The Difference One Choice Makes
26th May 1996
"Find your seats please" called out the ancient-looking Examiner, Madam Griselda Marchbanks.
Jennifer made her way towards the front of the Great Hall which was now lined with single desks and chairs instead of the four House Tables.
At the far end of the Great Hall was a large hourglass along with a large blackboard bearing the words.
TRANSFIGURATION Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination
START TIME: 9.30 AM
END TIME: 11.30 AM
Finding the desk with her name on it, the second desk from the front, Jennifer turned around to send a small encouraging smile to her cousin Susan Bones to silently wish her good luck for their upcoming exam.
Once everyone had taken their seats, Madam Marchbanks tapped the large hourglass with her wand.
"You may begin" said Madam Marchbanks, leaning on her willow walking stick for support.
Sounds of rustling parchment and scratching quills echoed around the Great Hall as Jennifer looked down at her fifty-question exam paper.
TRANSFIGURATION – Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination
1) Describe the Transformation formula and explain how it applies to Transfiguration
2) Describe the Transfiguration Alphabet
3) Identify the number of principal exceptions there are to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration
Thinking back to her revision, Jennifer dipped her quill in the inkpot on her desk and started to answer the first question.
1) The transformation formula is the formula in which the intended transformation is directly influenced by body weight (a), viciousness (v), wand power (w), concentration (c), and a fifth unknown variable (Z).
Feeling satisfied with her first answer, Jennifer turned her attention to the second question.
Later that afternoon…
After a quiet lunch, Harry and the rest of the fifth-years were sent to wait in the small chamber behind the Great Hall, only accessible through a door at the back of the hall, where they would have to wait to be called through for their Transfiguration Practical exam.
They had all been organised into a line along the wall in alphabetical order as they waited for their turn to sit the exam.
Neither Harry nor any of the other students knew how long their practical exam would take as none of the students called into the Great Hall had returned to the chamber afterwards.
While some of the students were called for, others muttered incantations and practised wand movements, occasionally poking each other in the back as they did so.
Strangely enough, their exam had only started fifteen minutes ago, meaning that either there must be more examiners than expected or some people were flying through the spells quicker than others.
"Potter, Harrison… Sloper, Joshua… Snape, Eileen… Snape, Rose" Professor Flitwick called out from by the door leading back into the Great Hall.
Harry could not help but feel nervous as he joined Josh Sloper and the Snape Twins as he walked into the hall to take his Transfiguration Practical.
"You're with Professor Tofty Potter" said Professor Flitwick, pointing to where the short, elderly Professor Tofty was standing next to a desk full of various objects and animals.
As Harry approached Professor Tofty, he could see Lucan Malfoy standing with Madam Marchbanks at the next desk, screwing up his face with concentration as he tried to vanish his grey squirrel with little success.
"Potter is it… as in the Tri-Wizard Champion Edward Potter's brother?" said Professor Tofty with a hint of excitement, clearly remembering Edward's victory in the Tri-Wizard Tournament last year.
"That's right" said Harry with a hint of nervousness and pride.
"No need to be nervous Mr Potter… are you ready to begin?" said Professor Tofty.
Harry pulled his wand out and nodded.
"Very well… if you'd like to start by vanishing this iguana for me" said Professor Tofty, patting the bright green reptile on the back.
Harry pointed his wand at the iguana and got to work.
By the time he had walked out of the exam nearly twenty minutes later, Harry felt really pleased with himself and confident that he had achieved at least an Exceeds Expectations grade and maybe even an Outstanding grade if he was lucky enough.
He knew he at least did better than the Hufflepuff Prefect Hannah Abbott who had somehow managed to multiply the ferret she was supposed to be vanishing into a flock of pink flamingos, which halted the exam for ten minutes while the birds were captured and removed from the hall, giving the now shaky and nervous Hannah Abbott enough time to calm down so she could finish the exam.
That night's studying was devoted to Herbology for the fifth-years, with Hermione becoming so stressed during her studies that she started to snap and dish out punishments to anyone and everyone who disturbed the quiet environment of Gryffindor Tower that night, including a couple of second-years for giggling too loudly.
Being one of the best in the year at Herbology as Neville was, after sitting both the theory and the practical exam the next day, he felt like that unlike with his Charms and Transfiguration exams, that he had achieved an Outstanding grade in at least one of his Owl exams so far.
28th May 1996
"Your exam begins now" said Madam Marchbanks, standing next to the blackboard which read.
