Harry Potter and the Secret Treasures

Previously, the Care of Magical Creatures class for senior grades had always been taught by Professor Grubbly-Plank.

She was the witch who had filled in for Hagrid when he was away.

After Professor Kettleburn retired, she and Hagrid were the only two remaining Care of Magical Creatures professors at Hogwarts, she was in charge of the senior grades and Hagrid was in charge of the junior grades. However, this year, she was willing to let Hagrid take on some of the N.E.W.T.-level classes, allowing students to freely choose which professor’s Care of Magical Creatures class they preferred.

It was clear that Hagrid was excited about this new challenge.

He set his O.W.L. score requirement a bit lower than Professor Grubbly-Plank’s; anyone who passed could enter his N.E.W.T. class.

But the reality was that it was not a matter of grades. The students had endured it for a long time, and now that they finally had a chance to choose again, they would, without hesitation, stay far away from Hagrid’s Care of Magical Creatures class and his dangerous animals.

The students willing to take this class would likely still choose Professor Grubbly-Plank.

Even if they didn’t have the required scores, they wouldn’t choose Hagrid’s class.

But looking at Hagrid’s expression, he seemed to firmly believe that Evan, Harry, Hermione and Ron would choose him.

“Oh, Hagrid!” Hermione looked distressed when she saw him waving. “He can’t really think we’d continue Care of Magical Creatures. I mean, none of us have actually expressed any enthusiasm!”

“That’s it, though, innit? We were the ones who made the most effort in classes because we like Hagrid. But he thinks we liked the stupid subject. D’you reckon anyone’s going to go on to N.E.W.T.?” said Ron.

“I just think Hagrid’s class is very interesting,” said Elaine, watching Ron swallow an entire fried egg whole.

“In a sense, his classes are very interesting, but they’re not suitable for wizards like us who … um … are not so fond of dangerous magical creatures,” Evan found a relatively specific definition. He originally wanted to use ‘normal people’ to describe it, but felt that this term was somewhat inappropriate.

“Well, he might only be able to count on us to sign up for his class,” Harry sighed, avoiding Hagrid’s gaze and waving at him halfheartedly. “We’ve let him down before we even started choosing classes. Maybe we should consider adding Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid.”

“Absolutely not!”

“No pressure, mate. It’s not betrayal. If we choose Professor Grubbly-Plank’s class over Hagrid’s; that would be betrayal,” said Ron. “What we’re doing now is just giving up.”

They weren’t betraying Hagrid — they were just giving up the class.

Thinking this way could provide some psychological comfort.

After breakfast, students of other ages set off for their classes.

The sixth years remained in their places, awaiting Professor McGonagall’s descent from the staff table to start the selection of their classes.

Professor McGonagall was holding a thick stack of class schedules, detailing each subject’s professor and required scores.

She verified each student’s application one by one, using her wand to remove any extra courses and then conjuring a new schedule.

This work was rather tedious, and the process moved slowly.

She needed first to confirm that everybody had achieved the necessary O.W.L. grades to continue with their chosen N.E.W.T.s.

Because they had studied it carefully many times, Evan and Hermione’s schedules were nearly finalized right away.

The courses they both continued with included Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Herbology, Ancient Runes, and Potions. They dropped History of Magic, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Divination, and Muggle Studies, and didn’t choose the newly added upper-year course in Alchemy. Hermione had also added Arithmancy.

“Dropping Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and Divination is understandable, as well as Alchemy, but you aren’t choosing History of Magic?” Professor McGonagall asked, looking over their applications.

“That’s right, Professor.”

“We gave up on History of Magic. We feel we’ve learned enough in that subject for now,” Evan followed up.

“Very well, but I must say, you two were the only ones to achieve an Outstanding in History of Magic this year. Especially you, Hermione — your score was very high. It’s a bit of a pity to drop it; Professor Binns specifically mentioned you. This is the first time he’s ever singled anyone out since I’ve known him.”

Evan and Hermione exchanged a look, and it was clear Hermione was having second thoughts.

Apart from Divination, she didn’t want to give up anything, setting herself up to be thoroughly exhausted…

“Let’s stick with our choices, Professor. We’re hoping to have a bit more personal time this term,” said Evan.

Choosing History of Magic would mean spending countless hours in the library digging up dull historical records.

They didn’t want to use a Time-Turner to manage this again. The upper-level History of Magic courses would cover a lot of foreign magical history, which was of little use unless one planned to become a magic historian or work as an explorer or a Gringotts Curse-Breaker after graduation.

He and Hermione did not plan to develop in this direction and did not need to study History of Magic.

If they ever became interested in the magical history of a particular country, they could learn about it then.

Evan and Hermione finished quickly, only wavering on History of Magic. Others took longer, such as Neville. Professor McGonagall looked down at his application, comparing it to his O.W.L. scores, while Neville’s round face was full of anxiety.

“Herbology, fine,” she said. “Professor Sprout will be delighted to see you back with an ‘Outstanding’ O.W.L. And you qualify for Professor Snape’s Defense Against the Dark Arts with ‘Exceeds Expectations.’ But the problem is Transfiguration. I’m sorry, Longbottom, but an ‘Acceptable’ really isn’t good enough to continue to N.E.W.T level. I just don’t think you’d be able to cope with the coursework.”

“Are there any other options? Other professors can also…”

Neville hung his head and Professor McGonagall peered at him through her square spectacles.

“You could take Transfiguration with a different professor, but in my experience, you’re unlikely to achieve a N.E.W.T. in Transfiguration in two years, so it would just be a waste of time. I don’t understand; why do you want to continue with Transfiguration, anyway? I’ve never had the impression that you particularly enjoyed it.”

Neville looked miserable and muttered something about “my grandmother wants.”

“Hmph,” snorted Professor McGonagall. “I see. I’m not criticizing Augusta’s approach, but it’s high time she learned to be proud of the grandson she’s got, rather than the one she thinks she ought to have. I’m sorry, Longbottom, but I cannot let you into my N.E.W.T. class. You may choose another professor, but I wouldn’t advise it. In fact, I see that you have an ‘Exceeds Expectations’ in Charms, however — why not try for a N.E.W.T. in Charms with Professor Flitwick?”

“My grandmother thinks Charms is a soft option,” mumbled Neville.

“Take Charms,” said Professor McGonagall at last, “and I shall drop Augusta a line reminding her that just because she failed her Charms O.W.L., the subject is not necessarily worthless.”

Smiling slightly at the look of delighted incredulity on Neville’s face, Professor McGonagall tapped a blank schedule with the tip of her wand and handed it, now carrying details of his new classes, to Neville.

Professor McGonagall turned next to Parvati Patil, whose first question was whether Firenze, the handsome centaur, was still teaching Divination.

“He and Professor Trelawney are dividing classes between them this year,” said Professor McGonagall, a hint of disapproval in her voice; it was common knowledge that she despised the subject of Divination. “He’s in charge of the lower years. The sixth year is being taken by Professor Trelawney.”

Parvati set off for Divination five minutes later looking slightly crestfallen.

Lavender did the same, though she seemed to be more supportive of Professor Trelawney.

“All right, next, Potter, Potter…” said Professor McGonagall, consulting her notes as she turned to Harry. “Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology, Transfiguration … all fine. I must say, I was pleased with your Transfiguration mark, Potter, very pleased. Now, why haven’t you applied to continue with Potions? I thought it was your ambition to become an Auror?”

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