Loonygrl90: You are my only reviewer left! Everyone else has abandoned me. (sob) The lack of reviews is why it took so long to get this chapter up, I felt pretty miserable about it. So if it does seem to be poorer quality than usual, it's because I grudgingly wrote it, unfortunately! Hopefully my other reviewers will return!

Chapter 7

Harry and Hermione hurried down to the kitchen to see Ron currently engulfed in a large hug from his mother who was excitedly praising him. Harry and Hermione shared grins before watching Ron furiously entangle himself from his mother, grinning but looking flushed. "I'm so proud of you!" exclaimed Mrs. Weasley, planting kisses to Ron's burning cheeks.

Ron stumbled back from his mother, his cheeks as red his hair. He looked to Harry and mumbled something incomprehensible as he lifted his letter of results.

"He's got himself seven 'O's," said Mrs. Weasley happily, eyes glinting with their usual shine, "Oh, you've done just as well as Charlie did! And you were worrying so much, oh my little dear, I'm going to owl Charlie and Bill!"

Harry grinned, walking over to Ron to pat his shoulder encouragingly, "Good one Ron."

Ron turned his eyes to Harry and looking sheepish, "I got an 'E' in Divination."

"Really?" Harry was quick to look shocked. They both disliked Divination and tended to do poorly on the subjects.

"Maybe I'm a Seer," joked Ron as Hermione sniffed abruptly. She disliked Divination more so than Harry and Ron. Hermione sat herself down at the table and plucked a quill off the wood tabletop and dipped it in the inkpot there and began scribbling away on her subjects form. "Eager, isn't she?" muttered Ron in undertone to Harry as the pair then sat besides her.

"Hey, we get free periods this year!" said Harry as he read along his own subjects form.

"That's only if you don't do enough subjects to fill up your week," said Hermione as she continued to furiously write a lists of subjects

Ron leant forward to peer at Hermione's list, "Hermione.. how many are you thinking of doing!"

"As many as I can. NEWTs are very important Ron, I want to get as many results as possible."

Ron rolled his eyes to Harry before he turned over his own form and looked down the list with a soft sigh, "Well, I'm definitely doing Defence against the Dark Arts." Harry nodded in agreement and the pair added it to the top of their list. Harry then wrote down, 'Potions' and Ron pulled a face of disgust, "You can't be doing that!" he said, looking affronted.

"I've got to if I want to be an Auror, "muttered Harry quietly, "I'm going to try. Snape will probably reject me though." Harry looked slowly to Ron, "Didn't you want to be an Auror too?"

"Not if it means taking Advanced Potions, no way."

Mrs. Weasley laid out glasses of chilled orange juice out for the trio and moved to Ron's side, watching as he filled in his list. Ron uncomfortably glanced to her before he continued to write. "Put Divination down," instructed Mrs. Weasley.

Ron blanched, "But Mum!" he moaned, "It's boring!"

"Play your strengths!" informed Mrs. Weasley.

"Are you doing it Harry?" asked Ron weakly.

Harry smiled dryly, "No, I got a 'T'."

Ron looked torn between surprise and amusement, "What, there really is a 'T' grade? I thought George was joking.."

"Don't worry about it, Harry," said Hermione briskly, not looking up from her form, "Whilst I dislike Divination I think there is a single divide between those who can See and those who can't. You only received a 'T' because you can't See."

"But then that means I can," said Ron, whipping his head down to stare at Hermione.

Hermione raised her eyes slowly upon Ron, "Or maybe you got lucky in the exam. Don't look too much into it Ron."

Ron scowled quietly, glancing to his mother before he added Divination to his list beneath Defence Against the Dark Arts.

"I'm doing Transfiguration," murmured Harry aloud, thinking over the Career's advice he received last year.

"Yeah," said Ron idly as he too added it to the last.

Half an hour later, the three had their subjects noted upon their forms (Hermione's list considerably longer) and were rolled up ready to be sent to Hogwarts. Harry hurried up to his and Ron's room to fetch Hedwig who looked pleased to have been given something to do at last. Hermione scrambled for her quill again as she added another subject before Ron tutted and pulled it off her, "It's going!" he said, rolling it up and added it to Hedwig's load.

