Chapter 21

Hermione had officially finished her fifth year, leaving the castle for the summer, while Dumbledore had left for good a couple of days before.

While she waited for her OWLs results, she continued to revise for her two NEWTs. She rode the train with only Harry, the fall from Grace of Dumbledore had allowed them to distance themselves from Ron Weasley publicly without too much issues (except a Howler from the Weasley matriarch, but Harry had burned it before she could say more than a few words).

Percy was pacing the Floo room, nervous to see Hermione outside clandestine Hogsmeade meetings for the first time since January. Asking to court her had been nerve-wracking on New Year's Eve and taken much of his Gryffindor courage, but waiting to know her answer had been stressful as well. When he finally came back to Riddle Manor, he was prepared for anything, an outright rejection or asking to downgrade his courting proposal to dating, but he didn't expect for Hermione to jump into his arms immediately. She kissed him and whispered yeses into his ear, then went back to kissing him. It was an euphoric memory that would power his patronus for years to come he was sure.

Eventually they had sat down and talked about what courting would mean for them, staying relatively chaste until he proposed, she pouted but agreed. Percy found it adorable.

The floo chimed, distracting him from his musings, and Hermione stepped out, dusted the ash of her clothes and jumped into his arms with a brilliant smile.

"Gods, I've missed you", she started saying but they were quickly caught up in each other.

Hermione spent most of July revising for her NEWTs, with small Percy breaks to avoid a total mental breakdown.

She was able to go to the ministry to pass her exams without fuss and felt confident in her results. Now she waited. Her NEWTs results should arrive next month with her OWLs results as well.

On 13 August at 9 pm, Hermione was eating breakfast with her father, Sirius, Remus, Severus and Harry, when 2 Ministry owls swooped in and dropped identical letters in front of both Harry and Hermione.

Hermione paled dramatically and her hands holding the letter started to shake, while Harry stared at the letter as if it was a Howler.

"Right, open them then!" Tom commanded them with a small smile.

Hermione snapped from her panic, and did just that, reading out the letter:

"Hermione Jean Granger, 19/09/1979

OWLs Results from June 1996 (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry)

Potions: O+

Transfiguration: O

Charms: O+

DADA: O

Arithmancy: O

Herbology: EE

Ancient Runes: O+

NEWTs Results from July 1997 (Ministry of Magic)

Potions: O

Ancient Runes: O+"

Harry followed her before anyone could react:

"Harry James Potter, 31/07/1980

OWLs Results from June 1996 (Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry)

Potions: EE

Transfiguration: EE

Charms: O

DADA: O+

Divination: O

Care of Magical Creatures: EE

Herbology: O

History of Magic: A

Astronomy: EE+"

"Right! This calls for celebration!" Tom exclaimed, before calling for Tilly to serve a celebratory cake.

Once everyone was tucking into the cake, Tom continued "Congratulations, to both of you. Hermione you officially have my permission to take your NEWTs next year. You should look into the courses not offered by Hogwarts to take some international NEWTs during what would be your seventh year."

"Which ones?" Hermione wondered

"Warding and Alchemy would both be very good options, both are only offered at NEWTs level anyway so if you focus on both you'd have two more NEWTs and a more rounded understanding of magic.

It would also give you the time to think about what you want to do next. By the end of your sixth year, Dumbledore will be dead, the Order is already not much of an issue as they're losing followers left and right from the propaganda against Dumbledore.

Once he's gone, Voldemort will stop existing as well, though we need to be careful on how we handle that and the few real death eaters will be primed for picking up and thrown into Azkaban, then I can finally come out." Tom replied

"You're not doing anything then before that?" Harry asked

Tom chuckled, "I am, we are, once Dumbledore is gone, the immediate threat will go with him but there's so much to do in the Ministry and also at Hogwarts."

"I think I'd like to do a mastery at Hogwarts, and start changing things there at the same time." Hermione answered her father's previous question.

"What kind of mastery?" Severus asked Hermione, curious himself to know if she wanted to pursue Potions to a Master level.

Hermione chuckled darkly, a perfect imitation of her father, "Not potions, don't worry Professor Snape, I know I don't have the creativity needed for it. I'd still like to attain a journeyman level though, but I'd like to pursue a mastery in Charms. Combined with my NEWTs in Ancient Runes and Arithmancy I believe the applications could be limitless."

Tom nodded, "That's a very good idea, you should talk to Filius when you get back to Hogwarts, I'm sure he'd be happy to have an apprentice once you're done with your NEWTs, and he's also a master duellist, you could add to your repertoire with his skills.

What about you Harry? I've heard you wanted to be an Auror."

Harry shook his head, "Not really no, I think that was wishful thinking about my parents, and also Ron's own unfounded ambition. Besides, until you've cleaned up the ministry I don't really want to be a part of it. The whole thing is corrupt.

I'd love to do a mastery though, in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Dark Arts, a dual mastery I guess?" he asked turning to Remus for answers.

Remus nodded, "It would be a dual mastery yes, but they're so complimentary it won't require double the amount of work. I've earned both masteries abroad in the 80' so I could take you as my apprentice once you've finished your 7th year. Although if you take your DADA NEWT a year early, we can start during your last year instead.

However" Remus stressed "you need to drop several subjects from your NEWTs, you don't need NEWTs in History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy or Divination."

'Why did you even take divination," Hermione grumbled "did you predict your own death during your OWL?"