Chapter 800: Before the O.W.Ls
Chapter 800: Before the O.W.Ls
As June arrived, the weather around Hogwarts became unbearably muggy, and the castle itself was stifling. Yet, the students had no choice but to remain indoors, forcing themselves to study diligently for the upcoming end-of-term exams.
For fifth-year students like Albert, the only silver lining was that professors no longer assigned them homework. Instead, the remaining class time was dedicated to reviewing what the teachers considered key exam topics, helping them prepare for the looming O.W.Ls.
However, amidst the hustle and bustle of exam preparations, a few discordant voices could be heard.
For those who had prepared in advance, the O.W.Ls were not a cause for panic, unlike the majority of students who were now cramming. Albert, being well-prepared, stood out from the frantic crowd.
But geniuses are often set apart from the rest, and aside from the occasional murmurs of envy or complaints, no one had the time or energy to dwell on him.
The sky was clear and cloudless, perfect for a stroll outdoors. A summer breeze blew in from the lake, rippling its surface gently.
Students gazed longingly out of the windows, wishing they could lounge under the shade of the trees instead of being cooped up inside. But the impending exams kept them confined to the castle.
Of course, there were always exceptions.
Albert and Isabelle strolled hand in hand outside the castle, whispering softly to each other and enjoying their private world.
A gentle breeze blew across the shimmering lake, caressing the grassy shore. Isabelle gently tucked away a stray lock of hair, her eyes drifting to the lake's shimmering surface as she offered Albert a gentle smile.
"Let's settle here," she said, waving her wand to conjure a picnic blanket, which she spread out under the shade of a tree.
Albert, ever the gentleman, conjured a picnic basket and pushed it towards Isabelle. "Shall we see what Bit has prepared for us?" he asked, gesturing for her to open it.
Isabelle lifted the lid, and a cloud of white mist escaped. Inside, she found a large cup with a strangely shaped straw, a delicately prepared double scoop of ice cream with two spoons, and a plate of chilled fruit.
"I think you should focus more on the O.W.Ls," Isabelle said with a smile, scooping up some ice cream and popping it into her mouth. It was sweet and cold, the perfect treat for a summer day.
"Bit prepared this," Albert replied, watching as Isabelle gently pushed away a stray lock of hair from her face and tilted her head back to sip from the cup. "What about your N.E.W.Ts preparations?"
"I've reviewed everything. I'll just go over it again before the exam to reinforce my memory. What about you?" Isabelle picked up the peculiar straw and examined it curiously. "How does this work? I can't seem to drink from it."
Albert pointed to the other end of the straw. "It's called a lovers' straw. It requires two people to drink from it together. Of course, you can use it alone by blocking one end, but where's the fun in that?"
"Did you invent this?" Isabelle asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she guessed the answer.
Albert often claimed he didn't understand romance, but Isabelle knew he was just being deliberately obtuse. He had done many thoughtful things for her.
Albert took a sip from his side of the straw and felt a sensation similar to drinking a carbonated beverage with a hint of mint. House-elf Bit truly had a talent for cooking and creativity.
"Open up," Isabelle said, scooping a spoonful of ice cream and holding it to Albert's lips.
He opened his mouth, and the ice cream melted on his tongue, cold and sweet.
If it weren't for the fact that the entire student body was locked down in the castle preparing for exams, they wouldn't dare indulge in such a intimate picnic.
Currently, most of the students were focused on their studies, leaving no room for idle gossip about the couple.
In truth, Isabelle wasn't as calm as Albert believed. The approaching N.E.W.Ts did bring some pressure, despite her nonchalant attitude towards grades. She wanted to end her school life on a perfect note with all 'Outstanding' scores.
Geniuses often had a touch of obsessive-compulsive disorder and perfectionism.
"This feeling is amazing," Isabelle said, turning her head to look at Albert with adoration. She knew this was the kind of sweet, romantic moment that many girls dreamed of, and she couldn't help but feel grateful for it.
"I'll make sure it lasts as long as you want it to," Albert replied, resting his head on Isabelle's lap as he gazed up at the azure sky.
"Do you think we'll ever use that boat?" Isabelle asked, her eyes drifting to the lake.
"It's just a precaution," Albert said with a wink. "You never know what the future holds, and it's always better to be prepared. That way, we won't panic if something unexpected happens. Besides, even if we don't need it, we can always take a summer boat trip to escape the heat. I'm looking forward to seeing you in a swimsuit."
Isabelle's cheeks flushed slightly as she recalled their shopping trip last summer. Albert had wanted to buy her a swimsuit, but she had refused, feeling that the swimsuits revealed too much skin and were too daring.
"I suppose it's a way for Muggles to showcase their figures and charm," Albert continued. "It's a display of confidence, and on Muggle beaches, you'll find groups of girls confidently strutting their stuff in swimsuits. If you don't believe me, I can take you to a Muggle beach resort sometime."
Isabelle laughed. "Valeria always says that exceptional men are either power-hungry or lustful, or both. And according to her, you fall into the second category."
"What about Dumbledore, then?" Albert asked, amused. "Would he be an exception to her rule?"
"The Headmaster is probably an exception," Isabelle agreed.
"Well, she's right about me," Albert said with a smile. "I do have a soft spot for beautiful girls, especially you. So..." Before he could finish his sentence, his lips were captured by Isabelle's rosy ones, silencing him in the most delightful way.
Beside them, a windmill spun gently in the breeze.
Time flew by when they were together, and even Albert had to buckle down after June. He couldn't afford to slip up now, not with the task rewards at stake.
Even the slightest possibility of failure was unacceptable to Albert, especially since the O.W.Ls only happened once.
