Chapter 78 Final Examination

Chapter 78 Final Examination

Despite acquiring a highly magical cooking recipe, Ted found himself unable to venture into the kitchen and try it out himself. The final exams had already commenced at the beginning of the week.

Ted entered his familiar classroom, armed with pen and parchment. Behind him, Hermione was eager to engage, Harley sought amusement, and Ron, Jerry, and Neville were filled with anxiety. Power dynamics were at play.

Ron and Jerry typically resorted to fishing, hiding, and copying whenever possible, navigating through challenges by improvisation. 

Although they excel in magical practice beyond the level of most young wizards, their theoretical knowledge might still be below average, with a penchant for science.

As for Neville, despite his diligent efforts and commitment to homework, he experiences limited success. Excelling in Herbalism and Defense Against the Dark Arts, he remains uncertain about other subjects.

Reading Ted's "Brave Heart" has brought him significant benefits, fostering courage and the ability to overcome numerous challenges. Yet, mastery of these skills takes time, and building self-confidence is not an overnight process.

Inside the examination room, the air hung stagnant, and students involuntarily slowed their breathing.

The first test featured Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class, known for her unsmiling nature.

"Ding~Trigger the task:

[Final Examination (Blue)]

This is your first final exam after enrolling at Hogwarts. It is an evaluation of your learning achievements throughout the school year. Do your best! Don't let your youth down!

Goal: Achieve excellent results in all subjects.

Reward: 350 experience, random cards.

You are now recognized as the number one in your grade. It would be affect your rep if your grades were poor~"

Ted smiled secretly in his heart, I knew, how could this kind of thing not happen in the system?

System: Late but arriving~

Ted: I am just excellent in all subjects. Is it difficult?

The Transfiguration class exam consists of two parts. The initial part involves a written test, allowing students to explain the fundamental principles and taboos of Transfiguration, along with sharing their personal experiences.

Ted crafted his responses on two parchment sheets, while Hermione, demonstrating her enthusiasm, wrote on three.

Ron's optimism waned as he observed the intense writing of the two individuals in front of him. Despite his best efforts to maximize letter size, he found himself unable to fill an entire sheet.

After half an hour, Professor McGonagall instructed everyone to put down their pens, signaling the transition to the practical phase. The assigned task was straightforward: transform a mouse into a snuff box.

First-year students focus on two transformations throughout the year: converting objects into other objects and transforming creatures into inanimate items. However, not everyone achieves success after a year of learning.

While the ability to turn matches into needles is now commonplace among students, transforming a mouse into a snuff box proves exceptionally challenging.

Ted initially struggled with the task, he has been investing considerable time in daily training and seeking guidance. The examination process left much to be desired, evident in Professor McGonagall's gloomy expression, akin to the sky before a storm.

The examination process left much to be desired, evident in Professor McGonagall's gloomy expression, resembling the sky before a storm.

Ron's transformed snuff bottle sported a beard, Neville's version had a tail, and Jerry's creation stood out the most with four legs, seizing the opportunity to escape. Jerry sprawled on the ground, attempting to recapture it.

Mr. Seamus once again showcased his exceptional "artistic" talent, causing the mouse to soar to the ceiling with smoke, nearing well done.

Jerry couldn't help but recoil, lamenting, "Huhuhu~, I feel the same way~."

The complexity of the Transfiguration spell posed a headache for most students, with only six managing to complete all the transformations. Only Ted and Hermione excelled, not only achieving flawless transformations but also crafting aesthetically pleasing snuff boxes adorned with gold lines or reliefs, akin to exquisite works of art.

Professor McGonagall, initially troubled by her seemingly inept students, finally smiled upon witnessing the impressive works of Ted and Hermione. 

It was a content smile, akin to a farmer's satisfaction after a year of hard work, gazing at golden waves of wheat, affirming that the year's toil was indeed worthwhile.

"Very good! Very good! Well done!" Professor McGonagall praised three times in an uncharacteristic manner.

Mastering Transfiguration is no easy feat. Encountering a proficient student in this field is a stroke of luck each year. This year, there are two exceptional ones.

The Transfiguration exam felt like a mental blow, rendering the freshmen almost unconscious. The atmosphere grew notably somber during lunch.

