Chapter 671: O.W.L. Examination (Part 2) (Edited)

The next day was the Transfiguration exam, and there was nothing to be said about the morning written exam, and once again, Fish was the first to finish before time.

In the afternoon, Professor Marchbanks conducted the practical exam again.

"Hello again, Fish." Her already wrinkled face wrinkled even more upon seeing Fish. "Let's start with the Transfiguration test... or the Silencing Charm, shall we?"

"Transfiguration is amazing! I can do it wandlessly!"

(ΦωΦ)

Fish said loudly.

And he indeed completed all the practical Transfiguration exams without using his wand.

"That was incredible," said Professor Marchbanks, applauding Fish once again. Then she looked at Fish's cat ears and said, "I've always heard that you're a 'natural Animagus,' so can you show me? It's an advantage, even if you were 'born' that way."

"Of course, Fish can transform into many kinds of cats!"

(`´)

Before Professor Marchbanks could ask, Fish's body shrank and turned into a black-pawed, round-headed cat the size of a palm.

The little black-pawed cat jumped lightly onto the table in front of Professor Marchbanks, and as it did, its size and fur changed to its original striped form.

"Incredible!"

Fish's performance once again drew the attention of all the examiners, who stopped what they were doing and focused on him.

After transforming into a tiger-striped cat, Fish shook his body again, expanding in size and growing wild fur, and in the blink of an eye, he turned into a half-meter-long black and white Maine Coon.

The Maine Coon's body took up almost the entire table, so Fish jumped off the table again, and as his body swelled for the third time, his fur receded, this time into a clouded leopard.

Professor Marchbanks and the other examiners stood up excitedly because if the previous changes had been within the range of a "cat," the clouded leopard was something completely different, and although both were "cats," there was more than a small difference between them.

As for the black-pawed cat from the beginning, they didn't mind because it looked much like a regular cat.

Just as the examiners were getting excited, they didn't notice that the other examinees seemed to be facing a formidable enemy... everyone guessed what Fish would change into next.

"Roar!"

(=`Д´=)

The imposing white tiger appeared in the Great Hall, roaring so loudly that the examiners were startled, and Professor Marchbanks, who was in front of Fish, and some of the examiners nearby, fell backward in their seats with weak legs.

Fish, who had succeeded in his mischief, returned to his human form and asked with a smile to the astonished Professor Marchbanks, "How many extra points does that earn Fish?"

It was a small pity that Professor McGonagall and Dumbledore didn't allow him to show his werewolf and Wild Man forms to anyone, as he had wanted to fly in front of everyone.

"Of course, that's the highest level of extra credit," Professor Marchbanks said relieved, rubbing her chest and shaking her head. "But with your previous performance, it doesn't really matter if you get extra credit or not, as long as you don't do too poorly on your written exams, an 'O' is definitely not a problem."

She wasn't afraid to reveal the results to Fish in advance since Fish's performance was obvious to everyone. It would be strange not to get an 'O'.

When Hermione found out later, she was furious that they hadn't told her that Animagi would receive extra marks on the exam.

As for Harry, he had only completed his Animagus training this year and had not yet registered with the Ministry, so to avoid further trouble with Fudge for "misuse of magic," Harry had chosen to keep quiet and, influenced by his father and his godfather, had no intention of registering his Animagus form with the Ministry.

The practical exams were different from the previous two days, as they were divided into different greenhouses to test plant transplantation and care.

Those in the same greenhouse as Fish benefited greatly, as the plants, like the Venomous Tentacula, which had been grumpy, became very calm around Fish, making it much easier for everyone to handle them.

The two examiners in charge of the greenhouse weren't sure what was happening to the plants, but they checked multiple times and found nothing, and all they could say was, "The candidates this year are lucky."

The Defense Against the Dark Arts exam on Thursday was equally lively.

Professor Tofty, who was in charge of Harry, had finished all the tests and then asked him to conjure his Patronus, saying it would earn him extra points.

Then Hermione, who had finished her exam but got distracted, rushed back.

"Professor! I can conjure a full Patronus too!" she exclaimed to the examiner who had overseen her exam, and quickly summoned her own cat Patronus.

"It's just a Patronus..." Draco, who was taking the exam, looked at Harry's stag and waved his wand, causing a silver white peacock to soar out of the tip of his wand.

With the two of them leading the way, the students who had also learned the Patronus Charm sprang into action, and the entire Great Hall was filled with silver lights and conjured silver-white smoke from the students...

Professor Marchbanks and the others were dumbfounded.

In fact, the examiners had already noticed it: the average level of this year's candidates in Defense Against the Dark Arts was obviously much higher than in previous years, but how many people had mastered the Patronus Charm still surprised the examiners.

Even some of the examiners were unable to conjure a full Patronus. The Patronus Charm is not one of those spells that can be mastered through force and skill, but through the user's emotions and determination.

"I read the interview between you and Harry. It says that both of you conjured the Patronus to defend yourselves against You-Know-Who and his followers..." Professor Marchbanks looked at Fish, who didn't move, and curiously asked, "Why didn't you conjure your Patronus with them?"

Fish deflated at her words.

Rita Skeeter, to convince readers that the article was true, didn't provide a detailed description of Fish's Patronus; she only mentioned that he had conjured it with Harry to fight against Voldemort.

Naturally, Fish, who had defeated Voldemort, didn't like the article... although he knew it would be better written that way.

"Fish's Patronus is a bit big; it won't fit here, nya."

(?ω?)

Fish absentmindedly and nonchalantly replied.

His comment piqued Professor Marchbanks' curiosity even more, and she stood up, pulling Fish outside. "Come on, let's go outside and see what your Patronus is really like!"

Fish had already won over all the examiners with his performance in the past few days, not to mention his friendly influence with animals, so all the other examiners once again abandoned their work and followed him outside.

The fifth-year students who weren't in Slytherin had already joined the Order of the Cat, and naturally, they had seen Fish's Patronus before. However, they weren't going to pass up the opportunity to see it again and witness the surprise of the examiners and Slytherin students upon seeing Fish's Patronus.

The group made their way to the open space outside the castle, where some of the now-free students also gathered.

This time, Fish raised his wand honestly and drew a circle above his head in the usual manner...

"Expecto Patronus, nya!"

(ΦωΦ)つ━☆*.

The white and silver tree appeared before the crowd, leaving the examiners and students who had never seen Fish's Patronus stunned, and rightfully so.

Fish looked at his Patronus and nodded in satisfaction...

Compared to the last time, his Patronus had a few more leaves, and someday it would be as lush as the tree in his dreams.

Fish eagerly looked forward to that day.