Harry Potter and the Unanswered Question

Harry Potter and the Unanswered Question

Chapter Five: O.W.Ls

The next morning Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny went downstairs for breakfast to find Mrs. Weasley holding four envelopes. "Hogwarts letters! And I expect your O.W.L results!" she told them. The four friends took their letters from her. Harry opened his letter and found the normal letter, reminding him to catch the Hogwarts Express on September first at eleven o'clock. He looked at the next page and found a new school list. He looked at the third page and found what he was really looking for: his O.W.L results. He read the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Congratulations on an excellent exam. The way O.W.L's are awarded is as follows: two O.W.L's are awarded for an Outstanding, one O.W.L is awarded for Exceeds Expectations. If you received an Acceptable, then you have passed, but will receive no O.W.L. If you received Poor or Dreadful, then you have failed that particular subject.

Your results are as follows:

Transfiguration - Exceeds Expectations

Potions - Exceeds Expectations

Defense Against the Dark Arts - Outstanding

Charms - Outstanding

Astronomy - Acceptable

Divination - Dreadful

History of Magic - Acceptable

Herbology - Exceeds Expectations

Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding

You have received nine O.W.L's. Congratulations Mr. Potter. You have done very well. You will now need to decide what N.E.W.T level classes you wish to take. You will have a meeting with the Head-of-House for Gryffindor on the first day of term. Good Luck.

Griselda Marchbanks

Wizarding Examinations Authority

Nine O.W.L's, he couldn't believe it. He was very surprised indeed. "How did you two do?" Harry asked.

"I got twelve O.W.L's!" Hermione exclaimed. Ron was smiling.

"I got eight O.W.L's," he told them, "With an Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts!" Harry smiled at that.

"Congratulations, Ron, dear!" Mrs. Weasley told her son. "You, too, Harry and Hermione."

The foursome finished their breakfast quickly and went outside to help Mrs. Weasley with the garden she was attempting to plant. They worked until the sun was hot on their backs. They decided to call it a day and went inside where it was cool. Harry excused himself to go upstairs where he could read some more of his dad's diary. He opened to where he had left off and began to read.

Sunday September 19

I have to corner Evans today and find out what's going on and why she was sneaking around Friday night with Frank. And what on earth is the "Order"? There's Lily! I'm going to go talk to her.

Well! She actually told me it was none of my business and to butt out! Honestly!

Tuesday September 21

I wonder what Frank's girlfriend would think if she knew he had been sneaking around with Lily Evans at night? I have half a mind to go find Alice Doherty and tell her! But then Lily would surely kill me. I don't know. I just wish I knew what they were up to. Natalie told me I should just let it go. But I can't! Lily Evans is up to something and I intend to find out what it is!

Harry realized that the "Order" that his father had been talking about must have been the "Order of the Phoenix". He thought it had been started after his parents had left Hogwarts, but by the sound of it, his mother and Neville's father must have started the "Order" in seventh year. He decided he would ask Lupin about it at dinner. Dinner that night was going to be a big deal. Fred, George, Lupin, McGonagall and Snape were going to be there. He was excited to see everyone except his least favorite teacher, Snape.

Harry decided to go downstairs and see if Mrs. Weasley neede any help. When he got down there, he found Mrs. Weasley in the kitchen, preparing dinner. He went into the drawing room to find Hermione and Ron playing a game of Wizard's Chess. Ginny was sitting in an armchair, watching. Hermione had gotten better over the years, but she was still no match against Ron. Ginny was laughing at the expression on Hermione's face as Ron's Bishop captured Hermione's remaining Knight. "Oh great, now all I have left is my King, one Bishop and two Pawns. Ron, I think you've won," Hermione told him resignedly.

"Are you giving up?" Harry aske.

"I can't win. Ron's too good," she said. Harry smiled as Hermione's King fell over in surrender.

"So, who do you think the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will be?" Ginny asked.

"I don't know, but I really hope they're better than the last two," Ron said.

"I agree," Hermione said.

"Maybe it will be Lupin again," Harry offered.

"That would be great!" Ron exclaimed.

"But he is so busy with the Order, he probably won't have time to come and teach," Ginny pointed out.

