Disclaimer: If you're thick enough to believe that I wrote Harry Potter go ahead, I won't stop you.
I am now going to thank all the people who have reviewed so far because I forgot in the last three chapters so now all you lucky people get mentioned!!!
Right so thanks to
Facade: This is going to be a full blown 6th year story so stick with me. Thanks for reviewing it's greatly appreciated.
Alexandria Wood: after reading your review I've tried to get Hermione a bit more in character, but I reckon that she's like this because she's really nervous around Harry so I've made her slip up a few times. In the future she's going to be a lot better though. Thanks for reviewing!
Cassie: I'll keep it up if you keep reviewing! Hee hee…thanks for the compliment!
Tempest Knight: I'm keeping it up, ooo I'm glad people want me to keep going! Thanks for the review!
Charliegirl: You're too cool! Thanks for being such a loyal reviewer so far! You are definitely my equal number 1 fan now!
Kayla: Thank you oh so much! It's really fantastic to be told I write like J.K Rowling even though it's way too good a compliment to bestow upon me.
A/N: I just want to say a big thankyou to all the people who keep telling me to keep going! It's so groovy to hear that. I am definitely going to thank you all before every chapter from now on. THANKYOU!
Ok, enough of that . . . on with the chapter!
Chapter 4: OWLS, jealousy and Goodbyes
Harry woke up the next morning to Hermione bursting through the door and dancing around the room.
"HARRY, RON! WAKE UP! OUR O.W.L RESULTS ARE HERE!" she screamed
Harry and Ron both shot up in bed and scrambled to get their letters off a beaming Hermione. Once she had handed them out she sat down at the end of Harry's bed.
"Err, shall we open them together then?" Harry suggested
"Yes, let's do it on the count of three" Hermione replied smiling cheerfully "Ready; one . . . two . . . three!"
They all tore open their think envelopes. Harry pulled out a wad of yellow parchment and slowly unfolded it. Swallowing a lump of nervousness he began to read.
24th July, 1996
Dear Mr Potter,
This letter contains the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Level examinations. The following results will be the deciding factors for the classes you will be able to participate in for your next two school years. Also enclosed are your options for study next term and a form that must be completed and sent by return owl to Hogwarts by the first of August.
Harry James Potter
Ordinary Wizarding Level results 1995-96
CHARMS
Written – Outstanding
Practical – Exceeds Expectations
TRANSFIGURATION
Written – Exceeds Expectations
Practical – Outstanding
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
Written – Outstanding
Practical – Outstanding
POTIONS
Written – Outstanding
Practical – Exceeds Expectations
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
Written – Exceeds Expectations
Practical – Outstanding
HISTORY OF MAGIC
Written – Poor
ASTRONOMY
Written – Exceeds Expectations
Practical – Poor
HERBOLOGY
Combined – Exceeds Expectations
DIVINATION
Combined – Poor
Congratulations Mr Potter, you have received a total of twelve out of fifteen possible O.W.Ls. Your next year N.E.W.T level study options are as follows;
CHARMS N.E.W.T PREPARATION
TRANSFIGURATION N.E.W.T PREPARATION
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DRAK ARTS N.E.W.T PREARATION
POTIONS N.E.W.T PREPARATION
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES N.E.W.T PREPARATION
HERBOLOGY N.E.W.T PREPARATION
Considering your career choice it is advisable to choose at least five of these options. However, if you were to take all six your chances of becoming an Auror would be elevated greatly.
Please send your study choices by owl as soon as possible.
Your start of term notices and booklist will be sent to you at a later date.
Yours sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry blinked down at the letter in front of him. He had received twelve O.W.L's, how was that possible? And six of them had been 'Outstanding'. Maybe they had made a mistake. He didn't think that was likely though. But how did he manage to get 'exceeds expectations' and 'outstanding' in potions? He looked up so that he could see Ron and Hermione's expressions. Hermione was glowing and Ron looked slightly downcast.
"So err, how'd you go?" he asked them
"Oh Harry, I got all of my sixteen O.W.L's and thirteen of them were 'outstanding'! I'm so happy! I never expected to do so well! How did you do Harry?"
"I got twelve out of my fifteen O.W.L's and six of them where 'outstanding' and six were 'exceeds expectations'"
"Good on you! What about the other three?"
