Disclaimer
Hermione: Wow, you were right. It really wasn't as bad as I thought.
Me: Hermione, aren't you supposed to have left?
Hermione: Yes. Just dropped in to congratulate you on your good save.
Me: Er...
Hermione: Well, gotta go. But even if you didn't turn me into some ditzy little glamour girl YOU STILL OWN NOTHING!
A/N: right. Anyway,
quizgirl: Thanks, for reviewing. And thanks for telling me that stuff, can't wait to read your next chapter.
Now we shall begin the story Or I shall. Because, you know there's only one of me.
Chapter 5: Disappointment and O.W.Ls
"The thing is..." Professor Sielstin began. Then she was cut off.
"Mom?" said Mala poking her head into the room. "Have you seen my wand? I think Fred and George may have done something with it again."
"Oh, I'd better go." Said Professor Sielstin. "I'll talk to you later, Harry." She walked out of the room.
Harry stared after her feeling disappointed and bitter that Mala had just had to come in at that moment. If she could have waited five more minutes...But it seemed as if Professor Sielstin had been looking for an excuse not to tell him whatever it was...
The next few days were uneventful. It was like Ron, Hermione and the others were avoiding him...but considering the mood he was in he didn't blame them. And he didn't really mind. He was glad to be left alone to read or even work on his homework.
On the sixth day that Harry was there, a large tawny owl flew into his room, waking him up. He dragged himself out of bed and over to the owl, and took the letter. It hooted once and flew away. Harry opened the envelope and pulled out the letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Enclosed are the results of your Ordinary Wizarding levels. You have received 7 O.W.L.s and therefore are eligible for the following classes:
Hardly glancing at the list Harry turned eagerly to the next paper.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Written: O
Practical: O
Charms: E
Written: O
Practical: E
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Transfiguration: E
Written: A
Practical: E
Potions: E
Written: A
Practical: E
Herbology: A
Astronomy: A
Written: E
Practical: P
Divination: D
History of Magic: D
Grading scale:
Pass:
O (Outstanding) Total: (written) 2 (practical) 1 overall: 1
E (Exceeds Expectation) Total: (written) 1 (practical) 3 overall: 4
A (Acceptable) Total: (written) 2 (practical) O overall: 2
Fail:
P (Poor) Total: (written) 0 (practical) 1 overall: 0
D (Dreadful) Total: (written)0 (practical) 0 overall: 2
Harry turned back to the first page and read the list:
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Charms
Care of Magical Creatures
Transfiguration
Herbology
Astronomy
Divination
Harry sighed, disappointed. So he wasn't going to be able to be an Auror. Professor Mcgonagall had said that Potions was absolutely essential to be one. He continued reading:
Please send an owl with your course choices no later than July 30th.
Yours sincerely,
Griselda Marchbanks
Griselda Marchbanks
Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority
Scrawled underneath that was:
Potter-
Since you didn't make it into Professor Snape's N.E.W.T. level potions class I would suggest that you consider a different career, unless you'd like to consider taking just that course at a different school, one that offers it, after you graduate from Hogwarts, or possibly during the summer.
-Professor McGonagall
Harry remembered McGonagall promising to help him become an auror if it was the last thing she did. Somehow that wasn't how she sounded in this note.
Suddenly the door burst open and Hermione came running in. "O.W.L.s are here, Harry!" she said eagerly, waving a thick envelope.
"I know." said Harry indicating his own papers.
"Oh, you've already opened yours?" she asked. "How'd you do?" then without waiting for a response, "I think I did well, although I did make one big mistake in Ancient Runes, and after what happened in History of Magic it was hard to concentrate, and Astronomy was just one big distraction..."
"Hermione," said Harry. "Why don't you just open the stupid thing and find out?"
"Oh, yes," said Hermione, "right." She tore open the envelope, pulled out the papers, and threw the envelope on the floor. She ignored the first paper and turned to the second. "Charms," she read aloud, "O, written: O, practical: O. Transfiguration: O, written: O, Practical: O, Herbology: O, Defense Agsinst the Dark Arts: O, Written: O, practical: O, Potions: O Written: O, Practical: O, Care of Magical Creatures: O, Arithmancy: O Astronomy: O Written: O, Practical: E,-"
"Wow!" said Harry, impressed. "That's really good...all O's so far, you probably set some kind of record or something."
Ancient Runes: E, History of Magic: A, Well, honestly, after you collapsed, like we were really going to bother about the exam-"
"At least you passed," Harry pointed out.
"What? What did you get?" Hermione asked quickly. Harry showed her the paper. "Harry!" she admonished. "You failed two subjects!"
"Well, one of them was because I collapsed," Harry pointed out. "and the other one was divination, which we all know is a load of-"
"Harry?" Hermione asked slowly.
"What?" asked Harry.
"How'd you get into N.E.W.T. level Divination? You failed the exam."
"No, really?" Harry said sarcastically. "Professor Trelawney doesn't care about examinations, remember?'
"Oh," said Hermione. "but-"
"How'd you manage to scrape an E in practical Astronomy?" Harry interrupted.
"Well, I'd finished most of it before-well anyway I finished most of it." Hermione told him.
"Oh." Said Harry. And before Hermione could question him further, he added, "Where's Ron?"
"I dunno." Hermione said. "He's around somewhere. I haven't seen him today, really."
Just then, an earsplitting scream tore through the house.
