Chapter Text
OWL or Nothing
Chapter One
“… now, please open your books to page 5, Chapter One, ‘Basics for Beginners’,” Professor Umbridge beamed insincerely. “There will be no need to talk.”
Fawn looked around at her fellow Slytherins. They were all following directions and taking out their books. Many had smiles. Some of those smiles seemed smug, like Draco Malfoy’s. This was a class in which it would be easy to excel. Others were smiling not as smugly, but a little more broadly. This was a class which allowed for success even for those who struggled with Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was clear that everyone was very happy for how classes would be run under their new Professor.
“Is there a problem, Miss…?” Umbridge trailed off, staring at Fawn. Fawn almost jumped in her seat, but managed to maintain composure at the last second. Showing anything that indicated a lack of control was a weakness and a mistake in Slytherin.
“Fawn Spirea, Professor. Forgive my delay, I shall begin reading immediately.” Umbridge gave her a simpering look as Fawn took out her book.
While Fawn stared at the book and read the words, she did not absorb any of the words. She was too overwhelmed with bewilderment and all of the thoughts running through her head. If this first class was anything to go by, they would be reading every day and never lifting their wands. She doubted they would even be writing any essays on the material. If Umbridge was going to have books teach them instead of doing so herself, she certainly would not bother to grade anything.
This was absurd. Their first time doing any of these spells or applying any of these principles would be during their O.W.L. practicals- when they were exhausted from studying and tests, and they were nervous about their futures being on the line.
Fawn knew that in order to become a proper magizoologist, she needed to get her N.E.W.T. in Defense Against the Dark Arts (especially when considering the hostile Dark creatures she’d encounter), and she needed her O.W.L. in the subject to make that happen. Heck, almost everyone would need at least an O.W.L. in Defense Against the Dark Arts for plenty of careers; it was a core subject! The only way one wouldn’t need one would be if they were some sort of blueblood living off inheritance, or run a pub or something.
This betrayed everything she understood Hogwarts to be built upon, and everything the founders wanted the school to be.
Fawn knew she would not let it stand.