011 - Approaching OWLs

The Great Hall was alive with nervous energy, the hum of hundreds of students softly echoing off the enchanted ceiling, where dark clouds drifted lazily across the night sky.

The flickering candlelight cast a warm glow over the faces of students gathered for what would be one of the last formal meals before an onslaught of exams.

OWLs will be conducted for 5th years and above while the NEWTs will restrict themselves to the final years only, but even for other, more younger years at Hogwarts, the upcoming Year end exams were going to be draining.

At the center of it all, Dumbledore stood, his presence calming yet commanding as he raised his hands for silence.

Alex sat at the Ravenclaw table; eyes fixed on the headmaster. He wasn't nervous – not yet.

His mind was already spinning, considering the exams ahead, planning, calculating.

But Dumbledore's speeches always had a way of grounding even the most focused students, reminding them that there was more to their education than mere numbers and grades.

"Another year has come and gone," Dumbledore began, his voice carrying effortlessly through the hall, "and once again, the time has come for many of you to show what you have learned in your time here."

"But remember this – the marks on your exam papers, while important, do not define who you are or what you will become."

The room was utterly still now, save for the occasional crackle of the torches lining the walls.

Dumbledore continued; his voice warm with reassurance. "There are strengths that cannot be measured by any standard magical exam – courage, passion, kindness, the ability to rise after failure. If you approach these tests with honesty and effort, you will have already succeeded."

Alex's gaze drifted momentarily. He appreciated Dumbledore's words – they were the sort of wisdom one could cling to in moments of doubt – but Alex was different.

His confidence came not only from his own skill but from something else, something very few people knew about: the missions he created for himself. And this year, his OWLs had become a mission unlike any before.

[ Mission : Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations

Objectives:

1- Get the highest grade possible in 3 or more core subjects (D)

2- Get the highest grade possible in all of your core subjects (C)

3- Get the highest grade possible in all of your core and elective subjects (B)

4- Get the highest grade possible in all of your core subjects and available elective and extra subjects (A)

Reward:

1) Essence of Dittany – 1 vial

2) Magical Maladies and Cures – by Morgan La Fey

3) Phoenix Tears – 10mL

4) Mastering the Magical Mind – by Salazar Slytherin 

Time Limit : 3 Weeks ]

Alex's heart raced with anticipation as he recalled the mission. His OWLs would encompass a total of seven core subjects, each one vital for his progression into the higher echelons of magical education: Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, History of Magic, Herbology, Astronomy, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. These were the essentials, and any wizard worth their wand would master them.

But Alex had gone beyond that.

Unlike many students, who limited themselves to one or two electives, Alex had chosen three: Arithmancy, Divination, and Care of Magical Creatures.

Each required focus, dedication, and different forms of magical insight. Arithmancy was mathematical, a branch of magic that required precision and a sharp mind.

Divination, by contrast, required intuition, an ability to see patterns in the unknown. And Care of Magical Creatures… well, that was just pure fascination. Alex had always been drawn to magical beasts, not just for their uniqueness, but for the way they reflected the balance of nature and magic.

As if that weren't enough, Alex had opted for the extra challenge of extracurriculars. These were not just your run-of-the-mill subjects taught in classrooms; these were advanced disciplines, often taught through clubs, mentorships, or self-study, and they culminated in NEWT-level exams taken at the Ministry of Magic.

Among these, Alex had chosen Alchemy—a notoriously difficult subject, blending science and magic in ways that even many fully-trained wizards struggled with. He had also added Magical Dueling, Flying, and a personal favorite, Studies of Ancient Creatures—Vampires and Werewolves.

The sheer scope of his exam load was enormous, yet Alex couldn't help but feel exhilarated. This year's mission was more than a test of his magical skills – it was a test of his discipline, his ambition, and his ability to push his limits.

As Dumbledore's speech came to an end, Alex returned his attention to the hall. Around him, students were starting to chatter again, discussing the impending doom of exams or strategies for last-minute studying.

Victor leaned over from across the table, grinning. "Bet you've already planned out your entire exam schedule, haven't you?" Victor teased, cutting into his food with gusto.

He wasn't the type to stress over exams, but even Victor had taken notice of Alex's intensity this year.

Alex smirked. "Maybe."

"You'll be fine," Ben chimed in, looking visibly relieved that Moody's extra training sessions were finally behind them. "I think we all will. After Moody's dueling classes, I'd say facing a stack of papers is nothing compared to that."

