More grades stuff - turns out that's really easy to churn out words for ...

I'll try to make the final (?) two chapters BEGA related. I know exactly how I would have that happen in a full-length fic but I can't write full-length fics lol so you'll have to make do.

It was the first day back at Hogwarts. Their first day of sixth year. They had just finished breakfast, and now the Heads of Houses had descended down from their high table to the long student tables and were speaking to every sixth year individually. It was time to make their decisions about which NEWT subjects they would study for the next two years.

Some, like Hilary, knew exactly what they would pick because they had already chosen their careers. Other students looked askance at this, at claiming that you knew what you wanted to do for the rest of your life at only fifteen. Some, like Tyson and Ray, had no clue about their future and were just going to pick whatever they had scored best in. A few, like Mathilda, waited fearfully because their future at Hogwarts hung in the balance.

McGonagall came to Hilary first. This was deliberate on Hilary's part – she'd studied the seating from last year. With typical efficiency, she wanted in and out again as quickly as possible, so she rattled off her choices as soon as the Head of House made eye contact with her.

"Potions, Transfiguration, Charms, Defence, Herbology, Astronomy, Arithmancy, and History of Magic."

After six years the staff were well used to Hilary's endless determination, so McGonagall merely raised her eyebrows in a quick, silent question. Had it needed to be voiced, it would have sounded something, "Eight is a lot of NEWTs, Hilary, are you certain?" But it didn't need to be said. Everyone knew that while Hilary was known for plunging as recklessly into things as the next Gryffindor, she went into those things one hundred per cent convinced that it was the right thing to do.

So McGonagall simply nodded and tapped the piece of parchment she was holding with her wand. Lines of ink sprouted from the tip and quickly traced Hilary's new timetable onto the parchment.

"Thanks, Professor." Hilary took the parchment and flashed a quick, dazzling grin at the others behind her before she sped off. First period Monday morning: Charms.

Max was next. Not particularly through any choice of his, he'd been the slowest to catch onto the seat war which had gone on this morning. He was pretty confident in his new subject choices though, so he fearlessly handed over the scrap of parchment where he'd written them down last night.

"Well, Tate. Continuing to NEWT in Potions, Astronomy and Herbology is no problem at all with your Outstandings. I'm also happy to take you to NEWT level study in Transfiguration with Exceeds Expectation."

"Thanks, Professor," he said cheekily. She pursed her lips, but her eyes twinkled.

"Are you sure you don't want to take Charms? An E is a solid result which would still stand you in good stead for NEWT study. And it would surely be a shame to let your excellent Care of Magical Creatures result go to waste."

Max shrugged. "I got good results, Es and Os, in seven out of my ten OWLS, but I don't want to take seven NEWTs, Professor. I know what I like studying."

Yes, everyone within earshot thought, Potions. All of his other subjects were merely complementary to Potions. Herbology gave him wider ingredient knowledge, and Astronomy meant an in-depth knowledge of planetary motions and other topics which affected the growth of certain ingredients. Transfiguration wasn't as directly relevant, but sixth and seventh year study would involve, or so they had been told, theoretical study into the nature of objects, so as to better your Transfiguration. Knowing the nature of objects seemed useful when you were combining and altering them in a potion.

Only Max could have got away with cheeking the Head of House like that, they all thought enviously, as he was waved aside with his new timetable. He apparently had a free period now, since he just sat back down and watched the ensuing proceedings.

The next hapless victim of McGonagall's sharp gaze was Ray. He was far more nervous and underconfident than Hilary and Max had been. Nervously, he read out from his tentatively chosen list.

"Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Divination … and Defence against the Dark Arts?"

She frowned. His stomach dropped like a stone. He knew that Defence would be a hard sell.

"There's no problem with your other choices, Kon, but progressing to NEWT level study in Defence against the Dark Arts on a basis of an "Acceptable" grade at OWL will be difficult for you."

