-Chapter Seven-

Those O.W.L.s

Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the hall to find the other sixth years sitting at their house tables in a general state of apprehension. Not that Harry could blame them, his own stomach felt like it was full of butterflies performing a dance (1). The three of them sat at the Gryffindor table, barely acknowledging this around them or each other. The rest of the sixth-years were all the same.. Harry at his porridge without thinking, his eyes never leaving the Staff Table, where the Heads Of Houses were all in deep conversation over breakfast. Harry couldn't even bring himself to look over at the Slytherin Table to see what Malfoy was up to. He didn't want to miss a thing.

Eventually the four Heads got to their feet and made their way down from the staff table, each clutching a pile of papers. Beside him Harry heard Hermione give a whimper, and further down the table it sounded like someone was having a panic attack. Harry gripped his spoon so hard he wouldn't have been surprised if it shattered (despite the fact it was made out of metal), while Ron was frozen in mid-movement, oblivious to the fact that the porridge on his spoon had fallen onto his lap.

"Here are your O.W.L. results," said Professor McGonagall, walking down the table and handing everybody a sheet of paper as she passed. Harry took his with trembling hands and read it.

ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVELS RESULTS

Pass Grades

Outstanding (O)

Exceeds Expectations (E)

Acceptable (A)

Fail Grades

Poor (P)

Dreadful (D)

Troll (T) (2)

HARRY JAMES POTTER HAS ACHIEVED

Astronomy: A

Care Of Magical Creatures: E

Charms: E

Defence Against The Dark Arts: O

Divination: P

Herbology: E

History Of Magic: D

Potions: E

Transiguration: E

Harry read the paper again a few more times and then breathed a sigh of relief. Overall, he hadn't done too badly! He knew he'd fail Divination and couldn't say he was surprised at his D for History Of Magic. He also had to admit that he was very proud of getting the O for Defence Against The Dark Arts. The only bad thing was the E for Potions. With that he could say goodbye to his career as an Auror. Harry couldn't help but feel down about it.

He looked to see how everyone else had done. Neville was grinning and leaning over to show Pavarti Patil how he'd done, only to look away quickly as she burst into tears. Dean Thomas' hands were shaking so violently that he knocked his drink over, much to Ginny's amusement. Harry turned to look at Ron who was grinning in relief. "Nowhere near as bad as I thought!" he said. He caught Lavender Brown's eye further down the table and they both grinned at each other. "How'd you do?" He asked Harry and they both swapped. Ron had done about the same as Harry, although he hadn't achieved any Outstandings. Ron didn't seem too upset about it though. "Brilliant Harry, well done!" He handed Harry's back and turned to Hermione, who had been oddly quiet since opening her results. "How'd you do, Hermione?"

"Well enough, I guess," she said faintly, not making eye contact. Ron took the results from her unresisting hands and read them, before snorting with laughter. "Outstandings for everything except Defence The Dark Arts. Don't tell me that's getting you down!"

"No, no of course not!" said Hermione, forcing a laugh.

Harry grinned at her encouragingly. "You've done really well Hermione, we all have!" he said, raising his voice so he could be heard over the crying coming from further down the table. "I wonder how everyone else has done?" He looked around the hall.

Quite a few people were laughing in relief, while others were sobbing into their results. Suddenly he found his gaze drawn to the Slytherin table. Malfoy was looking at the results in complete indifference, and as Harry watched he threw them aside and began talking to Crabbe and Goyle. If only he could hear what they were saying! A nudge rom Ron caught his attention, and he turned around in time to see Dumbledore rising to his feet.

"The very best of mornings to you!" cried Dumbledore once the Hall had fallen silent. "Congratulations to all you sixth-years! Now that your O.W.L.s have been received you may prepare yourselves for this coming year. Tomorrow you will receive your timetables. But first," he chuckled softly. "I'm sure your parents will wish to congratulate you. Ah, here comes the post now!"

For a few seconds no one moved as what Dumbledore had said sunk in, and then everyone flung themselves under the table as newspapers and letters, launched by Medalyn Catapult, came flying in through the windows, skidding across the tables and somehow managing to stop in front of the correct students. Food and drink went flying as the letters and newspapers collided with them. One unfortunate Ravenclaw girl who hadn't ducked in time had her ponytail sliced off, and a brave Hufflepuff boy tried to catch one of the letters as it flew by, resulting in a very nasty paper cut. Eventually the onslaught stopped and everyone emerged from under the tables.

