*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
For anyone who cares, I've spent the past week or so feeling very very sick - I'm still sorry for ruining your sleepover, Cat - and since Friday I was in Donegal with no computer. So, here it is: the final chapter of Imperio!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
::::::-------------
Chapter Nineteen: More Careers Advice
::::::-------------
Though the Christmas holidays were to begin only the day after next, a sign had appeared in the Common Room by lunchtime:
Will all sixth-year students please see their Head of House before next term. Students staying in school for the holidays may schedule appointments for during the break, while all students leaving should visit their Head of House before tomorrow evening.
"That reminds me!" cried Ron, slapping his head. "Dumbledore told me to tell you that we'd be best staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. Safer, apparently."
"Is that just you and Harry, or all three of us?" asked Hermione.
"He said Harry especially," replied Ron, "but my parents want me here and he advised you to stay as well, in case there are any raids on Muggle towns. It's what the Death Eaters used to do to celebrate holidays and that, or so Dumbledore said."
Hermione nodded. "I'll stay."
*****
POTIONS CLASS
"Well then," began Snape, slightly less articulate than usual. "When I call out your name, I want you to give me your O.W.L. mark. Miss Granger?"
"O," said Hermione clearly.
"What a surprise. Mr Finnegan?"
"E," said Seamus.
Snape called out names randomly. Harry noticed that none of Snape's favourites or least favourites had been asked yet. *Evil git, * thought Harry calmly. *He's going to try to make the Gryffindors look bad. *
His hypothesis was correct. "Mr Crabbe?"
"D," mumbled a low voice. Snape looked taken aback. He had not expected an O from Crabbe or Goyle, but Dreadful was the lowest mark available at O.W.L. level, except perhaps for the reputed 'Troll' grade.
"Mr Goyle?"
"D," said an even lower voice.
"Mr Weasley?"
"E." Snape was stunned. He shook himself slightly, then smiled.
"Ah yes, Mr Malfoy?"
There were no distinguishable sounds in the reply. "Could I have that again, Draco?"
"P," he muttered. A rush of delight ran among the Gryffindors. It seemed that Malfoy couldn't make good grades without Snape's aid and favour.
"Potter?" spat Snape.
"O," said Harry, suppressing a grin. Another rush of glee between members of Gryffindor House, matched by disgusted hisses from the Slytherins. After class, all Gryffindors agreed that it was the best Potions class they had ever had.
*****
TWO DAYS LATER
OUTSIDE PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL'S OFFICE
"You're next," said Neville, coming out with a dissatisfied sort of look on his face. He gave Harry a thumbs-up. "She's in a good mood," he added. Harry stood up and knocked on the door.
"Ah, Potter," said Professor McGonagall as Harry entered her office. "Sit down." Harry sank into the armchair before her desk. She set down her papers, took off her glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on.
"I was supposed to have this little chat with you in September, but of course, with the delay."
"If you don't mind me asking, Professor," said Harry, "why was there a delay? Weren't the results meant to be out in the summer?"
"Yes, they were," nodded Professor McGonagall. "But the Ministry considers the threat of You-Know-Who more important than marking a load of O.W.L. exams, so they had only four markers doing every O.W.L. in Britain. Took them a while."
"Right," said Harry.
"Back to business, Potter. Now, I expect you're very pleased with your marks as they will enable you to take N.E.W.T.'s suitable for entering Auroring. Do you still want to be an Auror, or have you changed your mind?"
"No," Harry replied firmly. McGonagall smiled.
"Didn't think so. Though, Auroring seems to be the only career path you could have followed. I doubt any other student would be more qualified for it." Glancing at a file at the edge of her desk, McGonagall muttered, "Pity."
But before she hastily shoved the folder out of sight, Harry saw the label: LONGBOTTOM, NEVILLE.
"That's it, Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "Enjoy the holidays."
