When Harry next crossed paths with Lockhart, on Wednesday afternoon before dinner, he was given much 'advice' regarding his newfound fame ('Newfound', my foot, Harry thought). He was then approached at dinner by Anthony Goldstein, Terry Boot, and Michael Corner, who apologised for having suspected Harry for being the heir.

"Shove off," said Harry, still seething over that scene in the Entrance Hall. "I don't have time for idiots."

The Ravenclaws returned to their table. Harry and Tonks finished their dinner without incident, then came across Professor McGonagall in the Entrance Hall. She said that they might be interested to know that Lucius Malfoy was on his way to Hogwarts.

"To speak with Dumbledore?" Harry asked, and Professor McGonagall nodded.

"In his office, yes. Do be careful how you approach the situation, Potter."

She left, and Harry and Tonks looked at each other.

"Why did Dumbledore have to destroy the diary?" Harry groaned. "We could've used it against Malfoy."

Tonks shrugged. "Too dangerous, I guess. Wonder what the 'cultured' man has to say?"

"Only one way to find out."

They made haste to the stone gargoyle, spoke the password, then ran up the spiral staircase to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore welcomed them by conjuring two chairs to the left of the circular room, at a free table.

"These two again?" said the portrait of a clever-looking wizard with a pointed beard. He was wearing the Slytherin colours of green and silver, and had once insulted Harry in the past. "You give these children far too much freedom, Dumbledore. They do not deserve it."

"Then we shall agree to disagree, Phineas," said Dumbledore, sitting with his elbows on his desk.

Harry, meanwhile, ignored the portrait of Phineas and instead opened his bag. He withdrew a piece of parchment, an ink bottle, and two quills. Then he got started on a game of noughts-and-crosses with Tonks.

About ten minutes later (with the score being two wins for Harry, one for Tonks, and three draws), the door opened as Professor McGonagall stepped in. She was followed by a stern-faced Mr Malfoy, and a heavily bandaged Dobby scurrying behind him. Dobby was crouched low at the hem of Mr Malfoy's cloak.

"So!" said Lucius Malfoy, his cold eyes fixed on Dumbledore. "I hear you've stopped the attacks. Have you caught the culprit?"

"We certainly have," said Professor McGonagall, standing to the side. Mr Malfoy remained impassive.

"Well? Who is it?"

"The same person as last time, Lucius," said Dumbledore. "But this time, Lord Voldemort was acting through someone else. By means of this diary."

He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out Tom Riddle's diary. It looked fairly battered, and had a large hole in its centre.

"I see," said Mr Malfoy, unaware that Dobby was making animated gestures behind him. Dobby kept his great eyes fixed on Harry while pointing at the diary, then at Mr Malfoy, and then bashing himself on the head with his fist.

'I know,' Harry mouthed, nodding. Dobby backed into a corner and started twisting his ears in punishment.

"Mental," Tonks whispered.

Dumbledore praised the plan of using Tom Riddle's diary to frame Ginny and her family, especially given the risk to Arthur Weasley and his Muggle Protection Act. Then he looked at Harry and Tonks and said, "It is very fortunate that Harry and his friend Nymphadora" (Tonks gave a slight groan) "had discovered the diary and brought it to my attention." (Mr Malfoy shot Harry and Tonks a swift, sharp look.) "Who knows what the consequences might have been had Riddle's memories not been wiped from it ..."

Mr Malfoy's expression turned mask-like, and he forced himself to speak. "Yes, very fortunate."

There was an awkward silence all of a sudden. Harry chose that moment to step forward and address Mr Malfoy.

"Don't you want to know how Ginny got hold of that diary?"

Mr Malfoy rounded on him. "How should I know how that stupid girl got hold of it?"

"Because you gave it to her in Flourish and Blotts." (Professor McGonagall's eyes went wide behind her square spectacles.) "You slipped it into one of her books, didn't you?"

Mr Malfoy sneered, much like his son often did. "Neither you nor your shape-shifting friend can prove it, Potter. You weren't even there."

"Oh really?" Tonks looked smug. "I had a front-row seat when Mr Weasley punched you in the face."