"Oh, I failed Divination, the practical Astronomy because that was when Hagrid was attacked and History of Magic 'cause that was when I had my Voldemort vision"
"Oh well at least you can drop Divination now. Completely useless subject it is anyway" she turned to look at Ron "How did you do Ron?"
"Alright" he replied
"Well, what did you get?" Harry questioned
"Not as good as you two that's for sure" Ron snapped
"Oh come of it Ron, you can tell us" Hermione snapped back
"Fine! I got nine O.W.L's out of fifteen. Four were 'acceptable' and five were 'exceeds expectations'. I didn't get any 'outstanding's' like you two. I failed Potions, History of Magic, Astronomy and Divination. Happy? Oh wait, I forgot; I got 'dreadful' for Divination. There you go" Ron said waspishly
"Ron" said Harry shaking his head "you did fine, just calm down alright? Merlin knows what you're so worked up about"
"Harry's right Ron, just settle down okay?"
"Oh of course Harry's right, yes of course you agree with Harry. I mean, he's always right. Of course he gets brilliant results. That's right Hermione; you have to agree with the smart boy. This is so unfair! I work just as hard as him! But of course he has to do well; he's Harry Potter!" Ron was extremely red in the face by the time he had finished ranting.
Both Harry and Hermione stared at him for a moment before Harry stood up and walked out of the room. His blood was bubbling and his heart was pumping hard against his ribcage. How could Ron say those things? It was almost as if Ron thought that Harry bought his marks or that they had give to him because he was Harry Potter, not because he had worked for them. He hated the jealousy Ron felt. He walked heavily down the corridor until he reached Hermione's room. Harry raised his hand and knocked thee times on the hard wood door.
"Ebony Are you in there?" he called
"Harry, hang on two seconds, I'll be right there" came the reply
The door swung open and Harry was met with the curious face of Ebony Black.
"Is something wrong?" she asked "you look all worked up. D'you want to go down to the kitchens with me so we can talk?"
"That would be great" Harry sighed
He and Ebony walked down to the Kitchens silently. When they got there Ebony sat Harry down and made some toast for them both. After they had eaten she looked at him and asked
"What's up?"
Harry sighed again "We just got our O.W.L results back this morning so Hermione came into our room and made us read them" he started
"Oh really, how'd you go?" Ebony enquired
"I got twelve O.W.L's altogether out of fifteen"
"Wow! That's fantastic! Okay, keep going, what happened?"
"Me and Hermione told our results; she got all of her sixteen O.W.L's. Then we asked Ron what he got and he just went totally mental at us. Just because Hermione agreed with me that he should calm down after he told us his results" Harry explained
"Ah, so he was jealous of you? Did he say things like 'of course you got good marks because you're Harry Potter'?"
"Exactly"
"Well, that's natural; if in doubt blame Harry Potter. It's just that way of the world"
Harry chuckled "I guess you're right. So what's happening today?"
A dark look passed across Ebony's face. She turned her head to stare blankly at the wall opposite.
"It's dad's funeral thing this afternoon" she said, voice think with emotion.
Harry's eyes widened, how could he have forgotten?
"Oh yeah, Ebony, if you need me just ask okay? I know I'm going to need you with me at all times" he stated
"Of course I'll need you" she replied "but now I need a shower, so lead me to the bathroom will you?"
Harry smiled slightly and nodded
Harry and Ebony spent the rest of the day leading up to Sirius' funeral together. They just sat and talked all about Hogwarts and the British wizarding world. Also Ebony told Harry all about Australia and her old school. She had gone to a wizarding boarding school similar to Hogwarts except it wasn't a castle. It was just a huge school built in the 1800's called Aimwell Academy of Magic. She said that she was already halfway through her sixth year because Australians start school in January. She told Harry all about her friends and her teachers and how in the holidays she had stayed with some people Dumbledore knew until midway through 1995 when Sirius had come and claimed her and they had lived in an apartment together until he had to go back to England. This answered Harry's question of where Sirius had been the summer before his fourth year; he was with his daughter in Australia.
Yet in all of her stories she never once mentioned her mother. This seemed strange to Harry but he didn't bring it up.
At about four thirty Harry heard Mrs Weasley yelling that everything would start in half and hour and that all the guests would be arriving in twenty minutes. Harry and Ebony went back to their rooms to get changed into some more formal robes. When Harry got to his room Ron was standing in front of a mirror fastening the clasp of his cloak. He looked around as Harry came in.
