and said more seriously, "But I'm telling you now, don't slip up. Keep your conscience locked up a while and then after our work is done you can do whatever you want. I can't afford for you to blow our cover in front of the Order. Bear in mind, if you blow your cover, you'll not only have blown mine as well but you'll have exposed a couple others. You keep that mouth of yours shut, especially around Snape." Gallagher was about to protest, but Killian beat him to it, "I know what you think about him, remember? Don't goad him and don't let him goad you. Put your personal feelings aside, and leave him be. It's arguing with people like him that got you into this in the first place. Snape may or may not a traitor, but he'll get his, whichever way his loyalties lie."

Gallagher looked away sullenly and nodded.

"Snape isn't our problem. Dumbledore's our problem. The old man will be watching our every move, especially mine. For some reason he doesn't trust me," she said in a mock thoughtful voice.

"I wonder why?" said Gallagher dryly, a reluctant smile on his face. "Could it be that you clash on every issue?"

"Not every issue! We have a time limit, and Dumbledore seems to be at every door, blocking it like a dragon. He's already suspicious about me, but he doesn't suspect you all that much. If you slip, even a little, he'll kick us out faster than you'd think ever possible."

Gallagher just nodded again. With that they disappeared with a silent pop.