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination
START TIME: 9.30 AM
END TIME: 11.30 AM
As the exam started, Neville thought back to the conversation he had had with Professor Moody two weeks ago, with the DADA Professor quickly becoming one of Neville's favourite teachers alongside Professor Sprout.
"You'll make a fine Auror if you put in the work Longbottom" said Professor Moody gruffly as he finished his latest round of testing Neville in all of the defensive spells bound to show up on the practical DADA exam.
Neville was taking a few deep breaths to steady himself, knowing that Professor Moody was fired up to demonstrate the same level of raw power and magical ability to the next student.
The student and professor were stood in the now empty DADA classroom which had been stripped of the chairs and desks, while the remainder of the joint Gryffindor-Slytherin class who had yet to be tested were waiting outside of the classroom.
"Thank you Professor" said Neville, catching his breath.
"I mean it lad… only people who work hard get accepted into the Auror Training Program… and those who are good at their spellwork obviously… now off you go, send Miss Morrison in while you're at it" said Professor Moody gruffly.
Snapping himself out of his memory, Neville started to concentrate on the questions in front of him.
DEFENCE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS – Ordinary Wizarding Level Examination
1a) State the incantation of the Boggart Repelling Charm
1b) Explain how the Boggart Repelling Charm works
2a) State the incantation of the Disarming Charm
2b) Describe the wand movement required for the Disarming Charm
Feeling a sense of confidence coursing through his veins, Neville started to answer the questions.
1a) The incantation for the Boggart Repelling Charm is Riddikulous.
1b) The Boggart Repelling Charm is used to repel a boggart using laughter, the caster of the spell would turn the boggart into something that amuses them. This process may have to be repeated several times before the boggart is finally defeated.
2a) The incantation for the Disarming Charm is Expelliamus.
2b) The wand movement for the Disarming Charm is a sharp wave of your wand, the caster must refrain from flourishing their wand too much as this will make it easier for your opponent to disarm you with a Disarming Charm.
By the time the exam, which tested him on the spells he had learned as well as the dark creatures he had learned about, had finished nearly two hours later, Neville felt confident that he might just have achieved a top mark score on the theory and knew he had the knowledge and ability to get a similar top mark score on the practical that afternoon.
One and a half hours later…
"Lee, Mason… Lestrange, Felix… Li, Su… Longbottom, Neville" Professor Mcgonagall called out.
Neville steadied his nerves and walked towards the door leading back into the Great Hall, ready to take his practical DADA exam.
"Mr Longbottom, you are with Professor Urquhart… near the doors" said Professor Mcgonagall, gesturing her head over towards the large Great Hall doors, where the elderly, long white-haired Examiner known as Professor Urquhart was stood waiting for him.
Taking her exam near the top of the hall was Hermione who was demonstrating each of the spells with a small measure of difficulty.
As Neville made his way over to the Examiner he was assigned to, the elderly Examiner turned to face him.
"Mr Longbottom?" said Professor Urquhart in a voice that sounded rather pompous.
"Yes" said Neville warily.
"I am Professor Urquhart… we'll start with the Disarming Charm" said Professor Urquhart.
Neville slowly pulled out his wand and demonstrated the Disarming Charm to Professor Urquhart.
Being successful on his first try gave Neville just a little bit more confidence.
"The Impediment Jinx Mr Longbottom" said Professor Urquhart, not giving Neville time to breathe.
The joy and elation he had been feeling after his theory DADA exam that morning had increased upon completion of the DADA practical exam, having performed all of the required counter-jinxes and defensive spells with little to no difficulty at all.
He only hoped that he had done well enough in his Transfiguration exams on Tuesday and would do well enough in his Potions exams to achieve the grades he needed to keep his dream of becoming an Auror alive.
3rd June 1996
When Harry was called into the large clearing a few metres inside of the Forbidden Forest where he would usually take his Care Of Magical Creatures lessons, he found Professor Tofty waiting for him in the centre of the clearing surrounded by a pack of hedgehogs, a tortoise-shaped fire crab, a kneazle, a fork-tailed crup and a vast selection of food including apples, carrots and oatmeal that smelled strangely like cinnamon among other possible food items around the edges of the clearing.
"Are you ready Mr Potter?" said Professor Tofty.
Harry nodded to him.
"Right then… to start with I want you to clean and feed the fire crab over there without receiving any serious burns" said Professor Tofty.
Harry slowly moved towards the fire crab, picking up a small damp cloth as he picked the animal up, demonstrating the proper way to feed and clean it without sustaining any serious burns though he did receive a small blister on one of his fingers when cleaning the fire crab.
