Severus had been mad at the young pair, but understood that they felt they owed Amelia an explanation after she did what she did, and knew that Amelia wouldn't betray their trust. He told Alexander and Hermione that Albus had succumbed to death; it was his magic after all that allowed him to live to the ripe old age of 111. They weren't sad about the loss, he had placed innocent children in danger and put Lex into a house he had no right being in, with the hopes of using him as a weapon of his own, no better than Voldemort.
Back at school the next day, the news hit heavily, and Minerva was officially made the headmistress, Severus the deputy headmaster; and while she had been a Hufflepuff during her tenure, Tonks was placed as acting head of Gryffindor house. With only a few more weeks of school, it wasn't going to be a long standing position; Tonks was to return to her training the week after Hogwarts let out.
The day of the OWLs and NEWTs, every 5th and 7th year was standing with Lex and Mia as the Wizarding Examination Authority overseers arrived. There were 6 people, of various ages with the oldest looking as though older than Dumbledore had been, walking into the Great Hall. Following soon after were 5 more people, these witches and wizards were dressed in higher grade robes, their Mastery patches sewn onto their clothing.
The other years were currently sitting their own exams, or attending classes, so the Great Hall was holding only those who were needed. The oldest woman got up to the lectern and cleared her throat, "Welcome to the start of the most important 2 weeks of your educational lives, I am Griselda Marchbanks, one of the overseers for the exams. During the following weeks some of you shall sit your OWLs, making your step into your future careers by your marks, while the rest will sit your NEWTs, the final stepping stone before you go into the real world. This year we have the honour of having the two youngest people to sit both their OWLs and NEWTs, Mr Harry Potter and Miss Hermione Granger."
Lex and Mia smiled politely as everyone around them chuckled; they all knew that the young pair was going to be sitting the same exams as them. Griselda hopped down and one of the others got up, a middle aged man, "Hello there, I'm Archibald Reyes, Transfiguration Master. As you can see there are 5 others who are obviously not with the WEA, we are actually members of the Mastery Committees, asked here to overlook the exam work of the previously noted duo."
"Alright, everyone head out, we have to get the hall ready but the first exams shall be Charms OWLs theory followed by practical, then the NEWTs for the same subject," Griselda said, motioning for everyone to leave.
It took the large group 20 minutes to get ready, and soon the students were back inside. The day moved like a flash, Alexander and Hermione with the Charms Master hanging over their shoulder the entire time; just to make sure that they really were worth their time. Both had decided the previous week that they would sit the OWLs and NEWTs for Muggle Studies, easy as they were both raised that way, while Hermione was going to do the Divination ones for the hell of it. They weren't certain of their abilities towards the other elective NEWTs, so were only sitting the OWLs for them, by their reasoning, they still had 4 years to get ready.
Practical exams were simple, Lex and Mia forcing themselves to not do the asked for charms wandless and silently. After lunch, during which the hall had to be returned to normal and then changed for exams once more, they sat their NEWTs, the Master standing closer this time. During their practicals, he even asked that they do a few other charms for his work, saving them from having to do them later on. The duo readily approved, even stunning both he and the examiner when they did them wandlessly.
That continued on like that, the only times that the testing students got a break was at night or on the weekends, baring the Wednesday and following Thursday night for the Astronomy exams. While they wouldn't get their results until the final day of term, the demigods were certain they were doing well; the expression on the adults' faces was proof of that. But they just went on, in their zones, able to truly be themselves in an environment that they wouldn't get judged.
Hermione was stoked during her Divination practical, she had had her first true prediction, naming the exact time and person who would have a nervous breakdown during the same exam; she saw the witch testing her open her eyes in shock, never having met someone with actual promise.
During their weekend relief, the demigods spent from Friday night to Monday morning in the forest, not leaving for anything. They connected with nature and also spent some quality relaxation time with Firenze and Nye, both of whom were happy to have the pair around. Acting as children whilst out in the forest, Lex and Mia returned freshly cleaned and refreshed for their exams Monday morning.