"Lies," said Mr Malfoy, though he did look uncertain for a moment.

Dumbledore said that although no-one would be able to prove Harry's words, he would recommend not handing out any more of Lord Voldemort's old school-things. There was always the possibility of Arthur Weasley making sure that they were traced back to Mr Malfoy.

"Come, Dobby!" said Mr Malfoy, whose right hand twitched as though longing to reach for his wand. "We're leaving!"

He wrenched open the door, kicked Dobby through it, and strode out the office. They could hear Dobby squealing with pain all along the corridor, and Harry stood pensive for a while.

"The Malfoys can't get away with everything," Harry said, to Tonks's surprise. Then he rushed to Dumbledore's desk and asked if he could give the diary back to Mr Malfoy.

"Certainly, Harry," said Dumbledore, sliding the diary across the desk. "It is of no threat to us now that it has been destroyed."

With the diary in hand, Harry left the office and made his way down to the stone gargoyle. He removed one of his socks and stuffed the diary into it, then rushed out into the corridor.

This better work.

Harry caught up with Dobby and Mr Malfoy further down the dark corridor, at the top of the stairs. He called Mr Malfoy and told him that he'd forgotten something, then forced the sock into Mr Malfoy's hand.

"What the –?"

Mr Malfoy ripped the sock off the diary, threw it aside, then looked furiously from the ruined book to Harry.

"You'll meet the same, sticky end as your parents one of these days, Harry Potter. And so will that Metamorph."

Harry felt a surge of fury but said nothing. He kept his right hand near his wand pocket, even as Mr Malfoy turned to leave.

"Come, Dobby. I said, Come!"

But the damage had been done. Mr Malfoy stood frozen in disbelief when Dobby explained that he'd been freed, and when Harry revealed his bare right ankle. Furious, Mr Malfoy lunged at Harry.

"You lost me my servant, boy!"

But Dobby shouted, "You shall not harm Harry Potter!"

BANG.

Lucius Malfoy was thrown backwards. He went crashing down the stairs, three at a time, before landing in a crumpled heap on the landing below. Furious, he picked himself up and whipped out his wand, though Harry had already drawn his.

"Shame," said Harry, just as Dobby was about to speak. "No wonder Draco keeps losing. He got it from his Death Eater dad."

"You Mudblood-spawn scum!"

Several things happened within seconds; Mr Malfoy flung a non-verbal jet of white at Harry. Harry threw up a Shield Charm. Dobby grabbed Harry to the right. And the jet of white smashed the Shield Charm but fizzled out.

"HOW DARE YOU, MALFOY!"

There was a flash of scarlet. Mr Malfoy crashed and went sliding across the stone floor. His wand flew into the hands of Professor McGonagall, who stood alongside Tonks.

"Never," said Professor McGonagall, advancing with her wand raised (as did Tonks), "have I ever seen a school governor attack a child! You should be ashamed of yourself!"

Caught between Tonks and Professor McGonagall on one side, and Harry and Dobby on the other side, Mr Malfoy picked himself up in a swift manner. He demanded to have his wand back, which Professor McGonagall refused.

"What?"

"Be silent," said Professor McGonagall, tight-lipped and furious. She placed her wand tip-to-tip with Mr Malfoy's and said, "Prior Incantato!"

Thick grey smoke emerged from the point where the two wands met. It took the form of a spell hitting a vague figure of a person. Their arms and legs snapped together and they keeled over, stiff as a board.

"Deletrius!" said Professor McGonagall, and the ghost of a spell disappeared. Professor McGonagall glared scathingly at Mr Malfoy. "A curse, as expected. The board of governors will be informed about this."

"My wand," said Mr Malfoy, looking paler than usual.

Professor McGonagall pocketed the wand. "It will be returned after the meeting. You may wait in the staff room."

Mr Malfoy shot Harry a furious glare, then hurried out of sight. Tonks and Professor McGonagall looked at Dobby in a puzzled manner, as he remained on the stairs.

"Harry Potter freed Dobby!"

And so, despite his lingering anger over the rogue Bludger, Harry chose to forgive Dobby and accept his praise. Dobby responded by throwing his arms around Harry's middle and hugging him.

