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(sorry for the bit of delay, I have this chapter finished a while ago but I made a cascading error in the following chapter and until I was sure both chapters were free of my mistake I had to hold this one back. Hope you enjoy.)

Chapter Four: Catch-up and O.W.L.s

Harry woke up the next morning to the smell of a mushroom and bacon quiche, as did Theodore. Looking at his watch he realized it was nearly eleven.

‘I guess we really were up late last night, huh,’ said Theodore as he got changed.

Harry put his day clothes on and the two headed downstairs where the breakfast quiche was waiting on the dining table and Remus and Canini were already eating. Alongside the quiche was also a stack of toast and a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice.

‘Ah, you boys are finally awake, I was starting to think I’d have to make you lunch instead of breakfast. Come, eat,’ said Remus, looking slightly more cheerful than he had been the previous night.

‘Yeah, before it gets cold,’ said Canini as she took a bite of toast.

Harry and Theodore didn’t have to be told twice, they drew up a chair and Harry took a little of everything. Harry hadn’t had the pleasure of Remus’ cooking really since Christmas as for the funeral all Harry really ate was sandwiches and cereal before he had to head back to the Dursley’s. They all mostly ate in silence, but only because their mouths were too busy eating the delicious food. Then when Harry was finished Remus smiled and put his hands on his shoulders.

‘I never got a chance to tell you before, but you have grown so much since Christmas,’ said Remus, with a hint of pride in his voice, ‘Theo had his big growth spirt last year, but over the past several months you and Canini have shot right up. Once we get the supply list for the year we’ll probably have to get you both new robes. The Weasley's want us to go the same day they do.'

As he and the others moved to the living room that made him remember something and he asked.

‘That reminds me, while I have been receiving letters and the daily newspaper I’m still a little out of the loop. How are the Weasley’s?’ Harry asked.

‘Well Harry, there has been some big news over there,’ said Remus with a smile. ‘Arthur finally got a well deserved promotion.’

‘Oh, that’s great,’ said Harry, who knew just as well as the others that Mr Weasley was probably the most hard working employee at the Ministry of Magic and yet his department had been understaffed and underfunded. ‘What has he been promoted too?’

‘A new position created by the new Minister, to help deal with Voldemort and his Death Eaters,’ answered Theodore. ‘Mr Weasley’s division is called the Office for the Detection and Confiscation of Counterfeit Defensive Spells and Protective Objects.’

‘And get this Harry,’ said Canini, instead of just one underling he now has I think ten people he is now in charge of.’

‘What exactly does his department do?’ asked Harry, as while it sounded important he had a hard time seeing Mr Weasley being proficient in something that didn’t involve magical items in some way.

‘Ever since the public learned that Voldemort has returned low-life that are out to make a buck have been selling fake protective charms and potions that at best do nothing but at worse cause actual bodily harm,’ explained Remus. ‘Times like these people can’t be putting their faith in items that will do nothing to help them, and St Mungo’s can’t handle much more addiction injuries, so it is Mr Weasley and his department’s job to separate the fakes from the real deals and confiscate the ones that don’t work.’

‘That does sound like a job he would enjoy,’ said Harry.

‘Oh, and speaking of jobs, Fred and George fully opened their joke shop in Diagon Alley,’ said Theodore.

‘Yes, they sent me an owl saying whenever I get to see it for the first time I can try out whatever I want,’ said Harry excitedly.

‘How come they did that?’ asked Remus, Harry had never told his guardians that he had given most of his tri-wizard tournament prize money to the twins to use in their shop and the rest to Theodore to grow his independence.

‘Er, just from being such a supporter of them over the years. You know that not everyone supported their dream,’ said Harry trying to sound as convincing as possible.

‘Yes, Molly has told me many times that she did not approve of their career choice, but in recent conversations she seems to have come around and given them her approval,’ said Remus.

‘If only she’d give approval to her other son’s choices,’ said Theodore sarcastically, although Harry didn’t fully understand.

‘What? Did Percy do something?’

‘No, Percy still isn’t on speaking terms with his family. What Theodore is referring to is that Bill has gotten engaged,’ explained Remus.

‘Oh? Good for him,’ said Harry, although he still didn’t understand the disapproval comment Theodore had made. ‘Who’s the lucky person?’

‘Your fellow tri-wizard champion, Fleur Delacour, she is Bill’s fiancée. The wedding is to be sometime next summer,’ said Remus. Harry remember Bill saying something about Fleur beginning working at Gringotts, though he couldn’t remember if Bill had mentioned they were an item.

‘Well that’s nice, Bill is a good man and she has a kind heart, I’m sure they’ll be great together. Why doesn’t Mrs Weasley approve?’

