A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts
Chapter 598: Wizarding Level Examination - (2)

When Felix Harp saw Sirius again the next day, he seemed less enthusiastic.

"I don't know what's wrong with the old man," Sirius said with a disgruntled expression. "He came to my office last night, asking all sorts of questions and urging me—" He suddenly stopped and abruptly changed the subject, saying, "By the way, did you provoke him? He seems to be scheming against you."

"I'm more curious about how he ended up in your office," Felix asked. He surveyed the Great Hall, where the atmosphere was distinctly divided. Some students were going about their usual classes, still discussing breakfast and such, as the final exams hadn't started yet. On the other hand, fifth and seventh-year students looked pale and couldn't even eat.

A seventh-year Ravenclaw girl stared blankly at her vegetable soup, while her companion scrutinized a partially bitten strawberry tart, as if worried it might be poisoned— or maybe the other way around, Felix speculated.

Regardless, they had been motionless for a good two minutes.

"It's because I moved his portrait there," Sirius said gloomily, regret evident for his hasty decision. "Just the day before I took office. He told me, since even Kreacher helps out in the kitchen during his free time, there's no reason to leave him in the big house."

"So, you agreed?" Felix asked with a smirk. "You should know his emotions aren't genuine. He's not your great-grandfather."

"Yeah, I know," Sirius said with a gloomy face. "Even though I haven't studied this, if you had to face portraits of ancestors with stiff reactions and awkward speech since childhood, you'd realize it on your own, just like me." Sirius continued with a dark expression, "The Hogwarts headmasters' portraits are at most more realistic, but their reactions can't go beyond the initial settings."

"Like my mother," he muttered. "She really poured all her resentment into that portrait."

They were like carefully crafted programs, activating stored memories before reacting— not living beings but items providing feedback according to established rules. Moreover, they found it challenging to change their inherent perspectives. In Mrs. Black's view, Sirius would forever be the 'disgraceful descendant who brought shame to the family' and would never receive forgiveness.

However, from another perspective, their reactions were also the most authentic. If Phineas Nigellus Black's portrait showed enough concern for Sirius, it would probably be the same if he were still alive.

Perhaps, to Sirius, even though it was just a portrait, it was a rare thing related to the Black family that could be communicated with normally.

...

The Wizarding Level exams would last for two weeks.

If Felix were asked what was different about his exams this year compared to the past three, it was that he became an external examiner— during his free time, he would maintain discipline during the written exams with the Ministry of Magic's examiners.

In previous years, these tasks belonged to the four Heads of Houses.

Felix got the chance to supervise the exams on the first and last days. He had high expectations, especially for the last day— the day of the duel between Dumbledore and Voldemort.

He was partnered with Professor Tofty. When Felix led the fifth-year students from the entrance hall to the Great Hall, many students were surprised to find that the four long tables had disappeared, replaced by numerous individual small tables.

"This exam is about the theory of curses. The exam papers, quills, and ink are on the tables. Alright, you can begin," Professor Tofty said in his slow, deliberate manner, nodding to Felix. Felix flipped a giant hourglass.

The students opened their exam papers and began answering.

For Felix, standing on the platform, this exam was like a highly concentrated microcosm of real society. The students' expressions were diverse and interesting.

Some wore furrowed brows— Felix guessed they probably weren't prepared;

Of course, there were relaxed expressions too. As time passed, the students' emotions moved to two extremes. Some became increasingly serious, their brows furrowing into a knot; others remained consistently calm.

Ron Weasley's performance could be included in the case analysis, especially since it was N.E.W.T.s difficulty— if Felix intended to conduct research in that area. Ron's expression changed rapidly, switching between excitement and hesitation. In a short period, Felix could only assume that he might know a bit about each question but not entirely...

Some students showed expressions of pleasant surprise, the kind only seen when encountering a familiar topic in the exam. Like Harry, he vowed to never forget the Levitation Charm's incantation. He believed Ron was the same, after all, not everyone had the opportunity to neatly knock out a rampaging giant creature.

The second question was the counter-curse for the Eye-Affliction Curse, something Harry could easily answer.

The third question was a bit challenging, requiring detailed knowledge of the Repairing Charm.

Harry had carefully read Hermione's notes on curses before the exam, so instead of textbook-accurate fonts appearing in his mind, he saw Hermione's handwritten notes.

He first wrote down the definition of the Repairing Charm, "A spell... used to... repair... damaged objects." Why did something like this have a definition? Harry thought as he wrote, and the memories that followed were somewhat blurry. He could only generalize in his own words.

After checking, he added an adjective after 'repair,' 'mostly.'

Then what? Harry thought, looking up. He saw Hermione in the front few seats, her head not lifting, and her quill spinning like a top. He stared at Hermione's tousled hair, wondering what would happen if he used the Repairing Charm on them. Inspiration surged, and he quickly wrote, "Forbidden... cannot be used on people... doesn't work on liquids in containers."

Good, Harry thought, that should be enough preamble.

He was about to write the specific incantation when he thought of another point to include— the inventor of the charm. So he raised his quill, "This spell was invented by a witch from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures—"

Harry paused.

He only remembered that the spell was invented by a witch from the Ministry of Magic, but he couldn't recall the specific department. He tried to use process of elimination; it was unlikely to be Mr. Weasley's office, as Harry couldn't figure out how the spell could be related to Muggle objects. Perhaps wizards couldn't comprehend those increasingly complex Muggle tools? He ultimately abandoned this explanation because he hadn't heard such a story from Hermione.

So he crossed out those words and summarized it as, "This spell was invented by a witch from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures during her work." After finishing, Harry stared at the short sentence 'during her work,' not entirely certain, but he thought it was worth the risk.

Next, he rapidly wrote down the incantation and wand movement for the Repairing Charm and spent a considerable amount of space describing his own feelings while casting the spell.

Harry continued answering the questions, particularly enjoying questions seven, twelve, and fifteen because they were about Summoning Charms. Harry successfully summoned a broom from the castle bedroom to the Forbidden Forest once to deal with a fierce Hungarian Horntail.

The twentieth question was about the Patronus Charm, and Harry wrote a lengthy response, filling in all the answer spaces.

When they left the examination hall, Harry felt somewhat relieved. He believed he would at least receive an 'Acceptable,' and judging by Ron's expression, he did well too. But neither of them had any interest in comparing answers with Hermione.

"I know we made mistakes and missed many points, but let's savor the moment when we receive our results with this sense of satisfaction," Ron said decisively, and Harry thought Ron's tone resembled that of a prisoner waiting for the verdict.

Even Death Eaters probably wouldn't discuss their crimes with fellow detainees before trial. Harry thought.

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