Ray belatedly realised that his fists were clenched. "I know that. I've looked in the textbooks for the year, Professor, and it's hard but I know I can do it!" He could feel his face going hot under her scrutiny. Several tense seconds passed. To his surprise though, she didn't try to change his mind. Out came the wand and his new timetable. "Good luck, Kon." He had Divination as his first period subject, same classroom as it had been for OWLs. Feeling slightly shellshocked, and somehow as if he'd been cheated of an argument he'd been gearing himself up for, he headed off for the lesson.

Tyson had really, really wanted to speak up just them, to say, "Hey Professor, I'll help him!" But at fifteen he was getting better at this whole tact thing, and knew that Ray wouldn't have forgiven him for a while if he had so clearly shown the difference in their skill levels. In front of the whole Great Hall, no less.

"Hi, Professor!" He said as she turned her attention to him. One corner of her mouth turned up.

"Good morning, Granger. May I assume from your enthusiasm that you have got your choices ready for me?" She looked pointedly at his hands, which held his OWL results copied out scratchily. He pulled a face and shifted from foot to foot.

"Kind of?" Her gaze sharpened. "I know some of them! Charms and Defence, and …" he faltered, checked his results again, "Transfiguration and Care of Magical Creatures!" Transfiguration wasn't as safe a bet as the others, but Hilary's comment that he could do better than two NEWTs was still ringing in his ears, and he'd nearly blurted out Herbology as well.

Both corners of her mouth curled up this time, but the smile still managed to be sarcastic. "A tried and tested, nay, time honoured method of choosing higher level subjects, Mr Granger."

"Uh … thanks." Nonplussed, he took the timetable she handed him. It took a few seconds of staring at it before he registered that, just like Hilary, he was supposed to be in Charms right now.

To exactly no-one's surprise, Kai was right behind Tyson. To the surprise of none of the other sixth years, he was staring at his choices and muttering to himself. Tyson's last minute change would have thrown out Kai's plans, of course.

"Well, Mr Hiwatari?"

"Defence against the Dark Arts, Charms, Care of Magical Creatures, Transfiguration, Astronomy and Ancient Runes." These subjects were exactly as everyone listening had predicted: all his chances to do even better than Tyson at NEWT than he had at OWL, plus the two subjects which he actually seemed to enjoy. His deliberate mixing up of the order in which Tyson had said his subjects didn't hide anything. What he said next made Kenny drop his glass, though: "And Muggle Studies."

Even McGonagall looked taken back. She blinked at him over the top of her spectacles.

"Are you sure?"

He smirked to hide the unexpected stab of hurt. "Did you not see my result?"

It was like the OWLS all over again. He'd studied it for two years and still everyone just looked at him and saw the Dark-affiliated Slytherin pureblood infiltrator they wanted to see.

Some of this must have shown on his face despite his best efforts – or perhaps Mc Gonagall was an expert Legilimens who could get past his currently background level Occulmency shields. That wasn't a fun thought. He put a bit of energy into raising them higher. Either way, she sighed and raised her wand. Ink spiralled onto the parchment in front of her.

Glee over sticking yet more fingers up at his grandfather combined with … well, the fact that he was sticking two more fingers up at his grandfather and all the dread and residual guilt that brought with it … those two feelings warred inside him as he stuffed his timetable into the front pocket of his schoolbag and turned to head off to Charms.

"Please feel free to come to my office at any time," she said in a whisper meant only for his ears. Kai somehow managed to swallow down a defensive "Fuck off," and gave her a jerky nod instead. He walked very quickly indeed off to Charms.

Mariah had drawn the unlucky seat next to Kai. It wasn't unlucky because of the NEWTs this time, it was just unlucky because Kai ate left-handed for some unknown reason and didn't care who he jabbed in the ribs or whose drink he knocked over.

"Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Potions and Transfiguration." Just as with Hilary, there was no hesitation in her voice or eyes because she had the results to support her choices. The professor's mind was obviously running along similar lines because there was definite teasing in her tone as she asked,

"Is that all? You don't want to join the majority so far in Charms? Or keep Kai company in Ancient Runes?"