After working with the fire crab, Professor Tofty had him demonstrate how to catch the kneazle, clean and feed the crup in the proper manner without hurting the crup in any way, identifying a knarl from a pack of hedgehogs by offering each one milk in turn, with the knarl reacting negatively to the milk for fear of being poisoned and finally choose from the food in front of him, the proper diet to be given to a sick unicorn.
By the time his exam was finished, Harry felt confident that he had achieved a good grade and sent Hagrid a thumbs up after passing his hut where the half-giant was watching his students take their COMC exam from his window.
5th June 1996
"Peters, Lianne… Petrie, Darren… Potter, Edward… Poulter, Leah" Professor Severus Snape called out to the seventh-year students waiting in the chambers behind the Great Hall to take their Newt Charms practical examination.
Edward drew his wand and followed his fellow seventh years towards his Head Of House who watched him enter the Great Hall with a great deal of pride on his usually stern face, admiring the bright, young man Edward Potter had become.
Making his way over to Madam Marchbanks, she turned to him with a fond smile on her face.
"Potter yes, I remember you… Tri-Wizard Champion and all that, no pressure today though, just try your utmost hardest and you'll do well" said Madam Marchbanks.
Edward nodded to her and kept his steely, focused composure.
Even though he was required to do the charms silently which only added difficulty to some of the spells. Edward performed all of the spells asked of him with no difficulty at all over the course of the next fifteen minutes, surprising even Madam Marchbanks.
For the last spell, Madam Marchbanks told him that he could cast this spell verbally if he chose to and would not lose marks due to the severity of the spell, which was the Patronus Charm, taught to the seventh-years for half a term after Christmas.
"Expecto Patronum!" said Edward in a clear voice, using the most powerful happy memory he had to fuel his spell.
The white mist that erupted from his wand morphed into the corporeal form of a clawed wolverine, known for their fierce protectiveness of their pack and their fearlessness in the face of adversity.
"Splendid Mr Potter, truly splendid… that's all for today" said Madam Marchbanks.
Edward thanked the elderly Examiner before walking out of the Great Hall.
"How did it go?" said the now 18-year-old Cassiopeia who was leaning against the wall near the Great Hall doors.
Edward walked over to her.
"All good, didn't have trouble with anything" said Edward.
"You never do" said Cassiopeia amusedly, giving him a playful punch on the arm.
The two started walking along the corridor.
"Myranda asked me if I can get you to speak to her… she just wants to talk to you Eddy" said Cassiopeia.
Edward sighed.
"I have nothing to say to her… what she and I shared is in the past, buried, never to be dug up again" said Edward flatly.
Cassiopeia rolled her eyes, knowing that getting her cousin to speak with his ex-girlfriend for five seconds let alone five minutes was a very difficult task.
17th July 1996
Three days after Harry had celebrated his sixteenth birthday in the company of his friends, family and his lovely girlfriend, the day he had been nervously waiting for, had finally arrived.
The day he would receive his Owl results.
As he ate his breakfast in the company of his parents and siblings, waiting for the owls to arrive to tell him whether or not he experienced success or failure with his Owl exams.
"You can't spend all of this time worrying about something that won't happen" said Katie teasingly as the two ate ice cream together at Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour in Diagon Alley.
Harry took a deep breath.
"Come off it Harry… you worked hard on your exams, you did have me as a private tutor after all" said Katie amusedly.
"You're right… I hope" said Harry.
"I hope you were right Katie" thought Harry as three owls, one with a single envelope attached to its talons, with the other two owls carrying two envelopes apiece, flew through the open dining room doors that led out onto the back garden of Potter Manor.
The phrase "silence is golden" was evident around the breakfast table that morning as James and Narcissa watched with silent anticipation as their two son's opened the envelopes attached to the owls in front of them.
Whether it was fate or by pure chance, Harry opened the envelope containing his Owl grades first and he looked down at the parchment sheet with a nervous look on his face.
A look that wiped itself from his face moments later when he saw the grades that he had achieved.
Harrison James Potter
Ordinary Wizarding Level Results
Grade Criteria:
- O = Outstanding
- EE = Exceeds Expectations
- A = Acceptable
- P = Poor
- D = Dreadful
- T = Troll
Harrison James Potter has achieved the following:
Defence Against The Dark Arts – O
Charms – EE
Transfiguration – O
Herbology – EE
Potions – EE
History Of Magic – A
Astronomy – A
Care Of Magical Creatures – O
Arithmancy – EE
In a similar predicament, Edward felt nervous when he unfolded his Newt grade sheet, knowing that his future career depended on what he achieved in his Newt's.
