Chapter 31 - Owls
'As you can see,' Professor McGonagall told the class as they copied down the dates and times of their exams from the blackboard, 'your OWLs are spread over two successive weeks. You will sit the theory papers in the mornings and the practice in the afternoons. Your practical Astronomy examination will, of course, take place at night.'
Ron is euphoric over Gryffindor's surprise victory and therefore capture of the Quidditch Cup and spends long moments reliving the glory with Harry and Hermione. He is understandably upset when Hermione finally tells him that she and Harry didn't see the match, but quickly recovers after hearing that Hagrid brought a giant back to Hogwarts.
As OWLs approach, the fifth-years are consumed with revision (and other less reliable methods of achieving excellence). After a stern lecture about the perils of cheating and an admonishment to do their best despite their dislike for Umbridge (oh Minerva, how I love thee), the examiners arrive and OWLs begin.
First up is Charms - which seems to go quite well for Harry, on the whole. Then Transfiguration, which he also feels OK about. Harry gets a bite from a Fanged Geranium in Herbology (it goes well
aside from that) and then comes Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which Harry truly shines (plus he gets a bonus point for his Patronus and takes pleasure in the fact that Umbridge is forced to watch his success). After a weekend off they've got Potions, and it goes about as well as you'd expect for Harry (although he does think he passed, so that's something). Then Care of Magical Creatures and the Astronomy theory exam, followed by Divination (a disaster, basically).And then things start getting interesting.
The Astronomy Tower is the perfect vantage point for Harry and his classmates to observe a confrontation between Hagrid and six unidentified people (two of whom are later identified as Umbridge and
Dawlish). The six attempt to Stun Hagrid, who resists and finally loses his temper when Fang is stunned, throwing one of his attackers across the lawn. McGonagall comes to Hagrid's defence, but is brought down by no less than four Stunners. At this point Hagrid physically attacks and then grabs Fang and runs, making for the Hogwarts gates.
The final exam, History of Magic, takes place the next afternoon, but Harry has trouble concentrating after the scene the night before and very little sleep. He drifts off trying to remember why the warlocks of Liechtenstein refused to attend the International Confederation of Wizards and suddenly he finds himself walking down the familiar Department of Mysteries corridor. In the room filled with glass spheres he
finds himself in Voldemort's body and torturing Sirius, using the Cruciatus curse in an attempt to extract information from Sirius. With a start Harry awakes and falls from his desk, his scar burning with pain.
**
I apologize for the lateness of this post: I volunteered to post it for sar_sunshine who is out of town, and I - er - forgot. Luckily she did all the work and all I had to do is cut and paste!
Ron is euphoric over Gryffindor's surprise victory and therefore capture of the Quidditch Cup and spends long moments reliving the glory with Harry and Hermione. He is understandably upset when Hermione finally tells him that she and Harry didn't see the match, but quickly recovers after hearing that Hagrid brought a giant back to Hogwarts.
As OWLs approach, the fifth-years are consumed with revision (and other less reliable methods of achieving excellence). After a stern lecture about the perils of cheating and an admonishment to do their best despite their dislike for Umbridge (oh Minerva, how I love thee), the examiners arrive and OWLs begin.
First up is Charms - which seems to go quite well for Harry, on the whole. Then Transfiguration, which he also feels OK about. Harry gets a bite from a Fanged Geranium in Herbology (it goes well
aside from that) and then comes Defence Against the Dark Arts, in which Harry truly shines (plus he gets a bonus point for his Patronus and takes pleasure in the fact that Umbridge is forced to watch his success). After a weekend off they've got Potions, and it goes about as well as you'd expect for Harry (although he does think he passed, so that's something). Then Care of Magical Creatures and the Astronomy theory exam, followed by Divination (a disaster, basically).And then things start getting interesting.
The Astronomy Tower is the perfect vantage point for Harry and his classmates to observe a confrontation between Hagrid and six unidentified people (two of whom are later identified as Umbridge and
Dawlish). The six attempt to Stun Hagrid, who resists and finally loses his temper when Fang is stunned, throwing one of his attackers across the lawn. McGonagall comes to Hagrid's defence, but is brought down by no less than four Stunners. At this point Hagrid physically attacks and then grabs Fang and runs, making for the Hogwarts gates.
The final exam, History of Magic, takes place the next afternoon, but Harry has trouble concentrating after the scene the night before and very little sleep. He drifts off trying to remember why the warlocks of Liechtenstein refused to attend the International Confederation of Wizards and suddenly he finds himself walking down the familiar Department of Mysteries corridor. In the room filled with glass spheres he
finds himself in Voldemort's body and torturing Sirius, using the Cruciatus curse in an attempt to extract information from Sirius. With a start Harry awakes and falls from his desk, his scar burning with pain.
**
I apologize for the lateness of this post: I volunteered to post it for sar_sunshine who is out of town, and I - er - forgot. Luckily she did all the work and all I had to do is cut and paste!