YEAR FIVE
"Good afternoon, Mr. Potter."
Harry shut the door of Professor McGonagall's office and sat in the chair across from her desk. Professor McGonagall was shuffling the papers on her desk. Umbridge was watching from the corner.
"Well Potter, this meeting is to discuss any future careers you might have. Have you had any thoughts of what you might like to do after Hogwarts?"
Harry shifted uncomfortably. "I sort of thought about maybe being an Auror last year, but now I'm not to sure. . . ."
Umbridge's quill scratched quite distractedly.
Professor McGonagall looked thoughtful. "You know Potter, we can offer more schooling if, perhaps, there is a more in-depth career you might want."
"Er, yeah, can I see those?"
Professor McGonagall reached into a drawer and pulled out a stack of pamphlets. She began laying them out: Adventuring School; Fairy School; More About Muggles – A One Year Course; Cooking Academy; Animal Healing; Art School.
"Now Potter –"
"Ahem."
Professor McGonagall turned to Umbridge. "Yes, Dolores?" Umbridge handed her another pamphlet. "Fine," Professor McGonagall said. She turned toward Harry. "We normally only show this one to Slytherins, but. . . ." She handed Harry the pamphlet: Dark Lord Academy.
"How do you get into these schools?" Harry asked, thinking of Carl.
"A representative from each school comes here every year around January and observes the students. If the student feels like they would like extra schooling, or the representative notices them, a meeting is arranged. Some of the schools do it in a strange way, though."
"Which schools are those?" Harry asked.
"Dark Lord Academy and Fairy School." Professor McGonagall said. "If a student sees a fairy, they are automatically enrolled for Fairy School. If a student has a dark mist around them, then they are automatically enrolled for Dark Lord Academy. These things start happening around fourth or fifth year."
Harry sighed.
"The students," Professor McGonagall continued, "start training at either of these schools normally in the sixth year, but there are some special cases that – what's wrong, Potter?"
Harry shook his head. "Last year, a fairy named Carl came and talked to me."
Professor McGonagall's eyes widened slightly. "A fairy talked to you, Potter?"
Harry nodded. Professor McGonagall scribbled something on a piece of paper. Then she stood up and motioned for Harry to do so as well.
"Well Potter, that brings an end to our career discussion. If you'll excuse me, I must speak with the Headmaster."
"Harry saw a fairy?" Dumbledore asked. He looked much less surprised than Professor
McGonagall had expected him to be.
"Y-yes, but Albus, is this not news to you?"
The Headmaster shook his head. "Not precisely, Minerva. I assume you have noticed Harry's wand or his ability in flight? Or perhaps you remember his performance in the Triwizard Tournament?"
Minerva nodded.
"But Carl actually talked to him. . . ." Albus trailed off, looking thoughtful.
"Then surely we must begin training him, teaching him, maybe even send him to Fairy School early?" Minerva asked after several moments of silence.
Albus seemed to snap out of it. "Yes, of course. We'll alert him immediately and send him to the school. But we will have to pull him out of his O.W.L.s."
Minerva smiled grimly. "Well, Dolores won't be happy about it."