Chapter 6
The New Term
At breakfast the next morning, all sixth year students were advised to meet with their Head of House directly following breakfast. No schedules were passed out to the sixth years as they were to everyone else at breakfast that morning. At breakfast, Ginny listened in awe as she was told what had happened while they were trying to visit Hagrid the night before.
Before people began clearing out of the Dining Hall, Dumbledore stood up and announced, "Care of Magical Creatures Classes will not be meeting today, as a result of Hagrid's temporary illness. When classes restart tomorrow, they will be held on the grounds directly by the castle rather than by Hagrid's cabin. Other than that, I wish you all a pleasant first day of classes."
When they were finished with breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Hermione bade Ginny farewell and made their way up to McGonagall's room. Neville was the last straggler to come in, and after he arrived, McGonagall began to speak. "Well, as you know, you will all be beginning your N.E.W.T. classes this term. I would recommend that you all take at least 4 or 5 classes this term, although I would advise against taking more than 7," Harry was pretty sure that McGonagall looked straight at Hermione as she said this, "as each of these classes will be very difficult, and we wouldn't want anybody overstressing themselves. You will receive a full schedule of classes that are available to Gryffindor Sixth Years this year, and you will choose which classes you need to attend." She handed out the schedules.
They read as follows:
Monday Morning: Arithmancy
Monday Afternoon: Charms
Monday Night: Astronomy
Tuesday Morning: Care of Magical Creatures
Tuesday Afternoon: Divination
Wednesday Morning: Ancient Runes
Wednesday Afternoon: Transfiguration
Thursday Morning: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Thursday Afternoon: Herbology
Friday Morning: Potions
Friday Afternoon: History of Magic
After she handed the schedules out, she said, "This means that you will all have some free mornings or free afternoons. This time will be largely spent on the great deal of homework that each of these classes will no doubt afford you. Now, you all know from your O.W.L. scores for which classes you are qualified. For any class other than mine and Proffesor Snape's a score of Acceptable is able to get you into the class. For Potions, you will remember that only scores of Outstanding will be allowed to participate, and for my class you must have scored at least Exceeds Expectations. Well, you may all go now, Arithmancy starts in half an hour for anyone who is interested. Potter, stay here for a minute."
Everybody except Harry left, and Ron and Hermione promised to wait for him out in the hall. McGonagall addressed Harry, "I trust that you will be taking D.A.D.A., Charms, and Transfiguration as I have advised you?"
"Yes," answered Harry.
"Along with potions, that gives you the possibility of getting 'Exceeds Expectations' on 4 of your 5 N.E.W.T.'s required for becoming an Auror. That means you still have one class of your own choice to take," said Professor McGonagall.
"I'll take 'Care of Magical Creatures,'" said Harry without hesitation.
"All right," said McGonagall, glancing at Harry's schedule. "That means you have Fridays free. Well, we won't mess that up for you. I will tutor you in Potions on Thursday evenings. As captain of the team, you can make certain that that will not interfere with your practice," said Professor McGonagall with a smile. Regaining her serious demeanor, she stated, "And I expect you to work very hard in Potions from now on. I do not intend to waste my time. If you do not put forth effort to improve consistently and in a timely manner, I will discontinue our sessions."
"Yes, professor," Harry assured her. He had been given another chance at becoming an auror, and he was not going to screw this up.
When Harry met with Hermione and Ron out in the hallway, Ron asked, "So, Harry, what classes are you going to take?"
Harry explained his schedule, including the special lessons with McGonagall, and then asked Ron what he was taking.
"Well, I'm going to take basically everything you're taking, except I'll take Herbology instead of Potions."
"Any idea what you're going to do with that once you're out of Hogwarts?" asked Harry.
"I think I'm going to go off and study dragons or something like my brother. Something that the Care of Magical Creatures will come in handy for, I think. Or else, if I get good enough at it," he smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "maybe I'll be able to get on a professional Quidditch team."
"Speaking of Quidditch, we're going to have to have tryouts for that soon, to fill the Chaser spots. Hermione, what courses are you taking?" he asked, and immediately decided that this may not have been the smartest thing he could have asked her at the moment. She seemed to be highly frustrated.
"I just don't know!" she mused, confirming Harry's suspicions. "Well, Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course. And transfiguration and charms are always important. But I just don't know what I want to do when I get out of school."
"You could be an Auror," said Harry excitedly. "You get the top marks, and what could be more important than fighting Dark Wizards?"