"Well, that'll be all," said Dumbledore.

"Blimey, can't wait for those missing owls to turn up." said Ron as they walked out, examining a a few tears in his robes. Hermione, who was still examining her results, ignored him. "This is going to be such a difficult year, I just know it," she said. "We'll probably have to start using non-verbal spells and learn some incredibly complex potions and charms as well!"

"Hermione, please!" said Ron. "We don't start lessons until tomorrow, you don't have to worry about it yet."

"Of course we do!" Snapped Hermione. "We'll have to work extra hard on everything, won't we Harry?"

Harry wasn't listening, he was too busy watching Malfoy. He, Crabbe and Goyle had stopped outside the Great Hall with a large group of other students and was talking to them quickly. As Harry watched they began to head towards the Slytherin Common Room.

"Don't we, Harry?" repeated a bit more firmly. Harry looked at them both for a moment and then started up the steps at a run. "Come on!"

He hared towards the common room, barely aware of Ron and Hermione trying to keep up. He arrived at the Fat Lady's Portrait, gave the password and was up in his room before he knew it, opening his chest and pulling out the Marauder's Map. He was just about to put it on when Ron and Hermione caught up with him. "Harry, what are you doing?" asked Ron breathlessly.

"Malfoy's up to something." said Harry quickly. "I saw him talking to some other people, I'm going to see if I can listen in."

"Don't be ridiculous." Protested Hermione. "They'll probably be in the Slytherin Common Room by now."

Harry solemnly swore that he was up to no good and looked at the map. He was surprised to find…

"Nothing." he said in disbelief. "He isn't even on here!" He looked at Ron and Hermione in confusion. "What does this mean?"

"Maybe he's found a way round it?" said Ron, looking to Hermione for answers.

"No, he doesn't even know it exists," said Hermione. "I'll check Hogwarts - A History and see if it says anything about getting around charms." She left to fetch her copy and Harry had another careful look at the Marauder's Map, but there was no sign of Malfoy anywhere. "So what we do?" asked Ron.

"I guess we'll just have to keep an eye on Malfoy and see what he gets up to."

The following day they all received their timetables at breakfast. Professor McGonagall telling Harry that while he had failed Potions, there were many similar careers he could follow and he shouldn't get too down about it, which cheered Harry up slightly. Ron was delighted to discover that they now had free periods between some lessons, although that happiness was squashed (3) by Hermione pointing out that they would need those for all of the additional work they' be getting. AFter breakfast she hurried off to her first lesson while Harry and Ron went back to the common room. Harry immediately checked the Marauder's Map but was disappointed to see Malfoy still at the Slytherin Table, and eventually they headed off to Defence Against The Dark Arts. They met Hermione and a few of the other Gryffindors.

"Good lesson?" asked Ron jokingly. Hermione glared at him. "I've got two essays to read and a lot of books to read by next week. And this is just the beginning!" she said, her voice raising at Ron's smirk. "We'll probably get loads from here!"

The door suddenly opened and Professor Willow's head popped out, grinning broadly. "In you come then!"

The Gryffindors walked into the classroom with not a little trepidation. Given how last years Ministry-appointed teacher had carried out the lessons this was understandable. Professor Willow leaned on his desk, hands in his pockets and that same, inane grin on his face. The walls of the room were covered in pictures of various Dark Artefacts, some appeared to be only half-finished sketches and Harry wondered if Professor Willow had drawn them all himself.

"Right, yes, good morning!" said Willow as soon as they had taken their seats. "So, Dark Arts eh?" He stopped leaning against his desk and started pacing the classroom. "You have had several different Teachers on this subject over the years haven't you? They've all taught this subject in their own way, but none of them have lasted over a year. Some of them have even been… tainted by the Dark Arts." He stopped in front of his desk and stared intently straight ahead. To everyone in the room it was like he was staring directly at each of them, yet at the same time staring into space. "That itself should serve as a lesson to you all. You are not safe from the Dark Arts anywhere. No matter how safe a place seems to be the Dark Arts will find a way in. And with the return of Lord Voldemort-" several people shuddered. "-it is very important to understand the Dark Arts and to learn how to be ready for them. CONSTANT VIGILANCE!" he bellowed suddenly in a voice uncannily like Mad-Eye Moody's, making the whole class jump. "Now, books away and on your feet!" he said, suddenly beaming again. "What I have to teach you cannot be learned from a book." The whole class hastily got to their feet, wands at the ready.

