Heather: Yay! Heather! It's so good to see your name on the review list! Glad you like the new spell. I even did it in Latin so it worked by JKR's terms. And yeah, I thought if anyone was going to get Grimmauld Place it would be Harry, plus it gives him somewhere to live when he is older!
BabesBunny: Thank you! Here is the update.
Loonygrl90: Lol, not said much there have you? Ah well, at least you enjoyed it!
Chapter 6The delicious wafting of dinner summoned them down into the basement the next day. Harry, Ron and Hermione came down the staircase into the hallway to see a few members of the Order leaving; there had just been a meeting. The trio were still not allowed in on these groupings, and Fred and George were out working in their new shop, so there were no Extendable Ears on hand. Harry and the group entered the basement kitchen, walking in to find plates hovering over to the large kitchen table where Harry recognised a few Order members who sat looking eager for Molly Weasley's cooking. Harry's heart made a leap as he saw Dumbledore rise from the head of the table, pulling his violet cloak over his shoulders slowly.
"I would not want to cause disturbance Molly, you already have a lot of hungry mouths to feed," he smiled kindly to the table ahead of him. Harry felt a rare smile come upon his face at the sight of Dumbledore. It was always a reassuring sight. However, with a slump in his chest he saw the oily haired Severus Snape, the potions master, also stood beside Dumbledore. He cast a dark look towards the trio as he too pulled on his cloak.
But Mrs. Weasley rushed forth with her wand summoning a large bowl of mashed potatoes that dropped down into the centre of the table as she passed. "No, no Albus!" she said, ushering him back into his seat, "There is plenty for all. You are very welcome to stay!"
"Well.." said Dumbledore, watching the giant roast turkey sit in the middle of the table, delicious smells rising from it, "I am partial to a roast on a Sunday." He sat back down, glancing over the top of his half-moon spectacles, "Sit down Severus," he suggested politely, "Surely you need food too."
Snape lowered to the table with a pained expression. He flashed his eyes across the room to Harry, clearly not happy about the invitation. However, Dumbledore raised his eyes, casting a gentle smile, "Good afternoon Harry," he glanced to the others, "Mr. Weasley, Miss. Granger." He gestured to the three empty seats down the left side of the table. Harry quickly strode forward and seated himself beside Dumbledore, who was at the head of the table. Hermione pulled out the chair beside Harry, and Ron took the last spare seat in-between Hermione and Tonks, who cheerfully waved to the trio.
"How are you, Harry?" asked Dumbledore, leaning slightly towards him and away from Snape, "Was your stay at the Dursleys bearable?"
Harry made a small smile, quickly nodding his head, "It's been worse," he informed Dumbledore quietly, "But I'm glad to be here.. to see you again."
"You could stay here next summer," said Ron through a mouthful of potato. Dumbledore cast Harry a furtive look before he glanced over to the turkey absently and clapped his hands twice. The turkey fell to lay on the plate in neat slices - inner unnecessary bones gone.
Harry shrugged slowly as he leaned forward to look past Hermione, "Maybe.." he said faintly before turning his eyes upon Mrs. Weasley who was sending pieces of turkey to everyone's plates with the simple flick of her wand.
"Do you want some more, Ginny dear?"
Harry glanced down to Ginny who slowly shook her head and leant forward to eat. Mr. Weasley was sat besides her, gesturing to his wife for more helpings. Tonks gave an idle smirk as she watched the Mr. Weasley opposite as he continue to ask for more. Snape cast an unimpressed glare over Mr. Weasley's plate before he huffed quietly and stabbed some peas reluctantly.
Harry could hear Hermione talking loudly across the table to Snape about the recent OWLS potion exam, going over the questions and asking him if the answers were right. Harry was surprised she could remember the questions so efficiently, "But then, on question 43c I wasn't sure whether the answer was Dust of Wrath or the simple Gillyweed, it is such a strange one to mix up but I remember there being similar properties between the two, Gillyweed being a water survival plant and the other being a calming powder. I do actually remember the potion containing both, but which one needed to be singed first?"
Snape stabbed a piece of meat and shoved it into his mouth with narrowed eyes. Dumbledore calmly intervened, casting a smile to Hermione as his eyes twinkled, "Do not worry Miss. Granger, I'm sure you have performed exceedingly well on all of your examinations. Professor Snape is enjoying his holidays, perhaps the mention of school is off-putting."
