The Mystery

Chapter Four

The O.W.L.'s

The next day should have started the first day of class but instead Professor McGonagall was calling all her 6^th years into her office for their O.W.L. results. Hermione was happy and Ron was sick, Harry felt queasy too. McGonagall called Ron in first, apparently going backwards through the alphabet, which made Hermione mad. Ron emerged thirty minutes later white as a ghost but smiling.

"Let's see first there was Theory of Charms - Exceeds Expectations, Transfiguration - Acceptable, Herbology - Outstanding, Defense Against the Dark Arts - Acceptable, Potions - Acceptable, Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding, Astronomy Theory - Acceptable, Divination - Acceptable, and History of Magic - Acceptable," Ron said smiling more openly now that he understood that he didn't make anything below Acceptable on his O.W.L.'s. Hermione was beaming at him.

"Oh, Ron that's wonderful you received two O's, one E, and six A's. Everyone should be thrilled." Harry was happy for him but was still worried about his grades. "So new classes are you taking this year?"

"Advanced Theory of Charms, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Herbology, Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, normal Potions grade 6, normal Potions grade 7, Advanced Care of Magical Creatures, and Advanced Astronomy then I dropped Divination and History of Magic."

"Why are you taking Potions grade 6 and 7 in the same year?" Harry asked.

"Because mate I didn't get an Outstanding in Potions but McGonagall said that if I take Potions grade 7 this year then I'll be able to take the final Potions class to become an Auror when I graduate." Harry thought this bit of news was fantastic and couldn't wait to be with Ron in their 7^th year here. Finally it was Harry's turn to get his results and so he went to Professor McGonagall's office and sat down. She was behind her desk oblivious that he was there. Harry cleared his throat so she'd pay attention.

"Mr. Potter, you have heard Mr. Weasley's grades no doubt?" She smiled at Harry. "So I expect at least three grades better than his from you. Especially since I promised to help you become and Auror last year." Harry smiled remembering the look on Umbridge's face when Professor McGonagall had told her that Harry would become an Auror even after he got the marks from her Defense Against the Dark Arts class. "Now then, here is your Ordinary Wizarding Levels Review Card, please take a moment to study the grades and then we will begin assigning your classes." McGonagall handed him a piece of parchment and he just stared at the contents not believing his eyes.

HARRY POTTER

SS# 288-82-8000

EXAM NAME GRADE

THEORY OF CHARMS OUTSTANDING

TRANFIGURATION OUTSTANDING

HERBOLOGY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS OUTSTANDING

POTIONS OUTSTANDING

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES OUTSTANDING

ASTRONOMY THEORY ACCEPTABLE

DIVINATION EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

HISTORY OF MAGIC ACCEPTABLE

"Um, Professor is this true?" McGonagall looked at him funny and then smiled and slowly shook her head no.

"Now, Mr. Potter, I believe you wanted to be an Auror. So you'll need Advanced Theory of Charms, Advanced Transfiguration, Advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Advanced Potions. Now Mr. Potter you have room for five more classes if you wish. I can put you in the same advanced classes Mr. Weasley is in and the only one you would not have with him would be Potions. How does that sound to you?" Harry smiled.

"That sounds great, I can't wait to tell Hermione that I got five O's, two E's and two A's!" Finally Harry was able to leave after he picked up a schedule from Professor Snape, whom actually seemed pleased that Harry made it into his Advanced Potions. Although Harry knew it was to sneer at him and make his life hell. Hermione passed Harry as he came out and so he had to wait until she got her grades to share the good news. The funny part is that Harry also made Ron wait as well. When Hermione did emerge from McGonagall's office, she found Harry and Ron in the Library talking with Keira.

"Yeah see in Salem there are eight years you go we start when we're ten and then graduate the same year you do. So I actually have already taken my O.W.L.'s and I have my schedule right here." Hermione rolls her eyes as she sees Harry look her way.

"Guess what?" Hermione and Harry say at the same time disrupting anyone that was in the library.

"Ok, ladies first," Harry said civilly. Hermione beamed and shoved her Ordinary Wizarding Levels Review Card in Harry's face. It looked almost the same as Harry's.

HERMIONE GRANGER

SS# 244-42-4004

EXAM NAME GRADE

THEORY OF CHARMS OUTSTANDING

TRANFIGURATION OUTSTANDING

HERBOLOGY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS OUTSTANDING

ANCIENT RUNES EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

POTIONS OUTSTANDING

ARITHMANCY EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

CARE OF MAGICAL CREATURES OUTSTANDING

ASTRONOMY THEORY OUTSTANDING

HISTORY OF MAGIC EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS

Almost but not quite; Harry told her and Ron about his grades and then showed them his schedule.

The schedules for Ron and Hermione didn't change that much really and Harry was relieved. Hermione's was:

And Ron's read as follows:

The unusual thing Hermione found was that Keira had all the same classes as Harry and was even trying out for the Quidditch team apparently she played Chaser back home. The pictures she had brought with her showed that she was quite good. And from looking at the schedule Harry, Fred, and George are back on the team and Ginny Weasley gets to stay too. Finally everyone was just sitting around and talking about this years Quidditch potential when Keira made a funny face.

"Harry Potter, oh now I remember..." She started and Hermione looked a little smug. "Your trunk was taken by my sister Kali. She really just wanted to see how far along you were and there was nothing taken I hope." Keira smiled at Harry and Hermione rolled her eyes. Ron winked at Hermione to raise her spirits a little and it helped.

"Oh, don't worry about it, Keira, I found everything that was supposed to be in there." Harry glanced at his watch and blanched, classes may not have started today put Quidditch practice had. "Uh, Keira, aren't you going to try out for the Gryffindor team?" Keira beamed and nodded her head vigorously. "Then we better go before they find a new Chaser without you trying out." Everyone got up and went their separate ways then met back on the Quidditch field with Hermione in the stands observing.

The pictures Keira brought didn't do her justice, she was the third person to try out with four more behind her and Angelina Johnson just stopped tryouts and appointed Keira as the new Chaser. All the other people there for the tryouts really didn't mind because Gryffindor was going to win again this year. Keira even gave Ron a few Keeper pointers because on the American teams you had one person who could do several positions and she had been a Chaser and a Keeper. Harry was just happy that she wasn't a Seeker and that his job wasn't in jeopardy. Practice went good even by Angelina's standards, which were pretty high since she got the Team Captain position last year.

Everyone headed back to the banquet hall for dinner very happy even Hermione. Apparently no one cared that her and Ron were together and because Malfoy had hardly said anything to them, they didn't care how much affection they showed in public. Mainly, Harry thought, because Fred and George had resumed their first year test subjects and there were a lot of first years doing things that guys wouldn't do until maybe the age of thirteen. As it was the first week of classes went by pretty smoothly, until Neville got hurt that is.