RP: Decisions to Make
Date: 10 July 1998
Characters: Minerva McGonagall, Septima Vector and Other Professors, Andromeda Tonks, Edward Clarke [NPC], Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Lavender Brown, Millicent Bulstrode, Sasha Capper, Michael Corner, Seamus Finnigan, Anthony Goldstein, Greg Goyle, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass, Neville Longbottom, Morag MacDougal, Ernie Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Eloise Midgen, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Padma Patil, Parvarti Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Lisa Turpin, Ron Weasley, Blaise Zabini, Katie Bell, Cho Chang
Location: Hogwarts
Status: Public
Summary: Meeting at Hogwarts to discuss options for obtaining N.E.W.T.s.
Completion: Complete
Minerva looked about the Great Hall. After dinner she had the House tables moved to the sides and several rows of chairs placed in the middle facing the dais and head table. She was very pleased to see that the majority of those invited had chosen to attend. Her hopes were high that most of these young people would find at least one of the options acceptable enough to elect to continue their educations.
She gave everyone exactly five minutes beyond the schedule meeting time to appear before she tapped her goblet for attention and stood. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Hogwarts welcomes you back and it is our hope that we will see you again in the future. First, I would like to introduce the faces you would not be used to seeing at the head table. Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Madame Tonks. From the Wizarding Examinations Authority, Professor Tofty," a bald, elderly man in pince-nez stood and bowed. "And Mr. Clarke from the town of Hogsmeade. The teaching staff you all know."
Minerva straightened her notes. "Now then, you all were sent letters in June informing you that N.E.W.T.s this year have been cancelled. For your class, the seventh year of instruction was either non-existent or extremely disrupted. While I am sure that a few of you might be capable of sitting N.E.W.T.s at this time, I doubt that anyone would be able to perform to their full potential. Therefore, it is our opinion that additional study should be undertaken before exams are administered."
A flick of her wand and handwriting appeared on the slate board on the side of the dais. "The first option we would like to extend to you all is to return to Hogwarts next year as a seventh year student, to study, live and attend classes along with the new crop of seventh years. There will be some extensive review of sixth year material at the beginning of the year, but by the end of September, the normal seventh year curriculum will begin being taught. The rules and expectations for students of Hogwarts, as well as the restrictions placed on them, are familiar to all of you and you will be expected to conform."
She looked over the group and waited until the mumbling died down. "I honestly do not expect that option to sit well with most of you. All of you are of age and many of you have been recently living as adults. Most of you have outgrown the rules and restrictions Hogwarts places on its students and are capable of motivating yourselves and being in control of your behaviour without the guidance of your Heads of House or other members of the staff. Recognizing that fact, the second option we would like to extend to you all is the option to live off-grounds and come in daily for concentrated N.E.W.T. Preparatory lessons." Minerva flicked her wand at the board again. "These lessons will be held in the mornings and repeated again in the afternoons. You may attend either session or both sessions if you feel you would benefit from the additional study. Depending upon availability, the N.E.W.T. Prep class may be taught by a Hogwarts professor, a professional in the field, or a representative of the Wizarding Examination Authority."
"A schedule for these classes will be worked up after we have a better idea how many of you will be selecting this option and in which subjects you are seeking N.E.W.T.s." Minerva flicked at the board and another line appeared. "Morning classes will be held from 8-12 and afternoon classes from 1-5. A separate room will be set up as a common area for dining and studying for those of you who will be attending these classes. This common area, along with the library and hospital wing, will be open for your use from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, including Saturday." Minerva looked at them all seriously. "You will, under no circumstances, be allowed into your former House Common rooms, nor are you to interfere in the education of the full-time students. You may, however, join our younger students for lunch in the Great Hall if you prefer. I am sure that many of them will welcome your familiar faces."
Minerva consulted her notes before moving on. "This option is based on an idea first mentioned by Mr. Thomas regarding something that muggles offer their adult students. Attending school part-time while the adult student also works is not uncommon in the muggle world. This is an idea we are hoping those of you taking the second option will consider. Our Ministry needs workers. Many businesses will need workers as the shops here and in Diagon Alley re-open. St. Mungo's is also short staffed. If you would be interested in obtaining part-time employment, you may seek it out yourself or complete a short questionnaire that will be passed around shortly and return it to Hogwarts along with your attendance plans to be matched with an employer. No one will be required to work if they prefer to devote themselves fully to their studies."
One more wand flick and a final option appeared. "Of course, if you do not feel that N.E.W.T.s are relevant to your career path, you may abandon your schooling. Naturally, we all hope you do not elect to do that. Education is important."
"There is one additional piece of news. Mr. Clarke has a number of houses for rent in Hogsmeade that he is willing to let to those of you with means of financial support, either through the Work-Study program, your own employment, or family funding. Mr. Clarke?"
