Chapter 460: A History of Magical Careers
The days until Mr. Fawkes's rebirth slipped away quickly. In mid-May, Sean received a letter containing a single, vibrant phoenix tail feather. Headmaster Dumbledore informed him that Fawkes was due to be reborn that very day and invited him to the office for afternoon tea.
Clutching the beautiful, shimmering feather, Sean made his way into the Great Hall. It was bustling with its usual chatter; Justin waved him over, while the rest of the group was huddled around Harry, deep in discussion. As Sean drew closer, he could hear them clearly.
"An Auror? That's not a bad idea," Hermione said, poking her head out from behind a massive book.
"Yeah, being an Auror is pretty cool," Ron said, half-joking.
"It is," Justin agreed gently. "If you're seriously considering what you want to do after you leave Hogwarts, an Auror is definitely a solid choice. Think about it: your Defense Against the Dark Arts skills are second only to Sean's, and your athletic talent is excellent. From where I'm standing, being an Auror is a great plan for you, Harry."
Harry sat in the center of the crowd, his cheeks flushing a faint pink. He usually disliked revealing his private ambitions, but Ron had let it slip, and now that it was out in the open, it didn't feel so bad after all.
"Do you really think I could become an Auror?" Harry stammered.
"Why wouldn't you be able to?" Justin asked with a smile.
"I don't think it's a sure thing—" Hermione slammed her heavy book onto the table, sending a fine cloud of dust into the air.
"What?" Harry asked, looking uneasy.
"You need exceptional grades," Hermione stated. She reached into the chaotic pile of items on the table, pulled out a small, black flyer, and unfolded it. "They require at least five N.E.W.T.s, with no grade lower than 'Exceeds Expectations.' Furthermore, you must undergo a series of rigorous personality and aptitude tests at the Auror Office. It's not an easy career, Harry. They only accept the most outstanding talent. In fact, if I recall correctly, they haven't accepted a single trainee in the last two years."
"Oh." Harry's eyes dropped, but then he added, "But Sean already told me all that."
Hermione stared at him, surprised, then glanced at the various textbooks scattered on his desk. She revealed a tiny, sharp tooth in a knowing smile.
"You'll need to face obstacles far trickier than the average wizard, and delve into much deeper fields. But as long as you enjoy the work, that's enough, isn't it?" Justin summarized.
"He's still far off—" Hermione didn't acknowledge Justin's optimism, turning instead to Harry. "If you intend to keep practicing Quidditch, I don't think you'll be able to manage the workload. You're training five times a week—" Her meaning was clear.
"I... I'll find a way..." Harry muttered.
"Well then, Harry, you probably need to know which subjects are essential, right?" Sean sat down, and everyone's gaze shifted naturally toward him.
"What? Sean?" Harry asked, looking bewildered yet expectant.
"Aurors require at least five N.E.W.T.s, none lower than 'Exceeds Expectations'... Defense Against the Dark Arts is crucial, of course. I also suggest you focus on Transfiguration, as Aurors frequently need to transform and reveal hidden things in the line of duty. Harry, you should also know that Professor McGonagall's N.E.W.T. class only accepts students who achieved at least an 'Exceeds Expectations' on their O.W.L.s. Your current average is only 'Acceptable.'"
As Sean spoke, he pulled a notebook from his bag.
"You compiled the section on magical careers?" Justin asked, leaning in with Harry to take a look.
Sean nodded. History of Magic was effortless for him, so he spent his time during those lectures on this special project: organizing every profession in the wizarding world, from the ancient to the modern—Vampire Hunters, Hit Wizards, the Committee on Experimental Charms, Obliviators, the Wizengamot, Curse-Breakers, and so on. He had categorized them all and added his own insights. He hoped his observations might help the young wizards of the wizarding world.
Education in the wizarding world had always been sporadic. With most learning happening at home or through boarding school, the gap in ability between individual wizards was staggering. Furthermore, the general level of cultural literacy among wizards was abysmal; it couldn't compare to the systematic education of the non-magical world. It was impossible to force wizarding families to teach their children systematically, and one couldn't expect boarding school teachers to hover over every student's shoulder every hour of the day.
Children of that age were naturally playful, and worse yet, magical knowledge was incredibly obscure. If they didn't want to learn, or couldn't understand the material, they would eventually give up learning altogether. That was the plight of most young wizards—and that wasn't even factoring in the outside forces, like Professor Snape's "special treatment" of Harry.
Thus, Sean and Justin agreed that a good educational book—specifically a career guide—was a rare and necessary commodity in the current wizarding world. The result was this volume: A History of Magical Careers: What Do You Want to Do in the Future?
Sean pointed to a page: "Targeting the Auror profession, I suggest four core categories of study:
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Perhaps the profession in history that deals with dark magic the most. Place this first.
Transfiguration: Essential for the frequent shifting and revealing duties of the work.
Charms: Always useful, in every situation.
Potions: Antidotes and poisons are basic knowledge for an Auror.
"Beyond this, an aspiring Auror must demonstrate strong pressure-management, perseverance, and dedication—as the Auror training program takes another three years. Not to mention the need for elite defensive tactical skills. This means there is still much to learn after leaving school.
"So: If you are still enthusiastic about becoming an Auror after reading this, then you are ready to meet the challenge. And, enjoy the applause—it is arguably the most respected profession in the wizarding world."
Harry's eyes shone as he finished reading the book, hugging it close to his chest.
"Harry, let me see—" Ron asked anxiously, until Harry reluctantly placed the book on the table for them to share.
"Dragon Tamer, Apothecary, Healer..." Hermione leaned in, and the group began studying the pages with immense interest.
"I think we can go to print as soon as possible." Justin could already sense the potential market; with such clear and definitive explanations, it wasn't just the students who would need this—even some adults would find it useful.
"Mm." Sean nodded and handed a few more copies to Justin. He then stood up, leaving the Great Hall, and headed straight for the Headmaster's office. Mr. Fawkes was waiting for his afternoon tea.
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