‘I think it’s her Veela heritage,’ said Canini, ‘as much as it makes hetero men practically drool over her, it seems to have the opposite effect on hetero women. Mrs Weasley isn’t the only one who dislikes her, she’s stay at the Burrow right now and Ginny and Hermione Granger also dislike her. Ginny does make some good points about Fleur being a bit full of herself and that they’re rushing into things, but I think it’s mostly the anti Veela charm magic happening.’

‘While it might a little fast, I have seen faster during the previous war,’ said Remus. ‘Couple’s who don’t know how much time they’ll have so get to living life as fast as they can. James and Lily were married only a short while after Hogwarts and had Harry when they were only twenty, Andromeda and Ted were even faster with their marriage and having Nymphadora, and Molly is one to talk as she and Arthur eloped not long after their graduation as well. At least Bill and Fleur are having a long engagement before they tie the knot.’

‘I think that’s one of the reasons Ginny has against Fleur,’ said Canini. ‘That if it was true love they would be married a lot sooner, but I don’t understand all this romance at the best of times anyway.’

That seemed to exhaust the topic of the Weasley’s, Remus’ expression went a bit more serious as he asked Harry a question.

‘So, you helped Dumbledore convince Horace Slughorn to come back to Hogwarts?’

Harry nodded, it would appear that Dumbledore confessed to him the contents of the previous evening, ‘Really I didn’t do much, just being at his house seemed to convince him.’

‘He was still at Hogwarts when the Marauders were there,’ said Remus. ‘In fact, I think he might have been teaching at Hogwarts for the same amount of time as Dumbledore. I wanted to know Harry, what was your opinion of him?’

Harry was still not sure of what his opinion of Slughorn was, he didn’t seem to be malicious, but his blood status remarks were off-putting. Harry shrugged and gave a non-committal jerk off the head.

‘Yes, I understand what you mean,’ said Remus, nodding wisely. ‘He was a nice man and an excellent teacher, but none of us Marauders really liked him all that much. If you didn’t already have famous connections or were a decently skilled Slytherin you would have to be an absolute prodigy to get his attention. Sorry, I guess even after nearly twenty years I’m still jealous because I was one of the highest performing students of my year, but I believe because I was a Gryffindor Half-blood skilled in subjects other than what he taught that I never really caught his eye.’

This confused Harry as Remus was very gifted in Defence Against the Dark Arts which must be what Slughorn taught as that was the position that was open, but he didn’t press him for clarification. Something else popped into his mind that he wanted Remus specifically to answer.

‘Moony, you wrote me to say that Susan survived, but Amelia was the only family she had left and she isn’t of age yet so she can’t live on her own, what happened to her?’ Harry wanted to make sure one of his oldest friends was going to be ok.

‘When the attack first happened I went to Susan and offered her to stay with us actually, that she could stay in our spare bedroom or bunk with Canini. However she knows I am in the Order, and what happened to-er-Sirius, and she said she didn’t want to emotionally risk moving in with someone who will likely be killed as well,’ Remus paused for a moment when he saw the terror on his children’s faces. ‘She was in shock and grief, I’m being as safe as I can and I won’t be gone any time soon, I promise. Anyway, her girlfriend’s family, the Moon’s, offered her to stay with them until she’s of age or longer if necessary and Susan decided to move in with them.’

Harry thought that was probably for the better, while everyone seemed to be slowly recovering from the loss of Sirius, they still weren’t ready to add another person to their household. Perhaps Remus was just looking to fill the space that was missing in the home.

‘Well, it’s a nice day outside,’ said Remus. You three should go out and enjoy the sun, just try and stay within the property so that the Fidelius Charm keeps you safe.’

So Harry grabbed his Firebolt and the others picked up a spare broom each, they all put their shoes on and made their way to a clearing in the trees on the cottage's property. From the outside it looked like a thick orchard, but just past a couple trees it was a big open field where they could fly around as long as they didn't go higher then the tree line. They kicked off and flew around a bit, which cheered Harry up greatly, but he still had questions he wanted answered, so while still flying the three flew in close to one another.

'What is going on with Tonks?' Harry asked. 'I've only seen her with brown hair once before and it was at her grandmother's funeral, but even then a couple days later while still sad her hair was back to being colourful.'

'I think its because her grandmother had a more natural death, Sirius' death was anything but, and we think—' began Theodore.

'No, I know,' said Canini. 'She blames herself for his death.'

'How does she work that one out?' asked Harry, in spite of himself.

'Just before Sirius began dueling Bellatrix Lestrange she had been battling me and Tonks, and I know Tonks thinks that because she is an Auror she should have been able to defeat Bellatrix or at least distract her long enough for Dumbledore to deal with her,' explained Canini. 'Bellatrix though sent a spell so powerful at us that while I was able to shield us it still knocked us over and stunned us a bit. There was nothing we could have done but she doesn't see it that way.'

