Chapter Six
The days flew by and almost before he knew it, it was Harry's sixteenth birthday. He wasn't looking forward to it, he almost never did.
So on this July thirty first, Harry woke up with a jolt. An owl was tapping at the window. He got up lazily to get it, in a rather good mood, but irritated it had woken him up.
He opened the window, but it only stayed long enough to give Harry the letter. He noticed it was a Hogwarts owl.
He opened the letter to find it was the usual start of term notice and book list. He needed four new books this year:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk Dueling: A Complete History by Caroline Curse Dark Lords: Rises, Falls, and History by Mary Brocklehurst So You Want to Be an Auror? By Romulus Lupin
Harry skimmed the list and did a double take on the last book. Lupin? He made a mental note to asked Remus about it later.
Another sheet of paper fell out of the envelope. But before Harry could get a good look, Hermione came bounding into the room, Ron trailing behind.
"Did you get them?" she asked excitedly, jumping onto the end of the bed. "I got mine, look!" She thrust a piece of paper under Harry's nose. He took it from her, all the while giving her a strange look.
"Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to present your OWL results are as follows:
Astronomy: Outstanding History of Magic: Outstanding Potions: Exceeds Expectations Transfiguration: Outstanding Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding Charms: Outstanding Ancient Runes: Exceeds Expectations Herbology: Outstanding Arithmacy: Outstanding Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Congratulations on your achievement. We are also pleased to inform you that you are first out of your year.
You will be picking NEWT classes this fall, please think about it over the summer.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"
Harry groaned to himself after he had read it. With the events of the summer so far, he'd forgotten about OWL's. Harry grinned at Hermione, trying to seem cheerful. "Congrats, 'Mione, that's great!"
"I know!" she squealed. "Anyway, what'd you get?"
Harry chucked to himself as Ron rolled his eyes behind her. "I wouldn't know, haven't looked yet."
He picked up the forgotten sheet of parchment and read it quickly.
"Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to present your OWL results are as follows:
Astronomy: Outstanding History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations Potions: Outstanding Transfiguration: Outstanding Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding Charms: Outstanding Herbology: Outstanding Divination: Acceptable Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Congratulations on your achievement. We are also pleased to inform you that you are second out of your year.
You will be picking NEWT classes this fall, please think about it over the summer.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"
Harry froze after reading the letter. "Harry?" Hermione asked, trying to get his attention. When he still sat there, staring at the parchment, she pried it out of his hands and read it herself.
Second in the year.it had to be a mistake. There was no way. The Ravenclaws had to have beaten him somewhere.besides, he knew he had done simply dreadful on the History of Magic exam. Yet the results were right there in front of him, there was the E penned in green ink.
"Oh Harry, that's wonderful!" Hermione cried, throwing her arms around him. That startled him out of his reverie. "Second in the year!"
"There's got to be a mistake," Harry said aloud, still looking like a fish out of water.
"No, that's right, come on, we've got to show everyone!" Hermione took hold of his hand and dragged him downstairs. Harry looked back and threw Ron a helpless look.
Ron, who was looking rather put out and ignored before hand, gave Harry a sympathetic smile, and followed them all downstairs.
The three met everyone in the basement kitchen where Mrs. Weasly was fixing breakfast.
Hermione practically skipped in, and showed her her paper along with Harry's. Harry stood off to one side, feeling rather shy. The next thing he knew, Mrs. Weasly had him in a bone-crushing hug.
"First and second in your year! I'm so proud!" she said. Once she had Harry and Hermione go, she turned to Ron. "And your results, please?"
Ron handed over the paper reluctantly. He looked down at the floor. Apparently he wasn't too pleased with his own results.
"Six OWL's." Mrs. Weasly said, mostly to herself "Could be better, but still good." She gave Ron a hug then turned to the three of them.
"Why don't you all go show Remus and I'll finish breakfast," she suggested, waving them away. "Go on!"