"Farewell, Harry Potter!"

And with a final loud crack, Dobby disappeared. Harry descended the stairs and was approached by Tonks and Professor McGonagall on the landing.

"How in the world did you free the elf?" Tonks asked.

"Just what were you thinking?" Professor McGonagall added. "If Miss Tonks hadn't insisted that we check on you –"

"I'm fine," said Harry. He looked at Lucius Malfoy striding down the corridor to the left, and sniggered. "So much for wizarding culture, eh?"

Professor McGonagall blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Private joke," said Tonks, pushing her nose in the air. She looked at Harry and grinned. "Let's go tell everyone how you beat the amazing culture-man!"

They laughed, and Professor McGonagall shook her head in disbelief. And when Harry and Tonks returned to the common-room some time later, they immediately told of Lucius Malfoy's folly. The Gryffindors were both appalled at his actions and, especially in terms of the Weasleys, excited over Mr Malfoy getting sacked.

"Best Wednesday ever!" said Tonks, at which everyone agreed.


"Potter! Think you're funny, huh, Scarhead?"

About time.

Harry was more than ready for Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle the next morning after breakfast. He and Tonks stood ready for a duel in the ground-floor corridor.

"Something wrong?" Harry asked, holding his wand at his side (Tonks had her wand out, too).

Malfoy's face contorted with rage. "You'll pay for humiliating my father!"

Harry laughed. "He did that himself. Oh, and thanks for the cash."

In addition to being sacked, Lucius Malfoy had been forced to hand over a large sum of Galleons (Harry would have preferred an Azkaban sentence, but you can't win at everything).

"Loser!" said Tonks, blowing a raspberry.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle shot Body-Bind Curses at Harry and Tonks. They responded with their Shield Charms, which just about managed to block the attacks. Then they hurled Stunners at Crabbe and Goyle, knocking them out.

"Not so tough now, are you?" Harry said, as Malfoy went wide-eyed. "Petrificus Totalus!"

The Body-Bind struck Malfoy in the side as he tried to turn around. His arms and legs snapped together, then he fell backwards near the unconscious Crabbe and Goyle.

"Whoops!" said Harry, checking his watch. "We'd better hurry to Herbology!"

Once outside, Tonks burst out laughing and beamed at Harry. "That was brilliant!"

Harry smiled. "See? I told you we should focus on our studies instead of pranks."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Tonks gave an exaggerated yawn. "Shield Charm's essential. Blah, blah."

They got through Herbology class without incident, then spent the morning break practising their Shield Charms. After that, they joined Dean, Seamus, and Ron for games of broom tag and broom racing in the Quidditch stadium.

It was all fun and games until double Potions in the afternoon. Snape, as expected, harassed the Gryffindors and deducted points for even the smallest of faults. He was especially punitive towards Harry and Tonks, and 'accidentally' dropped their flasks at the end of the lesson (the Slytherins guffawed).

"Whoops," said Snape, vanishing the mix of potion and glass. "I suppose this will have to be a zero, then."

Not like it counts anyway, Harry thought, though Tonks wasn't backing down as easily. She pointed towards their cauldrons, and huffed.

"We've still got more, Professor."

But Snape went mysteriously deaf, leading to Tonks forcefully placing another flask on Snape's desk. Harry did the same, though Snape stopped him from leaving.

"You and Miss Tonks will be spending the next week in detention, Potter."

Harry ignored the sniggering Slytherins behind Snape. "Why? Because we defended ourselves?"

"Get out of my sight! And be sure to report to your detention!"

Harry shook his head. "Not going to happen, sorry. Malfoy and his goons attacked first. Why don't you give them detention instead?"

"Ten points from Gryffindor!"

Shut up. Harry swung his bag over his shoulder and left. He had no intention of accepting Snape's detention, and immediately went to Professor McGonagall's office before dinner.

"Yes, I've heard," said Professor McGonagall, sitting at her desk. "I shall overrule that ridiculous detention immediately, Potter."

"Can't you give it to Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle instead?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Done. And I've already taken fifty points from Malfoy this morning."

