Chapter 203: End of the course (1) (Edited)

"Gilderoy, we must check carefully and there must be no omissions!" warned Professor Flitwick. Every year during the O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams, there were always some little wizards who tried to cheat by any means possible.

The reason why cheating is so common in the magical world is that the punishments for cheating are not strong enough. If a mage is caught cheating, he or she will only be disqualified from the subject and can still take the exam. If a Muggle is caught cheating on an exam, their results are invalidated and they are suspended for one to three years. The penalty for illegal use of listening or photographic devices is up to two years imprisonment, detention or control.

Both penalties are very different.

In addition, grades for each subject in the magical world are calculated independently. If a Muggle has a grade taken away from a subject, it screws up the exam: someone gets a perfect 750, you get a perfect 600, what the hell. Unlike the wizarding world, if they take away your History of Magic grade, so be it, and you can find a job that doesn't require a History of Magic certificate.

However, so far, no Hogwarts wizard has ever been caught cheating on exams, because Hogwarts professors are so good at countering cheating that wizards are caught before they even start cheating, without missing a beat, which is just called attempted cheating, and the dean will just look at it closely and confiscate the tools to commit the crime.

The way to combat cheating is also very simple: young wizards are forbidden to use their own quills and ink during exams.

It's as simple as that. But it worked well.

Without electronic devices, the only way to cheat was with ink and quills; the other options of magic potions, bandages and charms never crossed the professors' minds.

Potions? Most likely to cause only psychological suggestion and food poisoning. cheat sheet? An "accio" before entering the place will solve it. As for charms, is there really any being that can bless a magician? In the magical world, there is no such thing.

Flitwick stood in front of the students and pulled out his wand, "Children, get out your quills and ink, memory balls are not allowed in the exam classroom, and I remind you that all O.W.L. papers have a particularly severe anti-cheating spell that even I can't break."

The last statement was a lie, of course Professor Flitwick could break it, he just needs a little movement.

A few small wizards moved and handed Professor Flitwick the quills and vials of ink. Professor Flitwick didn't even bother to look, he could have guessed with his own fingernails that the quills and ink were mature stationery and could answer the questions themselves.

How fragile is trust between people?

[Did you see the TV remote control?]

[No!]

[Move your ass!]

How fragile is trust between magicians?

"Have they given it all away?"

"Yes."

"Accio!" Professor Flitwick broke the trust between wizards, using the summoning spell to find several novel props for cheating on exams: an improved version of the loose sleeve cheat sheet (which can do keyword searches); a motion replicator bracelet (which can replicate a classmate's hand movements); telescoping Goggles (can see farther)....

Professor Flitwick put all these objects away, one by one, expressionless, and then subtracted points from their owners based on their academic record, as well as assigning them punishment time. After all this, it was time for exams.

The Great Hall had been redecorated and the long tables of the four Houses had been replaced by small tables with quills, ink bottles and rolls of parchment. Professor McGonagall stood at the faculty table, a huge hourglass in her hand. The young wizards dutifully entered the Great Hall and found their seats, and when the last one was seated, Professor McGonagall turned the hourglass over.

"You may now begin answering questions."

Outside the Great Hall, Professor Flitwick fiddled with the confiscated items and exclaimed, "These cheating toys are getting really creative! Especially the inventor of the motion replica bracelet, what a genius! How did he come up with such an idea?".

The O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. exams were held at the same time and shared the same location, lasting a total of two weeks.

The first week is devoted to Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Ancient Runes. These are mainly written exams in the morning and practical exams in the afternoon.

The second week is devoted to Potions, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Divination, Arithmancy and History of Magic. Astronomy practical exams are in the afternoon.

The fifth and seventh graders Tom taught did well and got results commensurate with their efforts.

Everything was going well.

On the afternoon of the History of Magic exams, Hogwarts was in full swing as the fifth and seventh year students, relieved of their burdens, began a frenzy of celebrations, ignoring the fact that young wizards from other years were still studying hard.

They just wanted to blow off some steam!

On this crazy night, Professor Lockhart, who taught Defense Against the Dark Arts, knocked on the door of Dumbledore's office....

The next day was Saturday. At breakfast time, Professor Lockhart's place at the cloister table was empty again, but the young wizards were used to it: Professor Lockhart had missed breakfast many times during the school year, and it was perfectly normal.

The unusual thing was that Professor Dumbledore stood up when the Great Hall was almost full, and Professor McGonagall, at his side, tapped her silver spoon against the goblet to silence everyone.

"To all Hogwarts students and staff, I apologize for disturbing you while you eat, but I need to make this sad announcement before you leave."

The young wizards stopped swallowing and looked silently at Professor Dumbledore, waiting for his next words.

"Our beloved Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart, left us last night...".

The young wizards stood confused for a moment, many of them not reacting: what was going on? How was it possible that Professor Lockhart was alive yesterday morning and this morning he had gone to see Merlin?

Not only the students, but also the professors were stunned: not even a full year had passed yet! Could the curse happen earlier?

Even some of the young witches were on the verge of tears, but fortunately Dumbledore didn't dwell on it for long: "...he sent me his letter of resignation last night and now he's left Hogwarts."

It wasn't as scary as the first half of the sentence, but it was strong enough to make the young wizards almost jump at the news.