Disclaimer : I do not own anything of the Harry Potter universe, it all belongs to JK Rowling, I just love writing about the fantastic universe she presented us.
This story is/was posted on my other account, since I had trouble posting a new story on this account. Now that it is all worked out, I'm moving that story here, since that will be easier to manage all of my stories. The story is mostly the same as before, minus some mistakes or typos.
If there are still grammar or spelling mistakes, please let me know. English isn't my native language (plus I have dyslexia), so it is possible that there are still a few mistakes in my stories even though I edit them before I post them. I hope you'll enjoy the story.
The Change - chapter 7
After the Easter holidays, every fifth year student started to get overwhelmed with the assignments they got from their professors and the material they tried to study for their OWL's. Harry on the other hand was quite relaxed about it. He was more than ready for his fifth year exams and by the end of April, he was convinced he was ready for his NEWT's in Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, DADA and Herbology.
He studied in Tonks' private quarters two evenings a week and on Saturdays, where she helped him and explained him the things he didn't understand. She also helped him mourn for Sirius, while he did the same for her, by listening to him or reason with him when he started to feel guilty about Sirius' death again.
Tonks tried to give real DADA lessons for a change and focused almost entirely on the practical side of it. She knew that they had only seen theory with Umbridge and if they really hadn't seen a chapter, they could always do it in self-study. The experience on the other hand, they couldn't get that from reading a book. She helped the fifth and seventh years especially so they would be able to succeed in their OWL or NEWT. Luckily, there were a lot of them that had been taught by Harry in the DA, which was clearly visible in the proficiency they showed with their spell work.
For Harry, it had been strange to get taught by Tonks, while being her friend and spending quite some time in her quarters, but they had been able to do so without raising to many questions. Harry's invisibility cloak and the fact that Ron and Hermione didn't tell anyone where Harry went also helped with that.
The first weekend of May, Harry was in Tonks' private quarters again when he asked "What should I do now? I don't think there is anything else that I could do to prepare for the exams?"
Tonks chuckled at that statement. "I don't think I've ever heard a student complaining about that".
"You know I even learned for the OWL's of Ancient Runes and Arithmancy because I was bored, I lend Hermione's books to do so" Harry told her. It had surprised him as well how easy it was for him to study. He had stopped dumbing himself down and the Occlumency helped as well, which was the cause for his enormous change in study habits and intelligence that he showed.
"Then why don't you challenge yourself and study for their NEWT's" Tonks joked.
Harry thought about it for a minute, weighing the pros and cons and eventually answered "You're right, I might do that…"
"You do know I was joking right?" Tonks replied, seeing that Harry was actually serious about it. She herself had been amazed by Harry those past few weeks and actually already since Christmas.
"I know you meant it as a joke, but think about it. Arithmancy is used in the building of spells and the creating of wards, by studying it, I was able to understand warding better and I could apply that knowledge to my Occlumency shields. Arithmancy also helped me understand the spells I'm casting better. The only part I don't really like is using the numbers to predict the future, but I guess I'll have to get through those chapters. Runes are used when they want to perform rituals or set up extremely heavy wards. So why not, I have the time…" Harry pointed out.
"I really don't understand how you are able to process so much information" Tonks said.
Harry smiled "It started after I learned Occlumency. I don't have a headache anymore, all the time. I'm able to process everything better, so everything goes a lot faster. And I realized that I can actually do well, which was a bad habit that wasn't easy to break"
"Alright, if you want to be so crazy to do so, I won't stop you. Remember, you still have to convince professor McGonagall that you can take your NEWT's, especially if you really want to do Ancient Runes and Arithmancy too" Tonks reminded him.
"I know, I was planning on visiting her this afternoon actually" was said by Harry with a huge grin, as he realized that Tonks would support him in his choice.
"Good, it would be a shame if you had studied so much and couldn't take them because you forgot to ask"
The rest of the morning passed in quiet conversation and Harry learning from his Ancient Runes book. When he left Tonks' quarters, she gave him a kiss on the cheek and wished him good luck.
In a bit of a daze, from the kiss he had gotten from Tonks, Harry ate lunch and before he knew it, he stood in front of professor McGonagall's office. He knocked and after a positive reply, he entered her office.
"Good afternoon Mr. Potter, to what do I own the pleasure of your visit?"
"Good afternoon professor McGonagall, I wished to discuss my Hogwarts career with you if that was possible" Harry asked.
Professor McGonagall looked at him strangely, but pointed to the chair in front of her desk so he could go and sit.
Harry grinned and said "If you don't mind professor, I would prefer a more comfortable chair, since this will probably take a while" and he grabbed his wand to conjure a more fluffy chair.
McGonagall's eyes widened at the casual and non-verbal display of conjuration in front of her, while Harry took a seat.
Professor McGonagall recovered and questioned "What do you wish to discuss?"
"I wish to ask permission to do my NEWT's on top of my OWL's. I have been studying for them and I believe that I'm able to take them" Harry told her.
"Even though you just performed an exemplary piece of magic, are you sure you want to do this, that you are prepared?" she asked.
"Yes professor, ask me anything you want about your NEWT classes, I'll perform"
"Alright, you just showed me conjuration, why don't we do some human transfiguration. Because of the lack of testing subject, I'll allow you to perform the transfigurations on my, but please don't curse me Potter" professor McGonagall told him.
A twinkle appeared in Harry's eyes, not dissimilar to the twinkle often visible in the headmaster's eyes. "Okay professor, any preference?"
