It's My Life
A week had passed since Harry's sixteenth birthday, and of course, that night had ended perfectly. Aside from the Slytherin friends residing in the manor, all the others left by 10:00 pm and then the elves cleaned things up. Harry said his thanks and goodnights to everyone before going to his room for bed. At 11:00 pm, Draco got into Harry's room and the two made love for an hour before they fell asleep together. The next morning, Draco and Harry showered together, and then Draco hurried to his room to dress before they headed downstairs for breakfast together. Since then, Harry had been focusing on his studies.
Since Severus couldn't teach Harry anything more than what the man already knew for Defense, Harry now used that time in the afternoon to study up on more for NEWTs. His summer work was done, just in case things went wrong with testing and he failed; he could start his sixth year off strong. Harry used the rest of his time to study for his core classes and brush up more on the electives he'd taken years three through five. Harry felt confident in Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies, even though he never took that one. However, Harry did grow up, ten years, completely muggle. It was more of a chance exam to add to the count.
Lucius had to work some magic to allow Harry to take that exam since he never took any of the courses in school. It was all through the Board of Governors, anyway. They are the ones who set up the exam schedule at the ministry, so Lucius was chairman of the board, but doing things fairly and by proper procedure. Today was the 5th of August and it marked a year since Harry went under Severus's guardianship. Since Harry took up the Slytherin and Potter Lordships. Since that investigation had begun on Albus. It was true that so much had happened in one year, truthfully, Harry could say that with the bad; this year had been pretty decent. He gained a father, a boyfriend…Amazing friends.
Harry was…Happy. There was still sadness in losing Sirius, but that pain got a little better every day that passed since the man had been gone. It had been over a month, so far, closing in on two soon. Currently, Harry was in his room, reading over his study notes for NEWT exams in the Transfiguration area. Harry had already gone over History of Magic, and Herbology. Charms, Harry felt pretty confident in. As Harry was reading, Hedwig flew into his room and landed on her perch close to the sitting room window/doors.
"Hey, girl." Harry greeted, stroking her chest. "Bring me anything?" Harry saw the official lettering on the envelope and got a little nervous. His OWL results were in. His friends had gotten all theirs already. Harry had been worried about his results ever since finishing the second week of them, but it had been after Sirius had died and he was rightfully, a mess. "Thanks,"
Harry detached the letter and took a breath. No, he couldn't do it; he was too anxious that he might have failed. Harry had been warned by Lucius that the entire NEWT exam idea was off if he hadn't passed his OWLs, or scored too poorly. To move onto NEWT classes, originally, you needed O's and EE's. Depending on the class, and who taught it. Harry had known that you didn't get into Severus's NEWT potion class without an O on your OWL.
Harry got up and left his room, heading downstairs to find his father, whom he found sitting in the main room with Remus, Narcissa, and Lucius. The teens were all doing their summer work in the library near Lucius's office.
"There you are, my son." Severus greeted. "Finished studying, or taking a break?"
"Just a break. I came to see you, actually." Harry said.
"Oh, something you're stuck on?" Severus asked. Harry shook his head and gave the envelope to his father. Severus looked over it and eyed his son. "This is addressed to you, Harry. Why are you giving it to me? It's probably your OWL results."
"Yes, I've deduced that on my own, Father…" Harry said. "I'm too nervous to open them, so I want you to…"
"Why are you nervous, Harry…I'm sure you did fine." Remus mentioned.
"I had trial and Sirius's death to deal with while I took those exams. My mind was not all there, I was a mess…I don't think I did good at all." Harry mentioned. "Please, Dad?"
"Very well, if that is your wish, my son." Severus turned the envelope around and opened it, then pulled the parchment out to read over as Harry took a seat on the couch next to him, but didn't glance at the paper. Severus was quiet and Harry didn't take that as a good sign. "You were right, Harry. You didn't do good…" Harry sighed. "You did great."
"See I-Wait…I what?" Harry looked at his dad.
"Harry, you did fantastic…" Severus put an arm around his son's shoulders and gave him the paper. "Look for yourself."
Harry took the sheet and looked over it, his eyes widening as he saw the grades. "I-I can't believe it…"
"Believe it, son. It's all right there," Severus smiled.
"What have you got there, Harry? OWL scores finally?" Pansy asked.
"How'd you do, babe?" Draco inquired.
"I-I got…All Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations." Harry breathed.
"Oh my god, did you really?!" Blaise asked as Harry turned the paper around for them to see.
"Harry, that's awesome!" Theodore said.
"Congrats, man," Vincent gave Harry a thumbs up and Gregory nodded in agreement.
Draco kissed Harry's cheek. "Well done, Harry."
"I'm so proud of you, son," Severus gave Harry a squeeze. "We're framing this and putting it up to be admired for years to come."
"W-We don't have to do that, Dad," Harry blushed a little.
