Chapter 5
Because all the students got the day off after the names were drawn, Harry was able to discuss his options with McGonagall and Snape.
They were currently seated in McGonagall's office along with Theo and Neville. When Snape came up to Harry to ask him to come with him, they had insisted they come too.
McGonagall laughed while watching the three try to sit as comfortable as they could on the small couch. It looked quite ridiculous. Most of the moving was done by Neville and Harry. Theo just accepted his fate and watched the other two bicker with a huge grin plastered on his face.
"Your elbow is poking my ribs!" "Ouch, Harry! That was my stomach." "Sorry, Neville, my arm was in a weird angle." "It's alright, but it really did hu-"
"Are you dunderheads quite done?" Snape interrupted, and the two boys sheepishly looked to their professor, mumbling apologies.
McGonagall scoffed, "They were merely bickering, Severus. Don't be such a mood killer." She teased.
"I'm not, Minerva." Snape told her and glared, but she stared back with a blank look. Harry giggled quietly behind one of his hands, but Neville just looked confused at the interaction between the two teachers.
Then, Theo decided he had been quiet long enough, "Might I ask why you wanted Harry to come here, Professors?" He asked, interrupting the impromptu staring contest that was being held.
Snape cleared his throat. "Well, Mr. Nott, we decided it would be a good idea to discuss some options with Harry, mostly regarding his classes. Professor McGonagall and I wondered whether he would be comfortable seeing Mr. Weasley in every class. Normally, teachers don't interfere when friends are in a fight, but his situation is a bit different, seeing as almost his whole house has turned against him." He explained.
"What are my options?" Harry asked.
"The first option would be to self-study most of your subjects. The only classes you would have to be physically present for are Potions, Astronomy, Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Normally, I'd say Transfiguration and Charms too, but you're already familiar with most of the curriculum on both subjects, so Professor Flitwick and I were not too worried. You'd have to do the homework so the teachers can still keep track, but I'm sure that won't be a problem.
"As for the second option, it would mean you'd have to follow each class, but you're never in the same one as the Gryffindors. For example, if there's a Slytherin and Gryffindor class, you would attend the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff one instead." McGonagall explained to him, with the three boys listening intently.
It was quiet for a second while Harry considered the two options. On one hand, the first would give him a lot more time to prepare for the tasks. Mr. Crouch had made it clear that once you'd been entered, there was no way out, so he definitely would need all the time he could get. The second option would mean he'd actually be attending classes, not just sit in the library for the biggest part of the day. 'It would be very messy to try and remember who I'm sharing each class with, though.' Harry thought and immediately decided he didn't want that.
"I think the first option would be better. I'd have more time to prepare for the tasks then." Harry told Minerva, who nodded at him, "That's what I thought was the best option too."
"In that case, you will hand in the requested assignments to the right teacher for the classes you won't attend in person every Friday. For Charms, Transfiguration and Divination, you will perform a practical once every other week that you will, of course, be graded for. As for Care of Magical Creatures, you'll have to arrange something with Hagrid. I reckon he'd have a problem figuring something out for you." Snape explained, "Is that clear?"
"Crystal, sir." Harry told the man with a grin, "Sorry if it's too much to ask, though." He added as an afterthought.
"It's fine, Harry. We wouldn't have suggested it otherwise." Minerva assured him, which made Harry feel better.
"Won't Harry have a lot of free time this way?" Neville asked.
"Yes, he will. Doing homework for subjects you study for on your own tends to get done much faster, after all. That's why we're also giving him the option to take another elective." Snape said.
"So, that would mean Ancient Runes, Arithmancy or Muggle studies, right?" Harry asked.
When he was deciding on which electives to choose at the end of second year, it had been Ron who told him to choose CoMC and Divination, as his mother told him those would be great subjects for his O.W.L 's . Harry hadn't been sure those were the subjects he wanted, but Ron kept nagging him until he agreed. Oh, how Harry regretted doing that.
Now that he could decide for himself, without someone practically screaming in his ear what to do, the decision was made pretty easily.
"I'd like to do Ancient Runes, then." Harry decided, "Hermione told me it was a very helpful class and useful in some situations, and I've never been good with numbers, so Arithmancy was an immediate no. Muggle Studies would be easier, but it's very outdated, unfortunately."
Minerva clapped her hands together. "Well, that's decided, then! I'll inform Professor Babbling when I see her at dinner and discuss your learning plan. Attending this class in person will not be a problem, because only 2 other Gryffindors in your year chose the subject. Most of your classmates will be Slytherins and Ravenclaws."
"That's good to hear. Self-studying for any more subjects would be too much." Harry admitted, but Minerva told him it was perfectly reasonable: "Most students can't even self-study for two subjects, let alone five or six."
"I'm also taking Ancient Runes, so I'll be able to help you while you catch up on what we did last year if you want to." Theo offered, and Harry accepted with a grateful smile.
"I'm glad that's settled for now. You should head back to your dorms, and I'll set up your schedule with Professor Snape." The boys then left her office, glad about the results of this visit.
---
The next day, when classes started up again, Ron Weasley was very confused when Harry wasn't at Transfiguration. "Where's Harry, Professor? Is he skipping because he thinks he's better than anyone else or something?" He shouted loudly just as everyone was practicing a switching spell that could transfigure a goblet into a cushion, for example.
Because of the disruption, most spells didn't reach their intended target and bounced off the tables and to the walls. Thankfully, no students were hit by the stray spells.
"Mr. Weasley! Have I not told you a thousand times that it is imperative to not disrupt the class while practicing new spells? One of your classmates could have gotten seriously hurt!" Minerva scolded, but Ron didn't even look guilty.
"But, Professor! I just wanted to know where Harry was!" Ron argued, his face turning slightly red in irritation.
Minerva scoffed loudly, "That'll be 15 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Weasley. As for where Mr. Potter is, it is none of your concern. Proceed with practicing the spell, or I'll have to assign you detention with Professor Snape."
"Fine," Ron muttered angrily and turned back to his work.
When class was over and most students had left the room, Hermione approached Minerva, with Ron waiting for her in the doorway.
"Professor?"
Minerva turned to face Hermione from where she was gathering the cushions and the goblet-shaped cushions, which she had found very comical. 'It was a little too much of the good thing', she supposed.
"Yes, Ms. Granger? What can I help you with?" She asked.
Hermione hesitated for a bit, shifting her feet and tapping her books nervously.
"I don't have all day, Ms. Granger." Minerva urged, "Dumbledore is waiting for me in his office." No one had to know that Dumbledore was away, and she wanted to talk to Poppy, but the excuse worked better than you might think.
"Well, Professor, I'm quite worried about Harry. He hasn't slept in the Tower for three days, and I haven't seen him attend any classes today, except for Potions. We thought he got sick and left to go to Madame Pomfrey, but normally he'd be back by now." Hermione explained frantically.
"Mr. Potter is fine. He is not sick, nor is he skipping classes. As I told Mr. Weasley before, it is none of your concern. However, you could ask him yourself if you're curious. Whether he'll give you a truthful answer is up to him." Minerva told her.
Hermione's face scrunched up as if she were eating a lemon, obviously not satisfied with that cryptic answer. "Thanks, Professor, I think I'll do that." She said before taking her leave.
"She's definitely not going to ask Potter herself, is she?" One of the portraits by the entrance of the classroom asked Minerva, and she couldn't help but agree. Hermione always wanted to find out herself, which, sometimes, doesn't work out in her favour. Minerva would just have to wait and see.