Harry Potter and the Days of Darkness Chapter 3
Hermione arrived the same day as the exam results. "Hello," she greeted everyone. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley all gave her a quick hi.
"Mail," Percy Weasley said cheerily as he dumped the letters on the table. "You four, there are letters from school for you,"
"Uh-oh," Ron said, biting into his toast. Harry and Hermione shared knowing looks with each other.
"Exam results," they said in unison. It was alright for Ginny, for she had normal exams, but Harry, Ron and Hermione had just finished their Ordinary Wizarding Level exams. Fred and George, who had arrived last night to collect their exam results, bounded down the stairs.
"Mail," Percy said simply, picking up the paper and reading it, but Harry could tell he was pretending, for his eyes didn't move. Fred and George exchanged terrified looks with each other before reaching for their letters.
"Oh, you know what would really make
our new apartment feel like home?" Fred piped up suddenly to his twin. "Opening
these there,"
"Not a chance," Mrs. Weasley said pointedly. "We let you skip college for a joke shop. We want to see if you even managed to get out of school,"
"Aw, mom!" George complained. "You know we always get good grades!"
"Open it!" she commanded. Harry noticed that the twins' letters were larger than theirs. He, Ron and Hermione quickly opened theirs and scanned the contents.
"Eleven O.W.L.s'" Hermione said proudly.
"Ten!" Ron exclaimed, looking very relieved. They turned back to Harry. His jaw dropped in shock.
"Twelve!" he sputtered. Hermione's eyes grew as huge as saucers. Ron grabbed it out of his hands. Percy looked very impressed. Then, Hermione screamed.
After calming her down, they all turned to Harry. "Wow, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, admiration in his voice. "How'd you manage it?"
"I was so sure Cornelius Fudge was going to exile me, that studying was the only thing that helped me calm down," he admitted. Hermione glared furiously at him, not speaking. Ron turned to his brothers, who had not opened their envelopes yet.
"Guys?" he called. They seemed to be brought back to earth and opened the envelopes. They expelled sighs of relief.
"We passed," George said, examining his results. "Fifteen out of seventeen N.E.W.T's!"
"Me too," Fred grinned. He turned to George and slapped him a high-five. "We're out of Hogwarts!"
H A R R Y P O T T E R
"I don't see why I have to suddenly switch schools like this!" Chelsea Donovan argued. Mrs. Donovan sighed.
"Chelsea, I've already told you," she said tiredly. "Your father's in England. He wants to see you. The court orders say that he's entitled to visitations by you,"
"But one whole year in a foreign country?!" Chelsea asked, shocked. "That's not fair!"
"Chelsea, we've already agreed to it," her mother told her. "You spend one year with your father, and return back to America for your seventh year at Salem,"
"But I was planning to do so many things with my friends," Chelsea whined. "My entire life is at Salem. I can't leave now! Not in my sixth year!"
"Your principal and I have talked about it," her mother said. "He has agreed to let you go to Hogwarts for the year. There are going to be some special exams this year for a foreign-exchange program this year at Hogwarts. I've spoken to Headmaster Dumbledore, and he has agreed to sort you for the year,"
"What do you mean 'sort'?" Chelsea asked.
"Hogwarts has four founders, according to Dumbledore," her mom explained, pouring herself some coffee. "Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff and Slytherin. The Sorting Hat is placed upon you, and he sorts you into one of those houses,"
"What if he sorts me into a house I don't like,"
"Tough," her mom smiled. "Deal with it," Chelsea rolled her eyes, arms crossed around her chest. Great, she thought angrily. I'm being forced to go to a foreign country and start a new school, for a whole year, my mom expects me to just put my life on hold for dad, and now she's starting to sound like me! I so hate that!
H A R R Y P O T T E R
Harry watched the fireworks shoot up in the air, laughing as they exploded to resemble a stupid-looking boy with the words 'PERCY' underneath the picture. As Harry, Ron and Hermione had just passed their O.W.L.s' and Fred and George their N.E.W.T.s', they were having a humongous celebration.
Suddenly, a brown screech owl landed on top of the table the Weasleys, Harry and Hermione were sitting at outside. It held two letters. Harry picked them up and noticed that they were addressed to Hermione and himself. With a dry mouth, he opened his.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Congratulations on your extraordinary success in your exams last year. From your five years here at Hogwarts, you have shown uncanny bravery and independence. This is just the sort of thing we have hoped to see in a Hogwarts student, much less you. It is this very factor that we here at Hogwarts have come to ask you to join as a Prefect for your sixth year. We hope you agree. Enjoy your holidays. Thank you.
Minerva McGonagall
(MINERVA MCGONAGALL)
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
"Oh wow," Harry murmured. He looked over at Hermione, noting she was looking stunned too.
"What? What's going on?" George asked.
"They want us to be prefects," Hermione said. "At least they want me to be a prefect. Harry, what about you?" Harry nodded mutely, still studying the paper.
"Wow, that is so great!" Ginny squealed. Fred, George and Ron rolled their eyes.
"Well, now we have all the more reason to celebrate tonight, don't we?" Mrs. Weasley smiled. She took some fireworks and threw them to the floor. Nothing happened. Frowning, she went to inspect them. They blew up in her face, blackening it. They all roared with laughter.