Chapter 3:
You'll Struggle To Keep Up
The Gryffindor sixth years sat together in the Great Hall the following morning. Professor McGonagall was making her way down the table handing out timetables. She paused when she reached the sixth years and looked mournfully at them all, "how are you doing dears?"
They nodded sadly, unsure how to respond. Professor McGonagall, always efficient, started talking to Lily about her timetable, "well my dear with grades like yours you could take anything you want," she told her. She tapped the piece of parchment on the top of her pile, "you haven't changed your mind at all, Evans? Still potions, herbology, transfiguration, charms and defence against the dark arts?"
"Yes Professor," Lily smiled.
"Is there anything else you'd like to study. Usually we limit students to five or six but I'd make an exception for you…"
"Arithmancy, Professor," Lily grinned, "and Ancient Runes."
"Very well… here's your timetable," she handed her the parchment, "and you've got Ancient Runes in fifteen minutes.
"Thank you Professor," Lily smiled as she bounded out of the hall, making her way to the library for a quick read before class.
"We've not even been here a day and Evans is already off to the library," Sirius laughed.
"Miss Prewett, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, anything else?"
"Arithmancy, please," Alice replied happily.
"Very well," McGonagall tapped the parchment, "you have a free hour before your first Defence Against the Dark Arts lesson, use it wisely."
The Deputy Headmistress then turned towards Frank, "what about you Mr Longbottom?"
"Same as Alice please Professor," Frank nodded.
McGonagall smiled, tapped the parchment and carried on through the sixth years, "Potter, you got outstandings in the subjects you need to study to become an auror. Well done."
"Thanks Professor," James grinned.
"What else would you like to study?" McGonagall asked, "you need a minimum of five NEWTs at Exceeds Expectations to get accepted into Auror Training."
"Er… I don't know Professor either Herbology or Care of Magical Creatures," James told the older witch.
"I suggest you take Herbology," McGonagall smiled kindly, "you did well in it but also Miss Evans will be studying it this year and it might give you an opportunity to show her how much more mature you are this year."
James went slightly pink at the mention of Lily Evans. Sirius was given a matching timetable to James. Peter had asked for the same subjects as his best friends but hadn't been allowed them, "sorry Mr Pettigrew, but the truth is you'd struggle to keep up," McGonagall told him. "Why not take Care of Magical Creatures and Divination, both of those accept students who got Acceptable at OWL level. Also Herbology; Professor Sprout accepts students with Acceptable grades."
"Could I not take Defence?" he moaned.
"Unfortunately no," McGonagall frowned, "Professor Lomax doesn't accept anything below Exceeds Expectation. What you could do is try and take a few extra OWL classes as well? Or perhaps retake your OWL in Defence – there will be re-sits available at the end of next week if you really want to study it at NEWT level."
"Yes please Professor," Wormtail twitched with excitement, "and Transfiguration too?"
"If you wish," McGonagall smiled kindly, "you'll have to study mind you, perhaps get Mr Potter to help you or Mr Lupin."
"I will Professor," Peter smiled.
The Professor tapped the parchment with her wand and ink began to wash over the page; Care of Magical Creatures, Divination, Herbology, Remedial Defence Against the Dark Arts and Remedial Transfiguration.
"You will have remedial classes for two weeks before your make up exams," Professor McGonagall told the rather plump boy. "You have Remedial Transfigurations from now until lunch – I will meet you in my office in five minutes to introduce you to the Remedial teacher."
Next McGonagall turned to Kate and Remus. "Mr Lupin, here is your timetable, I've taken the liberty to fill it since you couldn't decide. If you wish to change anything, do not hesitate to come see me."
Remus smiled. He'd really struggled with the idea of choosing his NEWTs. Everyone else was deciding based upon what they wanted to do, what career they wanted, but he had no job prospects, he was a werewolf. He and Professor McGonagall had had a fiery argument because he didn't think he'd ever be employed so why get his hopes up. She had told him that she would do everything in her power to ensure that he go on to do amazing things. When the young boy of sixteen had left her office, McGonagall had had a tear running down her cheek.
Remus looked down and was happy to see all of his favourite subjects; especially Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Kate was given her own timetable a few seconds later and they were delighted to see that they shared several lessons together. Kate and Marlene were given identical timetables; Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Defence and Care of Magical Creatures.
Lily and Remus sat together in Ancient Runes. The professor ran through a list of the syllabus and informed them all of how much harder NEWT level was from OWL, "at least a quarter of you will quit, another eighth will fail… and hopefully the rest of you will do outstandingly well."
Throughout the whole lesson, Lily felt someone watching her. She turned at one point to find Severus Snape staring at her. She sighed sadly, she missed her best friend.
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Coming Soon...
Peter's Remedial Classes...
Day One of Lessons...
HOMEWORK on the first week...
and a bunch of other stuff...