'And it doesn't help that they were close,' added Harry, now thinking from Tonks' point of view. 'We think of her as our cousin, but Sirius had acted like a second father to her since she was nine, she's known him nearly as long as I have.'

'Like many forms of magic a Metamorphmagus' shape changing ability can be effected by their emotions,' said Theodore. 'Being calm often results in the most control, anger or excitement can cause unintended changes, and it would seem grief and depression can make it near impossible to use their powers entirely.'

'Do you think her having trouble with her powers will effect her missions in the Order?' asked Canini in a worried tone. 'As most of her tasks relied on the fact that she could disguise herself however the Order needed.'

'I don't know,' admitted Harry. 'Though I'm sure Dumbledore will find tasks for her, as the Order need all the help they can get.'

Theodore and Canini looked at each other and then Theodore spoke.

‘Did Dumbledore mention anything else to you while you were recruiting this years teacher?’ he asked.

‘Well, he is going to be giving me private lessons this year,’ said Harry.

'Shut up? Really?!' asked Canini both excited and nervous.

'I only just remembered,' said Harry honestly. 'He told me last night in these very woods.'

'Goodness, I can't believe you're going to get to learn under Dumbledore himself,' said Canini, practically star struck. 'What do you think he'll be teachi..?'

Her voice tailed away. Harry saw her and Theodore exchange looks again. Harry flew down to the soft grass bellow and the other two followed, his heart beating rather fast . Dumbledore had said to do it...Why not now? He fixed his eyes on the grass, which was gleaming in the sunlight from above, and said, 'I don’t know exactly why he’s going to be giving me lessons, but I think it must be because of the prophecy.'

Neither Theodore or Canini spoke. Harry had the impression that both had frozen. He continued, still speaking towards the ground, 'You know, the one they were trying to steal at the Ministry.'

'Yes, but no one knows the message it contains, as it was destroyed,' said Theodore quickly. 'Although that wasn't you and Neville's fault.'

'But Theo, you know that the Daily Prophet thinks—' Canini began, but Theodore hushed her.

'The Prophet’s got it right,' said Harry, looking up at them both with a great effort: Theodore seemed frightened and Canini amazed. 'That glass ball that smashed wasn’t the only record of the prophecy. I heard the whole thing in Dumbledore’s office, he was the one the prophecy was made to, so he could tell me. From what it said,' Harry took a deep breath, 'it looks like I’m the one who’s got to finish off Voldemort...At least, it said neither of us could live while the other survives.'

The three of them gazed at one another in silence for a moment. Then Canini started crying a little.

'Oh Harry, you've had this on your chest for weeks,' she said giving him a quick hug. 'Are you ok, oh Harry...'

'We had all wondered, Tracey and Allison included, after we returned from the Ministry...' began Theodore. 'But we had all promised not to ask you about any of it, however I was very curious after what Lucius Malfoy had to say about what the prophecy contained. He had mentioned that it was about you and Voldemort, so we all speculated it might be about you and his destiny, but I never imagined "neither of you can live while the other survives". I agree with Canini, are you ok, are you scared?'

'Not as much as I was,' said Harry. 'When I first heard it, I was...but now, it seems as though I always knew I’d have to face him in the end...'

'When Remus said Dumbledore would be collecting you personally, we thought he might take the opportunity to tell you something about the prophecy,' said Canini eagerly. 'While we were wrong about when he told you, we weren't wrong that picking you up had a couple extra agendas. And you shouldn't worry Harry, think of it this way, if Dumbledore thought you stood no chance he wouldn't be spending time out of his day on you—he must really believe in you, Harry!'

'I guess, but I still don't know what he plans on teaching me, just that its not Occlumency,' said Harry, a warmth was spreading through him that had nothing to do with the sunlight; a tight obstruction in his chest seemed to be dissolving. He knew his siblings were more shocked than they were letting on, but the mere fact that they were still there on either side of him, speaking bracing words of comfort, not shrinking from him as though he were contaminated or dangerous, was worth more than he could ever tell them. 'Possibly some very advanced defensive magic like the type he used against Voldemort at the Ministry.'

'Well, its good to know at least one of the lesson's you'll be able to attend this year,' said Theodore. 'The wait for my O.W.L. results is killing me.'

'I'm sure you did fine Theodore,' said Canini in a tone that made Harry think he's brought this up several times before.

'Hang on,' said Harry, as another part of last night’s conversation came back to him. 'I think Dumbledore said our O.W.L. results would be arriving today!'

'Wait, really‽' squealed Theodore. 'As in today today? Oh my goodness! I'm going back inside to see if any owls have arrived yet...'

And with that Theodore ran back through the woods towards the cottage.

'Am I going to be like that in two years?' asked Canini as she watch Theodore disappear in the trees.

