Post by Varda on Jul 25, 2004 21:55:28 GMT -5
We are all wondering, of course, how Harry will do on his Potions OWL and whether he will be in NEWT level potions. This is important for several reasons, most especially for his desire to be an auror.
There are several possibilities:
1) Against all odds and common sense, Snape actually turns out to be a good potions professor and Harry gets an "Outstanding." This is the tack taken in a great deal of fanfiction. I personally would find such a development rather unbelievable and forced,
2) Harry scores less than an "O" on his OWL but McGonagall intervenes by either twisting Snape's arm to allow him into the NEWT class or arranging for some "independent study" approach to the Potions NEWT. The latter might be possible because we do not know if taking NEWT Potions is actually a requirement for taking the exam. It may be that Harry could sit for his NEWT without actually taking the NEWT Potion class. This is more believable than the above possibility, and I could see McGonagall taking this approach. She seems the type of person who, having given her word, will see it through regardless.
3) Dumbledore intervenes on the grounds that Harry must learn NEWT level potions as part of his preparation to face Voldemort. He could do this simply through an instruction to Snape, or he could declare that the circumstances of war force a modification of standing policy and that Snape must accept anyone into his course who scores E or above and desires to pursue a career combating Dark Magic. This last policy, of ordering a teacher to modify requirements due to a national emergency, is certainly not unprecedented in the real world. War has often forced schools and universities to drastically modify their schedules, requirements, policies, and curricula for the sake of quickly producing young people with skills needed by the war effort. Such an order would also allow Snape to somewhat save face, as it would apply to several students other than Harry.
What do you think is most likely to happen?
There are several possibilities:
1) Against all odds and common sense, Snape actually turns out to be a good potions professor and Harry gets an "Outstanding." This is the tack taken in a great deal of fanfiction. I personally would find such a development rather unbelievable and forced,
2) Harry scores less than an "O" on his OWL but McGonagall intervenes by either twisting Snape's arm to allow him into the NEWT class or arranging for some "independent study" approach to the Potions NEWT. The latter might be possible because we do not know if taking NEWT Potions is actually a requirement for taking the exam. It may be that Harry could sit for his NEWT without actually taking the NEWT Potion class. This is more believable than the above possibility, and I could see McGonagall taking this approach. She seems the type of person who, having given her word, will see it through regardless.
3) Dumbledore intervenes on the grounds that Harry must learn NEWT level potions as part of his preparation to face Voldemort. He could do this simply through an instruction to Snape, or he could declare that the circumstances of war force a modification of standing policy and that Snape must accept anyone into his course who scores E or above and desires to pursue a career combating Dark Magic. This last policy, of ordering a teacher to modify requirements due to a national emergency, is certainly not unprecedented in the real world. War has often forced schools and universities to drastically modify their schedules, requirements, policies, and curricula for the sake of quickly producing young people with skills needed by the war effort. Such an order would also allow Snape to somewhat save face, as it would apply to several students other than Harry.
What do you think is most likely to happen?
