But for two weeks in a row, Kanna behaved very normally, almost the same as usual, so Kyle finally felt relieved and concentrated on preparing for what to do next.
It was a very ordinary evening in mid-June. Everyone was sitting in the auditorium, eating dinner and discussing their holiday plans.
Suddenly, the door was opened from the outside, and accompanied by Dumbledore, several elderly wizards walked in, talking and laughing.
The leader was Professor Gesilda Marchbank, followed by Dumbledore, Professor Tofty...
They were all old acquaintances. Anyone who had experienced OWL knew who they were and what their coming to Hogwarts meant.
Final exam.
"Why is it so early this year!" Ron grabbed his hair beside the Gryffindor table and said in disbelief, "Isn't the exam a week later? Or did I lose a week's memory?"
Harry was also standing there with his mouth open.
He hasn't finished reviewing all the courses yet...well, or rather, he was just about to start reviewing, so why is there an exam all of a sudden?
"You didn't lose anything." Fortunately, at this time, Hermione suddenly said, "They are here for the NEWT exam."
"NEWT?" Ron blinked.
"That's right." Hermione said, "Only OWL and NEWT require the supervision of the Wizarding Examination Authority. Other than that, exams for other grades are supervised by professors."
"So, we haven't got to the exam yet, right?" Ron breathed a sigh of relief.
Hermione glanced at him and said, "If you keep wasting time like before, it will be useless no matter how long you put it off. You might as well take the exam tomorrow."
"Don't say that, Hermione. I've already started reviewing." Ron took out a book. "Look, I just borrowed it from the library at noon."
"Yeah, I haven't even turned a page yet." Hermione sneered.
Conversations like theirs also took place elsewhere in the auditorium.
It was also at this time that people suddenly realized that Hogwarts had entered exam week.
NEWT is the most rigorous and tedious exam in the wizarding world and will take one week longer than other grades.
Kyle already knew this last year, and Cedric even shared his exam experience with him.
To put it simply... don't be nervous, don't recite the spell incorrectly, and you will pass.
It sounds simple enough anyway.
…
The next day, the NEWT test officially began.
The castle became much quieter than usual. Professors were guarding several key corridors. Everyone who passed by would subconsciously lower their voices under the professors' stern gazes.
The first day is a written test.
Kyle had never experienced such strict inspections. There were only ten seventh-grade students in each classroom, but there were three professors in charge of supervising the exams.
In addition, there is a large spyglass in the examination room.
The magic mirror can accurately detect the magical reactions around it, thereby determining whether anyone has brought in magical items.
As soon as a girl walked into the classroom, the spyglass made a buzzing sound, which did not stop until Professor Tofty took off a bow hairpin on her head.
The girl was so scared that she stood there at a loss as to what to do.
Until Professor Tofty finished examining the hairpin.
"Transformation hairpins only serve to change the look of your hair. That's fine. They're not for cheating."
He waved his hand, and the seventh-grade girl finally reacted and hurried in.
Kyle followed her in.
He noticed that there was a mirror as tall as the wall directly opposite the door.
The developing mirror has an effect similar to the real waterfall in Gringotts. Although it is not as efficient, it can be regarded as the nemesis of Polyjuice Potion. If anyone wants to pretend to be someone else to take the exam, their true appearance will be revealed in the mirror.
There was also a teapot on the podium next to it, spewing out white smoke.
Kyle sniffed it and found the scent of mandrake and poison tentacle powder, mixed with some other herbs.
If he guessed correctly, this should be a calming potion, but Kyle was not sure what it was used for.
At first he thought they were checking the Bafey Brain Waking Agent and the Felixir, but he soon discovered that there were special professors here who were checking whether students had taken potions.
It's Professor Marchbank.
As an old professor who has worked in the Examination Authority for nearly a hundred years, Geserda Marchbank's knowledge of potions is also very rich, even comparable to Snape and Slughorn.
With just a glance, she caught a boy who had drunk a special potion.
He was a seventh-year boy from Ravenclaw. Although what he drank was not the Buffy Brain Refresher, but just a potion that could keep people calm, this behavior was also not allowed.
Fortunately, Professor Marchbank did not directly disqualify him from the exam. He just made him stand at the door of the classroom and could not enter until the effect of the potion wore off.
As for how long he needs to wait and whether there will be enough time for the exam, it all depends on how much he drinks.