"Today we shall be trying non-verbal spells. 'The importance of non-verbal spells is that your adversary has no warning about what kind of magic you're about to perform,' as said by…?" he trailed off, looking at the class hopefully. Hermione's hand shot up. "Yes, Miss Granger?" Harry wasn't sure how he could know her name, as he hadn't taken the register when they'd all entered.

"The Great Catweazle!" said Hermione.

"Correct!" cried Willow. "Ten points to Gryffindor! Now, it's all very well talking about non-verbal spells but performing them is another thing. They can be difficult at first, but with practice and preservation-" he causually waved his wand and everybody suddenly found their own wands flying from their hands. "-you'll be amazed at what can be achieved! Now pair up. One person will try to cast a jinx while the other repels it, both non-verbally. Not a peep from any of you!"

Everyone split into pairs and retrieved their wands, but it soon became clear just how difficult non-verbal spells were. Several people had their faces screwed up in concentration while others resorted to whispering the words as quietly as they could. Willow wandered around the class, watching each pair intently and offering feedback. "It's no good whispering, Dean. Many wizards can lip-read…. Miss Patil, you're over-exaggerating your wand movements… Ah, brilliant!" he cried suddenly as Hermione successfully parried Neville's Jelly-Legs Jinx without making a sound. "Another ten points for Gryffindor!"

Harry held his wand out expectantly, waiting for Ron's curse. Ron was read in the face, mouth clamped shut, desperately trying to cast a spell. His mind drifting, Harry looked around the room idly. Other than Hermione no one else seemed to be doing very well at all.

A flash of movement at the door, which had been left ajar, caught his attention. Someone was standing outside of the door, just out of sight. Harry looked more closely. The black robes, the fact its face was seemed to be obscured by something.

No…. it couldn't be…

The Death Eater stared into the room, and Harry felt that it was staring right at him. For a few seconds, time seemed to stand still, and then the Death Eater moved away from the door. Harry flung himself forwards, ignoring the startled cries from everyone behind him. He charged into the corridor and had a look around. The corridor was empty. Harry walked a few steps forward, looking around intently for any clues, but there were none.

The Death Eater had vanished.

"Is there a problem, Harry?" Willow said behind him. Harry turned around. Everyone in the class was staring at him. Willow was looking at him intently.

"No, nothing's wrong sir." Said Harry quickly. It wouldn't do to worry everyone. Willow didn't say anything for a few moments and Harry wasn't sure whether he believed him or not.

"Leave, it, there's nothing you could do." Whispered willow suddenly, before turning and heading back inside before Harry could say anything else. What had he meant by that?

"Harry you can't be serious," said Ron as they left the classroom after the lesson had ended. "A Death Eater in Hogwarts?"

"That's what I saw," said Harry firmly. "It was outside the door for a few moments, I got a good look at it."

"It was probably someone with a poor sense of humour doing it for a joke." Said Hermione.

"Yeah, I could see Malfoy doing that," said Ron eagerly. "It would be so like him to try and mess with your mind like that!"

They carried on talking but Harry wasn't listening. Professor Willow had emerged from the classroom and was walking up and down the corridor, examining everything carefully, just like Harry had been doing before.

Was he searching for the Death Eater? Had he seen it too?

But more importantly, were there Death Eaters in Hogwarts?

Appendix

(1) The Dance of the Butterflies is a little known musical that was written to incorporate real butterflies as dancers. After a disastrous opening night where the butterflies flew around aimlessly it's optimistically planned 50 date tour was cancelled.

(2) There as once a W grade in place of the Troll, but it was quickly abandoned once people discovered what it stood for.

(3) Not too be confused with Happiness Squash, a banned and highly addictive potion/drink that makes the consumer incredibly happy, so happy that they can't bare to be sad ever again and don't stop drinking it

AUTHOR'S NOTE - For some reason the margins I used to recreate the results sheet did not survive the uploading, and trying to recreate didn't seem to work. Sorry about that.