Silver Hourglass

Career Advice with Snape Chapter 48

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.

Harry saw this post when they returned to the Slytherin Common room later that day, and saw that his appointment was on Monday afternoon.

On that day, he and Blaise were on their way to Divination when he remembered the appointment. He waved Blaise goodbye before rushing over to the dungeons and into Snape's office. "Two minutes late Potter," Snape said as Harry closed the door.

"Sorry Professor, I forgot. Blaise and I were on our way to Divination when—"

"It does not matter Potter, sit down," Snape said, sitting behind his desk, a student's essay in front of him. Harry nodded and looked around as he sat down.

Professor Umbridge was sitting there, a clipboard on her knee, a fussy little pie-frill around her neck, and a small, horribly smug smile on her face.

Professor Snape moved the essay to the side to a pile of pamphlets, which he took and spread them on his desk so Harry could see them all. Harry did his best to ignore the sound of Umbridge's quill scratching on her clipboard.

"Well, Potter, this meeting is to discuss over any and all career ideas you might have, and to make sure you are on track on the courses your career requires for your sixth and seventh years," Professor Snape said. "Have you any ideas?"

"Umm yes sir," Harry said. "I thought of, maybe, being an Auror," Harry's voice went soft under Snape's gaze.

Snape gave Harry a sharp look before scoffing, "Just like your father Potter. Very well. For an Auror, you will need top grades," Snape said as he extracted a small, dark leaflet from under the mass on his desk and opening it. "They ask for at least five N.E.W.T.s, and nothing under "Exceeds Expectations' grade, I see. Then you are required to undergo a stringent series of character and aptitude tests at the Auror office. This is a very difficult career path, Potter. They claim to take 'only the best' though exceptions have allowed the occasional dunderhead." Harry felt that Snape had somehow insulted his father, with the look he was giving him. "Hmmm, it seems that nobody has been taken on in the last three years... interesting," Snape said to himself as he read the pamphlet.

At this moment Professor Umbridge gave a very tiny cough, at though she was trying to see how quietly she could do it. Professor Snape ignored her.

"You will want to know which subjects you ought to take, I suppose?" Snape said somehow boredly.

"Yes," Harry said. "Defense Against the Dark Arts, I suppose?"

"Naturally," Professor Snape said shortly. "I would also advise—"

Professor Umbridge gave another cough, a little more audible this time. Professor Snape did not ever look at her as he continued as though nothing had happened. "You are advise to take Transfiguration, as Aurors will most likely need to Transfigure or Untransfigure in their work. Then, there is Charms, which is always useful, and Potions. I should warn you Potter that I do not accept any students who achieve anything else but an 'Outstanding.' I am surrounded by dunderheads and morons, and I will not allow my N.E.W.T.s class to be the same. Right now you are skirting between Outstanding and Exceeds Expectations. If I were you, I would stop whatever it is that is distracting you in my class and focus."

Professor Umbridge gave her most pronounced cough yet.

"Would you like a Cough Potion, Dolores?" Snape asked shortly, annoyed that she was interrupting the meeting.