Chapter 5
Letters from Dumbledore
Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville spent much of the next few days perusing the shops of Diagon Ally. Harry was tempted to use up almost all of the Gold that now lie in a safe in his bedroom, after he'd withdrawn it from Gringotts. He did however still need school books, and Hermione was anxiously waiting to see her O.W.L Scores.
Harry and Ron however did find some frivolous uses for their money. Harry stared at a pair of Petrifying cameras. Anyone in flash range will be momentarily stunned. "Just for a second or so!" Fred kept insisting whenever Mrs. Weasley looked at them. Ron almost bought some kind of itching powder, that apparently lasted for days. "It'd drive Mrs. Norris Nuts!" But, then Mrs. Weasley banned them from buying anything in the shop, much to the dismay of Fred and George.
But, it soon became the Hermione got her wish, as the very next morning Hogwarts letters Arrived. O.W.L. scores came in as well.
"I can't look," Hermione said. "Look for me!" She thrust the letter in Harry's had as he hastened to open it.
Granger, Hermione
Ancient Runes: O
Arithmancy: O
Astronomy:
Charms: O
Care of Magical Creatures: O
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Herbology: O
History of Magic: O
Potions: O
Transfiguration: O
Score given- Full Marks
Score is Non-Applicable due to special exam Circumstances
Harry Read this aloud for Hermione and she gasped.
"That's right, I forgot about Hagrid's arrest that night." She began pacing back and forth.
"Would you…"Ron had turned pink. He hadn't opened his letter either. "Would you mind…"
"Yeah, sure," Harry took Ron's letter and opened it to.
Weasley, Ron
Astronomy:
Charms: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: P
Herbology: E
History of Magic: A
Potions: O
Transfiguration: E
Score Given- Full marks
Score Non-applicable due to special exam Circumstances
"Well at least it means no more Divination," Ron said Laughing at the Pitiful P.
Harry too could not open his envelope. "Ron, Would you?"
Potter, Harry
Astronomy:
Charms: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Defense against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: P
Herbology: E
History of Magic: A
Potions: O
Transfiguration: E
Score non-applicable due to special exam circumstances.
"Hold on," Ron said, scanning the page. "You've got three stars by your Defense grade." He looked down to the bottom. "Oh, three stars means… 'Exceeds the Scoring parameters, Well done'"
"Exceeds the scoring parameters?" Hermione leaned over, looking mildly jealous.
Harry Explained. "Professor Tofty had me show him my patronus for a bonus point."
Hermione leaned back looking mildly jealous for a moment. "Oh, but Harry" She smiled. "That means you can get into Snape's N.E.W.T. class!"
"Oh," Harry smiled. "That's right."
Neville, Terry Boot, and Susan Bones all rushed into the room at the same time.
"Look at this!" Neville Said. "I didn't do nearly as terrible as I thought I would.
Longbottom, Neville
Astronomy:
Charms: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Defense against the Dark Arts: O
Divination: A
Herbology: O
History of Magic: A
Potions: P
Transfiguration: E
"That's Seven O.W.L.s" Neville yelled excitedly!
"Good job on Herbology, Neville," Hermione said as she scanned over her paper.
"How many O.W.L.s did you get Hermione?" Neville asked.
"Nine," She replied.
"I'm confused," Terry Boot said, sitting down. "How does this all work?"
"Well," Hermione explained. "You know the grades right? T: Terrible- No hope. P: Poor, A: acceptable, that's the first passing grade. Then there's E: exceeds expectations, and O: outstanding. Os, Es and As pass and you get an O.W.L."
"Well, that means I got six O.W.L.s" Susan said excitedly.
"And I've got eight," said Terry.
Harry didn't know either of them well, but they were both in the D.A. last year so they were at least acquainted.
They were each only allowed to choose five classes, as N.E.W.T. classes were longer and had more outside work.
"Only five?" Hermione said as she suddenly went into a state of shock over which classes to choose.
In the end, Harry and Ron both chose
Transfiguration
Potions
Charms
Defense against the Dark arts
And Herbology
And Hermione took
Arithmancy
Defense Against the Dark arts
Potions
Transfiguration
And Charms
"I wonder who Dumbledore'll get this year for Defense Against the Dark Arts, asked Neville as Terry and Susan wandered out of the room.
Neville had chosen:
Herbology
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Charms
Transfiguration
And History of Magic
"Dunno," Ron said. "He's never mentioned it."
The Next day he got the chance to ask, as Dumbledore came to call at Headquarters for a meeting of the Order.
"Professor," Harry asked right as Dumbledore walked in. "Who have you gotten for the Defense against the Dark arts teacher."
"Ah," Dumbledore said. Looking amused. "My one and only applicant, Professor Hopkirk." This, however was the only explanation Harry got. Dumbledore dropped off book lists for each of them based on the classes they had taken.
The Standard book of Spells- Grade 6: by Miranda Goshhawk
Advanced Transfiguration: by Emeric Switch
Beyond the Basics: an Advanced guide to Potion Making: By Arsenius Jigger
Ten Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi: By Phyllida Spore
And Bewitched: and Advanced guide to Self-Defense: By Sean Tortolus
As a reminder the Hogwarts express leaves on September the 1st at 11:00.
Thank you,
Minerva McGonnagal-Deputy Headmistress
Next: The Arrival of Professor Hopkirk