Hermione looked for a moment as if she might mention something about S.P.E.W., and Ron looked for a moment as if he might actually kill her if she did. But then Hermione simply said, "Well, I'll have to think about that. But first, I've got to go to Arithmancy."
"You're taking that again?" asked Ron, in disbelief, "you said that was your toughest class."
"Which is exactly why I should take it again. Whatever I decide to be, a N.E.W.T. in that will look impressive on my application," she said, before rushing off toward the part of the castle that her Arithmancy class was in.
"Well, that's just terrible for her. If she's really going to take Charms too, that means she's going to have a full schedule on a Monday," said Ron, half-sympathetically. "Of course, she's doing it to herself."
"Well, are you up for a game of Wizard's Chess?" asked Harry, as they made their way back to the common room.
At lunch that day, Hermione said, "Did you know that there are only 3 of us in that Arithmancy class?"
"Really?" asked Ron, sounding somewhat surprised, "3 of you were big enough masochists to take such a hard class? Who else?"
"Me, Ernie MacMillan, and Draco Malfoy," said Hermione, ignoring Ron's insult. "I was talking to Ernie about carreer plans as well, and I think I've decided what I'm going to do."
"Oh yeah?" asked Harry, interested, "what?"
"I'm going to be a member of the Ministry of Magic," Hermione announced.
Ron groaned, "I always knew you were too much like Percy."
"Oh, that's really not fair," said Hermione, seeming somewhat hurt by the comment. "After all, your Dad is a member of the Ministry too, and he's all right, isn't he?"
"Well, yeah," admitted Ron. "Have you decided what part of the ministry you're going to go into?"
"Yeah, that's the best part. I'm going into the part that deals with magical creatures. That way I'll still be able to call attention to the atrocities being committed towards house-elves."
After that, nothing of great import (except for the nasty look that Ron shot at Hermione) occurred until the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class on Thursday afternoon. In the class, there were a total of 20 people (all the houses took the N.E.W.T. classes at the same times, so the classes could get a little big) and Harry noticed that many of the people that were in the class had also been in his Defense club the year before, and also that Slytherin was noticeably un-represented in the class.
When the class started, Tonks introduced herself to the class, "My name is Tonks. No need to call me Professor, as I'm not much older than you." (The face she was wearing today was helpful in convincing people of this point, as she appeared to be in her mid-twenties today.) "Other than that, I thank you all for signing up to take this class, and I hope to prove to be a more competent teacher than some of those you have had in the past. The first thing you will all have to do at this point is to take out your wands."
At this, there was a round of applause from the class, each member of which remembered all too well the reign of Umbridge and the days of wand-less D.A.D.A. classes.
"For our first lesson today, I am going to teach you all a counter-curse which can come in dead useful against Dark Wizards. It renders the wands of both the wizard who it is directed toward and the wizard who sent it unable to perform any spell that would cause death or pain to another wizard for twenty-four hours. Thus, even if the spell is deflected back toward you, it will still be effective, as the wizard who deflected at you will then become the caster of the spell. It's a great way of leveling the playing field in such a way that neither wizard will be mortally harmed in a battle. Now, the incantation for this spell is-"
At this point, Tonks was disturbed by the tapping of an owl at the window. It was not an owl that was familiar to Harry, and it was knocking on the window closest to Tonks, so at first, Harry was unconcerned, believing that it was simply a personal message for her. Tonks seemed to be thinking along these same lines and was hesitant to open the window and let the owl in during her lesson, but the owl would not stop knocking on the window. Finally, Tonks yielded to the will of the owl, and opened the window.
She took the letter off the owl's leg, and asked the class to please wait a moment as she read the letter to herself. As she read, her face was overcome by a look of fear. When she was done reading, she looked up at the class, and Harry was pretty sure that she was looking at him in particular. Then she looked away, and began to make her way toward the door. "I must show this letter to Dumbledore immediately. Please look this spell up and practice it amongst yourselves until I get back."
And like that, Tonks was gone. A general murmur went up among the students in the class. "What do you reckon the letter was about?" asked Ron curiously.
"It must've been something really important," reasoned Hermione. "Maybe it was-"
But at this moment, the owl that Tonks had let in, which had until this point been looking insolently around the room, took flight, and began attacking random members of the class. It wasn't until ten seconds later when Hermione proved wise enough to perform a stunning charm on it that things finally quieted down, leaving no less than 3 people with nasty cuts. Ron got up and through the stunned owl out the open window before closing it again.
Conversation once again turned to what could have been the contents of the letter that had so disturbed Tonks.