"Thanks a lot, Professor!"

Harry felt a rush of joy. He left the office with a spring in his step, and felt even more elated upon seeing the grin on Tonks's face at dinner. She burst out laughing at the table, catching the attention of those around them.

"What's the joke?" said Ron, leaning forward. "And don't say 'you'."

Tonks calmed her laughter and gave a happy sigh. "Harry got McGonagall to dump his detention on Malfoy and his morons instead." (Many Gryffindors nearby laughed.) "I'm serious!"

Sniggering, Harry's roommates turned to look at Malfoy's group, on the opposite side of the Great Hall. The Slytherins looked suspicious at once.

Keep staring, slimy gits.

After dinner, Harry and Tonks came across Malfoy's group in the Entrance Hall. Tonks beat Harry to delivering the bad news to Malfoy.

"What?" Malfoy looked horrified. "But that's outrageous! Father –"

"– got the sack," said Tonks. "Enjoy your cleaning, elf."

Cackling, she left with Harry and the others.

They carried on with the rest of their week, and were pleased to hear that Malfoy, in particular, was throwing many tantrums during detention. It amazed Harry how both father and son had made such fools of themselves recently, especially considering the image that Lucius Malfoy often projected.

So much for 'wizarding culture', Harry thought.

The rest of January passed in a haze of classes, homework, and extracurricular studies for Harry and Tonks (though she spent more time on fun and games than Harry did).


In February, the sun began to shine weakly on Hogwarts again. Most of the castle was pleased to hear that the Mandrakes were fast leaving childhood, though the mood took a significant knock on Valentine's Day. Lockhart, in his questionable wisdom, unleashed his group of 'cupid' dwarves on the castle. They caused a ruckus while delivering their musical messages, and brought more than a few red faces along the way. Harry and Tonks couldn't help sniggering at their fellow students' embarrassment.

On the last Saturday of February, Gryffindor defeated Hufflepuff two hundred and thirty to ninety. Harry's capture of the Snitch gave them an even bigger lead on the hourglasses (an extra fifty points), which only further aggravated the Slytherins. They had been making decent strides with their emeralds, as most of the prefects and staff were fairly decent when it came to the house-points system.

Weeks later, when the Easter Holidays arrived, Harry and Tonks chose to stay at Hogwarts and prioritise their exams studies. They focused on their self-study Defence Against the Dark Arts (Lockhart's curriculum was useless), Charms, and Transfiguration over the two-week holidays. Then they added portions of their other subjects, while also having to decide on next year's electives.

"No offence," said Harry, while sitting at a common-room couch one evening, "but I don't see much point in taking Arithmancy or Study of Ancient Runes. One's just numbers all over the place, and the other's a dead language. S'pose they could be useful here and there, but I don't know."

Tonks scanned the list of electives in her hands. "Muggle Studies?"

Harry shrugged. "Don't see much point for either of us."

"Well," said Hermione, sitting at the table nearby, "I think it would be fascinating to learn things from the wizard perspective."

Harry turned in his seat. He sat on his knees while looking over the back of the couch. "So, what are you taking?"

"Everything," said Hermione. Tonks made a gagging cough (and Harry blinked).

"What?"

Hermione gave a smug little smile. "It is possible, Nymphadora." (Tonks frowned.) "But I've heard it's risky."

"Yeah," said Harry, snorting with laughter, "you'll go mental."

"More than she already is," said Tonks. Hermione huffed as she looked at Harry.

"I'd expect you, of all people, to be taking everything too, Harry. Don't you like studying?"

Harry chuckled. "Yeah, but not unnecessary stuff. Just leave the ones you don't really want."

"But that's the thing!" Hermione groaned. "I want to do everything!"

Tonks laughed. "All right, all right, no need to get dramatic. Just do everything, then, if it makes you happy."

"That's the plan," said Hermione, burying herself behind a beginner's book to Arithmancy.

Elsewhere, Neville was asking everyone what they thought about Arithmancy and Runes. He'd received letters from all the witches and wizards in his family, all giving him different advice on what to choose. Sitting beside Neville – Dean, Seamus, and Ron were going over their lists together, looking just as unsure as the rest of the second-years.

