* * * *

OWLS and Projects

            It was the week before OWLS and all the 5th year students were meeting with their head of house for counseling on what OWLS they need so that they could take the classes their dream job required.  After what seemed like an eternity Hermione emerged from the office nodding to Harry that it was his turn.  Harry got up and walked into McGonagall's office.  "Mr. Potter, please have a seat.  Now what would you like to be when you grow up?"

             "Do you want to know what I have to do or what I want to do?"

             "They aren't the same thing?"

            "No Professor.  You see I want to be a professional seeker but I have to become an aurtor."

            McGonagall pulled down her glasses and looked at Harry, "If seeking is what you want to do then that is what you should do.  Far too many times have I seen great students pick a job because their parents told them to, and they have been miserable their whole lives.  People may be telling you to save the world but that doesn't mean you should sacrifice your own dreams."

            "Then I want to be a seeker."

            "Good.  For that job you don't need any OWL.  In fact you don't need to graduate so instead of suggesting classes to prepare you for your job I am going to mention things that I really thing you should take so that you will be alive in 2 years to graduate.  You should take Defense, Transfiguration, Charms and Potions."

            "Potions…."

            "Will be extremely helpful, but you will need to score at least an E maybe an O for those NEWT classes.  Any questions?"

            Besides how am I going to be able to receive those marks? "No Professor."

            "Very well.  Now if I was you I would get back to the common room and start studying."

* * * *

"Hermione, it will be ok.  You can stop twitching," soothed Ron.

            It was the day before exams and the students were cracking under the pressure.  Hermione had developed a nervous twitch in her eye and she was on edge.  The two troublesome first years, Zach and Ian, found out the hard way not to mess with Hermione around exam time.  They were probably still hiding in their dorm trying to remove the curses she threw at them.  Harry lounging in a chair while Ron was trying to calm down Hermione and was flipping casually though his potion book.  The power surge did help his memorization and he actually felt confident that he knew the material.  Ron had finally gotten Hermione to calm down when Icicle walked in to the common room carrying a large stack of books that Dumbledore has probably assigned her to read.  Stumbling over to where Harry, Ron and Hermione were sitting she sat the books down, "Hey you guys."

            Hermione looked up from her book and glared at Icicle.

            "Dear Lord what did I say to deserve that look?"

Harry whispered, "You talked."

"Well that does it, no more studying this evening," said Icicle as she flicked her wand and all the books, parchment and quills in the room disappeared.

            "Where are my books!"

            "My notes are gone!"

            "Icicle, give me back my stuff," seethed Hermione.

            "Nope.  Everyone has studied to the point that anymore studying will drive you insane.  What needs to happen is we all need to release some stress so we can focus tomorrow.  It is time to color."

            With a pop crayons and coloring books appeared in front of everyone.  "What is this going to do?" asked Harry.

            "Start coloring and find out."

            Harry picked up the nearest picture which happened to be a dragon.  Grabbing a few crayons Harry set to work.  A while later Harry realized that he felt a lot calmer.  Peeking up at Hermione he saw that she had stopped twitching.  George appeared at the top of the boys stairs, "Icicle come up I need your help."

            Harry watched as she put down her picture and went up to the 7th years guys room.

            Ron looked up at Harry from the quidditch player he was coloring, "They are talking again?"

            "I guess so…"

* * * *

            Harry dove into the two weeks of testing.  Written test, practical test they just kept coming and they were all starting to blur together.  He felt fairly confident with practically all of his classes except of course Division. There was just no way for him to study in that area.  With all his exams over, Harry was currently laying outside by the lake with Ron and Hermione enjoying the fact that the OWLS were over, or at least Harry and Ron were.  "We shouldn't be resting.  Tomorrow we have to present our defense projects to the entire 5th year!" exclaimed Hermione.

            Ron closed his eyes and absorbed the sun, "We finished everything right before the OWLS.  YOU made us finish remember?"

            "But we all should…."

            "Hermione," interrupted Harry, "Did you not hear the part that the presentation was not suppose to stress us out.  They even have us working in partners so we won't freak out in fount of everyone.  The reason that they are having us do this is so that they can finish testing the rest of the students without us causing too much chaos."

Suddenly Harry heard a lot of yelling.  Looking up he saw students running out of the way of two horses and their riders who seem to be racing each other.  As they got closer Harry recognized Icicle's long dark brown hair and Draco's bleach blond hair.  Ron looked up at what was going on, "What is she doing with that git?"  

"Ron," warned Harry, "remember we have already been here, fought this battle and lost horribly."

In the distance Harry watched them finish their race and it appeared to be a tie.  Both of them were laughing uncontrollably and joking with each other as they trotted around the castle and out of site.  "I wonder what she sees in him?"

Hermione smiled, "Someone who just needs an opportunity to prove himself."

* * * *

All of the 5th years were lounging around a big room listening to different people give their brief presentation.  After all the quotes and pondering they were suppose to get up, combine all the things they have done, and present to everyone who they are.  "We are at war and in war you need to know everybody.  Friends and enemies," said Professor Figg before they had started the presentations. 

They were going through the Gryffindors at the moment and to say Harry was nervous would be an understatement.  Harry and Icicle had decided to work together since it seemed that Ron and Hermione wanted to be partners.  When Harry and Icicle were working on how to present their project Icicle had mentioned that Ron wanted to spend time with Hermione until he finally gets the guts to ask her out.  Harry had to agree.

 Professor Figg broke his thoughts, "Mr. Potter, Miss Vera it is your turn."

Icicle and Harry got up and slowly marched to the front of the room and turned to face their fellow peers.  Harry looked over at Icicle and she gave him a faint smile and a nod.  "I'm Harry James Potter."

"I'm Icicle Mariana Vera."

"Voldemort kill my parents."

"My Dad killed my mom."

"I was raised by muggles that hate me because of what I am not who I am."

"I was raised by strangers."

"Coming to Hogwarts was the best thing that could have happened to me."

"Hogwarts just happened."

"My favorite color is red."

"Mine is purple."

"I love to fly."

"Brooms are made by the devil."

"Orange juice is a drink."

"Orange juice is its own food group."

"And dogs…"

"Are the best pet anyone could ask for."

"My friends are why I fight Voldemort."

"I fight for justice and sometimes revenge against him."

"It's it funny how two people can be so alike"

"And yet so different."

"We have both had our losses."

"And our triumphs."

"Likes."

"And dislikes."

"Yet we are here."

"Working together."

"Because since my weaknesses are her strengths."

"And my weaknesses are his strengths"

"We make a great team."

"A wise man once said that if you don't like the way the world is, you change it.  You have an obligation to change it. You just do it one step at a time."

"So that is what we plan to do.  Take one test at a time, one detention at a time and fight one battle at a time because baby steps will get us there."

The class clapped as Harry and Icicle went back to their seats.  When they sat down Icicle leaded over and whisper, "Don't you feel so mellow dramatic doing these things.  Our lives are such soap operas."

* * * *