Chapter Three
At breakfast the next morning the Head of Houses delivered our schedules. Our first class was double Herbology, but I was told to see Professor Dippet in his office. I said bye to the four friends and we parted ways. They and the rest of the Gryffindors and all of the Ravenclaws went out the front door to head to the greenhouses while I was lead to Professor Dippet's office. At the stone gargoyles, Professor Dumbledore said the password and we went up the spiraling staircase. Professor Dumbledore knocked on the solid door and then opened it on Professor Dippet's command.
"Sit, please," he said, waving his hand at a couple chairs. He stayed seated in his chair behind his desk. The portraits of passed headmasters were all watching us intently. "Miss Foster, we must test you to see what you know and what you still need to learn. Professor Dumbledore here will see to that this morning. After you are finished, it will be evaluated and hopefully by lunch we will know where to put you." He leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. "Of course, if you are behind in an area, you will need to take evening classes to make them up." He stood up suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore, take her to the library where the testing supplies are and get her started. The sooner she's finished the sooner she can attend classes. Miss Foster, I wish you luck. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask someone." He paused. "After the test, of course."
Professor Dumbledore and I exited and went down the hallway to the library. Madam Pierce led us to a separate room where we could close the door and work in quiet. On the table were some parchments, some quills and inkbottles, and potion ingredients. On the floor were a cauldron and a movable fire to heat it.
"First," said Professor Dumbledore, "we will test your Herbology knowledge. You will have 45 minutes to answer as many of these questions as you can." He laid a pile of parchment in front of a chair. "Have a seat and let's get started."
*~*
"Ok, Miss Foster, time's up. Let's set this all aside now and go eat lunch." Professor Dumbledore stacked my answers to all of the questions neatly and opened the door. "After lunch we'll get to Potions and Practical Magic. That's the last of it. By dinner we should know where you belong and you can start regular classes tomorrow." We parted company in front of the Great Room. "Go eat. I'll take these to the Headmaster and meet you back in the library afterwards. Bring your wand."
I walked in with some other students, second year from the looks of it, and found the Gryffindor table. I sat down in an empty section and laid my head down to think. It's been a rough and busy morning. There were things I didn't know, but I felt confident. I mean, it was only Herbology, Astrology, Dark Arts and Magical Creatures. I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked up. It was Remus. James, peter and Sirius were not far behind him.
"Hey. You OK?" Remus looked seriously concerned.
I sighed and sat up all the way. "Yeah, just mentally exhausted. I've done a bunch and there's more after lunch." I sighed again. "All that's left is the practical, not-on-paper stuff. What's for lunch?" at that second, dishes of food appeared along the middle of the table. The guys sat down and we all dug in. They tried to keep my mind off of my day by discussing theirs.
"Double Herbology with Ravenclaws isn't too bad. It's the double Potions tomorrow afternoon with Slytherin that stinks," griped James. "Professor (___) picks on us Gryffindors all the time. If we get a question right, we cheated. If we get it wrong, we didn't study. But even that's OK by itself. The day starts out with Defense Against the Dark Arts with Slytherin and Care of Magical Creatures with Hufflepuff just before lunch."
I laughed. "I just love the names you guys have for these classes!! Potions sounds like chemistry while Herbology and Magical Creatures were rolled into biology." I laughed at their expressions of awe. "Yup, we wanted to be able to discuss classes some place like the park or at a restaurant. We really don't like being cooped up or confined to just our world."
"So you mingled with the Muggles?" Remus asked.
"Daily. We were the only family on our block to do magic." I chuckled. "In fact, several friends and neighbors commented on stuff like Mom's cooking and her garden and how clean the house was all the time. It was all rather funny."
"Interesting," James commented. "Look, we have to go to class. Where are you headed?"
"Library. I have to meet Professor Dumbledore there for the last of my testing." I sighed and stood up. "See you guys at dinner tonight."