In the end, Harry and Tonks followed Mr and Mrs Tonks's advice by signing up for Care of Magical Creatures. That left just one more mandatory elective, for which they were undecided.

Hermione spoke up from behind her Arithmancy textbook. "Arithmancy's essential. No wonder so many wizards don't even have an ounce of logic."

"What?" Tonks looked a bit haughty on the couch. "Pretty much everyone learns maths and stuff from their family anyway, even the likes of Malfoy! And you'd better watch your mouth about 'logic', stupid!"

Hermione ignored the insult. "Do yourselves a favour and take Arithmancy."

"Or not," said George, who'd just arrived with Fred. "It's just a different kind of Divination, basically."

Percy moved away from Fay Dunbar at a small table, then spoke in a matter-of-fact manner to Fred and George.

"That is a gross exaggeration. Arithmancy can be very useful, depending on your intended career-path."

Fred yawned. "Oh, shut up, Pinhead." (Ginny sniggered behind him.)

Annoyed, Percy spun around and went to offer Lavender and Parvati advice. Harry and Tonks narrowed down their second elective to either Divination or Muggle Studies.

"Would be funny," said Tonks, "if the Muggle Studies curriculum turns out to be way behind the times. I'd just sit there laughing."

Harry entertained the idea but knew better. He'd asked around and knew that Professor Burbage wasn't too bad. She was steadily bringing her class into the '90s.

"Let's ask around again," said Tonks, and Harry agreed. They consulted some of the older students again, and confirmed that Arithmancy and Runes mainly involved numerology and various translations. They even left the common room and went six floors down to visit Professor McGonagall in her office, in which she offered them ginger biscuits from the tartan tin at her desk, while discussing their electives.

"Divination is a very imprecise branch of magic," she said, "but it's your choice."

Tonks sighed. "I don't know. Arithmancy just sounds boring, and Runes too." (Harry agreed, especially as he'd prefer to share as many classes as he could with Tonks.)

"It depends," said Professor McGonagall, finishing her biscuit, "on where you think you might be headed. For example, Runes may be useful in deciphering text in an old tomb; and Arithmancy may assist in potion-making or solving the odd puzzle while Curse-Breaking."

Harry grabbed another biscuit while speaking. "Can you make spells with it somehow?"

Professor McGonagall paused for thought. "A good portion of spellcrafting requires much understanding and proficiency in the type of spell you're trying to create. For example, attempting to create a Transfiguration spell would require much knowledge in my subject. Alternatively, you may choose the 'easier' route by using other spells as a base. Either method is, of course, very risky."

"Thought so," said Harry, frowning. "Don't think I want something that'll take up all my time."

Tonks sniggered. "So you can practise Transfiguration and stuff, right?"

Harry gave a guilty smile.

"In that case," said Professor McGonagall, "perhaps you should try Divination. Arithmancy tends to involve a considerable amount of homework and studying, while Runes can easily pile up when you least expect it. Professor Trelawney tends to give her fair share of homework too, though they tend to be, er ..."

"Easy?" Tonks asked in a hopeful manner.

"Not entirely," said Professor McGonagall, rubbing her chin. "But I suppose you could finish her assignments fairly quickly on most days."

Harry looked at Tonks. "Let's take Divination and see how it goes. If it gets really bad, I suppose we could always choose something else, maybe."

Tonks agreed, and they thanked Professor McGonagall for her time.


On the first of May, Hufflepuff put up an impressive fight against the Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones of Slytherin. They blocked several attempts at goal from Marcus Flint and his teammates, and scored a surprising six goals of their own. But then, as expected, the Slytherins found their form and started racking up the goals again. They scored eighteen in total by the time Draco Malfoy bested the Hufflepuff Seeker, with the match ending on three hundred and thirty to sixty.

"It's not impossible, people!" said Oliver Wood in the changing room on Monday evening. "Just to recap: Ravenclaw's on one-thirty, Hufflepuff's finished on three-sixty, we're on three-eighty, and Slytherin's finished on seven hundred! Surely we can beat Ravenclaw by at least three-thirty?"