"I really hope it's not someone from the Ministry again," Hermione commented. Ginny, Ron and Harry agreed. Mrs. Weasley came out and asked them o come and set the table. Hermione and Ginny got out silverware while Harry and Ron put out plates and napkins. At a quarter-to-six, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Weasley went to get the door. She returned with Professors McGonagall and Snape. Harry and Snape had hated each other since first year, but since Snape was working for the Order, he had to be civil to him.

By six o'clock, everyone had arrived. Harry was especially pleased to see Fred and George, Ron's eighteen year old twin brothers. He had given the twins the money to start their joke shop two years ago. Of course, Mrs. Weasley didn't know that. Tonight the twins were wearing expenseve looking dress robes. "What do you think?" Fred asked.

"They're the latest fashion," George added.

"I like!" Ginny exclaimed. Harry just smiled.

"Don't you think they are a bit much boys?" Mrs. Weasley asked.

"Ah, come on Mum, everyone's wearing them," Fred insisted.

"Well, they are rather stunning," Mrs. Weasley said.

"That's the spirit, Mum!" Ginny told her mother.

At six thirty everyone sat down at the kitchen table. Mrs. Weasley had really outdone herself. There were potatoes, ham, turkey, succulent roast pork and steamed carrots. Harry filled his plate up with a little of everything. The chatter around the table was light and pleasant. Snape finished his meal quickly. He spoke quietly to Mr. Weasley for a moment then excused himself. Harry wasn't sorry to see him go. In fact, he was surprised he had come at all.

After dinner, Lupin and Professor McGonagall went into the study with Mr. Weasley while Fred and George left to go back to their joke shop. Mrs. Weasley insisted Harry and the others go up to their rooms.

Once in their room, Harry and Ron went about collecting their school books and holiday homework. Harry began working on his essay for Professor Binns. (Discuss the Defeat of the Evil Wizard, Grindlewald) He searched through A History of Magic, but didn't see much on Grindlewald. He was very tempted to go ask Hermione if he could have a peek at her essay, but he knew she would never go for that. He glanced down at his empty parchment, void of writing, save for the instructions. About the only thing he knew about Grindlewald was that Dumbledore had been the one to defeat him. He wondered if Grindlewald's rise to power was anything like Voldemort's. Harry decided he was getting nowhere with his essay. He put it down and picked up his father's diary. He opened it to his bookmarked page.

Wednesday September 22

During Transfiguration today, McGonagall separated us into pairs. Guess who I got stuck with? Wonderful Lily Evans. But the fun deosn't end there. While we were attempting to turn out mice into kittens, Lily suddenly turned to me and said, 'Listen, Potter, I know you are trying to figure out what Frank and I are up to. Here's the deal, you could do a lot of damage by asking too many questions, so I will let you in on what's happening under one condition: you tell NO ONE! Not your friends, not your girlfriend, no one!' What else could I do but agree? She told me to meet her Friday at midnight in the Astronomy Tower. I can't wait. This ought to be good!

Harry gave a small smile. It was hard to imagine his father keeping anything from his friends, but then again, it was his mother that had asked. He turned the page and continued to read.

Saturday September 25

I met with Lily last night. I'm almost afraid to write this down. I know that only someone with Potter blood can read this, but still...I guess I ought to write it down, better out than in.

Okay, here's the deal. There's this wizard, who has gone bad, as bad as possible. He's evil and dangerous. His name is Voldemort. Crazy Lily has decided she wants to fight him. I'll admit that Lily is powerful, probably the most powerful student here, but she is just a student! Lily and Frank have been good friends since first year, and at the end of last term they devised this plan. They would begin to gather the strongest and most loyal students to train in advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts. They practice once a week, she wouldn't tell me where though. She says that by graduation, they will be ready to enter the fight against the Dark Lord. I think she's crazy. She says that Dumbledore knows nothing about it, but there's not much that goes on in this castle that he doesn't know about. I don't know all the details about 'the Order'. I only met with Frank, Lily and a Ravenclaw seventh year. I think her name was Amanda. I'm assuming they are the leaders and key players in this Anti-Voldemort club. I don't see how they really think they can help, but a part of me is curious. I would really like to know more, but I'm not sure how Lily would like that idea. I'll have to talk to her.

Harry wasn't sure what to think. His father had never called it the "Order of the Phoenix" and it sounded more like his D.A. than anything else, so he assumed they were not the same. He decided to talk to Ron and Hermione about it later. For now he put up the diary and went to bed.