Weeks passed by, Halloween for the demigods was spent down with Firenze and Nye, as classes the next day had been cancelled. The pair had been getting closer to sending their magic out but still it was reluctant to leave totally. Firenze had consoled them by saying that it would happen, there was no point in injuring their magic by forcing it before they were ready; meanwhile they were still going through his multitude of weapons, the centaur considering asking Severus to assist him in increasing the size of his clearing as they were running out of room during their battles.

Tonks had done as suggested; leaving the duo up front but she didn't leave them to their own devices. During their second class, she had asked how far they were ahead and told into their 4th year work, and when she enquired why they weren't going further forward, was informed that they had promised Severus they wouldn't until all of their subjects were to that stage, and with the added Arithmancy, Ancient Runes and COMC, it was taking slightly longer. So the trainee Auror had gone down and spoken to her former professor and current colleague.

"Ahh Miss Tonks, to what do I owe this meeting?" Severus asked from behind a pile of homework, his red ink flying freely, "Idiots. 7 years in my class and you would think they could spell the ingredients."

"Yes, well, I was wondering why it is you won't allow Harry and Hermione to move forward in their DADA studies, they obviously have no need to be rereading their 4th year texts."

The potions master looked at the Metamorph, sizing her up, "I only placed that rule as they were speeding through their texts at such a high speed. By the end of their first week with the books and wands they had 5 charms mastered, and most spells they were getting done correctly on their first try. The last thing that anyone needed was for them to not think about the theory behind a spell and just go blasting through everything with no sense about them. They are much more mature now and have proven that they will go over the theory as well as the practical of all spells, and won't fall behind in one class just because it doesn't have wand work in it. I will speak to them and give them my permission to move forward in their DADA studies, and any others that they wish. Would it be wrong of me to conclude that you intend on giving them Auror levels texts?"

The Metamorph struggled to hide her blush at being caught out, "I may have but they are so advanced, much more so than even I believe I currently am, that it would be a complete waste to have them sit around in the class and not learn anything more. It will also assist them in gaining their Masters, should they wish. Do you think that they will want the extra work?"

Severus chuckled, "Miss Tonks, chances are that you will have them bashing on your office door in search of more texts within a week of you giving them the first. Be sure that they write an essay and show you personally that they are capable of doing everything in each text before handing them another."

"Very well, and thank you professor"

"Miss Tonks, we are now colleagues, even if only for a year. It is Severus."

Tonks nodded, "Of course and it is still just plain Tonks."

True to his word, Severus had spoken to the pair that night, when they came down for their chat and gave him assistance in brewing. It was only their determination and passion to the art of potion making that they didn't race off and get the books that second. Tonks was woken early the next morning by two recently exercised kids, both eager for the texts. She found that her colleague was only a smidge off in his prediction; the pair were asking for the next books 2 weeks later, they had been doing actual homework for three electives so were a little slower in reading. When Tonks asked for the essays and practicals, her control over her changes fell, she was that excited and impressed by them both.

The day after Hermione's birthday, both she and Lex were making their way to Severus' office when Lex first heard it, "Kill…Death…Purge…"

Realising that it must be a snake, the pair raced down and told their friend, who was more than a little concerned over the situation. But as the demigod hadn't heard anything else, it was placed in the shadows of this mind, not forgetting but unable to do anything about it at the moment.

Christmas was placed on hold yet again for the demigods; Wade had tripped while getting a tree and broken his leg in 3 places, the tree had fallen on top of him, and Kelly needed to care for him. Even still, the kids and Severus spent the entire day with them at home, Wade sleeping off and on as the pain killers were very heavy duty; he had to get pins surgically placed and they were painful. Despite that though it was a great day for the family, Severus grateful that he had the support of his colleagues to keep Albus off of the young pair's case for the day.

It was Boxing Day now and the young pair were taking a break from their studies to relax in the ROR, which was currently a large swimming pool. Lex was practicing to control his air powers more, currently walking over the top of the water, his feet barely grazing the ripples, "Mia, this is so cool."

"Yeah, yeah, you can walk on water. Ask any number of girls in this castle and they would have known years ago," the witch joked to her friend, currently laying on a diving board, her head hanging over the edge, "Have you noticed how Ginny Weasley seems so different to her brothers? I mean even if Ron's a douche along with Percy, the twins are alright. You'd think that she'd been at least more open with herself, but all she does is write in that diary of hers."

"Maybe being brought up with no other female siblings forced her to retreat in onto herself as a means to protect her soul from being overrun by testosterone?"

Before the witch could answer, the room's door opened, the surprise caused Lex to lose focus and fall into the water, his friend laughing happily at it, "Hey there Severus, nice timing."

Severus walked in, his shoulders shaking in laughter also, getting stronger when the shaggy black hair popped out from the water, "Sorry about that. Both of you should dry up, your professors wish to talk to you."

Hearing that, the second years hastily dressed, Hermione already dry while it took a simple hand waved for Lex. Soon they were rushing behind Severus as he led them towards the DADA classroom, much to their intrigue. Upon entering they saw Professors Tonks, Flitwick, McGonagall, Sprout, Grubbly-Plank, Vector, Sinistra, and Babbling sitting, Severus joining them.

"Take a seat please," Minerva said to her cubs, "Apologies for the choice of rooms but this is the only classroom without a portrait inside."

"It's fine Professors," the duo sat together, their hands laced under the desk.

"I'm sure you are wondering why we have all asked you here. Simply put, we wish for you both to sit your OWLs and NEWTs with the 5th and 7th years at the end of term," their head of house motioned towards Tonks, "Tonks was the help that we needed to get it put through, with her connections inside of the Ministry we were able to convince the Wizarding Examinations Authority to allow you to sit your OWLs in all subjects that you are currently studying, and your NEWTs in the core subjects."

The trainee Auror smiled at the young Gryffindors, "I showed them your exams results from the first exam I set you and also your following essays; they were slightly more than impressed but I did have to make a Wizards Oath that you had both been the ones to complete the materials."

"After that they placed requests in for your transcripts and also letters from each of us," Pomona Sprout stated from her heat, "Some of us even provided memories of your work so that they were able to see for themselves."

Severus grinned at the pair he saw as his own children in a way, "We've also organised for representatives from the Masters Committees to be present during your examinations; from there they will assess if you are suitable for your Masteries in the subjects. You should know that even 1 Master qualification is enough to declare you emancipated in the eyes of the Magical community."

"You will also be the youngest people in our long history to sit your NEWTs, the current holder is Severus, who sat his potions NEWTs in 5th year, followed by his Mastery," the diminutive Charms Master spoke up.

The demigods were stunned; they had never thought that this was possible or that so many of their professors believed in them. Having one of their famous silent conversations, the pair smiled at the group and said, "Thank you so much, we'll do you all proud."

All of the professors were pleased, many leaving straight away as they knew Dumbledore would find their absence suspicious, but Tonks and Severus stuck about, the former saying, "Continue studying and should you feel that you are ready to sit your NEWTs for the electives, then it will be an option, as will if you wish to sit exams for either Muggle Studies or Divination."

"We can't thank you enough for doing this Professor Tonks, it is more than we ever thought possible," Hermione gushed out.

"To see you both excelling in your educational lives, I'm just proud to be a small part of what will no doubt be lifetimes that people will talk about for many millennia. Be sure to mention me in your memoirs," the Metamorph gave a small wave before heading up to her office.

The kids and Severus left the classroom, the latter asking, "You aren't angry that we went behind your backs to do this?"

Seeing no one about, both lions embraced their friend, "Are you insane?"

Shaking his head, the professor hugged them back before they all went down to have afternoon tea in his quarters.