NEWTs stands for Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. Seriously? That doesn’t sound formal, but rather a joke of an official acronym. Whatever it is, it’s in a month’s time so time to get the deets squared away.
Please tell me I am not the only one. I keep telling myself, this is a just a freaking readathon, my life doesn’t depend on it, my future happiness and material wealth and personal fulfillment does not depend on it, but I still couldn’t make up my mind about my career choice after Hogswart!
I browse the career guide; I am not sure I have the stuff for Auror or a medical career. Broom maker sounds janitorial to my muggle ears. Should I be a magizoologist? Hmmm…
I am most attracted to Aurologist. Years ago I was fascinated by someone doing Aura Reading at a New Age fair. May include travel to France, Japan and Nepal? Sign me up!! It requires:
OWLs: Astronomy, Divination, and History of Magic
NEWTs: E in Astronomy, E in Divination
(Each subject has 3 pass grades. A for Acceptable, E for Exceeded Expectations & an O for Outstanding, the highest grade.)
Ha, so happened I did not pass Astronomy (book with star in title) and Divination (a book that takes place in the future) in my OWLs. But I know I can do it Hermione style, talk Professor McGonagall into letting me take the NEWTs in those subjects anyway.
Here’s the curriculum for Aurologist, a easy-peesy four books, six for overachievers :
Astronomy
A: Moon on the cover or anywhere in the title
E: Word “night” in book title or series name
0: Read a sci-fi book (or book with stars on the cover)
Divination
A: Read a white book
E: Read a short story or a collection of short stories
O: Read the last book you bought/took from your library
The over achiever in me finds the curriculum for Metal Charmer, my second choice, much more challenging:
OWLs: Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration + 2 more subjects (I have History of Magic and Care of Magical Creatures)
NEWTS: O in Arithmancy, O in Charms, O in Transfiguration, E in Ancient Runes, A in Defense Against the Dark Arts
Arithmancy
A: Book that ends on an even page number
E: Read a standalone
0: Book that’s longer than 350 pages
Charms
A: Read a book that you think has a gorgeous cover
E: Read a comic/graphic novel/manga (or book under 150 pages)
O: Spongify (softening charm) – read a paperback book
Transfiguration
A: Read a book with LQBTQA+ representation
E: Read a book that’s not a first in the series
O: McGonagall does not mess around! Read a book over 500 pages
Ancient Runes
A: Ehwaz (partnership) – read recommended by a friend
E: Book written in past tense
0: Book that has been on your TBR for ages
Defence Against the Dark Arts
A: Book that’s black under the dust jacket
E: Gilderoy’s memory charm – (grab a pen! first book that you remembered just now from your TBR!
0:Cornish pixie! Swat it away with a book written by an English author or set in England
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