The New Term
At breakfast the next morning, all sixth year students were advised to meet with their Head of House directly following breakfast. No schedules were passed out to the sixth years as they were to everyone else at breakfast that morning. At breakfast, Ginny listened in awe as she was told what had happened while they were trying to visit Hagrid the night before.
Before people began clearing out of the Dining Hall, Dumbledore stood up and announced, "Care of Magical Creatures Classes will not be meeting today, as a result of Hagrid's temporary illness. When classes restart tomorrow, they will be held on the grounds directly by the castle rather than by Hagrid's cabin. Other than that, I wish you all a pleasant first day of classes."
When they were finished with breakfast, Harry, Ron, and Hermione bade Ginny farewell and made their way up to McGonagall's room. Neville was the last straggler to come in, and after he arrived, McGonagall began to speak. "Well, as you know, you will all be beginning your N.E.W.T. classes this term. I would recommend that you all take at least 4 or 5 classes this term, although I would advise against taking more than 7," Harry was pretty sure that McGonagall looked straight at Hermione as she said this, "as each of these classes will be very difficult, and we wouldn't want anybody overstressing themselves. You will receive a full schedule of classes that are available to Gryffindor Sixth Years this year, and you will choose which classes you need to attend." She handed out the schedules.
They read as follows:
Monday Morning: Arithmancy
Monday Afternoon: Charms
Monday Night: Astronomy
Tuesday Morning: Care of Magical Creatures
Tuesday Afternoon: Divination
Wednesday Morning: Ancient Runes
Wednesday Afternoon: Transfiguration
Thursday Morning: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Thursday Afternoon: Herbology
Friday Morning: Potions
Friday Afternoon: History of Magic
After she handed the schedules out, she said, "This means that you will all have some free mornings or free afternoons. This time will be largely spent on the great deal of homework that each of these classes will no doubt afford you. Now, you all know from your O.W.L. scores for which classes you are qualified. For any class other than mine and Proffesor Snape's a score of Acceptable is able to get you into the class. For Potions, you will remember that only scores of Outstanding will be allowed to participate, and for my class you must have scored at least Exceeds Expectations. Well, you may all go now, Arithmancy starts in half an hour for anyone who is interested. Potter, stay here for a minute."
Everybody except Harry left, and Ron and Hermione promised to wait for him out in the hall. McGonagall addressed Harry, "I trust that you will be taking D.A.D.A., Charms, and Transfiguration as I have advised you?"
"Yes," answered Harry.
"Along with potions, that gives you the possibility of getting 'Exceeds Expectations' on 4 of your 5 N.E.W.T.'s required for becoming an Auror. That means you still have one class of your own choice to take," said Professor McGonagall.
"I'll take 'Care of Magical Creatures,'" said Harry without hesitation.
"All right," said McGonagall, glancing at Harry's schedule. "That means you have Fridays free. Well, we won't mess that up for you. I will tutor you in Potions on Thursday evenings. As captain of the team, you can make certain that that will not interfere with your practice," said Professor McGonagall with a smile. Regaining her serious demeanor, she stated, "And I expect you to work very hard in Potions from now on. I do not intend to waste my time. If you do not put forth effort to improve consistently and in a timely manner, I will discontinue our sessions."
"Yes, professor," Harry assured her. He had been given another chance at becoming an auror, and he was not going to screw this up.
When Harry met with Hermione and Ron out in the hallway, Ron asked, "So, Harry, what classes are you going to take?"
Harry explained his schedule, including the special lessons with McGonagall, and then asked Ron what he was taking.
"Well, I'm going to take basically everything you're taking, except I'll take Herbology instead of Potions."
"Any idea what you're going to do with that once you're out of Hogwarts?" asked Harry.
"I think I'm going to go off and study dragons or something like my brother. Something that the Care of Magical Creatures will come in handy for, I think. Or else, if I get good enough at it," he smiled somewhat embarrassedly, "maybe I'll be able to get on a professional Quidditch team."
"Speaking of Quidditch, we're going to have to have tryouts for that soon, to fill the Chaser spots. Hermione, what courses are you taking?" he asked, and immediately decided that this may not have been the smartest thing he could have asked her at the moment. She seemed to be highly frustrated.
"I just don't know!" she mused, confirming Harry's suspicions. "Well, Defense Against the Dark Arts, of course. And transfiguration and charms are always important. But I just don't know what I want to do when I get out of school."
"You could be an Auror," said Harry excitedly. "You get the top marks, and what could be more important than fighting Dark Wizards?"