Angelina shrugged while shouldering her broom. "That'll be at least eighteen goals plus the Snitch."

"So?" said Wood, thumping his chest. "Who says we can't do that, too?"

Alicia Spinnet looked at Katie Bell and sighed. "He's acting like we've got Nimbuses or something."

Wood stomped his foot. "We don't need expensive brooms to be good! Just practise, practise, practise! We will get those eighteen goals!"

Fred sniggered. "Or thirty-three, if Harry can't get the Snitch."

"Enough talk!" Wood ushered them out of the changing room. "Get up there, and let's go!"

So now Harry had more on his plate than just his exam studies. He practised several times a week over the next four weeks (Wood often used Colin Creevey as motivation, by saying that the least they could do was deny Slytherin the Cup). And when Gryffindor played Ravenclaw on the second-last Saturday of May, they went full-force from the start.

Uncaring for Ravenclaw's goal tally, Wood rallied his Chasers to favour attack over everything else. Angelina, Alicia, and Katie were caught on the counter-attack numerous times; but with Fred and George as Beaters, and a hyped-up Wood at the goalposts, Gryffindor just kept moving the Quaffle forward. They racked up their goals, while Ravenclaw responded with their own (though Wood made a decent number of saves). And by the time Harry spotted the Golden Snitch, Gryffindor had already reached a hundred and ten points (Ravenclaw were on eighty).

"Don't you dare catch that!" Wood yelled to Harry as he shot around the goalposts. "Wait until one-eighty, at least!"

Faced with the prospect of costing them the game, Harry had no choice but to keep the Ravenclaw Seeker at bay. The Seeker jostled Harry over and over again, and made every effort to go for the Snitch. Annoyed, Harry kept on the Snitch's path as much as he could, and could hear the Slytherins heckling him from their stands. Many were chanting for Harry to catch it.

Stinking Slytherins!

But a lapse in concentration saw Harry get overtaken by his opponent (the Slytherins let out a booming cheer). The Ravenclaw Seeker pushed through a turn and stretched out his hand on a dive. Harry followed through and leaned low on his Cleansweep Seven, desperate to catch up to his opponent.

WHAM.

"Ohhhh!" Lee Jordan chortled. "What a lucky strike for Gryffindor with that Bludger! Potter's caught up and has overtaken his opponent ... but Gryffindor still need four more goals!"

Once again, Harry was forced to stay on the Snitch but refrain from catching it. The walnut-sized ball zig-zagged temptingly before Harry. And with the Ravenclaw Seeker fast catching up on his own Cleansweep Seven, Harry readied himself for yet another jostle in the air.

"Goal for Gryffindor!" said Lee, having to raise his voice over the tumultuous crowd. "It's one-fifty! Just three more!"

The Ravenclaw Seeker flew right up to Harry but fell behind on a sharp-left turn. Harry just kept blocking him as the Seeker tried over and over to pass.

"Goal for Ravenclaw!" Lee groaned out loud. "It's one-fifty to a hundred! Get in there, Lions!"

Nothing else mattered except staying on the Snitch. Harry followed it on a climb, then a sharp right, then a steep dive, and then a series of loops until levelling out near the middle of the pitch.

"Another goal for Gryffindor!" said Lee. "Just one more!"

Harry was so focused on the Snitch that he barely noticed Fred and George nearby. They had smashed two Bludgers away from Harry – towards the Ravenclaw Keeper.

"Yes!" said Lee, cheering. "Angelina slips it through the right! Gryffindor are one-eighty points ahead! Go for it, Harry!"

At last, Harry sped forward and closed in on the Snitch. But then he took a hard elbow to the side, resulting in a penalty for Gryffindor (the Snitch-chase continued).

"Saved by Page!" said Lee, when Alicia failed to convert her penalty.

Fuming, Harry outwitted his opponent on a right turn and overtook him. Then he leaned low and sped forward while diving hard with the Snitch.

"Potter's right on it!" said Lee, as the Gryffindor supporters drowned out the Slytherin boos. "Hard left on the dive ... a quick climb ... a loop-the-loop ... and – YES! HE'S GOT IT! HE'S CAUGHT THE SNITCH!"

