When they finally reached the Gryffindor common room, it was already empty.  It seemed as if all the Gryffindor population was already in bed.  Harry, feeling quite tired himself, decided to head off to bed.  He started towards the stairs that leaded to the boys' dormitory but stopped and turned around when he noticed Ron wasn't following.  He looked over at Ron and noticed a distant look on his eyes as he gazed into the fire.  He walked over to Ron.

"What's up, Ron?" he asked casually.  Ron seemed to snap out of it a bit.

"Oh, nothing. well. is just that. oh never mind." He shook his head as if to shake the thought away as well.

"What is it, Ron? You know you can trust on me." Harry said as he sat down in one of the couches in front of the fire, motioning Ron to do the same. He did.

"I know I can, Harry. that's not it."

"Is it about Hermione?" Harry took Ron's miserable sigh as a 'yes'  "Well, I already told you. just ask her and you'll know for sure."

"I know. but I just don't get what she sees in guys like that 'Pierre guy'" he said rather gloomily.

"I don't know mate." Harry was starting to feel a little uncomfortable about this whole best-friends-dating-each-other possibility.  Is not that he didn't like the idea. heck, they already acted like a married couple with all the arguing and stuff, they might as well make it official and date each other.  It was just that they were his two best friends.  The growing possibility of them going steady meant possible 'disregard' towards him, and without them, there wasn't much people he could count on or talk to.

"I mean, guys like that only lures innocent girls like Hermione he breaks their hearts.  I don't want Hermione to end up hurt."

"Neither do I, mate.  But I'm sure she can take care of herself."

"I don't know. he might be handsome or whatever but if he as much as breaks one of Hermione's nails, I'll kill him myself." He said, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

"Calm down, Ron!" Harry said patting his back "I'm sure it'll be all rig-" he was broke off by somebody running down from the stairs that led to the girls dormitories.

"Did you get it?" Hermione asked enthusiastically with a piece of parchment clasped on her right hand.  It seemed as if she hadn't heard anything of the previous conversation.

"Get what?" Asked Harry, completely confused.

"Your results!  They just came in!" she said waving the piece of parchment in front of them.

"But we haven't even taken any tests yet." Ron said thickly.

"I'm not talking about any of those tests, Ron!  I'm talking about our O.W.L's results!" she said beaming and finally handing the parchment to Harry and Ron.

In a matter of seconds, Ron was already sprinting up the stairs and out of view as he entered the boys dormitory in a flash.

"I see he's quite anxious to know his results." Harry said rolling his eyes and smiling.  He excused himself and went to up to the dormitory to get his own results.

When he entered the room he noticed that nobody was actually asleep as he thought they were when he first entered the common room.  He looked to his left and saw Seamus Finnigan sitting next Dean Thomas on the foot of his bed; both of them obviously discussing their results excitedly with each other. Neville Longbottom was sitting on Ron's bed while they talked about their results as well.

"Harry! I didn't fail any subject!" Ron said happily as he turned towards Harry. "Well, at least not any that mattered." he added hastily.  Harry raised his eyebrow.

"What do you mean ' not any that mattered'?" he asked Ron.  Ron reddened a bit and scratched the back of his neck.

"Well I got a 'P' on Divination. but I was gonna drop that class even if I had gotten an 'Outstanding' on it." He said, nodding reassuringly.  Harry chuckled.

"That class is pure bollocks." interjected Neville gaining a 'Hear, Hear!' from both Harry and Ron.

"I'm pretty much betting I failed that one as well" He said shrugging.

"Well, its like I said when we took our test last year, 'we were always going to fail that one'."

"You reminded me Hermione a bit for a moment there, mate. with all that quoting yourself thing" Harry shook his head and Ron blushed again.

"Well. aren't you gonna see your results?" Neville asked glancing at the envelope sitting on Harry's bed.

"Yeah. I bet you did better than me anyways." Ron said, reddening slightly.  Harry looked at his bed and noticed the dark-blue colored envelope for the first time.  He went over to his bed and grabbed the envelope, tearing off an official looking seal.  He took out the piece of parchment from within and exhaled even thought he hadn't noticed he was holding his breath. It read as follow:

Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination Results

Name: Harry James Potter   

School and House: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Gryffindor House

Level: Fifth Year (at moment of examination)

Results based on written examination:

Charms: E

Transfiguration: E

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O

Potions: A

Astronomy: E

Results based on practical examination:

Charms: E

Transfiguration: E

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O

Potions: A

Care of Magical Creatures: O

Astronomy: A

Divination: P

Subjects that the student dominated the most:  Defense Against the Dark Arts, both theory and practice and Care of Magical Creatures.

Subjects that the student must improve for the N.E.W.T's: Divination

Comments from the examinator/s: Outstanding performance during practical examination of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Harry sighed in relief and sank on his bed after Ron snatche*d his results off his hands.  He didn't fail Potions, which was somewhat of a miracle all right.  He thought that maybe giving such an explicit description of the Polyjuice Potion had made the difference between failing and passing. As for the practical part, without having Snape breathing on his neck, it was much easier to concentrate on making a potion the right way.  As for failing Divination he sure didn't give a damn.  He hated the class and he was more than glad to be over with it.  And there was Defense Against the Dark Arts. 'Outstanding' in both of the examinations. even thought the news didn't shock him, he sure was glad to have attained such a high grade.

"Bloody Hell, Harry!" Ron exclaimed loudly making Harry jump up slightly. "'Outstanding' in Defense Against the Dark Arts! And you didn't fail Potions either! Way to go, Mate!!"

"Thanks, Ron" Harry said reddening a bit. "What did you get?"

"Oh, 'Exceeds Expectations' in both examinations for Defense Against the Dark Arts.  But thanks a lot Harry; I'm sure I wouldn't have done so good without you teaching us all that stuff last year, you know, in Dumbledore's Army." Ron said truthfully.

"Ah, it was nothing, mate. besides the idea was Hermione's and yours."

"And what did you get, Neville?" Ron asked him.

"Oh. 'Exceeds expectations' as well." He said reddening.

"That's really great, Neville! What about potions?" Harry asked.

"Well, same as you. I was so surprised I didn't fail!!"

"I guess that not having Snape around while doing your potions actually helps!" said Ron. They all laughed together and talked a little bit more about the O.W.L.'s results; before long they said their 'goodnight's and went to bed.  Harry, surprisingly fell asleep without having to make much effort.