Young Ms. Figg, chapter 7: "An Easy Little Job"

Ella Figg closed the last of the files in front of her on her desk and shook her head. For the most part, doing a little academic advising during breaks from research had sounded like an easy job. Obviously, she'd need to see all the second year students for about 15 minutes at the end of the year when they were ready to choose elective courses for third year.

Some students, she knew, would need for her to arrange a little tutoring and to make a gentle suggestion about switching electives. She planned a few O.W.L. and N.E.W.T prep sessions, as well. She had not, however, anticipated the number of students who were in need of serious academic counseling. She would have to see them all for at least a few moments... heaven help her.

The seventh years would be easy. The die was already cast for them... she just needed to see who needed a little extra help prepping for N.E.W.Ts. First years, too, wouldn't need much academic advice... aside from the occasional need for a tutor and the suggestion they relax. She could put seconds off to the end of the year and she'd need to wait until about mid-year to see the thirds so they could discuss how their particular elective choices were going. Fourth year students... about mid-year she'd need to check on how well they were becoming ready for 5th year O.W.L.s. Sixth years would need the same counsel as regarded 7th year N.E.W.Ts, but they would be easier because their O.W.L. results from fifth year would be helpful.

She needed to see fifth and seventh year students first... judging by some of the files in front of her, the sooner the better. She'd best get a list to McGonagall so she could be added in to their schedules. She took out a quill and started by writing "Neville Longbottom"

Draco Malfoy sauntered in to Ella's office with a sneer and she leaned back in her chair and concentrated on not laughing.

"Please sit down Mr. Malfoy," she said. Draco's eyes took in the extraordinary amount of clutter and debris in her office, which doubled as her laboratory, and didn't bother hiding the curl of his lip. He sat languidly and immediately struck a bored pose.

"Well, Mr. Malfoy, how would you say your academic career is going at Hogwarts thus far?" she asked.

"As well as I need it to," he said resentfully.

"Indeed. Well, while you are certainly passing all your classes it seems that you could do better."

"Why? So I can get a good job after graduation? Ha. I'm a Malfoy, all I need to do is finish up here ... the rest you don't have to worry about."

"Mr. Malfoy, it is my job to worry about it... at least for the next fifteen minutes. The fact is, I didn't anticipate you would be terribly worried about your future career. I did, however, consider that you might actually want to pass your O.W.L.s so you could qualify to use magic after you leave Hogwarts. But if this doesn't concern you I won't waste your time or my own."

Ella sat back as she finished noting with satisfaction that Malfoy had gone a shade paler. She had certainly gotten his attention. To emphasize her point, however, she reached forward and closed Malfoy's file and began to place it in the "done" pile. Now Malfoy had coloured. If she was not very much mistaken, his fists were probably clenched. But he was also scared so...

"Er, uh, Madam Figg, What- That is, Do I-. Look, I want to pass my O.W.L.s"

"Good. Well, as I said, you are passing your subjects but could do better. But, if you're content to be mediocre, so be it. What concerns me is that your attitude toward your classes has been so casual thus far that you probably haven't retained all that much from the courses you've passed. That will certainly get you in trouble in your O.W.L.s. Fortunately, I plan a few O.W.L. prep sessions which should help. Meanwhile, Mr. Malfoy, you may want to take this partial listing of what you will be expected to know and demonstrate for O.W.L.s. You'll be able to tell from it, I imagine, where you need work. If you need a tutor, please get back to me and I'll try to set you up with one."

Draco's mouth had opened slightly and his eyes had grown wide. Slowly he reached out to take the parchment offered by Madam Figg. Ella suspected he was trying to decide if he should take her seriously, after all. Ella wasn't worried, the list would take care of that. She rose and opened the door for Draco who had started to read the list as he walked toward it. His steps slowed markedly as he approached the door, reading, but Ella waited patiently... shutting it firmly when he finally made it through.

I'm just sorry he'll likely be the one to see the look on Mr. Crabbe and Mr. Goyle's faces when he shows them the list. I'd have enjoyed that, she thought to herself. She picked up the next file as she sat down and groaned. "Weasley, Fred" This was a rather unfortunate bit of scheduling. To have either of the Weasley Twins right after Malfoy... She flipped through the thick file in preparation. I should just have them both at once, I've got the same to say to both, she thought.

The Weasley Twins were both extremely bright. Unfortunately, she was not able to discern this from their academic work. She could tell from the numerous (and rather amusing) short summaries of disciplinary actions taken against the young men. I expect Filch's files on them are nearly five times as thick, she thought almost feeling sorry for the caretaker. Almost.

The twins had both managed to scrape by with a scant handful of O.W.L.s in their fifth year. Ella suspected they'd like to skip N.E.W.T.s altogether. Truth be told, they weren't in any way ready for most N.E.W.T.s. She wondered, however, if it wouldn't be worth letting them have another go at O.W.L.s so they could leave Hogwarts with more Ordinary Level qualifications. The trick would be finding a way to keep which test they were taking from becoming general knowledge. Ella was sure the twins would recoil at the thought of taking the same exam as their little brother.

Ron. Now there was another one who was functioning far below his abilities. Ella sighed. Maybe it would be faster to simply shut all three Weasley boys in her office with a howler from home. She looked longingly at one of her research projects set up on a table nearby. She knew what she'd rather be doing but... The clock on her office mantle chimed the half hour and she made ready to deal with Fred Weasley.

By the end of the week, Ella Figg had re-oriented her perceptions about her job. As difficult as her conferences with the less-intelligent students and the under-achievers had been they were nothing compared to the near-marathon session with the "good" students. Each Ravenclaw took nearly twice as long as had the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins combined. The Gryffindors were a mixed bag, to be sure, and most students left to be seen Friday afternoon were from that house.