"Nonsense. I'm displaying my son's achievement, young man. I'll hear no arguments about it. This is excellent work, Harry. I mean it. I am impressed, and proud." Severus told him. "This just proves that despite what you were going through, you did not fail and you can do anything you set your mind to. This Outstanding in Defense, Harry, came from you. Not Umbridge." Severus revealed.
There had been a pause, then he continued. "You taught this class to willing students. An army. Call it what you want, my boy, but you basically created a private Defense Against the Dark Arts class and taught it to thirty-some-odd people. On your own. From what I've heard, Minerva got a copy of everyone's OWL scores. Anyone who was in your class, son, got an Outstanding in Defense."
"R-Really?" Harry inquired.
"Yes." Severus nodded. "This proves you're ready to take another step towards your future." It was the hint to the NEWT exams. Harry was nervous about them, but seeing his OWL grades, not as much as before. There were some Harry had complete confidence he'd do well in, then others, he needed to crack down on if he wanted to do good.
. . .
Despite saying he was ready, Harry was scared. Nervousness bubbled inside Harry's stomach as he waited by the fireplace in the main room to have his father and Lucius take him to the ministry for his first two exams at NEWT level. Finally, Severus and Lucius came into the room and Harry got the message to follow them. The three went into Lucius's office and the door closed.
"Are you ready, Harry?" Lucius asked.
"I think so…" Harry replied. "Dad…Can I take a stomach soother or calming drought before we go, please?"
"I assumed you might ask, so I brought you both." Severus smiled as he pulled the vials from his pocket and gave them to his son. Harry took both and then let out a breath to relax.
"Remember, Harry…We're only going to drop you off. We can't be in the room, we can't talk…And the examiners will explain the rules once you're inside. You get one break between the two exams; it will be long enough to get a drink, probably eat lunch, use the bathroom…That's it." Lucius reminded.
"But that break will be when we can see you, son." Severus added.
"But you cannot discuss your exams outside the room. Not even when you're done for the day. I've not seen their schedule, I believe it remains only told for what ones you take each day." Lucius added.
"I got it." Harry nodded. "Okay. Let's go then."
Lucius and Severus stepped into the fireplace of the library, then Harry stood between them. "Ministry of Magic." Severus tossed the powder down as they were swallowed up by the green flames.
Arriving at the ministry, Lucius led Harry and Severus to the testing room. "Here you go, Harry. Best of luck."
"Good luck, son." Severus smiled as he gave Harry a hug and then Harry left them both there as he walked into the room.
Harry found himself entering a small room with one desk setup. Before him was one examiner. "Welcome to your first day of NEWT testing, Mr. Potter." The man said.
"Potter-Snape," Harry corrected. "Legally, Potter-Snape-Prince-Black." He informed.
"Ah, yes. I do see that. My apologies," The man remarked. "A quick rundown of how this will go. We will provide the exam sheets, ink, and quills for the written tests. You may only use your wand for the physical testing. The subjects of Muggle Studies, Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and History of Magic are written only. The rest have a written and physical aspect. Are you following so far?"
"Yes, sir," Harry replied.
"Beyond this room, you will not discuss your exams with anyone. Not what they were, nor questions you saw or had to show for demonstration. You will be given a one hour break between the exams, as well as one thirty minute break extra if the test you take has a written and physical portion. Is that understood?" Harry nodded again. "Very good. Now, your exams today will be Charms and Ancient Runes. Are you ready?" The man asked.
"I am, sir," Harry responded.
"Then you may take your seat at the desk, Mr. Potter-Snape. Your first exam will be Ancient Runes." The male informed as he set the exam sheet down on the desk, then levitated over the ink pot and quill for him. "You have a two-hour time limit starting now."
Harry took a deep breath and let it out before grabbing the quill and dipping it in the pot a few times, then sliding off the excess before he put the tip to the parchment and began filling out his basic information. After a moment more, Harry got to work on the first question.
. . .
Oh god it was hard. It was very hard and Harry couldn't talk to anyone about it. The last week had been, by far, more stressful than OWLs, trial, and dealing with Voldemort. Harry knew it would be a challenge and boy was he grateful he had studied almost constantly ever since he made the choice to try this. Every day before he'd go to the ministry to take whatever exams he got that day; his father gave him a calming draught and stomach soother. On the 26th, Harry had taken his two exams of Ancient Runes, then got his break for stretching, bathroom, lunch with Lucius and Severus, then back to the room for the written of Charms.
Harry got his one half-hour break and then took the physical. Tuesday the 27th was History of Magic and Herbology. Same schedule of the one hour break between subjects, then the thirty minutes between written and physical. Wednesday the 28th, Harry took Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy. Thursday the 29th involved Muggle Studies and Divination. And that was today, the 29th. It was 3:00 pm when Harry came out of the testing room, exhausted and stumbling into his father slightly.
"Sorry, Dad," Harry muttered.
"Are you alright?" Lucius asked.
"Just tired. Can we go home…I know it's late afternoon, but I want a nap." Harry stated.