The upperclassmen in grades 2, 3, and 4 displayed smug expressions, relishing in what could be the most satisfying day of their year.

The morning exam was challenging, but the afternoon promised even greater devastation. Snape's Potions class awaited, still held in the basement. Perhaps, Snape's preference for underground settings suggests he's felt more at ease below ground?

Snape stood behind the classroom podium, resembling a motionless black statue. The light from the wall brazier cast shadows on half of his face, creating an eerie semblance to a sinister figure.

His gloomy, expressionless countenance was enough to instill fear in any student. With crossed arms and a magic wand in hand, he exuded an aura suggesting he could eradicate any cheating student at will.

As the students entered the classroom, an unsettling feeling settled upon them, as if a curse had befallen upon them the moment they crossed the threshold. A sense of heaviness filled their hearts, preventing any joyful thoughts.

In essence, Snape appeared as a humanoid dementor, contributing to the oppressive atmosphere within the classroom.

"Da da da~" With everyone settled, he made no verbal announcement. Instead, he extended his wand and lightly tapped the blackboard. Instantly, the exam question materialized: "Configure the forgetting potion, time 60 minutes."

At the sight of the title, Neville's heart skipped a beat; the Forgetting Potion was among the most intricate they had studied all year. Each step, from processing medicinal materials to infusing magic power, harbored numerous taboos. A single mistake could render the entire potion useless, with no room for defective products. The stakes were high, and Snape seemed poised for strict judgment.

Simultaneously, a sense of relief washed over the friends, their lips adorned with slight smiles. Ted's foresight had provided them with the forgetting potion in advance, a clever move that alleviated more than half of the psychological pressure.

Who is Snape? He is a double-faced ace spy, eliminating leaders from both good and evil. Proficient in Legilimency, he scrutinizes everyone's microexpressions with precision.

Furthermore, he had been secretly observing Harley's performance, so he keenly noticed her slight smile when she saw the test questions!

Snape mused, "Did Harley inherit Lily's talent for potions? While the performance is acceptable, it lacks the necessary stability..."

The preparation of the Forgetting Potion remains notably intricate. Simply distilling pure water, the initial step, is time-consuming in itself.

Within the allotted 60 minutes, which is essentially the maximum duration for standard equipment, any mistake leaves no room for a fresh start.

Commence by distilling water and simultaneously employ a sterling silver knife to segment the valerian into three to four-centimeter sections. Introduce the processed valerian into distilled water, heat for 20 seconds, stir clockwise three times, add two portions of mistletoe berries, crush and filter the juice, stir five times counterclockwise, simmer for five minutes, and then wield the wand to inject magic. Proceed to cook for an additional five minutes, repeating this process three times, and finally, await the cooling down phase.

If you possess proficiency in every step without encountering issues, crafting the potion can be accomplished in approximately 45 minutes. For those less adept or prone to mishaps, the allocated 60 minutes should suffice. However, a single mistake leaves no room for a second chance, as Snape would not tolerate the wasteful use of medicinal materials by an inept student.

Ted and Hermione successfully completed the potion in around forty minutes, achieving commendable quality. Surprisingly, Hermione outpaced Ted by two minutes, underscoring her exceptional talent in potions.

Nonetheless, Snape, unimpressed, merely snorted and disregarded their success. He continued to circulate among the students, applying pressure to those whose psychological resilience was lacking. Simultaneously, he observed Harley's operations.

Regrettably for Snape, Neville exhibited heightened stability. Even if Snape lingered behind him for a minute, Neville displayed unwavering focus, pretending the professor did not exist. His dedication to brewing the potion remained evident, with no mistakes despite the perspiration on his forehead.

Upon concluding the potion test, as everyone emerged from the basement, it felt akin to being released from Azkaban. The air became instantly vibrant, and we eagerly took a few breaths, relieved to be free from the oppressive atmosphere.

"Snape seemed to be poking his hooked nose into Harley's cauldron!" Ron griped.

"He even claimed that the potion I brewed was so potent that only a troll could drink it!" Jerry exclaimed, displaying his indignation.

This arose from the insufficiently fine grinding and careless filtration of mistletoe berries. Fortunately, the potion's effects persisted, allowing Jerry to secure a passing grade.

(End of this chapter)

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