Edward Henry Potter
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test Results
Grade Criteria:
- O = Outstanding
- EE = Exceeds Expectations
- A = Acceptable
- P = Poor
- D = Dreadful
- T = Troll
Edward Henry Potter has achieved the following:
Defence Against The Dark Arts – O
Charms – O
Transfiguration – O
Herbology – EE
Potions – EE
History Of Magic – O
Astronomy – EE
Ancient Runes – O
Arithmancy – O
Duelling – Subject not graded at Newt level
"How did you do boys?" said Narcissa.
(Quick Authors Note: I decided to have the Newt level Duelling class be a non-grading Newt course because I did not see how you could grade it properly and just decided to use it as a way for students to learn how Magical Duels are fought)
Both boys turned to look at their mother before sliding their results sheets across the table to her.
Picking Harry's sheet up first, Narcissa's eyes scanned it eagerly before handing it to James.
"You did great Harry… three Outstanding and four Exceeds Expectations grades, well done" said Narcissa getting to her feet before moving around the table to give Harry a hug and kiss on the cheek with great pride written all over her face.
After congratulating her younger son on his Owl results, Narcissa turned to her elder Son to give him a congratulatory hug and kiss on the cheek.
"And my big boy getting six Outstanding grades on his Newt's… and three Exceeds Expectations as well, the Ministry will be desperate for someone as smart as you" said Narcissa softly.
"Thanks Mum" said Edward softly.
"I think this calls for a celebration boys" said James, feeling immensely proud of the success of both of his son's.
The feeling of success was further increased when.
"I got a Prefect badge" said Euphemia, voice laced with both shock and excitement.
The remaining Potter's turned to face Euphemia who was holding the shiny Prefect badge in both of her hands.
As more words of congratulations were shared around the table, including some for Harry who had been named as Quidditch Captain when he opened the envelope containing his booklist, the sound of the floo roaring into life from the large entrance hall of Potter Manor caught everyone's attention.
The person who had entered Potter Manor via the floo network was answered seconds later as a welcome guest appeared in the dining room doorway.
"Sorry for dropping in uninvited… but I was just so lonely back at the flat" said Cassiopeia who was dressed in some jeans and a baby-blue sleeveless shirt, clutching a scrap of parchment in her hands, presumably containing her Newt results.
"It's alright… you know you're always welcome to come around whenever you want" said James.
The reason behind her loneliness at the flat was due to Nymphadora going to stay at the Burrow with Bill for the summer so she could get to know his family a bit better, with the two now being engaged and preparing to get married next summer.
It had been nearly a week since Dora had gone to stay at the Burrow, leaving Cassiopeia on her own at their flat.
"How did you do on your Newt's?" said Narcissa, eyeing the parchment in her niece's hand as she walked towards her.
Cassiopeia gave Narcissa a hug before handing the parchment she was holding to her.
Cassiopeia Druella Black
Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test Results
Grade Criteria:
- O = Outstanding
- EE = Exceeds Expectations
- A = Acceptable
- P = Poor
- D = Dreadful
- T = Troll
Cassiopeia Druella Black has achieved the following:
Defence Against The Dark Arts – EE
Charms – O
Transfiguration – EE
Potions – O
Ancient Runes – O
Arithmancy – O
Duelling – Subject not graded at Newt level
"Congratulations… your parents would have been proud of you" said Narcissa softly before walking her niece around the table to give the parchment to James.
Cassiopeia managed a small smile, with the subject of her deceased parents still being a difficult one for her to talk about.
Perhaps that was the reasoning behind her plans to travel the world for a few years and enjoy plenty of what it had to offer. Perhaps she needed the travelling so she could properly heal herself and the wounds inside of her heart.
"I think this calls for a proper celebration… you and Edward graduating Hogwarts ready to move out into the real world, Harry being made Quidditch Captain and moving one step closer to becoming the first Potter to play professional Quidditch for centuries, Euphemia a Prefect… we'd be celebrating for days if I had my way" said James, voice brimming with pride.
"Sit down Cassie… have some breakfast" said Narcissa softly, retaking her seat so the family could continue their breakfast before going about their daily routines.
Never one to turn down a delicious breakfast when it was offered to her, Cassiopeia sat down next to Euphemia, giving her younger cousin a hug and some sweet words of congratulations for her new Prefect status.