~*~
I received a letter during dinner that could only be my test results and class schedule. I slide it into a pocket and tried to finish eating. I was a bit nervous. I know I did the best I could, but what if it wasn't enough? The guys gave me some funny looks, but didn't bother me about it. Once in the common room I found the most secluded hair I could and sat down. Zada found me and curled up in my lap, purring. I slowly pulled the letter out of my pocket and sat there staring at it, afraid to open it. What if . ?
James apparently had lesser nerves than I and snatched it from my hands and ripped it open. Remus and Sirius, followed eventually by Peter, started to read it over James' shoulder. I just put my face into my hands and waited.
"Well," James drawled out slowly. "We have ourselves a bloody genius, we do!" I looked up slowly in disbelief. "Yup," he continued, "you could have passed most of your NEWTS if they'ld've let you. Most of it seems more cultural than knowledge. Betcha if you knew about England and stuff you wouldn't even be here right now!" the other three murmured their agreeance.
"No way! Let me see that!" I jumped up, dumping Zada to the floor, and ripped it out of his hands. She ran to hide, probably under my bunk.
Dear Miss Foster:
It pleases me to say that you have passed not only fifth year studies but most of sixth and even parts of seventh years, too! Congratulations. Your worst area is in Potions, thus you will stay with your fellow fifth year housemates. If this seems too easy in a few weeks, let me know and we'll see if something could be worked out in your favor.
Sincerely,
Headmaster Dippet
I sank back into the chair in disbelief. I knew studying wasn't a big deal to me, but geez! I just sat there for a while, counting my blessings. I wasn't leaving. I wasn't even taking evening classes to catch up! After awhile, I went to bed. By then Zada had forgiven me and all was right with the world.
[color=red] AN: Ozzy is helping to get me through the terrible chair-caused back pain. Maybe Santa will bring me a good one for Hanukah this year. :lol: Can you believe I had to add Ozzy to my Word dictionary!! Once I come up with a professor's name, I'll edit this chapter to include it. For now, it stays as it is.[/color]
At breakfast the next morning the Head of Houses delivered our schedules. Our first class was double Herbology, but I was told to see Professor Dippet in his office. I said bye to the four friends and we parted ways. They and the rest of the Gryffindors and all of the Ravenclaws went out the front door to head to the greenhouses while I was lead to Professor Dippet's office. At the stone gargoyles, Professor Dumbledore said the password and we went up the spiraling staircase. Professor Dumbledore knocked on the solid door and then opened it on Professor Dippet's command.
"Sit, please," he said, waving his hand at a couple chairs. He stayed seated in his chair behind his desk. The portraits of passed headmasters were all watching us intently. "Miss Foster, we must test you to see what you know and what you still need to learn. Professor Dumbledore here will see to that this morning. After you are finished, it will be evaluated and hopefully by lunch we will know where to put you." He leaned forward and rested his arms on his desk. "Of course, if you are behind in an area, you will need to take evening classes to make them up." He stood up suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore, take her to the library where the testing supplies are and get her started. The sooner she's finished the sooner she can attend classes. Miss Foster, I wish you luck. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to ask someone." He paused. "After the test, of course."
Professor Dumbledore and I exited and went down the hallway to the library. Madam Pierce led us to a separate room where we could close the door and work in quiet. On the table were some parchments, some quills and inkbottles, and potion ingredients. On the floor were a cauldron and a movable fire to heat it.
"First," said Professor Dumbledore, "we will test your Herbology knowledge. You will have 45 minutes to answer as many of these questions as you can." He laid a pile of parchment in front of a chair. "Have a seat and let's get started."
*~*
"Ok, Miss Foster, time's up. Let's set this all aside now and go eat lunch." Professor Dumbledore stacked my answers to all of the questions neatly and opened the door. "After lunch we'll get to Potions and Practical Magic. That's the last of it. By dinner we should know where you belong and you can start regular classes tomorrow." We parted company in front of the Great Room. "Go eat. I'll take these to the Headmaster and meet you back in the library afterwards. Bring your wand."
