OOP: Harry's OWL marks, good enough for an Auror?

[bluesqueak]

No: HPFGUIDX 66886

Jim writes:

<Snip>
Exceeds Expectations (E's) will get him into all of the 
> subjects except Potions, where Snape wants an Outstanding for a 
> NEWT in Potions.  Did Harry do well enough on the Potions Exam to 
> meet Snape's NEWT requirements?  JKR gave us a lot of information 
> in OOP about careers, OWLS and NEWTS for some reason, but it looks 
> like Snape is holding all of the keys to Harry's future.

Yup, I think we're either being set up for Harry's shocked 
realisation that his future depends on Snape being nice [evil grin], 
or Harry's equally shocked realisation that Snape has actually been 
a bloomin' good potions teacher as Harry discovers he has an 
Outstanding grade.

> Jim:
> It really stinks that Harry is such a natural in DADA, yet may 
> come up short at the very start because of a personality          
> difference.

No, it actually *wouldn't* be a personality difference. What 
Professor McGonagall says is that Snape refuses to take students 
with anything less than an 'Outstanding' grade. For McGonagall to 
know that, it sounds like a long standing practice, and that he's 
refused before to take students who missed the grade, but need the 
subject for their proposed careers.

This is very true to life, at least in British schools. I was 
refused entry to an 'A' level (NEWT equivalent) class because I 
hadn't got the right grade. And that refusal impacted on my career 
plans (and the school knew it).

But, the question is, if Harry gets a less than Outstanding grade on 
Potions, is he really cut out for a career as an Auror? Again, in 
that Careers Interview, McGonagall points out that Poisons and 
Antidotes are essential. It may be no favour to Harry in the long 
term to let him into a class where he couldn't keep up with the 
other students and hasn't got a reasonable chance of getting the 
needed grade for his proposed career. Better to start thinking of 
other possibilities at 16, with 2 years to go, than 18, when you 
need to find a job next week.

I think what may be fooling non-Brits is that in OOP we see Snape 
deliberately giving Harry zero marks for his assignments. What may 
not be appreciated is that in a Final Exam Only system, which the 
OWLS appear to be, the marks in your fifth year don't matter a bit. 
They're just given as a helpful guide. 

The ONLY mark that counts in your entire year is the one on that 
final exam. Snape could give Harry minus marks for the entire year 
if he wanted; it's not going to impact on Harry's future in the 
slightest if Harry then performs well in the exam.

What *will* be a personality problem is if Harry gets the 'O' grade, 
and Snape refuses to teach him. ;-)

> Maybe the only job Potter can qualify for is Professor of DADA at 
> Hogwarts?

Harry seems to be developing a real choice of careers. He could 
teach DADA, become an Auror, play Quidditch professionally. Has 
anyone noticed any other possibilities?

Pip!Squeak