Victor nodded enthusiastically. "True, mate. Those duels weren't just brutal; they were an art form. I think I might actually miss them."

Alex chuckled but said nothing, his thoughts already wandering to the exams and the specific challenges each subject would bring.

Charms would be straightforward enough. Alex had always had a natural aptitude for spellcasting, particularly in the precise wand movements required.

Transfiguration would be more technical, but again, he had the theory memorized like clockwork.

Potions, while meticulous, wasn't something he feared. But the trickier exams, like Divination and Astronomy, required a different kind of mindset – more intuition, more openness to the unpredictable.

And then, of course, there was Defense Against the Dark Arts, where the Ministry's standards had recently been raised. Alex wasn't worried about D.A.D.A.

He was more interested in how well he'd do in Arithmancy and Alchemy, where even the brightest minds often found themselves tripping over complex formulas and unpredictable reactions.

As breakfast continued, the conversation naturally turned to the future – what each of them would do after Hogwarts.

Alex found himself thinking about Beth and Tonks. Both had matured in recent months, each with her own path ahead.

Tonks was already certain she would become an Auror, her skills and instincts practically custom-made for the job.

Beth, on the other hand, had set her sights on taking over her parents' businesses – A magical workshop that made small equipment and a high-end magical fashion boutique – two enterprises that, while rich and successful, didn't quite rival the wealth of the Du Lac family.

Alex's thoughts drifted to his future and his own background.

The Du Lac family was ancient, their roots deeply entwined with both magical and Muggle history.

His family had more than just gold – though their reserves were vast – they had influence.

The name Du Lac carried weight, a legacy tied to legends of Sir Lancelot, Sir Galahad and the Holy Grail itself.

The wealth they controlled wasn't just measured in gold or land, but in their enduring relationships with powerful institutions like the Church and their ability to influence both magical and muggle policy across Europe.

He wasn't just a student aiming to get through his OWLs to become a wizards, He was a young heir with responsibilities far beyond the walls of Hogwarts.

As the plates cleared and students began to disperse, Alex glanced again at his mission objectives. His eyes lingered on the last one – Get the highest grade possible in all of your core subjects and available elective and extra subjects (A).

It was a challenge he'd created deliberately, knowing full well that even Ravenclaw's brightest minds wouldn't dare take on so many electives and extracurriculars.

The standard seven core subjects alone were enough to bury most students under a pile of parchment and stress.

Even now, many 6th and 7th year students are still giving their OWLs.

But Alex had chosen three electives and five extracurriculars, pushing himself to the absolute limit.

If he could succeed, he would earn rewards far greater than any certificate from the Ministry.

His trait, this secret ability to create missions, would reward him in ways that no traditional education could.

Alex had particularly set his eyes on The Phoenix Tears and the book Mastering the Magical Mind by Salazar Slytherin.

Phoenix tears were a no bueno, just their effect of healing any and all physical injuries was enough to make them a prized possession, but their usage in countering effects of dark magic was what made them truly valuable.

Not to mention, Phoenix Tears were a high-level magical ingredient used in many permanent enhancement potions.

The Book was even more intriguing, Salazar Slytherin was a known master of Mind magic and Illusions.

It was an area of magic that greatly intrigued Alex.

It had started with a B level reward he had gotten earlier, Occlumency, it was an art of fortifying one's mind against intrusions and affect of high-level spells that came with an added benefit of being able to organize and access one's knowledge and memories with speed and efficiency.

It had opened a new world of magic for him entirely. And ever since then, Alex had been searching the old libraries of Hogwarts for anything relatable without any success.

And by far, the materials and knowledge produced by his trait seemed to be of higher quality, especially all the books he received.

It was as if all these books were custom written by their authors keeping himself in mind without missing out on anything in the given rank of the award.

Like they contained all the essence of the Author's knowledge made just for him.

And though all the previous rewards made things easier for Alex, he knew that the road to success on this mission would be harder.

There were Ministry exams to deal with, particularly for the extracurriculars. Unlike the Hogwarts-based OWL exams, these extracurricular assessments were held in the heart of the Ministry, open to anyone with the skills to sit them, no matter their age.

The Ministry's exams were rigorous and were conducted at NEWT level, even for students just beginning their certification process.

Alchemy, in particular, would be brutal. Even now, Alex remembered the warning from Snape

 "Alchemy isn't just about transmuting substances. It's about understanding the soul of magic itself."

The exams would be grueling. But that didn't worry him. If anything, the sheer difficulty of it all excited him.

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A/N : Those who give power stones be blessed with big PP.

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