I walked in with some other students, second year from the looks of it, and found the Gryffindor table. I sat down in an empty section and laid my head down to think. It's been a rough and busy morning. There were things I didn't know, but I felt confident. I mean, it was only Herbology, Astrology, Dark Arts and Magical Creatures. I felt a tap on my shoulder and looked up. It was Remus. James, peter and Sirius were not far behind him.
"Hey. You OK?" Remus looked seriously concerned.
I sighed and sat up all the way. "Yeah, just mentally exhausted. I've done a bunch and there's more after lunch." I sighed again. "All that's left is the practical, not-on-paper stuff. What's for lunch?" at that second, dishes of food appeared along the middle of the table. The guys sat down and we all dug in. They tried to keep my mind off of my day by discussing theirs.
"Double Herbology with Ravenclaws isn't too bad. It's the double Potions tomorrow afternoon with Slytherin that stinks," griped James. "Professor (___) picks on us Gryffindors all the time. If we get a question right, we cheated. If we get it wrong, we didn't study. But even that's OK by itself. The day starts out with Defense Against the Dark Arts with Slytherin and Care of Magical Creatures with Hufflepuff just before lunch."
I laughed. "I just love the names you guys have for these classes!! Potions sounds like chemistry while Herbology and Magical Creatures were rolled into biology." I laughed at their expressions of awe. "Yup, we wanted to be able to discuss classes some place like the park or at a restaurant. We really don't like being cooped up or confined to just our world."
"So you mingled with the Muggles?" Remus asked.
"Daily. We were the only family on our block to do magic." I chuckled. "In fact, several friends and neighbors commented on stuff like Mom's cooking and her garden and how clean the house was all the time. It was all rather funny."
"Interesting," James commented. "Look, we have to go to class. Where are you headed?"
"Library. I have to meet Professor Dumbledore there for the last of my testing." I sighed and stood up. "See you guys at dinner tonight."
~*~
I received a letter during dinner that could only be my test results and class schedule. I slide it into a pocket and tried to finish eating. I was a bit nervous. I know I did the best I could, but what if it wasn't enough? The guys gave me some funny looks, but didn't bother me about it. Once in the common room I found the most secluded hair I could and sat down. Zada found me and curled up in my lap, purring. I slowly pulled the letter out of my pocket and sat there staring at it, afraid to open it. What if . ?
James apparently had lesser nerves than I and snatched it from my hands and ripped it open. Remus and Sirius, followed eventually by Peter, started to read it over James' shoulder. I just put my face into my hands and waited.
"Well," James drawled out slowly. "We have ourselves a bloody genius, we do!" I looked up slowly in disbelief. "Yup," he continued, "you could have passed most of your NEWTS if they'ld've let you. Most of it seems more cultural than knowledge. Betcha if you knew about England and stuff you wouldn't even be here right now!" the other three murmured their agreeance.
"No way! Let me see that!" I jumped up, dumping Zada to the floor, and ripped it out of his hands. She ran to hide, probably under my bunk.
Dear Miss Foster:
It pleases me to say that you have passed not only fifth year studies but most of sixth and even parts of seventh years, too! Congratulations. Your worst area is in Potions, thus you will stay with your fellow fifth year housemates. If this seems too easy in a few weeks, let me know and we'll see if something could be worked out in your favor.
Sincerely,
Headmaster Dippet
I sank back into the chair in disbelief. I knew studying wasn't a big deal to me, but geez! I just sat there for a while, counting my blessings. I wasn't leaving. I wasn't even taking evening classes to catch up! After awhile, I went to bed. By then Zada had forgiven me and all was right with the world.
[color=red] AN: Ozzy is helping to get me through the terrible chair-caused back pain. Maybe Santa will bring me a good one for Hanukah this year. :lol: Can you believe I had to add Ozzy to my Word dictionary!! Once I come up with a professor's name, I'll edit this chapter to include it. For now, it stays as it is.[/color]