Harry frowned and asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"
Ron said with a face full of regret, "We shouldn't have done so well on today's Potions exam!"
Harry's voice was full of puzzlement. "Why?"
"Think about it carefully! Didn't we decide..." Ron reminded him, "that once we entered the next school year, we could get rid of Potions?"
Harry's eyes widened. "Right! Snape said back then that to take his N.E.W.T. class, we needed at least an 'E' in Potions!"
The two of them stared at each other, as though only at that moment had they finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
Ron scratched his head. "I'm not counting on getting an 'O,' but I'm pretty confident I can get an 'A'!"
His expression grew even uglier. "If I'm a little luckier, and the examiners are more lenient... then getting an 'E' isn't completely impossible!"
"That's right!" Harry's brow had already furrowed. "After all, the examiners aren't Snape. He can't get involved in either the written or practical exams. We really might get an 'E'..."
"Then we're in big trouble!" Ron said in an almost despairing tone. "That would mean we'd have to put up with Snape until graduation before we could finally get rid of him!"
Hermione truly did not know whether to laugh or cry at Ron and Harry's conversation.
She took a deep breath, as though trying hard to suppress the urge to roll her eyes.
"Harry?" she said, stressing his name. "Don't forget... during your career consultation, what did you tell Professor McGonagall your dream job was?"
Harry's voice was weaker than before, but his answer came incredibly quickly. "I want to become an Auror!"
Hermione nodded and continued, "Then you should remember clearly what Professor McGonagall told you..."
"To become an Auror, you