Harry threw up his arm, clutching the tiny golden ball in his fist. And as the stadium exploded with noise, Harry was swarmed by his teammates in the air. They grabbed him in a many-armed hug while screaming with joy.

"Take that, Slytherin!" Harry yelled in triumph, despite the Slytherins being unable to hear him.

Their euphoria at retaining the Cup lasted well over a week. Harry and his teammates were given much adulation by the rest of their house (and even several Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, too, who were grateful to see 'Team Nimbus' taken down). Even better, not only did the weather become warm and cloudless towards the end of the month (at which point Harry and Tonks spent more time at the lake), but many Slytherins made fools of themselves by insisting that Ravenclaw handed Gryffindor the win.

What a bunch of idiots.

The last week of May brought both the exam timetables and the Mandrake cure. Madam Pomfrey successfully revived Mrs Norris, Colin Creevey, and Nearly Headless Nick from the Basilisk's petrification (Filch was overcome with joy, though it did little to curb his attitude towards Peeves and the students). And while Nick and Colin were flabbergasted to hear that they'd come across a Basilisk (and in Colin's case, survived), they responded in somewhat different ways to the attention. Nick basked in his fame and was eager to retell what he last saw; while Colin, despite enjoying the attention, grew more reserved over time.

Although Colin never admitted it, it was clear that being on the receiving end of such attention could be wearisome. Harry noticed that Colin, though still eager to greet him, was making less of a nuisance of himself these days. In response, Harry offered Colin some old notes and practised a few charms with him (despite Colin being excused from the exams). Ginny made an effort to assist Colin, too, and apologised for her role in the Basilisk attack. Colin, like everyone else, could hardly blame her.

As for the exam timetable, Harry took a seat at a common-room table and read:

TUESDAY, 01/06/93

(09:00–10:00) Transfiguration theory

(11:00–12:00) Herbology theory

(13:00–16:00) Transfiguration practical

(16:30–17:30) Herbology practical

WEDNESDAY, 02/06/93

(09:00–10:00) Charms theory

(11:00–12:00) Astronomy theory

(13:00–16:00) Charms practical

THURSDAY, 03/06/93

(00:00–01:00) Astronomy practical

(09:00–10:00) Potions theory

(10:30–12:30) Potions practical

FRIDAY, 04/06/93

(09:00–10:00) History of Magic

(13:00–14:00) Defence Against the Dark Arts theory

"No practical," he told Tonks on his left, "just like I thought."

Tonks snorted. "What else did you expect? He couldn't even handle Cornish pixies."

"Freshly caught Cornish pixies!" Harry said in a dramatic tone. "Can't believe we got through a whole year of that idiot."


The exams came and went much like Harry had expected. He ploughed through his Charms, Transfiguration, and even his Defence Against the Dark Arts papers. As expected, Harry had no issues with his Charms and Transfiguration practicals, in which he easily engorged and shrunk a cauldron for Professor Flitwick; and turned a porcupine to a pincushion for Professor McGonagall. For most of the other exams, however, Harry wasn't sure whether he'd scored high on average.

Coming back to Defence Against the Dark Arts, Lockhart ended up marking all five years rather quickly. Then he packed his luggage and left on Sunday morning, right on Tonks's birthday. Tonks joked that Lockhart's departure trumped even the pair of Doc Martens boots that Harry had bought her (with Mr and Mrs Tonks's assistance).

"Good riddance!" she said at breakfast. "Hopefully, more people will start seeing him as the idiot that he is. It's amazing how he even wrote those books!"

Indeed, Lockhart's sudden resignation was quite ridiculous. For not only had he failed to remain at Hogwarts until next year (as promised), but he'd also made a fool of himself during the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s. His insufferable attitude (among other things) had left several examiners exasperated, particularly Griselda Marchbanks. The Head of the Wizarding Examinations Authority had pushed for an inquiry into Lockhart himself, but conceded that his books were at least somewhat useful.

As for Harry and Tonks, they could only hope that their next Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher would be up to standard.