Finally, during their last Transfiguration class, the students were informed of the O.W.Ls examination schedule.
"Your O.W.Ls examination will span two weeks," Professor McGonagall announced as she distributed the exam schedules to the class. "You will take the written portion in the morning and the practical exam in the afternoon, with ample time in between to review the key exam topics once more."
Albert glanced at the exam timetable, noting that the first test was Charms, scheduled for Monday morning.
Hmm, not much different from the usual O.W.L.s exam arrangement.
"How are they even going to prevent cheating?" Fred muttered to those around him. In recent days, they had been cross-referencing the professors' lectures with past exam papers, and while there were some differences, they mostly overlapped.
"The written tests are simple; it's all about memorization. It's the practical exam that matters," George speculated. "I've heard that a lot of people get nervous and mess up during the practicals. You know how Snape loves to do that."
"There is one thing I must impress upon you," Professor McGonagall said sternly as she returned to the front of the class after handing out the exam schedules. "Every year, there are students who attempt to cheat, and they all fail miserably and face severe punishment. So, let me be clear: cheating will absolutely not be tolerated during your exams."
"Don't even think about using self-writing quills, memory spheres, detachable cheat-cuffs, or self-correcting ink. Even ingesting Dragon Claw Powder, Wit-Sharpening Potions, or Baruffio's Brain Elixir will be detected. I recall one student who took a dodgy Brain Elixir and nearly turned himself into a babbling idiot." As she mentioned the Brain Elixir, Professor McGonagall's gaze lingered on Albert for a moment.
"Let me emphasize this again," she continued, her eyes scanning the students below. "Do not attempt to circumvent the rules in any way, as your exam papers will be enchanted with the strictest anti-cheating charms. I expect Gryffindor, and indeed the entire school, to refrain from any foolish attempts to challenge the authority of the Wizarding Examinations Authority and bring shame upon us all."
"When will we get our results?" Shanah asked, raising her hand.
"Your results will be delivered by owl in July," Professor McGonagall replied, her eyes moving from Fred, George, and Lee Jordan to rest on Albert. "These exams will determine your sixth-year courses and your future, so give it your all."
"Also, I expect you not to hand in your papers early during the written exams, so as not to disturb other students who are still taking the test." As she said this, Professor McGonagall looked directly at Albert, clearly directing her words at him.
"Don't hand in your paper early," Lee Jordan whispered to Albert, nudging him with his elbow, a mischievous smile on his face.
Albert had a habit of finishing exams early and leaving, but now he would have to endure the stuffy classroom along with the rest of them—a delightful prospect for his classmates.
"I think I'm pretty solid on Charms," George said during dinner as he discussed the exams with his peers. "For the practical, they'll probably test us on basic movement charms, like the Levitation Charm, Color Change Charm, and Cheering Charm... According to our sources, the professors will also ask you to perform certain tasks to assess your charm-casting abilities, but those shouldn't be too difficult."
As he spoke, he pointed his wand at his dinner plate, and it scurried across the table on little legs.
"I feel pretty good about that subject, too," Fred chimed in. He was also skilled in Charms, as it was useful for creating prank items, and he had always paid close attention in class. Flitwick was an excellent teacher, and he always made the lessons enjoyable.
"What about the practical exam for Transfiguration?" Angelina asked.
"Albert thinks they'll test us on the Vanishing Spell," George replied. "It's the most difficult spell in the O.W.L. Transfiguration exam. They usually test it every few years. They didn't include it last year, but they did the year before, so the odds are high that it will come up this time. Typically, they'll bring in some animals for you to vanish."
"Hearing you talk about it makes me feel more confident," Shanah said, jotting down notes. She intended to practice these spells specifically, figuring that even if they didn't come up, it wouldn't hurt to be prepared.
"I'm sure you'll do just fine," the girls said, a hint of envy in their voices as they thought of Albert's academic prowess.
"By the way, where's Albert?" George asked, a hint of concern in his voice.
"He said he was going to pick someone up," Lee Jordan whispered. "I think he's pretty tight with the examiners. He's probably chatting with them in the staff room right now."
Indeed, Albert had been summoned to the staff room to chat with the elderly examiners.
It was challenging for the other professors to build a close relationship with these examiners, aside from Dumbledore. Their interactions tended to be formal and stiff, and they had to be careful not to overstep their bounds. On the other hand, Albert, who had been corresponding with most of them through letters, could converse with them casually and comfortably.
"I heard that Fudge is helping you apply for the Third Grade Order of Merlin," Marchbanks casually mentioned during their conversation. "He witnessed your use of the Human-Restoration Spell on a werewolf, successfully returning the werewolf to its human form. He believes that the spell could potentially reduce the danger posed by werewolves, and he's already waived the review process for you. You just need to submit some additional data. I daresay you'll be the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin."
"I can vouch for that," Dumbledore added with a smile, likely guessing that this was part of the deal Albert had struck with Fudge.
"How come I haven't heard about this, Marchbanks?" Professor Toft asked, intrigued.
"I've only heard that Fudge intends to apply for the First Grade Order of Merlin himself, to recognize his contributions as the Minister of Magic," a white-haired elder chimed in. "And I believe he already has the support of half the Wizengamot. I recall you voted in favor of it as well."
"Some things are inevitable, Greengrass," Marchbanks said bluntly. "Whether we like it or not, we can't change the fact that Fudge wants to bestow the honor upon himself. As for the controversy it may cause in the wizarding world, that's for Fudge to deal with. After all, it's not the first time he's awarded himself an honor."
"Damn right," Greengrass muttered, glancing at the genius beside him with newfound understanding.
(End of Chapter)
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