The match ended amidst a sea of green. Undoubtedly, Malfoy became the hero who saved the Slytherin team. Life's ups and downs are indeed perplexing—one moment, he was merely a jester dressed as a Dementor, and now, he stood proudly in the center of the sky, with countless spectators cheering for him.
Waves of green-clad supporters flooded the pitch, clambering over barriers to join the celebrations. Countless hands rained down pats on their backs. Among the throng, Malfoy hoisted the trophy high, while a massive snake soared into the sky from Augustus' wand, freezing time in that triumphant moment.
As June arrived, the days became stiflingly hot, with clear, cloudless skies. All anyone wanted to do was take a leisurely walk outside, perhaps with a few pints of chilled pumpkin juice, lying flat on the grass, playing a casual game of skipping stones, or watching the giant squid dreamily drift across the lake.
But they couldn't do any of that. With exams looming, students were forced to stay indoors, resisting the summer breeze drifting in through the windows, struggling to keep their minds focused on study.
For Augustus, exams in this world were practically meaningless—especially the theoretical ones. In his alternate world, any competent wizard could easily master magical memorization. If such straightforward theoretical exams were introduced there, everyone would likely score full marks.
Even so, Augustus spent most of his time in the library. His research on the foundational structure of this world's magic was reaching a critical stage. Meticulous attention was essential, as even the slightest flaw in magical constructs could lead to catastrophic failure.
Exam week began, and the castle was unusually quiet. By Monday lunchtime, the third-years emerged from their Transfiguration exam looking disheveled and exhausted, comparing results and lamenting the difficulty of their task—which included turning teapots into tortoises.
"My tortoise transformation still isn't perfect," Lillian fretted. "The shell still has the wicker pattern from the teapot. I wonder if I'll lose points for that. Maybe if the professor appreciates the cooling effect of the pattern in this heat, I might even get extra credit!"
"That's nothing," Malfoy groaned. "My tortoise still has the spout of the teapot as its tail. I'm definitely failing. And don't forget, we just beat Gryffindor. While I trust Professor McGonagall to be fair, she's only human. This glaring mistake could be the perfect excuse for her to penalize me."
Augustus sighed and rubbed his temples. "Teapot-to-tortoise transfiguration was one of the first topics we covered this term. Including it in the exam was meant to ease stress. The fact that both of you managed to mess it up is impressive in its own way."
"It's because we learned it so long ago!" Lillian protested shamelessly. "We've forgotten the key movements and incantations. You can't entirely blame us."
After a quick lunch, everyone rushed back upstairs for their Charms exam. This involved casting a Cheering Charm on a partner and maintaining its effect for about ten minutes. Augustus' partner, a rather short and nervous girl, could barely speak due to her anxiety. Her face was flushed red, and Augustus had to cast a calming spell on her just so she could recite the incantation. In the end, both passed successfully. Augustus' Cheering Charm was flawless as usual, excelling in both duration and intensity of joy.
The next morning, Hagrid conducted the Care of Magical Creatures exam, though he seemed distracted. The test involved keeping a Flobberworm alive for an hour. Since Flobberworms thrive with little interference, this was the easiest exam they had ever faced. Hagrid, under the pretense of checking Augustus' Flobberworm, repeatedly thanked him for his help in overturning the committee's decision. "Most voted against, and the rest abstained. This should put an end to it. I owe it all to you," he said.
The Potions exam in the afternoon was more challenging. Augustus found it somewhat reminiscent of alchemy—requiring precision and careful planning. Despite the difficulty, he navigated the test successfully.
Astronomy was held at midnight on Tuesday, on the castle's highest tower. History of Magic followed on Wednesday morning. Augustus wasn't particularly interested in historical theory but managed to fill two to three rolls of parchment effortlessly. Herbology came that afternoon, under the scorching sun in the greenhouses. This subject was critical in magical studies, as identifying and using plants to brew potions was essential for countering certain magical effects. Last term's incident with the basilisk's petrification was a perfect example.
Thursday morning saw the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam, their penultimate test. Professor Lupin had devised a practical, obstacle-course-style exam in the sunshine. Students had to wade through a Grindylow-infested pond, navigate a series of pits filled with Red Caps, squelch through a bog without following the misleading directions of a Hinkypunk, and finally face a new Boggart hidden in an old trunk.
Augustus admired Lupin's creativity. Practical application of magic was indeed a weak point for many wizards in this world. He appreciated the focus on using diverse spells to overcome challenges. Emerging from the trunk, Augustus secured yet another perfect score. The blend of theory and practice in Lupin's teaching and assessment methods was truly commendable.
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