WE'LL TAKE ON THE WORLD ; h.j.p.

27 | Detention With Umbridge

As though to underline the importance of their upcoming examinations, a batch of pamphlets, leaflets, and notices concerning various Wizarding careers appeared on the tables in Gryffindor Tower shortly before the end of the holidays, along with yet another notice on the board, which read:

CAREER ADVICE

All fifth years will be required to attend a short meeting with their Head of House during the first week of the summer term, in which they will be given the opportunity to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.

Allison looked down the list, and found that she was expected in Professor McGonagall's office at a quarter past eleven on Monday, which would mean missing the second half of Potions. Her and the other fifth years spent a considerable part of the final weekend of the Easter break reading all the career information that had been left there for their perusal.

"Well, I don't fancy Healing," said Ron on the last evening of the holidays. He was immersed in a leaflet that carried the crossed bone-and-wand emblem of St. Mungo's on its front. "It says here you need at least an E at N.E.W.T. level in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defence Against the Dark Arts. I mean...blimey...Don't want much, do they?"

"Well, obviously. It's a difficult job," said Allie, flicking through a leaflet that suggested studying Magical Creatures outside of Great Britain.

"And very responsible, too," said Hermione absently. She was poring over a bright pink-and-orange leaflet that was headed So you think you'd like to work in muggle relations?

"You don't seem to need many qualifications to liaise with Muggles," She informed them, "All they want is an O.W.L. in Muggle Studies...'Much more important is your enthusiasm, patience, and a good sense of fun!'"

"You'd need more than a good sense of fun to liaise with my uncle," Harry said darkly. "Good sense of when to duck, more like..."

Allison was about to say something and threw a look at him, but he was halfway through a pamphlet on Wizard banking and did not notice.

"Listen to this: 'Are you seeking a challenging career involving travel, adventure, and substantial, danger-related treasure bonuses? Then consider a position with Gringotts Wizarding Bank, who are currently recruiting Curse-Breakers for thrilling opportunities abroad...'," Harry read out loud. "They want Arithmancy, though...You could do it, Hermione!"

"I don't fancy banking much," said Hermione vaguely, now immersed in Have you got what it takes to train security trolls?

"Hey." Fred and George had come to join them, sitting down on either side of Harry.

"Little Allie here had a word with us about you," Fred said, stretching out his legs on the table in front of them and causing several booklets on careers with the Ministry of Magic to slide off onto the floor. "She says you need to talk to Sirius?"

"What?" said Hermione sharply, freezing with her hand halfway toward picking up Make a BANG at the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes and staring back and forth between Harry and Allison.

"Yeah..." Harry said, trying to sound casual, "yeah, I thought I'd like -"

"Don't be so ridiculous," Hermione said, straightening up and looking at him as though she could not believe her eyes. "With Umbridge groping around in the fires and frisking all the owls?"

"Well, we think we can find a way around that," George said, stretching and smiling. "It's a simple matter of causing a diversion. Now, you might have noticed that we have been rather quiet on the mayhem front during the Easter holidays?"