Year 5 Chapter 17

There was something incredible in the way Professor Flitwick believed I had all of the natural abilities to become a famous duelist. "Quick thinking, non-verbal casting, why Mister Umbrus, I have a few friends still in the business who would love nothing less than to be presented with someone of your talent." He smiled, "Or perhaps if you'd rather help others, the Auror career is definitely something you should look up to."

"I was thinking more about building myself an island somewhere in the middle of the ocean and enjoy the hot weather of the Caribbean seas," I answered instead, quietly rubbing the back of my head. "Once I get enough OWLs to be considered an adult, learn enough charms to avoid being traced by the ministry's tax officials, I reckoned I could just wing it by spending the rest of my life relaxing on some sandy beach."

Professor Flitwick chuckled. He chuckled, and then he laughed, rubbing his eyes from the tears of laughter that left them. "Ah, Mister Umbrus, your brain must have fried itself from the stress," he spoke with a knowing look. "You don't need to worry! The efforts you put at Hogwarts will reflect on your life outside. I would suggest you to take on the NEWT-levels for an Auror position; Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Transfiguration and Care for Magical Creature, of which you have all Outstandings and should allow you a chance," he lifted his finger, "Though I do warn you that it's not that easy of a career path, it is one I feel confident enough in suggesting you."

"But I want my cocktails with cute umbrellas in it, and Hawaiian dancers playing Ukuleles," I muttered back, but my words of rebuttal entered one ear, and left the other. Was Professor Flitwick so used to the Ravenclaws' oddities, that he outright ignored them? What a great skill to have; seriously, professor, let me plan my own future through the most relaxing options possible.

I don't need money if I can summon forth fishes from the ocean, or steal stuff under an Invisibility cloak!

"There is always the path of the Hit Wizard, it is less glamorous, but it does come with its own perks," Filius continued, "It does require five OWLs, of which one must be in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

I shook my head. "I was actually thinking about becoming an innkeeper, the Hog's Head could use someone to keep it in working conditions-"

"Or, for a far more glamorous, yet actually relaxing job," he chuckled as he said that, "There is a career in the Ministry; one could even become a holder of a seat at the Wizengamot with due care and practice, or Minister For Magic."

I couldn't help but chuckle at Professor Flitwick's attempts to ignore reality, and substitute his own.

The career advice finally ended on a positive note. I didn't need to take the OWLs I wasn't interested in. This meant that I could flunk as many courses as I wished, with the caveat that if I did, then it would be considerably harder to find work outside, but I couldn't flunk one of the main exams on Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts. If I flunked any of those, I'd have to repeat the year until I got an Acceptable at the very least in all of them.

The next morning, the Daily Prophet delivered an interesting newspaper article.

Werewolf Legislation repealed! Dehumanizing the human part of the feral beasts does no one a favor!

By Rita Skeeter.

I blinked as I read the title, before quietly reading the body of the article itself.

In a surprising motion that passed through the Wizengamot's offices, following the unfortunate revelations on the proposer of said legislation, (For more information on the Umbridge Case, please buy the Daily Prophet, Month of November Edition), the legislation was put under trial and duress. In a show of wisdom, it was decided to repeal said law and grant a form of limited reparation to those Werewolves who were harmed by it.

"We must clearly see the hate in the law itself against those unfortunate souls who cannot be considered guilty for no fault of their own," Lucius Malfoy spoke, being one of the proponents in favor of the repeal.

"I am wonderfully happy that the Wizengamot has finally seen sense on such a crucial issue," Albus Dumbledore answered once queried, "beating on the downtrodden aids no one, and merely serve to foster misery and hate. I have high hopes that this is merely the first step on the road to a brighter future."

I belatedly wondered if this was because of Umbridge's brutal sacking, or of the fact I was aiding Draco with his OWLs, but whatever the reason, I suspected that professor Lupin might actually return to teach next year's lessons. He couldn't come back any sooner, in my humble opinion.

"Expecto Patronum!" a brilliant silver Stag clopped its way across the room, Harry Potter's happiness probably ten times greater due to his bonding with Sirius and Remus. Surprisingly, even as the practical went about, there were more than a few students who couldn't manage the feat. They did emit vapors, but they probably couldn't think of a happy enough memory, or simply didn't have the skills for it.

Wayne's Patronus turned out to be a hamster. Somehow, the cute little guy wiggling its butt as it moved around the air made me chuckle, much to the boy's happy expression at its sight.

Others succeeded in their Patronus Charm, and I couldn't help but feel the happiness in the air itself. A small Barn Owl ended up fluttering against my shoulder, perching up on it with a silent hoot.

"It worked," Megan said with a giggle, the owl fluttering back towards her.

"Glad to see it," I answered. Strangely enough, Amanda hadn't been able to make hers appear.

Well, I reckoned she was in my same boat then.

It would have been extremely funny if it had been a sloth, just to invert the obvious pick of an over-excited woodpecker.

My sighs of relief, and my happiness, was short-lived.

It lasted approximately until news of a breach in the Department of Mysteries, and the theft of a prophecy.

The dread I had been feeling across my spine intensified.

It intensified in an extremely bad way.