"No, you can go ahead as you wish" was the sole response from McGonagall, as she visibly braced herself a little for what would come. It was clear she didn't have full confidence yet in Harry's abilities.
Harry grinned again and started performing multiple spells on his professor before he asked "Do you mind if I transfigure your robes, the effect will be better"
"Do as you wish" professor McGonagall said, a bit curious to what he had done, as she had felt the spells being applied.
A few flicks of his wand later, Harry announced that he was done and conjured a mirror for his professor.
When professor McGonagall looked into the mirror, she jumped from the image she saw. When she looked in the mirror, she saw the spitting image of professor Dumbledore. She removed the spells with a few movements of her wand and looked at Harry again "I must admit, that was one exemplary piece of transfiguration, it is extremely difficult to transfigure a person to look like another person, since they mostly botch up the details. I'm very impressed"
"Thank you professor McGonagall. If you wish, I can also do human to animal transfigurations"
"That won't be necessary, I believe you've proven your point. What NEWT's do you wish to take?" she asked him.
"Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, DADA, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Arithmancy and Ancient Runes"
"Arithmancy and Ancient Runes?"
"Yes professor, I started Arithmancy after Christmas break, since it helps me with my Occlumency, then I got bored with reading extra books about the school contents, so I started picking up Ancient Runes, using Hermione's books. I only have to do the second part of the sixth year and the seventh year of Ancient Runes and I'm done with that too" Harry explained.
"Would you give me a minute" professor McGonagall asked and she left her office through a door.
A little while later, she entered her office again with professor Vector and professor Babbling.
"If you are serious about what you've told me, then I only ask of you to make some tests professor Vector and professor Babbling will give you. If you are done and able to pass, then we'll discuss the possibilities of your NEWT's" professor McGonagall suggested.
"That's alright for me" Harry answered, looking forward to being actually tested on the subjects he had studied by himself.
Professor Vector smiled and gave him a piece of parchment "This is a test I give in my third year, let's start with that"
The next four hours, Harry made the tests of Ancient Runes from third to fifth year and from Arithmancy from third to seventh year. Every time he was done with one, they gave him the next and started correcting his test.
Eventually, Harry was done so he asked the professors "Would you like to have some tea?"
After an affirmative from the three professors, he conjured a tea tray and started making tea. While professor Vector and Babbling were still correcting, professor McGonagall said "I'm really surprised with you today Mr. Potter and if you would succeed, I'll miss you at Hogwarts"
Harry smiled "I would miss Hogwarts too professor, but I believe it will be for the best"
"You have changed a lot the past year" professor McGonagall indicated. "I know the circumstances made you change, but you've really grown from a boy to a young man and you couldn't have made me prouder as your head of house"
"Thank you professor" and a blush that he couldn't hide crept on his face.
"Do you have any plans afterwards, should you succeed?" professor McGonagall inquired.
Harry shook his head "I don't want to get my hopes up, even though I know I've learned everything. So if I succeed, I'll be sure to make plans then"
Professor Babbling gave a little cough to attract their attention "I'm really surprised Mr. Potter, you've managed to make these test and pass them. If I should grade them it would definitely be an Exceeds Expectations. You're getting my approval to take you NEWT's"
"Thank you professor Babbling, I wished I had known more about Ancient Runes after my second year, then I might have took in on as an elective" Harry answered. "Thank you for your time today"
"It was my pleasure Mr. Potter, good luck" and professor Babbling left the office.
The next half hour, professor McGonagall told Harry about his parents while they were in Hogwarts, while professor Vector corrected the last tests.
Eventually she was finished and told him "You surprised me as well, judging from your tests, I would have to agree that you are ready to take your NEWT in this subject. I also wish you the best of luck"
"Thank you professor Vector, have a nice evening and thank you for taking your time to test me today" Harry politely said.
When Harry was alone with professor McGonagall again, she spoke "I wasn't suspecting that you would be able to do it, but apparently I was wrong. Now for your exams, you realize that you have to take both your OWL's and your NEWT's"
"Yes professor, I read that you have to take both you written exams but that you get a little extra time to do so, then in the afternoon you start with your practical OWL exam and if they think it's adequate, then you can proceed to do you NEWT practical exam" Harry said.
"You are correct Mr. Potter. This will be very hard, even though you've studied everything in advance, I hope you are ready for this?" professor McGonagall asked.
"I hope so professor, but I want to try at least"
"Alright, I wish you the best of luck Mr. Potter, if you need help, feel free to ask" professor McGonagall told him.
Harry got up from his chair and vanished it, before making a small bow with his head towards McGonagall. "Thank you professor, for the trust and the time"
"You're welcome Mr. Potter, now you should go to dinner, I imagine you're hungry" and with that Harry left the office of his head of house. What he didn't see after he had turned around, was the sad smile on McGonagall's face as she realized she hadn't helped him as much as she could have.
During the five years Harry had been in Hogwarts, she had never expected that he could show the potential he just had. It showed her that she didn't know him that well, since his hidden abilities must have been present already in first year. It made her rethink about how Harry practically never returned to her after he had send him away in his first year when he came to inform her about the philosopher stone.
She also became aware, by thinking about how she had failed Harry, that she was actually failing her house in total as a head of house. There were almost no students coming to her with problems, while she was aware that Pomona actually had a few students every week.
As she saw Harry retreat from her office, she made a promise to herself and to the house of Gryffindor that she would try to do an extra effort to help her lions.