Characters: Minerva McGonagall, Septima Vector and Other Professors, Andromeda Tonks, Edward Clarke [NPC], Hannah Abbott, Susan Bones, Terry Boot, Mandy Brocklehurst, Lavender Brown, Millicent Bulstrode, Sasha Capper, Michael Corner, Seamus Finnigan, Anthony Goldstein, Greg Goyle, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass, Neville Longbottom, Morag MacDougal, Ernie Macmillan, Draco Malfoy, Eloise Midgen, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Padma Patil, Parvarti Patil, Harry Potter, Dean Thomas, Lisa Turpin, Ron Weasley, Blaise Zabini, Katie Bell, Cho Chang
Location: Hogwarts
Status: Public
Summary: Meeting at Hogwarts to discuss options for obtaining N.E.W.T.s.
Completion: Complete
Minerva looked about the Great Hall. After dinner she had the House tables moved to the sides and several rows of chairs placed in the middle facing the dais and head table. She was very pleased to see that the majority of those invited had chosen to attend. Her hopes were high that most of these young people would find at least one of the options acceptable enough to elect to continue their educations.
She gave everyone exactly five minutes beyond the schedule meeting time to appear before she tapped her goblet for attention and stood. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Hogwarts welcomes you back and it is our hope that we will see you again in the future. First, I would like to introduce the faces you would not be used to seeing at the head table. Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Madame Tonks. From the Wizarding Examinations Authority, Professor Tofty," a bald, elderly man in pince-nez stood and bowed. "And Mr. Clarke from the town of Hogsmeade. The teaching staff you all know."
Minerva straightened her notes. "Now then, you all were sent letters in June informing you that N.E.W.T.s this year have been cancelled. For your class, the seventh year of instruction was either non-existent or extremely disrupted. While I am sure that a few of you might be capable of sitting N.E.W.T.s at this time, I doubt that anyone would be able to perform to their full potential. Therefore, it is our opinion that additional study should be undertaken before exams are administered."
A flick of her wand and handwriting appeared on the slate board on the side of the dais. "The first option we would like to extend to you all is to return to Hogwarts next year as a seventh year student, to study, live and attend classes along with the new crop of seventh years. There will be some extensive review of sixth year material at the beginning of the year, but by the end of September, the normal seventh year curriculum will begin being taught. The rules and expectations for students of Hogwarts, as well as the restrictions placed on them, are familiar to all of you and you will be expected to conform."
She looked over the group and waited until the mumbling died down. "I honestly do not expect that option to sit well with most of you. All of you are of age and many of you have been recently living as adults. Most of you have outgrown the rules and restrictions Hogwarts places on its students and are capable of motivating yourselves and being in control of your behaviour without the guidance of your Heads of House or other members of the staff. Recognizing that fact, the second option we would like to extend to you all is the option to live off-grounds and come in daily for concentrated N.E.W.T. Preparatory lessons." Minerva flicked her wand at the board again. "These lessons will be held in the mornings and repeated again in the afternoons. You may attend either session or both sessions if you feel you would benefit from the additional study. Depending upon availability, the N.E.W.T. Prep class may be taught by a Hogwarts professor, a professional in the field, or a representative of the Wizarding Examination Authority."
"A schedule for these classes will be worked up after we have a better idea how many of you will be selecting this option and in which subjects you are seeking N.E.W.T.s." Minerva flicked at the board and another line appeared. "Morning classes will be held from 8-12 and afternoon classes from 1-5. A separate room will be set up as a common area for dining and studying for those of you who will be attending these classes. This common area, along with the library and hospital wing, will be open for your use from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. daily, including Saturday." Minerva looked at them all seriously. "You will, under no circumstances, be allowed into your former House Common rooms, nor are you to interfere in the education of the full-time students. You may, however, join our younger students for lunch in the Great Hall if you prefer. I am sure that many of them will welcome your familiar faces."
Minerva consulted her notes before moving on. "This option is based on an idea first mentioned by Mr. Thomas regarding something that muggles offer their adult students. Attending school part-time while the adult student also works is not uncommon in the muggle world. This is an idea we are hoping those of you taking the second option will consider. Our Ministry needs workers. Many businesses will need workers as the shops here and in Diagon Alley re-open. St. Mungo's is also short staffed. If you would be interested in obtaining part-time employment, you may seek it out yourself or complete a short questionnaire that will be passed around shortly and return it to Hogwarts along with your attendance plans to be matched with an employer. No one will be required to work if they prefer to devote themselves fully to their studies."
One more wand flick and a final option appeared. "Of course, if you do not feel that N.E.W.T.s are relevant to your career path, you may abandon your schooling. Naturally, we all hope you do not elect to do that. Education is important."
"There is one additional piece of news. Mr. Clarke has a number of houses for rent in Hogsmeade that he is willing to let to those of you with means of financial support, either through the Work-Study program, your own employment, or family funding. Mr. Clarke?"