Glancing at the schedule of advising appointments Ella noticed, with dismay, that Hermione Granger was next AND that the appointment had been allowed AN HOUR. Merlin's Beard! she thought dropping her head into her hands, Was I that bad when I was here? Personally she didn't care to think about the answer.

She had a sinking feeling that Miss Granger would be hounding her about O.W.L.s all year and she was the one student who least needed to. In fact, she could probably pass them all with full marks right now. Idly, Ella wondered if McGonagall would let her administer Hermione's tests right now so they could get it over with. Not likely, Figg. she thought. Perhaps if she got Miss Granger involved in tutoring, that would occupy her attention. If she pointed out that it was an excellent way to prepare herself...

By the time she got to Friday's last appointment, Ella was running late. This was in large part thanks to Hermione Granger who had gone a full twenty minutes past her appointment's scheduled end. As she opened the door for Dean Thomas to leave her office she could tell that her last student had been waiting a while.

'Mr. Potter, please come in," she said trying to hide the weariness in her voice.

Harry grinned at Dean as he passed, but Dean missed the smile, he was looking in horror at the now infamous O.W.L. list.

"So, Mr. Potter, how are things going so far this year?" she asked at they both sat.

"Oh fine, El-, er, Madam Figg." Harry replied

Ella smiled, "Very good, Mr. Potter. By now I expect you've heard a thing or two about the O.W.L.s?"

"Everyone's in a right state over that list you've been giving out," Harry admitted

"I expect so, but better to be horrified now when you can do something about it, than later when you sit for the exams and it's too late. Speaking of which, were you able to do much extra work in the library over the summer?"

"Some," Harry said shifting a bit, "It was all a bit boring, you know."

"Ummmm," Ella responded, trying to chose her words. When you don't know what else to say, just tell the truth her favorite professor had always counseled. "Harry, I think that's a bit of a problem for you. I suspect your attention is easily drawn from your lessons so you don't do as well as you might."

Harry looked down at his shoes, saying nothing.

"Have you looked at the list yet, Harry?" Ella pressed, gently.

"No."

"Well, maybe you should," she said handing him his copy.

As Harry surveyed the list his eyes widened just as Dean Thomas' had. After a moment, Ella spoke, again,

"Harry there are very few things on that list which should be beyond you... I'm not speaking of you as typical fifth year, either. You have the ability and intelligence to get quite a few O.W.L.s... but to do so you're going to have to apply yourself... AND figure out why it is so easy for your attention to wander." Harry grimaced at this.

'Oh, for heaven's sake, I'm not saying you have to give up having fun and devote yourself to study! Harry, I worked hard on my subjects but still found far, far too much time to get into trouble when I was a student."

"I suppose..." Harry said uncertainly.

"I know. Listen, Harry there will be O.W.L. prep sessions which will help. For now I suggest you take the list and cross off what you DO know and then mark what you SHOULD know by now from your classes. It won't be too hard to go back and fill in the gaps if you try."

Harry nodded, squinting at the paper.

"Also, I need to ask you about one of your elective courses. Is there a particular reason you've kept on with Divination?"

Harry coloured a bit at this and then looked up at Figg with a sheepish grin, "I guess I figured it was too late to switch off." he offered.

"Well, Harry, I daresay you're wasting your time. Now, it may or may not be too late to start in another major elective. Starting now you may wish to consider taking a different one each year to get a broader education before you leave. Certainly it would be a better use of your time. Unless, of course, you think Divination is really your field."

Harry snorted.

"I thought so." Ella said trying not to smile. "Alright, enough of this official stuff. How've you really been, Harry?"

Harry grinned, "Well, the summer was deadly dull, awful really. I had to keep reminding myself that studying and lazing about the castle really WAS better than living with the Dursleys."

"Trust me, it was," Ella said dryly, "Like watching paint dry looking after that lot was."

"But you obviously don't need to be anymore, that's good." Harry said, "Say, does Dumbledore reckon they're okay now?

Ella shook her head, "Not really. So long as Voldemort wants you dead they're probably at risk."

"Great." Harry said flatly leaning back, dejectedly in his chair.

"The Ministry's got someone assigned to look over them for now," Ella said and suddenly started chuckling.

"What?" Harry asked sitting up.

"Well," Ella said trying very hard to be serious, "They've posted an, ah, elderly member of the ministry in the neighborhood. He's supposed to have just moved in up the street."

Harry raised an eyebrow in confusion. This didn't seem all that amusing.

"The thing is, Harry," Ella continued, "He's supposed to take a fancy to my Aunt and start calling on her!" Ella dissolved into laughter for a moment. "Oh, Harry, you know my Aunt. Can't you just see old Perkins and her toddling about courting? Thankfully, Aunt Elspeth is in on it."

Harry grinned, wondering how many of the cats would feel the need to chaperone Mrs. Figg on her "dates."

"There is a certain elegance to the plan, I have to admit," Ella said with a sigh, "Your Aunt Petunia should be easy to find during the duration. I expect she'll be stationed by the kitchen window. In any case, you shouldn't worry. Things are in hand and you've got enough to worry about right now." Ella was looking pointedly at the O.W.L. list.

Harry nodded and shrugged philosophically.

"Well, I expect it's time for Supper, and I've been in this office all day. I'm going on down to the Great Hall."

Harry rose at this and followed Ella Figg out of her office, dashing quickly back to grab the forgotten list just before shutting the door behind him.