28th July 1996
Pulling his green tie up tight against his neck, Edward had one last look in the mirror to make sure he was ready for his first day at work.
He was dressed in some neat, dark-grey, formal wizard robes, and he was holding onto a brand new brown briefcase containing everything he would need for his first day at work. His short hair was combed neat and tidy while his glasses were perched on the tip of his nose.
After applying for a position in the Department Of International Magical Co-operation, even after Professor Severus Snape had given him a positive reference. Edward had been accepted and given a job three days ago, where he would be working in the filing office for the DIMC where most new recruits in the department would begin their careers.
On the same day that he received his job, Edward announced that he had paid six months rent in advance on a one-bedroom flat in Whitehall, London, close to the Ministry Of Magic and moved out the next day.
Though his parents told him that he was welcome to continue living at Potter Manor with them, Edward wanted his independence and told them that he had made his mind up about living in London and would not change his mind.
The fact that her eldest child had flown the nest caused Narcissa to feel down for the next two days before finally coming around, accepting that Edward was ready to go out into the world on his own.
Feeling confident and excited. Edward finally left his flat, locking the door behind him, beginning his journey to the staff entrance to the Ministry Of Magic which he expected would take him around ten to fifteen minutes.
Just over ten minutes later…
Edward stepped out of one of the many floo fireplaces into the bustling Ministry Of Magic Atrium which was as busy as Kings Cross Station on a busy weekday.
The Atrium, which was located deep underground, was large and vast, made of polished black marble, illuminated by several candle chandeliers and wall-mounted candles.
Walking with the enormous crowd of Ministry Officials, dressed in robes of all types and colours heading to their own offices and departments to begin their working day, Edward reached the centre of the Atrium which was overlooked by the mass of windowed offices up the walls, with the gold statue-lined fountain standing prominently in the centre of the Atrium.
Feeling his excitement increasing, Edward made his way over to the magical elevators which would take him up to the DIMC.
"Level?" said the monotonous voice of a woman through a speaker at the top of the elevator which was slowly filling up with witches and wizards who were too busy to acknowledge or talk to Edward.
"Level five, Department of International Magical Co-operation" said Edward clearly.
Once all of the other witches and wizards in the lift had stated their destinations, the elevator moved backwards with a judder before shooting up into the air.
Edward had to wait for most of the other's in the elevator to be taken to their respective floors first before he was finally taken up to level five where he vacated the elevator.
Walking along the hallway which like the Atrium was lined with shiny black marble, Edward finally reached a desk close to the lifts, which was occupied by a dark-skinned, brown-haired Witch in her early thirties who was blowing on a piece of Drooble's gum as she read the latest edition of Witch Weekly.
Edward came to a halt in front of her desk and stood up straight.
"Name?" said the Witch in a slightly flat voice.
"Edward Potter" said Edward politely.
The Witch looked up at him for a moment before opening one of the drawers on her desk, taking a small stack of parchments out and handing them to him.
"Filing Office… third door on the right, fill those in when you get there and make sure they are given to Mr Percival Weasley… they let the Ministry know where to pay your wages and how to contact you when you are away from the Ministry" said the Witch flatly.
"Thank you" said Edward, walking past the desk along the hallway towards the filing office.
Walking inside, he saw that the office was around the size of his entire flat with half a dozen witches and wizards of varying ages, working quietly on magical typewriters and writing on parchment at their desks.
"Your desk is over there Potter" said the flat, no-nonsense voice of the now 20-year-old Percy Weasley, glancing up at him from his desk at the far end of the filing office before gesturing to the one empty desk towards the back of the room.
Edward made his way over to his desk, sitting down and looking over the parchment sheets given to him by the witch at the welcome desk.
Like the witch had told him, the sheets asked for his vault number so he could be paid for the hours he worked while also asking for an address to contact him when he was away from the Ministry.
"Fill those in as quick as you can Potter… there's a lot of work you need to get through today" said Percy with a demanding tone to his voice.
Edward looked up towards Percy who was fixing an intense stern gaze on him from across the room.
Knowing that the obnoxious Weasley son was his boss, with the last time he had seen him being at the 1994 Quidditch World Cup final, where the man had made a few disparaging remarks about his mother concerning Fudge's accusations about Bellatrix Black. Edward forced himself not to react in a negative way.
"Yes sir" said Edward with forced politeness.
With a slightly smug look on his face, Percy returned to his work, waiting for Edward to complete the forms given to him.