Chapter 41: The Exam
Chapter 41: The Exam
The day after their discussion in the Library, Harry and Ron received detention notices.
That night, Liam and Hermione were practicing the Transfiguration Spell at their table when Harry and Ron burst in, still out of breath from their sprint. They immediately started recounting what they had seen in the Forbidden Forest that evening.
Sure enough, they had encountered Voldemort, who was siphoning blood. Since no one had interfered this time, Harry and Ron met the injured unicorn earlier than in the original story. The unicorn, though severely wounded, survived and was now recovering in the Centaur tribe. Additionally, the Centaurs had given a grim prophecy.
“The Centaurs' prophecy says that Voldemort will return. They saw it all in the stars,” Harry said, his voice tinged with excitement. “I thought Snape just wanted the Philosopher's Stone for wealth, but it turns out he’s planning to give it to Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest to help him come back.”
“Please, don’t say that name,” Ron said, shuddering.
But Harry continued, undeterred: “Once Voldemort gets the Philosopher's Stone and storms into the castle to kill me, the prophecy will be fulfilled.”
“Harry!” Liam raised his voice to interrupt Harry’s rambling. “From what I know, all prophecies are vague and open to multiple interpretations. You shouldn’t jump to such a clear-cut conclusion. Besides, Dumbledore is in the castle, and I don’t think anyone can just walk in and kill you. We have less than a week until the exams, and I think getting a good night’s sleep to be in top form tomorrow is the most important thing. Worrying about this now won’t help.”
Harry seemed to be speechless for a moment, and then they all climbed the stairs to their dormitory to rest.
Time doesn’t slow down just because someone is anxious about Voldemort’s movements. As the week passed, Liam’s first-year final exams at Hogwarts began.
Exams, the most detested and feared part of a student’s life, are an inevitable part of any educational journey, whether in the mundane world or the magical world of Hogwarts.
Fortunately, Liam came from a country where exams were a frequent and well-practiced affair. Compared to the weekly quizzes and monthly tests leading up to the College Entrance Exam, the pre-exam review for first-year students at Hogwarts was a breeze.
So when he sat in the exam room with his new quill, which had been charmed to prevent cheating, he felt confident.
The biggest difference from exams in the mundane world was that Hogwarts exams included practical magic components.
Each professor had their own unique requirements. For example, Professor Flitwick had them enter his classroom one by one to see if they could make a pineapple perform a tap dance across a desk. When Liam first read about this in a novel, he wondered how a pineapple could dance without legs. After watching the previous students, he realized that the pineapple needed to twist and bounce in a synchronized rhythm to cross the desk. This was much simpler than adding actual legs to the pineapple.
Professor Mcgonagall observed them turning a mouse into a snuffbox—the more intricate the box, the higher the score. If the box still had the mouse’s whiskers, points were deducted. Liam created a steampunk-style box adorned with intricate gears and springs, which could interlock and move. He saw Professor Mcgonagall nodding approvingly at his creation.
In the underground Potion Classroom, Liam carefully prepared the Forgetfulness Potion. Fortunately, Harry had completely captured Snape's attention. Otherwise, being watched over by the professor would have been enough to make anyone nervous.
Harry looked terrible these days, seemingly suffering from exam anxiety just like Neville. However, the others seemed to be doing well, having reviewed thoroughly and diligently. At least Ron and Hermione went into the exams with some confidence.
The final exam was History of Magic. Just one more hour, and they would be free to enjoy a whole week of relaxation until the exam results were announced. When Professor Binns's ghost called for them to put down their quills and roll up their parchment, Liam couldn't help but cheer along with the other students.
"It was much easier than I thought", Hermione said as they joined the crowd outside in the bright sunlight, "I didn't need to memorize the 'Werewolf Code of Conduct' from 1637 or the details of the Goblin Rebellions."
"I told you that during our review", Liam said, "Those events involve complex historical and political dynamics, even influencing the current power distribution in the wizarding world. Such complicated issues wouldn't be used to test first-year students."
Hermione began to rehash the exam content, which reminded Liam of his past fear of top students. After repeated nudges from Liam, Hermione finally fell silent.
They slowly made their way down a gentle slope and plopped down under a tree by the lake. A Giant Squid was basking in the warm shallow water, and the Weasley Twins and Lee Jordan were gently poking its tentacles.
"I never understood why a squid would live in a freshwater lake. What do you think?" Hermione nudged Liam with her elbow.
"Maybe it's because it has magical creature blood, like a Kraken. But honestly, every time I see it, I think of grilled squid or stir-fried squid. I bet such a large squid must be quite old and is best used to make meatballs. My mom's specialty is Squid Balls."
"Oh, I remember. Your mom's Squid Balls were really delicious", Hermione chimed in, recalling the times she had tasted Mrs. Sally's cooking at elementary school and community events.
Just as Liam and Hermione were getting sidetracked, Harry's irritated voice cut in, "My scar has been hurting—more frequently than ever before."
"You should go see Madam Pomfrey", Hermione suggested.
"I'm not sick", Harry said, "I think it's a warning, a sign that danger is coming."
"But Professor Dumbledore is here, and Hagrid would never betray him. No one can get past Fluffy's guard, so you don't need to worry. Your scar might just be acting up because you're too stressed."
"Right", Hermione agreed, "It's all because of the exams. I woke up in the middle of the night last night, busy reviewing my Transfiguration notes, only to realize we had already taken that exam."
Harry sat in silence, deep in thought. Suddenly, he jumped up, and Liam and the others, worried about Harry's state, followed him as he ran toward the castle.
(End of Chapter)
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