For anyone who cares, I've spent the past week or so feeling very very sick - I'm still sorry for ruining your sleepover, Cat - and since Friday I was in Donegal with no computer. So, here it is: the final chapter of Imperio!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
::::::-------------
Chapter Nineteen: More Careers Advice
::::::-------------
Though the Christmas holidays were to begin only the day after next, a sign had appeared in the Common Room by lunchtime:
Will all sixth-year students please see their Head of House before next term. Students staying in school for the holidays may schedule appointments for during the break, while all students leaving should visit their Head of House before tomorrow evening.
"That reminds me!" cried Ron, slapping his head. "Dumbledore told me to tell you that we'd be best staying at Hogwarts over Christmas. Safer, apparently."
"Is that just you and Harry, or all three of us?" asked Hermione.
"He said Harry especially," replied Ron, "but my parents want me here and he advised you to stay as well, in case there are any raids on Muggle towns. It's what the Death Eaters used to do to celebrate holidays and that, or so Dumbledore said."
Hermione nodded. "I'll stay."
*****
POTIONS CLASS
"Well then," began Snape, slightly less articulate than usual. "When I call out your name, I want you to give me your O.W.L. mark. Miss Granger?"
"O," said Hermione clearly.
"What a surprise. Mr Finnegan?"
"E," said Seamus.
Snape called out names randomly. Harry noticed that none of Snape's favourites or least favourites had been asked yet. *Evil git, * thought Harry calmly. *He's going to try to make the Gryffindors look bad. *
His hypothesis was correct. "Mr Crabbe?"
"D," mumbled a low voice. Snape looked taken aback. He had not expected an O from Crabbe or Goyle, but Dreadful was the lowest mark available at O.W.L. level, except perhaps for the reputed 'Troll' grade.
"Mr Goyle?"
"D," said an even lower voice.
"Mr Weasley?"
"E." Snape was stunned. He shook himself slightly, then smiled.
"Ah yes, Mr Malfoy?"
There were no distinguishable sounds in the reply. "Could I have that again, Draco?"
"P," he muttered. A rush of delight ran among the Gryffindors. It seemed that Malfoy couldn't make good grades without Snape's aid and favour.
"Potter?" spat Snape.
"O," said Harry, suppressing a grin. Another rush of glee between members of Gryffindor House, matched by disgusted hisses from the Slytherins. After class, all Gryffindors agreed that it was the best Potions class they had ever had.
*****
TWO DAYS LATER
OUTSIDE PROFESSOR MCGONAGALL'S OFFICE
"You're next," said Neville, coming out with a dissatisfied sort of look on his face. He gave Harry a thumbs-up. "She's in a good mood," he added. Harry stood up and knocked on the door.
"Ah, Potter," said Professor McGonagall as Harry entered her office. "Sit down." Harry sank into the armchair before her desk. She set down her papers, took off her glasses, cleaned them, and put them back on.
"I was supposed to have this little chat with you in September, but of course, with the delay."
"If you don't mind me asking, Professor," said Harry, "why was there a delay? Weren't the results meant to be out in the summer?"
"Yes, they were," nodded Professor McGonagall. "But the Ministry considers the threat of You-Know-Who more important than marking a load of O.W.L. exams, so they had only four markers doing every O.W.L. in Britain. Took them a while."
"Right," said Harry.
"Back to business, Potter. Now, I expect you're very pleased with your marks as they will enable you to take N.E.W.T.'s suitable for entering Auroring. Do you still want to be an Auror, or have you changed your mind?"
"No," Harry replied firmly. McGonagall smiled.
"Didn't think so. Though, Auroring seems to be the only career path you could have followed. I doubt any other student would be more qualified for it." Glancing at a file at the edge of her desk, McGonagall muttered, "Pity."
But before she hastily shoved the folder out of sight, Harry saw the label: LONGBOTTOM, NEVILLE.
"That's it, Potter," said Professor McGonagall. "Enjoy the holidays."