Hermione blushed a deep scarlet and looked down to her food, muttering something that sounded like strangely like, "Mimble-Wimble," people had a habit of muttering like that, Harry thought.
The rest of the table remained in idle chatter as the meal went on, though Dumbledore's end had gone quiet, Harry heard Mrs. Weasley asking Ginny if she had nearly completed her Transfiguration essay.
The peacefulness resumed over the table, the background chatter warm and friendly to Harry's ears. However, suddenly, he blinked as he saw a small green object shoot across the table and hit Snape squarely on his hooked nose. Harry snapped his head round to see Tonks and Ron sniggering to themselves.
Snape raised his eyes slowly, casting a dangerous glare around the table. Nobody was watching him. He went back to his food with grunt in his throat. Another object flew across, Harry now realising that the missiles were in fact peas. Harry felt a small smirk on his face as he watched Tonks wave her wand just below the tabletop, to send another pea towards him. Snape's eyes snapped up again and instantly latched on Harry's smirk, which slipped from his face instantly. If Snape was intending to blame Harry, evidence vanished as a pea collided with his forehead as he stared at Harry, who had both hands visible with no wand.
"Which of you insufferable children are trying my patience?" said Snape in a low greasy voice, black glittering eyes sweeping over all the Hogwarts students present. Lupin looked up from the head of the table as he sat opposite Dumbledore.
"Is there a problem, Severus?" asked Lupin politely.
Snape turned his glinting eyes down the table to Lupin. He made an almost feral-like growl in his throat before he looked down to his food, curtains of black swinging over his face. But even that didn't stop the next pea. Harry heard the whispered, "Wingardium Leviosa!" before a rather large pea shot off Tonks's plate and was catapulted into Snape's face.
Snape twisted his eyes up with a very ugly look on his face. He glared right at Tonks. In the blink of an eye, he had whipped his wand out of his robe sleeve and pointed it sharply across the table with a hiss of, "Eruptio!" Chaos ensued as the food on Tonks's plate flew up spectacularly and food rained down upon her.
Ron yelled and shot back from the table to avoid the splattering of gravy. Tonks threw back her chair and stood with an alarmed cry, staring down her robes as mashed potato and other various food dripped down her front. Snape smirked slowly to himself, calmly replacing his wand in his sleeve and returning to his meal.
"Scourgify!" hissed Tonks as she raised her wand over the front of her torso. The mess that covered her left her clothing and anything else it had splashed upon. Harry had heard her use the spell before; only it was to clean out Hedwig's cage. It was a useful spell to remember. Snape still had a satisfied smirk on his face that was partly hidden by his curtains of hair. Tonks sat down abruptly and helped herself to some more food with rough motions of her hands, glare fixed on Snape.
The table glanced sharply in-between Tonks and Snape before everybody tensely returned to their meal. Harry glanced over to Dumbledore and caught the old man smiling to himself.
For the next few days the house was very busy. Wizards and witches were constantly coming and going at number 12. Kreacher was following Harry around obsessively, and Mrs. Black screeched her dislike to the visitors. Dumbledore didn't return to the house after the Sunday dinner, but unfortunately, Snape did, and he was in a darker mood than ever since every time he confronted Tonks in the hallway he made a flinch as if to get out his wand. Harry thought it was reassuring to know that even an older person such as Tonks had difficulty with Snape.
One morning, Harry was climbing up the stairs with Hermione who was ardently discussing the exam essay on werewolves to Harry, having just left the kitchen where she had cornered Remus Lupin, who was a werewolf himself, as Harry discovered a few years ago. However, Hermione's constant talk about the previous OWL examinations always made a tight knot form in his stomach. It reminded him, both of the looming results, and of the tricking vision of tortured Sirius.
Harry knew they were to be expecting their exam results any day now. But when they went into Hermione's current bedroom Harry's heart sickeningly dropped into his gut as an owl landed on the window ledge outside and hooted importantly for entry. Hermione practically threw Harry onto the bed in a bid to get over to the window in a mad scramble. Harry pulled his face up off the soft cream covers and lurched his head round to stare as large Great Horn owl stepped grandly through the open window. There was a pair of envelopes clutched in its beak, bound by red ribbon. A larger collection was tied about its ankle. The Hogwarts crest was stamped upon back of the envelopes, glinting its coloured ink in the morning sunshine. It lowered two envelopes into Hermione's outstretched hand before bowing grandly and departing out of the window. Harry didn't have chance to climb up off the bed before Hermione dropped to sit beside him, bounce of the mattress making him lose balance and flop onto his front again with a grunt.