"Listen mate, I just want to say sorry about this morning. I said some stupid things and I regret them. I know I overreacted and I'm sorry for yelling"
"It's ok; just make sure it doesn't happen again. I've had enough of that to last a life time" Harry replied bitterly
Ron nodded and walked out of the room to go downstairs and wait for the rest of his family to arrive.
Harry changed into his bottle green robes that he had worn to the Yule ball. He was surprised that they still fit him but figured that they probably grew with him. He fastened a light cloak around his shoulders and tried in vain to tame his wild hair. After giving up he decided to meet Ebony. Just as he was about to knock Hermione opened the door.
"Oh hello Harry, we were just about to go down"
"Great" he replied dully
He noticed that Hermione was not wearing the same periwinkle blue robes that she had worn in fourth year but a pair of deep mahogany robes instead. She also had slicked back her hair slightly.
Harry stepped back to let her pass. She walked around him and started off down the hall shutting the door behind her. Harry turned back to the door waiting for Ebony. He waited for about five minutes before he decide to call and see if she was ready.
"Ebony, Are you ready yet?"
"I don't want to go!" she cried back
"Okay, are you decent?" he called again
"Yes"
"Right, well I'm coming in"
He pushed open the door to reveal Ebony sitting on her bed with her head in her hands. He strode over and knelt in front of her.
"You're coming down Ebony Black. You're coming down because you need to. You're coming down because I need you" he said
"But I'm so scared" she whispered "it's like if I do then I know he's gone for good. I don't think I can handle that"
"You can and you will" Harry stated
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. She was wearing dark purple robes that fit nicely with her dark hair done up in a large black clasp. Harry thought she looked beautiful.
"Come on Ebony, let's just say our goodbyes, nick some food and nick off okay?"
"Fine" she mumbled back
Harry took her hand and led her from the room, down the stairs and into the drawing room. Everyone was there when they arrived; Dumbledore, Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Kingsley, McGonagall, Mr and Mrs Weasley, Ron, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Ginny and Hermione. The drawing room looked the same as usual except the black drapes on the walls and the large moving photograph of Sirius of the fireplace. Harry led Ebony over to an empty couch and they sat down. He noticed that her grip on his hand was getting very tight so he gave her hand a squeeze. She looked up at him and met his eyes and smiled sadly. Strangely enough his stomach did a little flip at this. Dumbledore clapped his hands twice to get attention. The room went quiet and he strode over to the fireplace to where the photo of Sirius was.
"Barely a month ago we lost one of our number. But not only did we lose a member of the order, we lost a man, a marauder, a cousin, a godfather, a father and a friend. Sirius Black was the most spirited member of this group. He was filled with life and made the people around him sparkle. He was brave and determined and amazingly protective of those he loved. While Sirius was at school he was one of the brightest students Hogwarts had ever seen, not to mention one of the most troublesome. After school he continued to light up rooms just by entering. Sirius was the type of person who lives life to the full, even though his life was a hard one. He left home at sixteen to live with his best friend. He married at nineteen but lost his wife nearly two years later. His only child was sent away for protection. He then lost his to best friends and was betrayed and framed by another. He spent twelve years imprisoned and three years in hiding. Yet through all of that he still managed to keep his zest for life and for that we are all thankful. The loss of Sirius has caused immeasurable pain but I know that he would want us to keep living, to honour his memory by living life the same way that he did"
Dumbledore paused and surveyed those around him through his half moon glasses, his eyes finally rested on Harry and Ebony.
"Sirius did not want to die, but I know that if he had he would have wanted to go heroically, trying to save someone he loved, for he would do anything for them. And he did. But we must not blame ourselves for his death because he would not blame any of us. So now we gather to honour him and to say thankyou. Thankyou Sirius for giving us all so much joy"
The room was silent except for the sound of sniffs and sobs. Not a single person in the room had a dry eye. Harry sat with his arms wrapped tightly around a sobbing Ebony, tears streaming down his cheeks. So it was final, he could no longer imagine that this was all one very bad dream. He would do as Dumbledore had asked; he would live, live with the same vivacity as Sirius for that was the greatest way to honour him.
TBC . . .