A/N Sorry about 'disturbing' you, Miss Piratess! lol I'm almost paranoid about stepping on toes (including my own), that's all!
One last thing before I begin: time has passed (story-wise) since the last chapter. A little less than one month has passed, during which Harry pretty much stayed away from people in general, incase you were wondering.
Candidates
"What is it?" He asked angrily; he had only just fallen asleep.
"Our school letters are in!"
"Wha..." O.W.L.s are in the school letters! Harry had forgotten all about them. He jumped out of bed and pulled on a pair of jeans over his boxers.
"C'mon, let's go!" Ron shouted as Harry fumbled with his belt buckle, trying to get it tight enough to keep his pants from falling off. "Mum wouldn't let me open mine until I got you up."
"Okay, okay! I'm coming!"
Harry had to hitch up his pants again before walking into the kitchen, where half of the Weasley family and various members of the Order were assembled.
Ron nearly knocked Mundungus out of his chair as he skirted the table and snatched the letter out of his mother's hand. "Watch it, Ron!" Mundungus mumbled. "Why are you so excited, anyway? They're just your O.W.L.s...."
Ron ignored him and began tearing it open.
"Here are yours, Harry dear." Mrs. Weasley said as she took a letter out of her apron pocket and put it in Harry's hand.
"Thanks." He said, and sat down between Remus and Tonks. He had just begun to open his letter when—
"YES!!!!!" Ron shouted from across the room. "YES! YES! YES! I've made it! I've made it!!!!" He was literally dancing.
"Did you really do that well dear?" Mrs. Weasley asked, brightening up at the prospect of Ron getting good—great by the sound of it—grades.
"What?" Ron asked, pulling Ginny into what was apparently a very tight hug, much to her obvious dismay.
"Your O.W.L.s! How did you do?" She asked.
"What? Oh, I dunno. But I made it! I made it, I made it, I made it!!"
"Made what, Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"QUIDDITCH CAPTAIN!!!!!"
The egg fell off of Remus' fork.
"You what?" Asked Harry, his letter completely forgotten.
"I'm captain!" Ron said. "You see, I heard Angelina and Katie talking one day at Fred and George's shop, and Angelina was telling Katie that she thought McGonagall would appoint her captain. But Katie had already thought about that, and she told McGonagall that she didn't want to be! Wanted to focus on her N.E.W.T.s or something—I don't know. And, anyway, I knew it had to be either you or me, mate, because we're pretty much the only ones left on the team!" He said, all in one breath.
"Hey!" Said Ginny from across the room.
"Well, you too. But McGonagall is bound to give Harry his position back, and Sloper and Kirke are both worth—"
"Ronald!"
"Anyway, I made it!" Ron finished, positively , mate." Said Harry, trying to look happy for his best friend.
How could Ron be appointed captain?! He had only been on the team for a year, and hadn't done very well, for that matter. Well, he did win the Cup, but that was only one game...
Did Harry's ban have anything to do with it?
No, McGonagall had fought against Umbridge on that one. Surely she wouldn't see Harry any lower because of that....
He was about to begin eating his breakfast, when Lupin reminded him that he had a letter, too.
"Aren't you going to open it?" He asked.
Harry put down his fork and began to slowly tear away at the envelope.
Dear Mr. Potter, Enclosed are your Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) Examination results and your supply list for the following year. You are reminded that the term begins on the first of September, and the train leaves from Platform 9 ¾ of King's Cross Station at 11 A.M.
Sincerely, Minerva McGonagall
P.S. Your lifetime Quidditch ban has been lifted. Your position as seeker for the Gryffindor house team has been restored.
Signed,
Minerva McGonagall
Ron was right; he was seeker again. Harry pulled out another sheet of paper from the envelope.
Here are the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Level (O.W.L.) Examinations.
History of Magic: Dreadful
Charms: Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations
Potions: Outstanding
Astronomy: Poor
Herbology: Acceptable
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding
Divination: Dreadful
Please note: The Board of Magical Education acknowledges that there was a disturbance during your practical Astronomy examination. Your test has been graded accordingly.