'Maybe, though Theodore is a bit hyper when it comes to grades,' responded Harry. 'I'm going in too, I want to write Allison and Tracey about the prophecy.'

Harry then went inside and took the time to tell Remus about the prophecy as well, and while nervous for Harry, he too was quite supportive of him. He then helped Harry craft two letters to Tracey Davis and Allison Runcorn explaining the prophecy to them and what it meant to Harry, though despite his promise a couple weeks back Remus was still hesitant when Harry sent Allison's letter.

During this time Theodore was pacing like crazy, Harry was starting to regret telling him their results were on their way.

'I know I've probably gotten my "Outstanding" in Potions, but I need one in Herbology as well for most of the positions I'm interested in,' he ranted. 'And while I try my best in that class it doesn't come as naturally to me as mixing brews does.'

'Theodore, there is only a single student in our year who does better than you do,' blurted Harry eventually when he had heard enough. 'You are going to get more "Outstanding"s than the rest of our friend group.'

'Remus, what does happen if you don't get sufficient O.W.L.s for the career you want?' Canini asked.

'For some classes there can be make up courses if the teacher is willing and the student is desperate enough, there are also lessons outside of Hogwarts that some employers count as equivalent credits, finally, sometimes the O.W.L.s a job says it requires are just a suggestion and if you're skilled enough they'll still take you and train you on the job. It won't come to that though Theo, I know you did fine.'

The conversation didn't get to continue though as Theodore was now pointing through the kitchen window. Two black specks were clearly visible in the sky, growing larger all the time.

'Pretty sure those are owls,' said Canini, looking through the window.

'And there are two of them,' said Harry, hastening to her other side.

'One for the both of us,' said Theodore in a nervous wreck. 'I can't take this...'

Theodore gripped Harry tightly around the elbow.

The owls were flying directly to Mould-on-the-Wold Cottage, two handsome tawnies, both of which, it became clear as they flew lower over the path leading up to the house, was carrying a large square envelope.

'Oh goodness!' panicked Theodore.

Remus squeezed past his three children and opened the kitchen window. The owls soared through it and landed on the table in a neat line. Both of them lifted their right legs.

Harry moved forward. The letter addressed to him was tied to the leg of the owl in the middle. He untied it with fumbling fingers. To his right Theodore’s hands were shaking so much he was making his whole owl tremble as he detached his letter.

Nobody in the kitchen spoke. At last, Harry managed to detach the envelope. He slit it open quickly and unfolded the parchment inside.

Harry read the parchment through several times, his breathing becoming easier with each reading. It was all right: He had always known that he would fail Divination, and he had had no chance of passing History of Magic, given that he had collapsed halfway through the examination, but he had passed everything else! He ran his finger down the grades...he had passed well in Transfiguration and Herbology, he had even exceeded expectations at Potions! And best of all, he had achieved "Outstanding” at Defense Against the Dark Arts!

He looked to Theodore, who had his back to him and his head bent.

'Well, how'd you do Harry?' asked Remus, seemingly giving Theodore more time to read and reread his results.

'I passed everything but Divination and History of Magic, I got an "Acceptable" for Astronomy, everything else is "Exceeds Expectations" except for DADA which I got an "Outstanding".

'That's amazing, I am very proud of you Harry!' said Remus beaming.

'What about you, Theo?' said Canini tentatively, for Theodore still hadn’t turned around. 'How were your results?'

'Fairly well...I got an "Acceptable" in Divination though...' he began, but then Canini ripped the paper out of his hand.

'Besides that passing mark he has three "Outstandings" including the two he needed and the rest are "Exceeding Expectations".'

'Give that back, oh you can be so annoying,' said Theodore trying to get his marks back. 'Even though its a pass an "A" means I can't continue that class.'

'You didn't want to take Divination anymore anyway!' laughed Canini, finally giving Theodore his marks back, he smiled to.

'Well I am proud of you too Theodore, and you did very well in your third year exams Canini,' said Remus with pride. 'My three kids are geniuses! I think this calls for dessert before lunch.'

While the other two cheered, Harry looked back down at his results. They were as good as he could have hoped for. He felt just one tiny twinge of regret...This was the end of his ambition to become an Auror. He had not secured the required Potions grade. He had known all along that he wouldn’t, but he still felt a sinking in his stomach as he looked again at that small black "E".

It was odd, really, seeing that it had been a Death Eater in disguise who had first told Harry he would make a good Auror, but somehow the idea had taken hold of him, and he couldn’t really think of anything else he would like to be. Moreover, it had seemed the right destiny for him since he had heard the prophecy a few weeks ago...Neither can live while the other survives...Wouldn’t he be living up to the prophecy, and giving himself the best chance of survival, if he joined those highly trained wizards whose job it was to find and kill Voldemort?