"Of course, my boy." Severus replied gently as he adjusted to help keep Harry upright and that's when Severus felt Harry's forehead was warm. "Harry?"
"Yeah, Dad?" Harry responded.
"Why are you warm? You feel like you have a fever, so I'm hoping it was just warm in that room." Severus said while they walked to the fireplace to get to Potter Manor.
"It wasn't warm in the room at all, very comfortable temperature, in fact." Harry said. "Maybe I'm getting sick. I didn't feel like I had a fever all day. Just tired, but assumingly that's to do with the late-night studying for next day exams. Or the fact I've been busy all week with this."
"We'll be keeping a watch on you then." Severus stated. "Just four exams left, right?"
"You know I'm not allowed to talk about anything to do with exams other than the fact I'm here to take them, Dad." Harry yawned.
Getting to the fireplace, Harry stood with Lucius and Severus as Lucius called for where they were going quietly. Returning to Potter Manor, Harry let Severus and Lucius out as he used the den fireplace to get right up to his room.
"Do you think he's getting sick?" Lucius asked.
"I don't know, but it wouldn't be good when he only has two days left of testing." Severus mentioned. "They wouldn't let him reschedule and there's no time before next semester starts."
"Like you said, we'll just have to watch it. It's probably fatigue, Severus. He's been at this for four days now, and as he said…He studies every night too because he doesn't know what exams are next. Sure, as he does more and more; it narrows down. But still, even now, it could be any four he hasn't taken. And we don't know what those are because he's not allowed to tell us." Lucius stated.
"I'll let him rest until dinner, see how he feels then." Severus remarked before he and Lucius left the den and found everyone else in the great room.
Upstairs, Harry used the bathroom, kicked off his shoes and laid in bed. Harry grabbed his wand and closed the curtains, darkening the room before he set the object on his nightstand and his glasses were next. Harry closed his eyes and drifted off, praying to god that he was not getting sick. He was so close, so close to finishing his NEWT exams. He couldn't be sick right now.
. . .
The rest of the 29th was uneventful and Harry felt like his prayers were not answered. Severus woke Harry up at 6:00 pm for dinner, and Harry admitted that he had no appetite and felt like he didn't sleep at all. This was in addition to the fact Severus felt Harry had a fever. Severus provided Harry with some potions, including a nutrient one, and let the boy go back to sleep. On the 30th, Harry forced his aching body to get out of bed, shower, and dress himself.
The teenager, ever determined, ate breakfast, downed a couple potions to get through his testing, and went to the ministry for what ended up being his Arithmancy and Defense Against the Dark Arts exams. As soon as they were over, Harry was rushing out of the room to get to the restroom close by and ended up puking twice before Severus and Lucius got Harry home and back into bed. Now today was the last set of exams and Harry had been deemed not up to going by Severus. And Harry was arguing about it.
"Harry, you are in no condition to go." Severus told him. "You're sick, accept it. You barely made it out of yesterday's exams without throwing up. You're not going, end of story."
"Dad, it's my last set of tests. Please?" Harry begged. "Then I'll come home and rest for the rest of the night. It's just two and I know what they are, I know I can do them. Yes, I feel awful…But I didn't put myself through two months of training and studying to quit now." Severus sighed. "I don't feel sick. Tired and stressed, sure…But I don't feel sick. Yesterday's puking was probably an over exertion of magic for the one I took." He tried to explain.
"Dad, I've taken ten exams throughout this week. All of them extend to hours throughout the day. Some were just writing, but others took magic and energy. And it's NEWT level; they're hard and use a lot. I'm sure it's just magical exhaustion wearing me down. Please? Please, don't make me miss the last two." The teen pleaded.
Severus didn't want to refuse Harry's request, but he was worried about his son too. "Alright, fine…But Harry, I swear to Merlin…As soon as you're done for the day, right home. I will be performing a scan on you. Regardless if it's what you say or you're actually sick; you're resting all day. Even Sunday. Am I clear?"
"Perfectly." Harry nodded.
"Okay, then get up and get ready. We leave for the ministry in thirty minutes, and you do need to eat something." Severus stood up and exited Harry's room, seeing Lucius waiting there in the hall. "I'm letting him go. He pleaded and I don't want to ruin his shot when he's this close to being done."
"Understandable." Lucius nodded. "Try to relax, my friend. I'm sure if he were truly not up to things, he would tell you."
"I know." Severus agreed.
"Come on, let's go wait downstairs for him." Lucius suggested.
The two males headed down the stairs and to the dining room for breakfast. It had been hard keeping it from Narcissa, Remus, and the other teenagers, but there couldn't be any mistakes in the process. No one could know Harry was taking his NEWTs early except those involved. It would be a shock when the truth came out, but for now, secrecy was required. If Harry passed, it would be revealed Sunday afternoon. It was almost over and either Harry would be returning to Hogwarts as a sixth year student or the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.