Congratulations! You have received a total of six O.W.L.s!
"How did you do?" Lupin asked.
"I got six." He said as he pulled out the supply list.
"That's great Harry!" Lupin said.
"Yes, that's wonderful dear." Mrs. Weasley commented as she began to clear the table. Harry was about to hand her his plate, but she told him to keep eating.
"No, no. You're sitting here until you clear your plate; your bones are showing!" She said, and slapped Ron's hand when he got up for thirds.
"Mum!" He whined.
"Really, if I let you eat as much as you'd like to, not only would you eat us out of house and home, but you'd be as big as the house!"
Harry put a fork of eggs into his mouth and began reading over the supply list.
"So Ron, how did you do?" Mrs. Weasley asked. Ron pulled out the rest of the contents of his letter.
"Lupin, look at this." Harry said, pointing to his list.
"Advanced Divination: An In-Depth Look Into the Beyond by Cassandra Trelawney." He read aloud. "What about it?"
"I got a 'D' in Divination."
"It's probably just a mistake. You can ask Minerva tonight."
"I got one, two, three...four, five. Five O.W.L.s." Ron said from across the room.
"That's lovely, dear." Mrs. Weasley said. "We'll go to Diagon Alley after Harry finishes his breakfast. You both need new robes."
"Great!" Ron said, sitting down next to Harry. "You'll get to see Fred and George's shop, and I can tell them I've made captain!"
"Yeah." Harry said, stirring his fork around in his eggs. "That'll be great."
"So hey, how'd you do?"
"Six." He replied, as they exchanging results. Harry scanned the parchment. They would have all the same classes, save potions, assuming that divination was a mistake.
"How'd you manage to get an 'O' in potions!?"
"I dunno... how'd you get an 'E'?"
"Maybe it is just Snape!" Ron said with a look of anger and realization on his face. "Well, sorry mate. Looks like you're stuck with him again next year." He finished, this time with a look of sympathy.
"Yeah..."
"Have you got your lists?" Mrs. Weasley asked Harry and Ron fifteen minutes later as they stood beside the door with Moody, Tonks and Lupin. The two boys nodded.
"Well, good. Let's go." She said, and began unlocking the door.
"Oh, hey Mum. I forgot to tell you; Hermione owled this morning to say that she'd meet us at Diagon Alley to stay for the rest of the holidays." Ron said, very nonchalantly as they were walking down the pavement outside of number 12. Mrs. Weasley rounded on him.
"And you're just telling me now?!"
"Well, I'm sorry..." He mumbled. Mrs. Weasley began to walk a little faster, muttering something about inconsiderateness, and Harry was strongly reminded of Hermione.
"What are all the posters for?" Harry asked as they stepped through the opening in the wall and into Diagon Alley. Every shop and building was plastered in purple and silver posters.
"Didn't you hear? Fudge has been impeached." Tonks said as she picked up the owl cage she had just knocked down. Harry shook his head.
"Well, it would be a little hard to hear about anything if you're sleeping all day." Moody commented in his gruff voice.
"Yes, well, since Fudge has been fired, we have to elect a new minister." Mrs. Weasley said as they turned the corner, coming into view of Gringott's.
As they got closer, Harry could see they said "VOTE!" in large letters and held a picture of one of two were men on them—Gilbert Wimple and Oscar Macmillan.
Wimple had a rather prominent hooked nose and very large eyebrows, giving him the appearance of a feathery hawk. Macmillan, on the other hand, had a somewhat pudgy nose, a square jaw, and light-colored hair parted perfectly down the center. Harry thought he looked vaguely familiar...
"Is that Ernie Macmillan's—" Harry asked, pointing to one of the posters.
"Dad? Yeah." Ron replied.
"That explains a lot...." Harry muttered. Ron laughed.
"Oscar has been trying to move up for ages—he's on the Wizengamot just now—and there's really nowhere else to go." Lupin commented.
