Grindelwald's Burden (Books 1-7)

90. Careers Advice

It was a few days later and Harry had just told the others how Snape had dismissed him from taking any more Occlumency lessons from him.

"But why haven't you got Occlumency lessons any more?" said Hermione frowning.

"I've told you." Harry muttered. "Snape reckons I can carry on by myself now I've got the basics."

Y/n was skeptical however. "Have you stopped having those dreams?" He asked.

"Pretty much." said Harry, not looking at him or Hermione.

"Well, I don't think Snape should stop until you're absolutely sure you can control them!" said Hermione indignantly. "Harry, I think you should go back to him and ask..."

"No." said Harry forcefully. "Just drop it, Hermione, ok?"

It was the first day of the Easter holidays and Hermione, as was her custom, had spent a large part of the day drawing up revision timetables for the four of them. Y/n was grateful for it while Harry and Ron figured it was easier to accept than arguing with her and, in any case, they might come in useful.

Ron had been startled to discover there were only six weeks left until their exams.

"How can that come as a shock?" Hermione demanded, as she tapped each little square on Ron's timetable with her wand so that it flashed a different colour according to its subject.

"I dunno." said Ron. "There's been a lot going on."

"Well, there you are." she said, handing him his timetable. "If you follow that you should do fine."

Ron looked down at it gloomily, but then brightened. "You've given me an evening off every week!"

"That would be for Quidditch practice Ron." said Y/n looking over it.

The smile faded from Ron's face. "What's the point?" he said dully. "We've got about as much chance of winning the Quidditch Cup this year as Dad's got of becoming Minister for Magic."

Hermione said nothing, she was looking at Harry, who was staring blankly at the opposite wall of the common room while Crookshanks pawed at his hand, trying to get his ears scratched. "What's wrong, Harry?"

"What?" he said quickly. "Nothing." He seized a book and pretended to be looking something up in the index. Crookshanks gave him up as a bad job and slunk away under Hermione's chair.

"I saw Cho earlier." said Hermione tentatively. "She looked really miserable, too...have you two had a row again?"

"Wha...oh, yeah, we have." said Harry, seizing gratefully on the excuse.

Y/n turned his head to Harry now curious. "What did you argue about this time? Not Cedric surely?"

"That sneak friend of hers, Marietta." said Harry.

"Yeah, well, I don't blame you!" said Ron angrily, setting down his revision timetable. "If it hadn't been for her..." and Ron went into a rant about Marietta Edgecombe.

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:

CAREERS ADVICE

All fifth-years are required to attend a short meeting with their

Head of House during the first week of the summer term to discuss their future careers. Times of individual appointments are listed below.