Harry gently stroked across Hedwig' head, watching her gently, "Send these to Professor McGonagall," he said softly, moving to carry her upstairs to the window. She dipped her head once before her wings spread and she gently flew out of the window and into the cloudless sky.

A week later, Harry woke up to a faint noise resounding around his bedroom. Harry sleepily turned over in his bed and muttered a muffled, "Go away, Pig." But then he felt something prod him and he looked around to see Ron's freckly face grinning at him.

"Come on Harry! You can't stay in bed all day on your birthday!"

Harry sat up at this, pulling his glasses on and saw that the noises were coming from Hermione who was beaming, sat on the end of his bed, "Happy birthday Harry!" she said happily, pressing a wrapped parcel into his hands. Harry grinned sheepishly to them both as Ron then pushed a present onto his lap. It was moments like this that made him forget about the Prophecy and of Voldemort.

"Oh, wow, Hermione! Thanks!" said Harry faintly as he opened the present to reveal a silver Gobstones set.

"It was in a sale," said Hermione modestly as she glanced down at Harry's feet.

Harry didn't care; he just looked fondly over the new set, which glinted handsomely in the sunlight. After a short time was spending watch them, he closed the box and took Ron's present. The paper was pushed aside to reveal a large box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Bean and a new compass for his broom. Harry grinned broadly as he lifted his new compass. His old one had been destroyed when his Nimbus 2000 collided with the Whomping Willow in his third year.

"Thanks, Ron," said Harry with a grin as he looked up to his friend, "This is really cool."

Ron's ears went red.

"Letters!" said Mrs. Weasley joyously over breakfast later that week as she bustled into the kitchen to hand out the envelopes between Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny. Harry placed down his spoon into his bowl and took his letter, opening it up with a clench of nerves in his gut. Was he allowed to take Advanced Potions?

Dear Mr. Potter

Your subjects have been accepted for your sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Sixth year students shall require the following books:
The Standard Books of Spells (Grade 6) by Miranda Goshawk
Guide to Advanced Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Charms: NEWT Level by Betty Mildew
Protecting Yourself from the Dark Arts Book 2 by Quentin Trimble
Transfiguration Guide to Complete Transformations by Burt Jenkins
Dark Arts: A History by Morgana Clagg

Sixth year students are permitted to bring a Standard Size 3 cauldron for Advanced Potions.

As previous years, student may wish to bring an OWL, a CAT, or a TOAD (or any other animal of similar domestic handling. It is reminded that Salamanders are no longer allowed and severe punishment will be issued if this rule is ignored.

It is noted that Sixth and Seventh years celebrate a Yule Ball – temporarily extended previously to fourth years for the Triwizard Champion entry.

(For me, mulled Harry glumly, who had only been in his fourth year when the Yule Ball was an even bigger event than usual due to the Triwizard Tournament involving foreign schools Beaxbatons and Durmstrang.)

Although it is not compulsory to attend this event, it is encouraged. Dressrobes will be required.

PS: Professor Snape requires a private meeting at 8pm on September 1st in his office.

Good luck in the forthcoming school year

Professor M McGonagall

Harry looked up slowly, casting a dazed smile around the room as he clutched his letter. He had been accepted for Potions! Although he had no doubt that Snape had needed a lot of persuading. Perhaps Dumbledore had stepped in. Harry slowly looked to Ron and Hermione, their expressions proving that their subjects had too been accepted.

But Ron's face dropped when he read about the Yule Ball, "I'm not going," he announced to the room. Harry silently agreed.

"Oh.." said Hermione softly, looking between Harry and Ron. She sounded disappointment, "I was looking forward to going. It was good before.."

Ron gave Hermione an appraising look, "Only because Vicky was there."

"Viktor is a good person," she told Ron slowly, her eyes giving a dangerous flash, "And no, I did not go to see him this summer."

Ron's jaw slacked. Before he frowned and rose to point a finger at Hermione, about to launch into what possibly was going to be the start of an argument when Mrs. Weasley interrupted.

"Well," said Mrs. Weasley loudly as she looked down at Ginny's letter, "With only a week left until the start of the school term, we'll need a trip to Diagon Alley tomorrow.."

I felt this chapter was a little mixed up, but it will be up to its usual standard next, I promise!