"What about the other one, Wimple?" Harry asked.
"Old Wimple is just after titles; the higher your position, the better the retirement, which is the only reason he hasn't yet; he's plenty old enough." Said Mrs. Weasley as they entered the bank. "Now, come on Harry, take out your key."
"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione asked from the bottom of the stairwell.
"Err... I dunno. Somewhere?" That was a lie. Harry was going to Buckbeak's room, but he knew that if Hermione found his hiding place she wouldn't leave him alone, and to be alone was something he wanted very much.
Hermione looked up at him with concern. Harry could tell she was about to say something that was supposed to be 'comforting.' But she let the silence hang for a few moments more, and he turned around.
"Look, Harry, I know—" She began, causing Harry to stop.
"I just want to be alone, alright?" He snapped back, then turned around once more.
"But you'll be down for Ron's party tonight, right?" She called hopefully. Mrs. Weasley was having a small "get-together" after the Order meeting in honor of Ron making captain.
Doubt it. Harry thought. But I do have to ask McGonagall about Divination...
"Yeah, whatever, I guess..." He said and left without waiting for a reply.
Several hours later, he was woken by a large amount of water hitting him in the face. It was a water balloon, and Harry sat up to see Fred and George standing at the foot of his bed, armed with several more.
"Mum told us to be 'gentle.'" Fred said with a grin.
"Yeah, she sent us up here to wake you. The party's started." George stated. "But I can't tell you how long it's been since we used these." He said as he tossed a balloon up and caught it in his hand, causing it to burst.
"Very mature of you." Harry replied, wiping water off his glasses with his shirt.
"Yes, I'd like to think we grown past water balloons, but there's something primitively satisfying about them..." Fred said, almost wistfully.
"Well, come on, we have to get rid of these and Mum will get worried if you don't come down. Mum's worried about everything these days..." George said.
"Yes, but especially about you." Fred said to Harry as they left the room. Harry could've sworn that there was a strange look in Fred's eyes, one he hadn't seen before. He looked serious. But the moment was fleeting as he burst another balloon on Harry's head, and Harry grinned for the first time in weeks.
Mrs. Weasley, Hermione, and Lupin all looked very relieved to see Harry amongst the living once again, and not only that—smiling. Mrs. Weasley hugged him for no apparent reason and muttered in his ear "I'll have to make sure Fred and George come over more," then began filling a plate of food for him.
Dinner was served buffet style, and most of the Order stayed after the meeting to eat and congratulate Ron, who was positively basking in the spotlight. A few minutes into the party, Harry spotted McGonagall standing next to the table.
"Professor, could I—" He began.
"Look, Mr. Potter, I'm sorry. I tried to make you captain, but Professor Dumbledore thought it best that I didn't. I really am sorry." She said apologetically.
So that's why... First Prefects, now this.
"Erm, that's not what I was going to ask you, but..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, what was it then?" She said, setting her plate down.
"I was wondering if there was a mistake in my Hogwarts letter, because I got a 'D' in Divination, but the book was on my supply list."
"Oh, that." She said and scowled. "Professor Trelawney said she still wanted you in the class. Said you possessed the 'inner eye;'" She rolled her eyes. "Sybill doesn't believe in standardized testing."
"Oh, okay..." Harry said, still confused. Professor Trelawney had given him a 'p' on every piece of homework he had ever turned in—until he started lying, that is—the only thing he saw in a crystal ball was his reflection, and he couldn't read tea leaves to save his life. How could even she say that he possessed the 'inner eye?'
"You'd better go enjoy the party before it's over." McGonagall said, giving him a look of genuine concern.
People had been giving him that look a lot lately...
A/N sorry it took me so long to update. I had writer's block--which is why i didn't include much of Diagon Alley or any of Fred and George's shop. i tried to write it in, really, but it just never came out right. so, anyway, all in all, i think it was an okay chapter. and plus, there's actually something of some significance in this one!
until next time--which will hopefully come sooner than this one did--
liseli ;)