Talk with Students (2)

Hermione, in fact, was doing quite well with the upper years. They had decided not to change any of the classes they were already taking, but to offer the electives and "catch up" classes for those already in their NEWT studies. Those still taking History, Muggle Studies, and Divination would be advised to drop them, as the British NEWT exams were useless. Students would also have the option, as would everyone, of doing an eighth or ninth year.

In the Founders' era, students began studying at Hogwarts as young as seven, and most continued until they were eighteen or nineteen. Some, those interested in more scholarly pursuits, or those who had come to Hogwarts later, studied until they were twenty or twenty-one. In the muggle world at the time, and of course in Hogsmeade, pages were taken on at seven, then becoming squires, and graduating to knighthood around twenty-one. It was highly common to see students of all ages at the school. And of course, in the modern muggle world, students generally began their schooling at age five, and if they went on to university, finished when they were around twenty-one or twenty-two.

The classes for the younger ages was one of the long-term goals of the heirs, but in the short run, allowing the NEWT students more time to study what interested them was a small step towards the future they envisioned.

The only other major changes for the NEWT students were the ability to go to Hogsmeade every day during certain hours, and their new curfew times. Prefects would do patrols from 8 to 11 on the half hour. The younger years had an enforced lights out at nine, while the fourth and fifth years had to be in bed by ten. Thus, the last few patrols would be handled only by the older Prefects.

Additionally, instead of an enforced lights out, the NEWT students had an enforced curfew. They had to be in their dorm rooms by eleven, but no advisors would be checking to make sure they were actually asleep. If they chose to stay up until two working on homework or whatever, that was up to them. Their advisors would instead simply check that they were all in at curfew, and patrol for the final hour until midnight.

Hermione did have to warn them that the ghosts would be patrolling the halls at night, particularly around the entrances to the dorms, so if anyone felt like being out of their room after eleven, they would be caught.

As these rules were roughly on par with what they had been in the past, and in fact, with regards to Hogsmeade and the extra classes, an improvement, the older students accepted these changes with good grace.

oOo

Neville's OWL students were also pleased with the chance to go to Hogsmeade more frequently, and while the enforced lights out was less appreciated, they had to acknowledge that it made sense. The new Prefects were also a bit relieved to find that their patrol duties, which had originally been scheduled as late as midnight, would now only go until ten. The fact that each Prefect also only had two patrols a week, instead of the nightly patrols originally scheduled, was also appreciated.

The sticking point, as the heirs had known it would be, was the classes. While the older students would not be changing their classes at all, and the younger students would be completely changing, the middle students were going to be the toughest to come to terms with. In the end, the heirs had decided to meet with the teachers and OWL examination department and discuss the changes before formulating a plan for the year.

In the meantime, Neville explained what the new system would look like for a student who was starting this year as a firstie. He laid out what their schedule would be like as a fourth and fifth year, just to give the students an idea of what changes could be made, passing out the accompanying color-coded schedules. He also passed out a yellow paper with the list of OWL classes, and asked the students to follow along as he explained.

"The schedule would stay the same from third year to fourth year, as would the free period," he explained. "And five required core classes would remain. The first is advanced Herbology, which will be the study of both magical and mundane plants. Advanced Creatures should be fun. Because the students will have already had three years of creatures, the advanced classes will get to do some pretty amazing things, such as swimming with the merfolk, learning to ride horses, thestrals, and hippogriffs, and possibly even field trips to dragon preserves."

That went over quite well, as the heirs had suspected it would. "Advanced defense, of course, would be similar to the class you currently take, though taught by a competent teacher," Neville explained. "And advanced magical and muggle literature and history would build on the previous years for those classes. There will be more discussion of careers, specialty areas, and several field trips incorporated."

"With those five required classes and the free period and our new schedule, that would leave four periods free for elective classes. Those who enjoyed science could advance to potions and advanced sciences, while math students could continue into arithmancy. There would be an Astromancy class, roughly equivalent to the current astronomy and divination classes, though focusing more on the use of divination and astrology to those without the gift, since the gift can't be taught." Neville explained.

"Ancient runes would be an option, as would charms and transfiguration. Finally, there would be classes in magical languages, such as mermish and goblin, and human languages, such as French, Chinese, Spanish, Latin, German, Greek, and so on. If there is demand for a language, we will find a teacher for that language."

"By the end of your fifth year, each student would sit for a minimum of twelve OWLs, with the option of more, pending faculty approval. The eight that all students would take, based on their core classes, would be in Herbology, Magical Creatures, Muggle Creatures, Defense, Muggle Literature, Muggle History, Magical Literature, and Magical History. Each student would also take at least four elective OWLs, in the fields of Science, Potions, Math, Arithmancy, Astronomy, Divination, Ancient Runes, Transfiguration, Charms, and languages."

"Now," Neville continued, "Under this system, a lot changes after the OWLs are taken. Once you have obtained your OWL scores, your classes are entirely elective. You may continue in any of the classes you took for OWLs, as each has an equivalent NEWT, but there are also several new offerings."

A wave of his hand caused a pile of purple papers to appear on the tables, much as the schedules and OWL class options had earlier. "These are the NEWT electives," Neville explained. "I'm not going to go into detail on them, but you can clearly see which OWLs they would require."

"Languages obviously could continue as you wish. Students who earned both Muggle and Magical History OWLs would be eligible for the Government and Law elective, and the Philosophy and Ethics Elective. Those with a Defense OWL could study the Weaponry, Curse Breaking, Dueling, and Battle Magic Electives."

"An Arithmancy OWL paired with any Language or Runes OWL would make you eligible for the Spell Crafting Elective, while an Arithmancy or Maths and History OWL make you eligible for the Finances Elective. Arithmancy and Defense OWLs are needed for the Warding Elective."

"The Alchemy Elective requires a Potions OWL and Transfiguration OWL, while the Potion Creation Elective requires Potion and Herbology OWLs. And finally, the Elective in Healing also requires Potion and Herbology OWLs, with a Defense OWL prefered."

Neville set the list aside. "Clearly there are many choices here, and students would have regular meetings with their advisors to make sure that the OWLs and NEWTs they are taking are aligned with whatever career they would like to pursue after Hogwarts. Now, are there any questions?"

Almost every hand went up, and Neville resisted the urge to bury his face in his hands. He would get Harry later for sticking him with this year group!