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Hogwarts was immersed in a vibrant academic atmosphere, with the library consistently packed. Little wizards were seen diligently studying with books in hand, and this commitment to learning pleased professors throughout the school. It seemed that the students were maturing and thinking about their futures.
Even the mischievous Weasley Twins, known for their love of pranks, had disappeared. Their usual pranks, once popular among students, now faced disapproval and even protests. Attempting their pranks in the current environment led to collective glares from the studious wizards surrounding them.
Ethan's requirement for an O grade in Ancient Magic Literature and Spells at the end of the semester was selectively disregarded by senior students. Instead, they opted to craft outstanding papers to capture Professor Ethan's attention. Some second-year students also overlooked the fifth-grade requirement.
Professor Flitwick, being approachable and knowledgeable, became a sought-after figure among students. As senior students hesitated to directly approach Ethan for information on the thesis scope, they turned to the amiable Professor Flitwick for guidance.
Years of familiarity with Professor Flitwick's routine allowed students to predict his movements. They either blocked the entrance to his office or lay in ambush along his route, eager to seize any chance to inquire about the scope and focus of the thesis. Initially, Professor Flitwick was accommodating, willingly answering questions. However, the incessant pestering soon wore on his patience.
To discourage the persistent students, Professor Flitwick began scrutinizing and critiquing their papers, pointing out mistakes and omissions. He hoped to deter some of the students, but surprisingly, this attracted even more senior students. Now, even those who hadn't initially planned to approach Professor Flitwick joined the crowd, seeking his insights on their overlooked errors.
Whenever Professor Flitwick emerged from his office, he was immediately surrounded by students. Poor Flitwick couldn't even enjoy a meal, and some audacious students even took the liberty of pulling up a chair, hoping for more guidance. Though reprimanded each time, they returned with corrected books and notes.
Hermione was among them. Returning to the Gryffindor table with her notes and books, she noticed Ron staring at her in shock. Throughout this period, Ron had been attempting to dissuade Hermione and convince her to abandon what seemed like an impossible goal.
Having spent the entire night crafting a lengthy and intricate paper, Hermione now sported faint dark circles around her eyes. According to her, this was just the first draft, and it was already covered in corrections and annotations from Professor Flitwick.
Ron couldn't help but look at Hermione in awe, realizing he couldn't comprehend much of the first draft. While aware that Hermione was a diligent scholar, the extent of the gap between them became glaringly apparent.
As time passed, the situation evolved rapidly. The entrepreneurial Weasley twins identified a lucrative opportunity. They sought to win favor by temporarily borrowing notes from numerous senior students. By discerning patterns in Professor Flitwick's corrections, they compiled a book summarizing common knowledge points and frequent errors. Using the copying spell, they reproduced multiple copies and began selling them at the school for the price of five Galleons.
The Weasley Twins' booklet quickly gained widespread popularity among senior wizards, becoming scarce within a few days. Hermione, intrigued by its contents, purchased a copy, prompting the Weasley Twins to celebrate their windfall, which they planned to invest in their dream Weasley joke shop.
However, Gryffindor suffered a ten-point deduction in Potions class due to this incident. While Hermione hastily completed her potion-making assignment, Snape noticed her studying the booklet after his inspection.
"Miss Granger, we are currently in Potions class. Potion-making doesn't involve casting spells or using knowledge of spell models. Gryffindor loses ten points for engaging in unrelated activities during class," Snape declared with indifference.
Hermione swiftly put away the booklet without offering a rational defense. Aware that Snape's character wouldn't respond well to explanations, she reluctantly endured the loss of more points for Gryffindor. The incident left her with red eyes, a fact noticed by Harry and Ron, who joined her after class. Together, they vented their frustrations about Snape's apparent bias against Gryffindor. Despite Hermione having the right to pursue extracurricular research, Snape's actions still led to Gryffindor losing points and leaving Hermione with red eyes.
The deadline for submitting the theses was fast approaching. On the designated day, Ethan opened his office door to find a crowd of students waiting to submit their papers. By nightfall, Ethan's desk was filled with papers, and he invited Professor Flitwick to assist in reviewing the submissions.
Flitwick appeared slightly disheveled, his usually well-groomed beard and hair now askew, and his eyes bloodshot from the recent torment of students seeking guidance. Despite the challenges, Flitwick diligently checked and corrected each student's paper.
In the tranquil office, the professors immersed themselves in reading and correcting the papers. Ethan demonstrated an intuitive understanding of the level of Hogwarts students. While many papers displayed excellence and creativity, others resorted to direct copying and clichés from the books, a trend adopted by students eager for attention.
Flitwick and Ethan meticulously provided annotations, corrections, and comments for each paper. They eventually selected the two best papers from fifth-year Ravenclaw Prefect Penelope Clearwater and second-year witch Hermione Granger.
Professor Flitwick admired Hermione's paper, impressed by the deep understanding and cognition of magic spells and ancient magic literature displayed by a second-year wizard. He couldn't help but feel that Hermione surpassed his achievements at her age.
Choosing between the equally excellent papers proved challenging for Ethan and Flitwick. While Hermione didn't meet the recruitment conditions, both professors recognized the effort she invested. Penelope, too, demonstrated dedication and capability. After discussions, Ethan and Flitwick decided to hire one of the talented witches as an assistant for the study of seals.