Feeling daring after her fellow pupils' cheekiness, Mariah answered, "Only what I'm outstanding at, Professor!"

"Very well."

Julia came after her – she had won the seat that wasn't next to Kai's elbows.

"Care of Magical Creatures and Defence against the Dark Arts," she announced. Everyone waited for more. No more came. McGonagall raised both eyebrows at once, a sign of definite surprise.

"You are capable of more than just two NEWTs, Miss Fernandez. Most people are." That last comment was tart. Mariah winced for her friend.

Julia shrugged. She was practically radiated defensiveness. "I like these two."

"You would be able to do almost any other subject. Your OWL results were highly satisfactory."

Julia laughed. It had no humour in it. "Maybe for you." McGonagall tilted her head a fraction to the left, and everyone immediately tried to be somewhere else in their heads and not to make eye contact, ever. Even Mariah stared fixedly at the table in front of her and waited for Julia to be put in detention. Nothing came from the professor: in fact it was Julia who broke the tense silence. "Fine! You pick!"

"Transfiguration, of course." The professor's voice was softer again, amused. "And perhaps Herbology?"

Julia sighed, long and loud, but when she next spoke her voice was small. "I'll try."

"Both."

"Yes."

The professor's next words were so soft that only Mariah was sat close enough to hear: "Good girl." She saw the way that Julia's body quivered at the praise.

Now it was Kenny's turn. He anxiously pushed his choice over the table to her. He hadn't expected that she would be so pushy and demanding over making sure she thought they were living up to their potential. She read them out to him, watching him closely.

"Arithmancy, Transfiguration, Charms, History of Magic. No Potions? You got an O in that, after all."

Kenny shook his head so hard that his neck clicked. "No, no, I'm not very good at Potions really." He knew that an Outstanding didn't make sense with that statement, but that grade was the result of him working late into the night with Max and Hilary with Max's little collapsible cauldron, practising exam standard potions again and again until he could be pretty certain that he wasn't going to fall to bits in the exam like he usually did in lessons. To his surprise she didn't ask for any of this explanation, and instead just gave him his timetable and waved him off to Charms.

Last of all, and deliberately so because she had been dragged down here against her will by the rest of the girls, was Mathilda. She watched the professor approaching with exactly the same wide-eyed horror as a mouse freezing in front of a cat or fox.

"Did you receive your re-marked OWLs?" The professor's voice was entirely, terrifyingly neutral. Mathilda nodded. Her face felt like it was on fire. She was certain that every eye in the Hall must be on her. The dirty cheater.

Her first set of results had been Outstandings almost across the board, with an E in Arithmancy and Potions. Once everything had been … revealed, they had changed dramatically. She looked again at the parchment in her hand. The envelope with her new results in had been waiting for her when they got to their dormitory. Resting on her pillow like a gift. Some gift.

Ancient Runes: P

Arithmancy: D

Astronomy: P

Care of Magical Creatures: A

Charms: O

Defence Against the Dark Arts: A

Divination: E

Herbology: A

History of Magic: E

Potions: P

Transfiguration: E

She had genuinely believed that she wouldn't be allowed back to Hogwarts, let alone allowed to take NEWTs. For courage she squeezed the soft silk of her inner robes.

"Charms, I suppose," she said. Her voice shook. "And … Transfiguration?" An unreadable expression crossed the professor's face. Mathilda cringed and fell silent, expecting a comment about not wanting dirty cheaters in her advanced class.

"Transfiguration," McGonagall said calmly, "and what else?"

"History of Magic. Or Divination."

"You could probably take them both." That was a little bit funny, amidst all the anxiety. Everyone knew what the professor thought of Divination.

"Are you sure?" Mathilda couldn't help but ask.

"You were performing at pass or higher standard for seven OWLs. I promise you that four NEWTs will not be over-reaching yourself, even if one of them is Transfiguration."

"Ok." Mathilda turned blindly away from the table. She was so pumped up with wasted adrenalin that she could barely see more than a foot in front her. Well. That had gone better than she thought.

All opinions welcome!

xIlbx