As Alexander stepped out from his final practical examination, Muggle Studies NEWT, he saw Severus standing there with Hermione, both with huge grins on their faces, "What is it?"
"I've got everything organised for our holiday," the potions master said, "We leave the second week of the summer, let you both spend time with Wade and Kelly before we head off. Nye has agreed to stick around here with Firenze, knowing that it is too dangerous for him on the road, while Dobby was very stubborn in refusing to stay at the houses. The goblins have your passports set, and Wade's purchased us the perfect vehicle, apparently."
That was just what the wizard needed to hear after the fortnight he'd had, "Excellent! This is going to be great."
The trio celebrated that and the finishing of the exams, even going down to Hogsmeade for a meal at the Three Broomsticks, Severus being deputy headmaster gave him such privileges. When they returned to Gryffindor tower, a party was blasting in celebration of it being over for everyone, though the other years had all finished the previous week. Of course, as they were just starting to have fun, Weasley had to open his mouth, calling Hermione a know-it-all fame bunny. Lex hadn't needed to even go for the idiot, Neville had tackled him the second he'd finished insulting the witch he looked to as a sister. The redhead was still passed out in that same spot the next morning, though he had been hit a few dozen times with ink splats.
Before anyone knew it, it was the final day of term, the train would be leaving the following day, and the results for the NEWTs were coming in that day. OWLs results were delivered during the summer, at the same time as the book lists, but as the students needed to know if they were going to be able to find a career or have to return to repeat 7th year, all NEWTs came before end of term. The two demigods would also be receiving their Masteries results today, and knew that there was a large pool within the professors and students as to which of the two would do better.
The owl post was heavier, each 7th year anxiously reaching up to grab their results, the two second year Gryffindors waiting patiently for their letters. Opening them together, neither was surprised when the first thing they saw was congratulations. Seeing the looks all around them, the pair cleared their throats, and Lex went first, "OWLs-Outstanding all round. NEWTs-Outstanding all round. A total of 12 OWLs, 8 NEWTs."
"OWLs-Outstanding all round. NEWTs-Outstanding all round. A total of 12 OWLs, 9 NEWTs," Hermione said proudly, to the cheers of many.
Lex wasn't concerned; he knew that as the witch was doing Divination, she would get one more than him no matter what; he really wasn't talented in that department. Hugging his friend closely, he placed a light kiss on her cheek before seeing Minerva receive two letters and look at them before standing, "Oh, this can't be good for us."
"Students, quiet down please. As you have all know for a while now, we have two students who were going for not only their OWLs and NEWTs but also their Masteries in a select number of disciplines. I am proud to say that I have received their results and would like for Mr Potter and Miss Granger to come up to the head table," the witch watched on with pride as her two lion cubs walked to her, "This is a feat that no one as young as yourselves have ever undertaken and yet you have both flown through the challenges with great ease. It is a privilege to tell you both that you have received multiple Masteries each.
"Miss Hermione Jeanne Granger, you are now to be known as the Master of Astronomy, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts, Divination, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Potions and Transfiguration. Congratulations."
Hermione took the handed badges for her robes, tears of joy in her eyes, "Thank you ma'am."
"Mr Harry James Potter, you are now to be known as the Master of Astronomy, Charms, DADA, Herbology, History of Magic, Muggle Studies, Potions and Transfiguration. You are also the youngest person to ever gain a Mastery on record, congratulations."
The wizard happily took his badges, "It is thanks to each of you ma'am, we couldn't have done it otherwise."
Minerva blushed lightly but went on still, "While you still have 3 NEWTs to finish, the staff have voted and agreed unanimously that both of you should be offered an Assistant Professor position within the school. We would all be honoured if you were to accept this offer."
"We wouldn't dream of having it any other way ma'am," Mia said for them both.
The Great Hall erupted in applause, the Gryffindors trying to outdo each other in their celebrations for their fellow lions. The two demigods were bright red from their blushes when they went back to sit with Faye and Neville. Later that night they were told about the perks of the position, like getting their own rooms and being paid even, but right now they were simply happy to be chatting away with their friends, and watching as winnings were passed out to the victorious.