Hermione frantically untied the ribbon, yanking an envelope to Harry who accepted it glumly. Hermione tore into her own, staring breathlessly as she opened the letter within and dragged her eyes down it. Harry sighed as he sat up, opening his with a lot less ardour that Hermione.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Enclosed are the results of last year's OWL examinations. These results will effect which subjects you wish to study next year. A form for new studies is overleaf. Please fill it in accordingly and owl it to your head of house, Professor McGonagall.
I wish you the best of luck in the coming year.
Albus Dumbledore
Harry swallowed slowly as he pushed aside the paper to see a second sheet. Title headed with, "O.W.Ls Ordinary Wizarding Levels for Harry James Potter." Below were his listed grades, McGonagall's voice popped into his head for a moment, "It's a difficult career path Potter, they only accept the best," Harry fumbled with his letter as he looked down the list.
Defence Against the Dark Arts
Practical examination: Outstanding
Written examination: Outstanding
Transfiguration
Practical examination: Outstanding
Written examination: Outstanding
Potions
Practical examination: Outstanding
Written examination: Exceeds Expectations
Charms
Practical examination: Exceeds Expectations
Written examination: Outstanding
Herbology
Practical examination: Outstanding
Written examination: Outstanding
History of Magic
Written examination: Acceptable
Astronomy
Practical examination: Poor
Written examination: Acceptable
Divination
Practical examination: Troll
Care of Magical Creatures
Practical examination: Outstanding
Written examination: Exceeds Expectations
Harry's heart lifted gleefully as his eyes scanned over his Defence Against the Dark arts and Transfiguration results. But then it plummeted into icy depths as he read his Potions written exam result. McGonagall's voice came back again, "Professor Snape absolutely refuses to take students who get anything less than "Outstanding" in their OWLS." Harry glanced over the rest of his results morosely, heart only managing the smallest of flickers to see his other marks of 'Outstanding'. He looked up slowly to see Hermione watching him carefully.
He could see her eyes sparkling and face blushing with excitement, but she kept her joy reigned in as she watched his glum face. She spoke very softly, "How did you do?" Harry shook his head slowly and pushed the letter into her hands. He let out a rough grunt and dropped down to lie on the bed on his back, his legs overhanging the edge at bent knees whilst he stared up at the ceiling in a deadened silence.
Hermione's eyes quickly scanned down his results, a gentle smile lifting her lips. "What's the matter? These are good results."
"I needed better than that to get in Snape's class. I need NEWT Potions to be an Auror." He looked slowly over to her, eyes finally leaving the dark ceiling, "Snape is never going to let me in, and he hates me anyway. I bet Malfoy gets through even if he only gets an 'A'." Harry muttered his words bitterly, eyes hardening somewhat.
"Well, it's worth a try," said Hermione softly, handing the letter back to him, "Add it to your list of subjects for NEWTs and see what happens. It can't hurt."
Harry sat up slowly, holding the letter loosely in his hand, "I suppose not," he murmured, watching the letter for a moment before he glanced slowly to Hermione, "How did you do?"
"Oh, Harry!" said Hermione with blazing eyes of excitement, "I got 'O' in everything except Astronomy. I got an 'E' in that." She then sniffed sharply, "But then again I always found Astronomy to be much of a woolly subject as Divination is."
Harry gave her a slow smile; Hermione's intelligence would never fail her. 'E' was a high-grade mark, even if it was Hermione's lowest. Harry glanced down to his own results once more, smirking a little, "Yeah, I agree, Divination is a woolly subject," So, Fred and George were right. You can be a 'Troll'.
"Shall we go and see if Ron's got his?" asked Hermione, rising gently from the bed.
Harry felt a little better after talking with Hermione. She was right, wouldn't hurt to try and sign up for Potions, even though he didn't particularly want to. "Alright," he said softly, closing his letter in his palm.
Another chapter! Please tell me what you think!
New Spell!
Eruptio - Eruptio (latin; an eruption)
E - rup - tee - o