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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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"What's that?" Ron asked just as Hermione made an excited noise.
"Are those your O.W.L. results?" she asked excitedly. "Go on and open them Harry! I can't wait to see what you scored!"
Harry smiled weakly and pocketed the letter. "I'll just – I'll see you in class."
Then he grabbed a couple of pieces of toast and headed for the nearest unused classroom. He opened his letter and skipped the blathering at the top of the page. It was stupid to be so worked up. He had done very well last time and – Harry exhaled explosively.
Muggle Studies – OO*
Defense Against the Dark Arts – OO*
Charms – O
Care of Magical Creatures – OO*
Astronomy – E
Transfiguration – O
Herbology – E
Potions – E
History of Magic – A
*The awarding of the mark OO indicates that the recipient currently holds the record for highest mark in that examination area.
Harry snorted. With as much hands on practice as he had in those areas, he had an unfair advantage. And apparently learning a little N.E.W.T level coursework went a long way.
"Did well I take it?" drawled a familiar voice from the doorway.
Harry blinked up then grinned in relief at Draco. "Yeah." He held his O.W.L. results out to Draco. "Want to see?"
Draco accepted the paper. He pursed his lips as he read it all then blinked. He grinned stupidly at Harry.
"I'm glad I didn't waste all that time in the library with you!"
Harry laughed. That was probably as close as Draco Malfoy would ever get to congratulating him.
"Yeah. Let's go. I can't be late for Potions."
Draco snickered. "Should've stayed with Slytherin."
Later that day Professor McGonagall kept Harry back after Transfigurations ended.
"I saw that you received the results of your O.W.L. examinations at breakfast this morning" Professor McGonagall began. "Have you had a chance to review them?"
Harry nodded. "Yes Professor."
"Excellent. I wished to discuss the rest of your education here at Hogwarts. While you have the requisite skill and knowledge to enter most of the N.E.W.T. level courses, I feel that it would be a mistake to enroll you in them. There is a great power gap between any eleven-year-old student and any sixteen-year-old student. And I suspect that the gap between your current level of power and the power that you will possess in a few years is more dramatic than one might expect in most students. However, first year classes do not challenge you as your O.W.L results and attempts to master wordless magic indicate." She paused. "How are those studies progressing?"
"I can do most of the spells between first year and the first part of third year wordlessly." Harry made a face. He had thought he would be further along. And he was still on the first year basics with wandless (but worded) magics even with finger wiggles!
Professor McGonagall looked astonished. "Already?"
Harry shrugged. "The theory's the same for all of the subject areas except Potions and Herbology obviously. After I got the hang of it for one class, it was easy to apply it to all of the other magical areas that I know."
"I see. Mr. Potter I am going to suggest a course of independent studies for you. Have you put any thought into what you would like to do after Hogwarts?"
Harry shrugged. "I don't know. Be an Auror I guess. Or play professional quidditch."
Professor McGonagall smiled fondly. "Your father said almost the exact same thing when I asked him that question in his fifth year."
Harry perked up, suddenly interested. "What did my mum say?"
"She wanted to research and develop experimental charms or potions or both."
Harry grimaced. "Urgh. She said that when she was fifteen?"
The professor's smile became softer, more wistful. "Yes. Your mother was the brightest witch of her generation. I have no doubt that she would have done great things had she lived."
A pang of pain and regret surged through Harry's heart. She had given all of those wonderful things up for him without a second thought. Lily Potter did not have to die – she chose to die to save him.
"As I have no doubt that you will do" Professor McGonagall said briskly, breaking the moment. "Let us revisit the idea of a profession for you when you are in your fifth year, Mr. Potter. Instead, let us focus on rounding out your education. If you had to choose your third year elective right now, what would you choose?"
"Can I choose a subject I've got an O.W.L. in?"
"No."
"Arthimacy and Ancient Runes then."
Professor McGonagall's eyebrows arched. "Not Divination?"
Harry shuddered, remembering the prophecies that had ruled his life. And in the end Trelawney had been right. Technically he had died in order to reach that train station.
"I don't like Divination."
A quick smile flickered across Professor McGonagall's lips. It was only then that Harry remembered how strongly she personally disliked divination as both a subject and a belief.
"Let us put aside Arithmacy and Ancient Runes until your third year when you may take them with your peers and sit those O.W.L. exams with them. I would like to work out a program of independent study with you."
Harry blinked. "So I'd sit my N.E.W.T.s with everyone else but I study other stuff until N.E.W.T. years?"
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(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
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