CHAPTER DISCUSSION: Chapter 31, O.W.L.s

[Juli]

No: HPFGUIDX 117895


OWLS
 
The chapter begins with Ron extremely happy about
winning the Quidditch cup and how he's forced back
into reality when Harry and Hermione tell him about
Grawp and their promise of teaching him how to
speak.
 
As the OWLS approached everyone got more and more
nervous.  Draco told Crabbe and Goyle that it didn't
matter how much you studied but who you know, and 
his father just happened to be friends with Griselda
Marchbanks, the magical exams chief. But Neville
mentions he doesn't believe it.  Professor Marchbanks 
is a friend of his grandmother's and he's never
heard her talk about the Malfoys. 
 
During Transfiguration, MM says they'd better not
cheat in any way, and that they'll receive an owl 
with their results in July.

The night before their first exam, they saw the
examiners arrive and overheard Professor Marchbanks 
say that if DD doesn't want to be found the MoM will 
not find him.

On Monday morning they had the written Charms exam 
in the Great Hall, which looked just like it did
when Harry's father took the OWLS. After lunch they 
took the Charms practical exam, and were called in 
alphabetically. Harry got Professor Tofty who acted 
very kind.  Malfoy who was next to him didn't do so 
well, for he seemed to care more about Harry's test 
than his own.

Next the 5th years took their written Transfiguration 
test, after which Harry felt he could have done better 
but thought his practical could have been worse.  Then
he did Herbology reasonably well.  In DADA, he had no
problem answering the written questions, and enjoyed
doing his best in front of DU during the practical. 
 
Professor Tofty even asked him if he wanted to do a 
Patronus to improve his grade which he did.

On Friday Hermione had Ancient Runes, while Ron and 
Harry were free. Then Hermione comes in telling them
that another niffler has shown up in DU's office and
she'll probably blame Hagrid for it even if he was 
teaching a class at the time.

During the weekend they studied for their remaining
exams.  On Monday, Harry found the written exam for 
Potions difficult but the practical less dreadful
than he expected mainly due to the fact that Snape 
was absent.  On Tuesday, they had Care of Magical 
Creatures, in which Harry tried to do his best so 
Hagrid would look good.  As he was leaving, Harry 
gave Hagrid who was watching from his window a 
thumbs-up. On Wednesday they had the theory exam for 
Astronomy in the morning.  In the afternoon Harry and 
Ron had Divination, and of course they failed it since 
neither one could see anything.

That night they had the Astronomy practical, during 
which Harry saw 5 or 6 people leaving the castle, one 
of whom being DU.  They went over to Hagrid's house 
and tried to arrest him, but their Stunning Spells
didn't do anything to him.  Then MM came running out 
of the castle, yelling "How dare you?" and then at 
least 4 stunning rays hit her and she fell on the 
ground. Hagrid then escaped.
 
Harry's last exam was History of Magic.  As Harry 
tried to answer the questions, he fell asleep and 
into his dream of the Department of Mysteries again.  
Harry heard a cold voice issuing from his own mouth 
saying "Take it for me now" and saw his own arm point 
the wand at a dark figure on the floor as he heard 
"Crucio!" Sirius screamed with the pain and then 
whispered "You'll have to kill me."  As LV lowered 
his wand again, Harry heard his own scream, and he 
woke up as he hit the floor.
 
Discussion questions
 
1. Why was Draco Malfoy next to Harry during their Charms 
   exam? If they were called alphabetically, Draco must 
   have been called long before Harry.

2. If DD is about 150 years old, then how old is Professor
   Marchbanks? She examined DD maybe over 130 years ago, 
   and she should have been a grown wizard by then, right?

3. Will Harry get enough OWLS to continue his career as 
   an Auror?

4. If Fred and George only got about 3 OWLS each, what 
   classes did they have during their 6th and 7th year?
   Only 3 classes?

5. How could the Trio teach Grawp how to speak if he's
   so violent they can't even get close to him?

6. Why didn't the examiners do anything to stop whoever 
   was with DU from hurting MM?

7. Do practical and written exams each count as an OWLS?
 

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