Hermione looked for a moment as if she might mention something about S.P.E.W., and Ron looked for a moment as if he might actually kill her if she did. But then Hermione simply said, "Well, I'll have to think about that. But first, I've got to go to Arithmancy."
"You're taking that again?" asked Ron, in disbelief, "you said that was your toughest class."
"Which is exactly why I should take it again. Whatever I decide to be, a N.E.W.T. in that will look impressive on my application," she said, before rushing off toward the part of the castle that her Arithmancy class was in.
"Well, that's just terrible for her. If she's really going to take Charms too, that means she's going to have a full schedule on a Monday," said Ron, half-sympathetically. "Of course, she's doing it to herself."
"Well, are you up for a game of Wizard's Chess?" asked Harry, as they made their way back to the common room.
At lunch that day, Hermione said, "Did you know that there are only 3 of us in that Arithmancy class?"
"Really?" asked Ron, sounding somewhat surprised, "3 of you were big enough masochists to take such a hard class? Who else?"
"Me, Ernie MacMillan, and Draco Malfoy," said Hermione, ignoring Ron's insult. "I was talking to Ernie about carreer plans as well, and I think I've decided what I'm going to do."
"Oh yeah?" asked Harry, interested, "what?"
"I'm going to be a member of the Ministry of Magic," Hermione announced.
Ron groaned, "I always knew you were too much like Percy."
"Oh, that's really not fair," said Hermione, seeming somewhat hurt by the comment. "After all, your Dad is a member of the Ministry too, and he's all right, isn't he?"
"Well, yeah," admitted Ron. "Have you decided what part of the ministry you're going to go into?"
"Yeah, that's the best part. I'm going into the part that deals with magical creatures. That way I'll still be able to call attention to the atrocities being committed towards house-elves."
After that, nothing of great import (except for the nasty look that Ron shot at Hermione) occurred until the first Defense Against the Dark Arts class on Thursday afternoon. In the class, there were a total of 20 people (all the houses took the N.E.W.T. classes at the same times, so the classes could get a little big) and Harry noticed that many of the people that were in the class had also been in his Defense club the year before, and also that Slytherin was noticeably un-represented in the class.
When the class started, Tonks introduced herself to the class, "My name is Tonks. No need to call me Professor, as I'm not much older than you." (The face she was wearing today was helpful in convincing people of this point, as she appeared to be in her mid-twenties today.) "Other than that, I thank you all for signing up to take this class, and I hope to prove to be a more competent teacher than some of those you have had in the past. The first thing you will all have to do at this point is to take out your wands."
At this, there was a round of applause from the class, each member of which remembered all too well the reign of Umbridge and the days of wand-less D.A.D.A. classes.
"For our first lesson today, I am going to teach you all a counter-curse which can come in dead useful against Dark Wizards. It renders the wands of both the wizard who it is directed toward and the wizard who sent it unable to perform any spell that would cause death or pain to another wizard for twenty-four hours. Thus, even if the spell is deflected back toward you, it will still be effective, as the wizard who deflected at you will then become the caster of the spell. It's a great way of leveling the playing field in such a way that neither wizard will be mortally harmed in a battle. Now, the incantation for this spell is-"
At this point, Tonks was disturbed by the tapping of an owl at the window. It was not an owl that was familiar to Harry, and it was knocking on the window closest to Tonks, so at first, Harry was unconcerned, believing that it was simply a personal message for her. Tonks seemed to be thinking along these same lines and was hesitant to open the window and let the owl in during her lesson, but the owl would not stop knocking on the window. Finally, Tonks yielded to the will of the owl, and opened the window.
She took the letter off the owl's leg, and asked the class to please wait a moment as she read the letter to herself. As she read, her face was overcome by a look of fear. When she was done reading, she looked up at the class, and Harry was pretty sure that she was looking at him in particular. Then she looked away, and began to make her way toward the door. "I must show this letter to Dumbledore immediately. Please look this spell up and practice it amongst yourselves until I get back."
And like that, Tonks was gone. A general murmur went up among the students in the class. "What do you reckon the letter was about?" asked Ron curiously.
"It must've been something really important," reasoned Hermione. "Maybe it was-"
But at this moment, the owl that Tonks had let in, which had until this point been looking insolently around the room, took flight, and began attacking random members of the class. It wasn't until ten seconds later when Hermione proved wise enough to perform a stunning charm on it that things finally quieted down, leaving no less than 3 people with nasty cuts. Ron got up and through the stunned owl out the open window before closing it again.
Conversation once again turned to what could have been the contents of the letter that had so disturbed Tonks.