If you drink less, you still have a chance to answer the questions. If you drink more and the effect of the potion does not wear off until the end of the exam, then your written test results will be invalidated.
But judging from the boy's relieved expression, he should still be able to catch up.
Kyle didn't find it strange, because there are always people like this in every exam, who try things out madly with the mentality of giving it a try, but they will also leave a way out for themselves.
After all, the Examination Law stipulates that only those who have drunk Bafey Brain Refresher and Felixir will have their examination scores directly cancelled, and the penalties for other potions are quite ordinary.
This is a disadvantage that is not too small.
But this was the business of the Wizarding Examinations Authority, and Kyle was too lazy to meddle in it.
He walked into the classroom and sat down. The classroom originally had ten people, but now it had nine. There was parchment, quills and ink on the table, all prepared in advance. Students were not allowed to bring anything in.
Professor Marchbank walked around the classroom a few more times before leaving and going somewhere else.
Twenty minutes later, the exam began.
The morning sun shone through the window, making Kyle feel warm and a little sleepy.
He had finished the test paper long ago, but he forced himself to wait until the end of the exam. He was the first one to hand in his paper and walk out of the classroom.
At this time, the sixth grade students also finished their classes. On the stairs leading to the entrance hall, he happened to meet a group of Gryffindors who were also finishing their classes.
Among them are Hermione, Ron and Harry.
"Kyle." Hermione waved and shouted from a distance.
She ran over quickly and asked nervously, "How do you feel? Is the NEWT exam harder than the usual final exam?"
"Hmm... probably." Kyle said after thinking for a moment.
"Should?" Ron asked, "What does this mean?"
"I just can't feel it." Kyle spread his hands, "Let me put it this way, which one do you think is more difficult, the Illumination Spell or the Levitation Spell?"
"They're all pretty simple," Ron blurted out.
These two spells were introductory spells in the first grade, so they were naturally not difficult for him who was in the sixth grade.
"That's my answer, too." Kyle spread his hands and said, "Seriously speaking, NEWT is more difficult."
This time Ron understood, but he wished he hadn't. This was the first time he had ever heard someone use the term "illumination spell" to describe the dreaded final exams.
It was so infuriating... For a moment, he really wanted to slap the book in his hand onto Kyle's nonchalant face.
But for some purpose, he had to suppress the impulse and continued asking patiently.
"So, are there any tips?" Ron asked expectantly, "How can I get high scores on the NEWT test?"
This is what he urgently wants to know. As a sixth grade student, Ron feels for the first time today that the NEWT test is so close to him.
Harry and Hermione on the side also pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
"The trick," Kyle thought for a moment, "is to not be nervous and not write the answer in the wrong place, and then you can pass."
Ron was stunned for a moment. "That's it?"
Don't be nervous... Is there any difference between saying this and not saying it? Doesn't he know not to be nervous during the exam?
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"Well... and don't be clever." Kyle continued: "I know you may all have Felicis, but remember, don't use it during NEWT, otherwise your results will be invalidated.
Don’t think that it’s nothing more than repeating a grade. At worst, you can wait until the next year to take the exam again… If you are caught cheating like this, it’s the same as expulsion, and you won’t get a certificate.”
"Of course we won't cheat," Hermione blurted out, and Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
"That's good," Kyle said.
"But even if someone used the Felicis, they wouldn't be able to detect it." Ron suddenly muttered, "That's a lucky potion. Being caught cheating is not lucky, is it?"
"Why do you think so?" Kyle glanced at him, "The Lucky Potion is just another name for the Lucky Potion. Its real function is just to make you make more favorable choices. It's not like it can't be found out.
"Let me put it this way. If someone drinks the Felicity Potion before an exam, then he or she will most likely not want to take the exam... After all, compared to having all your grades scrapped, missing just one exam is still pretty lucky."
"Is that so?" Ron blinked.
"Of course." Kyle said, "Where do you think the rule that Felix can't be used in large-scale sports events and exams came from? If there's really no way to find out, why bother?"
As they were talking, they had already reached the first floor. Seeing Connor waiting at the door of the auditorium, Kyle immediately left Harry and the others and walked over.
"What's the test this afternoon?" he asked.
"Didn't you check the schedule before you left?" Connor said, "We still have this exam this afternoon, but the ones taking it are Gryffindor and Slytherin, so we have to wait until tomorrow for the second exam."
