HP : THE TRAUMA AND CHOICE

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Filius Flitwick eyed a particular blue puzzle piece then mentally compared it to the half finished blue puzzle in front of him. Carefully he laid it along side the completed part and picked up a new puzzle piece. As he examined it, Hagrid thumped into the seat next to him.

" 'Ow long 'ave they been at it, then?" the half-giant rumbled softly – which meant quite loudly, especially when one accounted for Flitwick's superior hearing – while nodding his head toward a flushed Minerva and an equally flushed Severus.

"Seven minutes" Filius said, disapproval lacing his tone as he gently slotted the piece he was holding into its appropriate location.

"Huh." From the corner of his eye, Filius watched Hagrid's bushy brows draw down into a frown. "It's not like the Professor to allow bickering."

Filius picked up another blue piece and carefully examined it instead of answering that it was exactly like Professor Dumbledore to allow bickering when such a divisive, nearly combative, atmosphere was in his own favor. For his own part, Filius quite disliked arguments outside of academic debate but he was intelligent enough to go along with the flow when he could learn more through observation than through peacemaking.

"There is no way Potter passed his O.W.L.s on his own merit!" Professor Snape snapped. "It is simply impossible for a first year with a month of schooling to pass his O.W.L.s!"

'Improbable' Flitwick mused as he gently laid the piece in its appropriate location. 'But not impossible as we have lately seen.'

"Are you accusing Harry Potter of cheating?" Professor McGonagall gasped. "Because I assure you, Severus, that there was simply no way he could have! Especially since he was the only student taking the exams!"

'Also improbable' Flitwick decided as he picked up yet another blue piece. Of course, they were all blue pieces. 'But not more improbable than a first year muggle-raised Gryffindor learning five years' worth of material to such a high level of mastery. Severus is quite right – there is something highly improbable afoot. Whatever it is, Harry Potter took advantage of it to pass his O.W.L.s.'

'Improbable' Flitwick mused as he gently laid the piece in its appropriate location. 'But not impossible as we have lately seen.'

"Are you accusing Harry Potter of cheating?" Professor McGonagall gasped. "Because I assure you, Severus, that there was simply no way he could have! Especially since he was the only student taking the exams!"

'Also improbable' Flitwick decided as he picked up yet another blue piece. Of course, they were all blue pieces. 'But not more improbable than a first year muggle-raised Gryffindor learning five years' worth of material to such a high level of mastery. Severus is quite right – there is something highly improbable afoot. Whatever it is, Harry Potter took advantage of it to pass his O.W.L.s.'

Flitwick set his current piece aside.

"'Ere now" Hagrid said loudly, his voice easily drowning out whatever Severus Snape might have said in return. "We shouldn't bicker with each other like first years!"

When both professors leveled their worst glares on him, Hagrid hunched over, as guilty and uncomfortable as any first year himself. From the corner of his eye, Flitwick observed the flicker of annoyance that appeared and disappeared in the time it took Pomena Sprout to look up from her Herbology journal. It was subtle and quick, a mere moment before Albus was as twinkly and mysterious as ever, but Flitwick prided himself on his powers of observation.

It certainly helped that he had lived and worked alongside Albus Dumbledore for over fifty years. Filius was certain that few people knew the headmaster as well as he did.

"Now now, there's no need to take our distempers out on Hagrid" Albus soothed. "It's my fault that we have a Sunday morning staff meeting."

'Technically, it's Harry Potter's fault' Filius thought wryly as he plucked up another puzzle piece. 'You've barely left the courtrooms since he attained his majority.'

Minerva and Hagrd settled quickly under Albus' soothing tone. Severus, however, rebelliously muttered "I blame Potter."

Professor Vector, who had just entered the room with Professor Binns, rolled her eyes but slid quietly into the open seat next to Professor Burbage.

"Now that we're all here, let's begin."

Filius Flitwick vanished his puzzle and its pieces back to the table in his quarters' den. He kept half an ear on the proceedings but it was obvious that, while they had missed three weekly staff meetings, nothing particularly interesting had happened this month.

At the end of the meeting, Professor Dumbledore drew himself upright and smiled his softest, most reassuring smile.

"Could the first year professors remain behind please? I'd like a quick word with them regarding Mr. Potter's recent academic successes."

As she left, Professor Vector shot Filius a sharp look. Septima expected some high quality gossip when next they had tea together.

Filius smiled and inclined his head. Under the table he flexed his fingers in preparation. This was the part of the meeting that he needed to pay attention to.

"Let us begin at the beginning" Albus said cheerfully. "How did Harry perform in your classes before his O.W.L. results arrived?"

Harry had not distinguished himself in Astronomy, Herbology, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, or Potions. In fact, the only academic classes that he had revealed any aptitude for had been Transfigurations and Charms. In those two classes he had even asked for extra tuition in wordless magics.

'Does he prefer Transfiguration and Charms? Or were we simply more approachable to him?' Filius wondered as he carefully listened to whom Harry had partnered in each of his classes. 'To all appearances, he was average. Until his solicitor insisted that he be allowed to sit his O.W.L.s early, of course. But he still showed no special skill or talent until after his O.W.L. results returned. He keeps up in his private lessons and the rash of Gryffindor-instigated pranks cannot be a coincidence.'

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