Chapter 7:
Harry glanced at the clock on the wall. 4:23. The Order of the Phoenix meeting didn't start until
4:30, he knew, but most of the members were milling around the long table in the kitchen, waiting
for the meeting to begin. Harry noticed that the number of wizards and witches in the Order seemed
to have doubled, no doubt from the members' recriuting efforts since Voldemort's show of power at
the Department of Mysteries. He noticed a group of young witches giggling off in one corner, some
of what looked like Mundungus Fletcher's friends to the right, and - Harry's jaw dropped in
amazement - a single goblin standing by Bill Weasley's side, eyeing the crowd suspiciously.
Suddenly, he felt a hand pulling him back by his shoulder.
"All of you kids, upstairs right now, the meeting's about to start and you can't be down here!"
Mrs. Weasley scolded. In reality, Harry had been the only one near enough to the door to see what
was happening, but Mrs. Weasley never was able to scold him directly. Defeatedly, the trio and
Ginny headed upstairs to Ron and Harry's room.
"Now what?" asked Ron idly, sprawled out on top of his bed.
"I dunno," said Harry, staring out the window. He noticed several specks off in the distance; as
they got closer, he realized they were owls: Hogwart's owls!
"Ron, 'Mione, our Hogwart's letters are here!" he cried. All three rushed to the window, Ginny
following behind.
"Ooooh, our O.W.L. scores are in here, too!" Hermione said excitedly. Harry's stomach dropped. He
had forgotten all about the tests he had taken the last weeks of school.
"Weren't we supposed to get those in July?" Ron asked, ripping his envelope open.
"That's what I thought too, I wonder why they didn't come then?" Hermione asked.
Slowly, Harry pulled out his letter with the supply list and laid it on top of his bed. He read
the second letter contained in the envelope:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT & WIZARDRY:
O.W.L. TEST RESULTS
Harry Potter
Defense Against the Dark Arts:
OUTSTANDING
Transfiguration:
OUTSTANDING
Charms:
OUTSTANDING
Herbology:
OUTSTANDING
Divination:
ACCEPTABLE
Care of Magical Creatures:
OUTSTANDING
Astronomy:
ACCEPTABLE
Potions:
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
History of Magic:
POOR
You have been accepted into the following N.E.W.T. level classes:
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
TRANSFIGURATION
CHARMS
HERBOLOGY
CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES
POTIONS
Please purchase the following textbooks..."
Harry stared at the letter in awe. He had not gotten an "outstanding" in Potions. But somehow,
he had been accepted into the N.E.W.T. class?? He could not understand. Suddenly Hermione broke
his train of thought.
"Harry? Harry, what did you get?? I got outstanding in all 9!" she squealed.
"I'm in Potions," Harry mumbled, amazed.
"You are??" Hermione asked, looking shocked. "Well, good job Harry! It's nearly impossible to
get an outstanding in Potions!"
"But I didn't get an outstanding... I only got exceeds expectations. There must have been some
kind of mistake."Hermione looked at the paper, frowing, and pulled it out of his hands.
"That's odd... I wonder how that happened..." Ron looked at Harry in horror.
"I'm in Potions too! Not another year with Snape..." he moaned. Harry looked at Ron.
"Did you get exceeds expectations too?" he asked with anticipation.
"No, mate, I got outstanding, I don't know how the bloody hell that happened..." Harry frowned.
Why had he gotten into Potions?? He was of course happy that he had, as he needed the class to
enter Auror training, but still... it seemed odd.
"I'm hungry," Ron complained, glancing at the clock. It was nearly 6:00. "When d'you think dinner
will be ready?"
"The Order's meeting isn't even over yet, Ron!" Hermione said logically. "We can't eat with all of
them in the kitchen!"
"Why don't we go sit by the door and wait," Harry said suddenly, sensing a fight about to develop
between Ron and Hermione. Hermione frowned at him.
"Harry, if you're suggesting we eavesdrop on the Order..."
"No! I'm just saying then we would know when the meeting was over. Besides, I'm sure Mrs. Weasley
used the Imperturbable Charm again this year to make sure no one can overhear anything." Hermione
smiled.
"Oh, alright then. Let's go downstairs." They dropped their letters and headed out the door.
The trio made its way down the steps and through the hallway towards the kitchen door. Just as
Harry had said, they could not overhear anything being said inside the room. Ron and Harry began
to have a discussion about this year's Quiddich team; with most of the upperclassmen gone,
the team might be a lot weaker than it was the year before. Hermione had gotten her knitting
needles out and had started what looked to be a hat for a house elf; Ron and Harry had been
too scared to ask what it was exactly. Just then, Harry heard a clicking sound. Turning his
head, he realized it was coming from the foyer. "Do you guys hear that?" he whispered.
"Yes," Hermione replied worriedly. "I think someone's unlocking the front door!"
"What?? But who could it be? They're all in the meeting!" Ron whispered urgently, a look of fear
crossing his face. All three leaned out into the hallway, peering at the front door. It opened.
A man in a black billowing cloak entered alone, swiftly shutting the door behind him. From his
perspective on the floor, Harry thought the man looked dangerous and unfamiliar. He tried to
stand up, but Hermione held him down.
"Snape," she whispered, as Harry came to the same realization. "We have to stay here, we don't want
him to think we're spying!" Cowering in the dark shadow along the wall, the trio held their breath,
trying to hide from the Potions Professor who was quickly approaching. He did not pause. He did not
look at them. Instead, he walked swiftly, meaningfully, towards the kitchen door. He threw it open
and the conversation inside ceased at once. Severus Snape pulled the dark hood away from his face.
"I have found her," he announced triumphantly to the room, a hint of dislike in his voice.
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