"Oh, I forgot." Kyle scratched his hair.
Because the invigilation is strict and there are not so many professors and props, NEWT will only test one subject every day, but all seventh-grade students are divided into different batches.
Of course, this is only the case for courses with a large number of students. For subjects like Ancient Runes, which have only a few students, the entire exam can be completed in one morning.
Lunch was sumptuous, but Kyle noticed that there were fewer people at the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables, and they were all seventh-year students.
It seems that they should be eating somewhere else to separate themselves from the students who have finished their exams and to avoid leaking the exam questions.
From this perspective, it is beneficial to take the test first, at least you won’t be restricted.
After lunch, the two returned to the common room.
Since the morning, there has been a tense atmosphere here. Every seventh-grade student is taking the time to flip through textbooks to prepare for tomorrow's exam.
In this atmosphere, the lower grade students also consciously gave up the best seats and lowered their voices when they spoke and walked.
Time always flies during exams. A week later, all written exams were finished. Along with the final exams of other grades in the school, NEWT also entered the second stage...the application of spells.
"Don't be nervous, kid."
Kyle stood in an empty classroom, in front of three different professors. Gesserda Marchben sat in the middle, with a person from the Wizarding Examinations Authority on her left, and Professor McGonagall, who represented the school, on her right.
Normally, Dumbledore should be sitting in this position, but no one knows where he is now, so Professor McGonagall, the vice-president, has to take over.
However, the Wizarding Examinations Authority can understand this situation. After all, under the current circumstances, it is impossible for Dumbledore to stay in school for a long time, and the same is true for Professor McGonagall to replace him.
"The first question of this spell test is the ice-making spell." Gesilda Marchbank pointed to a glass of water in front of him, "You need to make it freeze as quickly as possible. I think it shouldn't be difficult for you."
Kyle took out his wand and waved it.
The next second, the water in the bottle froze into ice.
"Oh, not bad." Professor Marchbank said with a smile, "I knew you would be fine. Let's continue. Next is the comprehensive spell. You need to treat us as enemies and set up a defensive fortification around us to resist our attack.
"The normal time is five minutes, but in your case...how about two minutes? We will attack you in two minutes, and you will be scored based on how long you can resist."
"No problem." Kyle agreed readily.
I have to say that the test questions this time are quite appropriate. After all, after they graduate this time, they will have to face the Death Eaters directly, and protecting themselves will become the biggest problem.
Although Kyle is best at another way of self-protection, the current situation is special and none of those methods can be used.
Kyle took a slow breath and waved the wand in his hand briskly.
The ground around the three professors immediately turned into a muddy swamp, and then the ground began to rise until it became a solid earth wall against the ceiling.
To be honest, this level of achievement was not particularly impressive. Professor Marchbank tentatively cast a spell on the earth wall, but it only created a harmless small hole.
Then she conjured up a dummy, which sank into the swamp as soon as it landed on the ground.
"Well, not bad." Professor Marchbank nodded, looking very satisfied.
The swamp restricts movement and the earth wall blocks attacks. Although simple, it is very effective.
More importantly, Kyle didn't take too much time to complete all of this, and he did it with ease, as if he was just preparing for an exam.
But that's enough.
"That's all right," said Professor Marchbank.
The earth wall fell, and the swamp turned back into a solid floor.
“That’s great.”
After Kyle left the classroom, she turned to Professor McGonagall and said, "So what Albus said is true. This kid really dealt with the werewolf Fenrir Greyback and two Death Eaters by himself?"
"Of course it's true." Professor McGonagall seemed to be in a good mood and said with a smile: "There is no reason for Headmaster Dumbledore to lie about such a thing, right?
"And I was right there when Kyle dealt with the werewolf."
"Remarkable." Professor Marchbank said softly, "Since six years ago, I have been looking forward to personally presiding over this child's NEWT test, but now it seems that this process seems a bit redundant.
"I still remember that Albus was like this during his graduation exam. He could have done better, but he chose to be lazy and only did what was required."
"Perhaps they feel that is enough," said Professor McGonagall.
In fact, she was quite curious about the details of Dumbledore's exam, but was too embarrassed to ask more.
"Yes, it's just an exam, there's really no need to make a fuss about it." Professor Marchbank said with a smile.
She picked up the quill and drew a big "O" after Kyle's name.
(End of this chapter)