Sixth Year
When Arthur's OWL results arrived that summer, the envelope contained exactly what he had expected: thirteen Outstanding grades across every subject he had taken. The Ministry examiner's note mentioned his "exceptional practical demonstrations" and "unprecedented theoretical understanding"—a faint sort of praise for someone who had already mastered the entire NEWT curriculum in private.
His sixth year at Hogwarts began with an unwelcome development: Dementors were stationed around the school perimeter, supposedly to protect students from the escaped convict Sirius Black. Arthur found the Ministry's logic baffling. These creatures had failed to contain Black at Azkaban, where they were supposed to be at their best; how could they possibly be more effective at a school with hundreds of entry points and secret passages?
"Wizarding logic at its finest," Arthur muttered to himself as he watched the dark, hooded figures drifting at the edge of the Forbidden Forest from his dormitory window. Their presence created a perpetual chill that seeped through the castle's ancient stones, affecting even the normally cozy Great Hall.
For most students, the Dementors represented a constant, lurking dread. Even teachers visibly stiffened when forced to pass near them during outdoor lessons. Arthur, however, viewed them as little more than an inconvenience. He had already mastered the Patronus Charm—a notoriously difficult piece of magic that many adult wizards never achieve.
His Patronus took the form of a peregrine falcon, a brilliant silver bird that could easily drive back several Dementors at once. The first time he casually conjured it while crossing the grounds, Professor Flitwick—who happened to be nearby—nearly fell over in astonishment.
"My word, Hayes!" the tiny Charms professor had squeaked, his voice a mixture of delight and disbelief. "That's extraordinarily advanced magic! Most adult wizards can't produce a corporeal Patronus!"
Arthur had merely shrugged, unwilling to explain that he'd mastered the charm years ago. The falcon form mirrored his Animagus—a transformation he had achieved after months of disciplined practice and research during his fourth year. While he appreciated the falcon's speed and keen vision, he'd been mildly disappointed that his transformation wasn't something more exotic. The theoretical texts on Animagi insisted that only natural animals were possible, but Arthur had secretly hoped that his unusual magical potential might allow for something grander. Still, the falcon served its purpose well enough, granting him unnoticed aerial observation when needed.
The rest of the school year unfolded predictably, with Arthur watching the canonical events play out from a careful distance. The Golden Trio's investigation of Black, their discovery of Pettigrew masquerading as Weasley's pet rat, the confrontation in the Shrieking Shack, Lupin's transformation that allowed Pettigrew to escape—all proceeded without his interference. Even Black's near-execution by Dementors and last-minute rescue (obviously orchestrated by time manipulation) followed the expected pattern.
Arthur found the use of a Time-Turner particularly interesting—if not downright reckless. These devices were supposed to be among the most restricted magical items in Britain, yet one had been casually issued to a thirteen-year-old girl simply so she could attend extra classes. There was no precedent in any historical record for such irresponsible deployment of temporal magic.
"Another of Dumbledore's questionable decisions," he remarked to Mercury one evening, stroking the owl's feathers as he reviewed his notes on temporal theory. "Giving a device that can literally fracture reality to an overachieving teenager to manage her class schedule."
Knowing enough about the Marvel universe's temporal catastrophes, Arthur maintained a healthy respect for chronological integrity and deliberately avoided any experiments in that direction—recognizing that even small alterations could cascade into universe-threatening paradoxes. Better to let Potter and his friends risk those complications while he focused on his own development.
The most significant personal milestone of the year came on Arthur's seventeenth birthday in May—marking his coming of age in the wizarding world. Now legally an adult under wizarding law, he could use magic outside Hogwarts without triggering the Trace, the Ministry's system for detecting underage magic. This newfound freedom dramatically expanded his opportunities for practice and experimentation during the summer months.
When the school year ended and Arthur returned to London, the first thing he did was host a small, private going-away gathering for Aurora Thatcher. Over the years, their relationship had evolved from strict professional guardianship to something resembling a strained sibling bond. Though she remained connected to MI6's supernatural division, her direct supervision had gradually relaxed as Arthur demonstrated his capability for independent living.
In the drawing room of his family's manor—which he had reclaimed as his permanent residence now that he was legally an adult in the wizarding world—Aurora asked, "So this is it? You're officially cutting ties with MI6 oversight?"
"Not cutting ties," Arthur corrected, taking a sip from his glass. "I'm simply transitioning to a more appropriate arrangement now that I'm of age."
Aurora studied him with that penetrating gaze that had once intimidated him, now tempered by a hint of amusement. "You know you're still a minor in the Muggle world, right? Seventeen isn't adulthood by non-magical standards."
"A technicality," Arthur replied dismissively. "I am an adult in the world that matters to my abilities."
Aurora sighed, recognizing the familiar stubbornness in his expression. "You always were impossible to manage. I suppose I should be grateful you bothered with this farewell at all."
A rare softness touched Arthur's usually impassive features. "Despite our differences, I do appreciate what you've done these past years. You've been... fair. That's more than most would have managed."
Raising her glass in a toast, Aurora said, "To your future endeavors, then. Try not to upend the natural order of things too dramatically, will you?"
"No promises," Arthur replied, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as they clinked glasses.
—
Returning to the present, Arthur looked ahead to his final year at Hogwarts with growing anticipation. Everything was right on track, even ahead of his initial schedule in some ways. His magical education far exceeded that of most adult wizards, and his finances were solid thanks to both his inheritance and the windfall from basilisk parts. The restrictive oversight of his childhood was now behind him like a shed skin.
Soon, he thought with quiet excitement, he'd finally be free to pursue his real ambitions—to immerse himself in the Marvel world, where he could carve out his own path among gods, heroes, and villains.