Ron handed Harry his paper and looked away. It said the same thing as Harry's, only his grades were different. Ron had failed Potions, Astronomy, and Divination. He was also fourteenth in the year.
Harry didn't say anything, but gave his friend a bit of a smile.
Hermione was already handing over hers and Harry's papers to Remus. Remus looked at them and gave Hermione a hug. Then he turned to Harry.
The werewolf looked up at Harry from where he was sitting. "Your parents would have been proud," he said quietly. "Sirius would have been too."
Harry didn't say anything, but nodded. He looked down, finding a crack on the table suddenly very interesting.
"Don't dwell on it okay?" Remus gave him a concerned look, and then Ron spoke up.
Mrs. Weasly came in then with breakfast. Harry ate heartily, but realized halfway through that something was odd.
It hit him so suddenly he almost thought someone had hit him round the head. It was his sixteenth birthday and no one had even bid him a Happy Birthday.
He wasn't going to say anything about it though. He didn't want to sound like a burden or anything, but an acknowledgement of his birthday would have been nice.
Once the table was cleared, Remus cleared his throat. "Right, as you four," Harry had momentarily forgotten about Ginny "have gotten your supply lists, we should go into London today."
Mrs. Weasly nodded in agreement, smiling to herself. Harry thought she looked rather suspicious, but Harry dismissed it.
"We'll be leaving by Floo, come on then, you all." Remus picked up a cloak and walked over to the fireplace. "Ginny, you first."
Ginny took a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the flames. "Diagon Alley!" she shouted clearly.
Hermione and Ron followed this same procedure, and then it was Harry's turn. He took a bit of the ashy powder and tossed it into the fireplace. He stepped in, a little nervous. The last time he'd traveled by Floo Powder, he'd ended up at the wrong gate. It was just lucky Hagrid was there. But suppose he wasn't there this time?
"Diagon Alley!" Harry shouted.
The days flew by and almost before he knew it, it was Harry's sixteenth birthday. He wasn't looking forward to it, he almost never did.
So on this July thirty first, Harry woke up with a jolt. An owl was tapping at the window. He got up lazily to get it, in a rather good mood, but irritated it had woken him up.
He opened the window, but it only stayed long enough to give Harry the letter. He noticed it was a Hogwarts owl.
He opened the letter to find it was the usual start of term notice and book list. He needed four new books this year:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk Dueling: A Complete History by Caroline Curse Dark Lords: Rises, Falls, and History by Mary Brocklehurst So You Want to Be an Auror? By Romulus Lupin
Harry skimmed the list and did a double take on the last book. Lupin? He made a mental note to asked Remus about it later.
Another sheet of paper fell out of the envelope. But before Harry could get a good look, Hermione came bounding into the room, Ron trailing behind.
"Did you get them?" she asked excitedly, jumping onto the end of the bed. "I got mine, look!" She thrust a piece of paper under Harry's nose. He took it from her, all the while giving her a strange look.
"Dear Miss Granger,
We are pleased to present your OWL results are as follows:
Astronomy: Outstanding History of Magic: Outstanding Potions: Exceeds Expectations Transfiguration: Outstanding Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding Charms: Outstanding Ancient Runes: Exceeds Expectations Herbology: Outstanding Arithmacy: Outstanding Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Congratulations on your achievement. We are also pleased to inform you that you are first out of your year.
You will be picking NEWT classes this fall, please think about it over the summer.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"
Harry groaned to himself after he had read it. With the events of the summer so far, he'd forgotten about OWL's. Harry grinned at Hermione, trying to seem cheerful. "Congrats, 'Mione, that's great!"
"I know!" she squealed. "Anyway, what'd you get?"
Harry chucked to himself as Ron rolled his eyes behind her. "I wouldn't know, haven't looked yet."
He picked up the forgotten sheet of parchment and read it quickly.
"Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to present your OWL results are as follows:
Astronomy: Outstanding History of Magic: Exceeds Expectations Potions: Outstanding Transfiguration: Outstanding Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding Charms: Outstanding Herbology: Outstanding Divination: Acceptable Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Congratulations on your achievement. We are also pleased to inform you that you are second out of your year.
You will be picking NEWT classes this fall, please think about it over the summer.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress"
Harry froze after reading the letter. "Harry?" Hermione asked, trying to get his attention. When he still sat there, staring at the parchment, she pried it out of his hands and read it herself.
Second in the year.it had to be a mistake. There was no way. The Ravenclaws had to have beaten him somewhere.besides, he knew he had done simply dreadful on the History of Magic exam. Yet the results were right there in front of him, there was the E penned in green ink.
"Oh Harry, that's wonderful!" Hermione cried, throwing her arms around him. That startled him out of his reverie. "Second in the year!"
"There's got to be a mistake," Harry said aloud, still looking like a fish out of water.
"No, that's right, come on, we've got to show everyone!" Hermione took hold of his hand and dragged him downstairs. Harry looked back and threw Ron a helpless look.
Ron, who was looking rather put out and ignored before hand, gave Harry a sympathetic smile, and followed them all downstairs.
The three met everyone in the basement kitchen where Mrs. Weasly was fixing breakfast.
Hermione practically skipped in, and showed her her paper along with Harry's. Harry stood off to one side, feeling rather shy. The next thing he knew, Mrs. Weasly had him in a bone-crushing hug.
"First and second in your year! I'm so proud!" she said. Once she had Harry and Hermione go, she turned to Ron. "And your results, please?"
Ron handed over the paper reluctantly. He looked down at the floor. Apparently he wasn't too pleased with his own results.
"Six OWL's." Mrs. Weasly said, mostly to herself "Could be better, but still good." She gave Ron a hug then turned to the three of them.
"Why don't you all go show Remus and I'll finish breakfast," she suggested, waving them away. "Go on!"
Ron handed Harry his paper and looked away. It said the same thing as Harry's, only his grades were different. Ron had failed Potions, Astronomy, and Divination. He was also fourteenth in the year.
Harry didn't say anything, but gave his friend a bit of a smile.
Hermione was already handing over hers and Harry's papers to Remus. Remus looked at them and gave Hermione a hug. Then he turned to Harry.
The werewolf looked up at Harry from where he was sitting. "Your parents would have been proud," he said quietly. "Sirius would have been too."
Harry didn't say anything, but nodded. He looked down, finding a crack on the table suddenly very interesting.
"Don't dwell on it okay?" Remus gave him a concerned look, and then Ron spoke up.
Mrs. Weasly came in then with breakfast. Harry ate heartily, but realized halfway through that something was odd.
It hit him so suddenly he almost thought someone had hit him round the head. It was his sixteenth birthday and no one had even bid him a Happy Birthday.
He wasn't going to say anything about it though. He didn't want to sound like a burden or anything, but an acknowledgement of his birthday would have been nice.
Once the table was cleared, Remus cleared his throat. "Right, as you four," Harry had momentarily forgotten about Ginny "have gotten your supply lists, we should go into London today."
Mrs. Weasly nodded in agreement, smiling to herself. Harry thought she looked rather suspicious, but Harry dismissed it.
"We'll be leaving by Floo, come on then, you all." Remus picked up a cloak and walked over to the fireplace. "Ginny, you first."
Ginny took a pinch of Floo Powder and threw it into the flames. "Diagon Alley!" she shouted clearly.
Hermione and Ron followed this same procedure, and then it was Harry's turn. He took a bit of the ashy powder and tossed it into the fireplace. He stepped in, a little nervous. The last time he'd traveled by Floo Powder, he'd ended up at the wrong gate. It was just lucky Hagrid was there. But suppose he wasn't there this time?
"Diagon Alley!" Harry shouted.