Hogwarts in the shadows

In the Transfiguration class.

Professor McGonagall stood in front of the podium, her tone was extremely serious:

"I now solemnly remind you that your examination papers have been subjected to the most stringent anti-cheating spells.

Automatic answering quill pen, memory ball, detachable clip cuff and automatic error correction ink,

These are absolutely prohibited from being brought into the examination room.”

She paused and glanced at each student.

“I hope you all will give it your all, because your future is in your own hands.”

As the bell rang for the end of get out of class.

The students packed their bags and prepared to leave, but Professor McGonagall stopped Humphreys and Hermione.

Professor McGonagall looked at them with a smile on her face, "I know you can no longer learn anything in school."

Hermione stepped forward and hugged Professor McGonagall's arm.

This was also the first time she made such an intimate gesture towards Professor McGonagall.

"We will always remember your patient teaching. It is your teachings that have enabled us to grow so much."

Professor McGonagall patted Hermione's hand kindly.

"You don't need to flatter me. I'm not that good. At most, I can be regarded as your guide."

Then she turned to look at Hephaestus.

"Hephis, I know your strength. You have surpassed us. But I have one last favor to ask of you."

Hephis looked seriously at the person who first contacted him and gave him warmth.

"Go ahead, Professor McGonagall."

"Try to protect the students of Hogwarts."

Mag's voice was soft, but it could not hide the trembling in it.

Hephis nodded solemnly, "I promise you, Professor."

People have their closeness or distance.

Although I am not familiar with many students, I still meet them once in a while.

And everyone who sees him will greet him warmly.

He couldn't guarantee everyone's safety, but he would never use those people as cannon fodder.

"Hephis, in this exam, I hope you can show your true strength and give them a surprise."

A rare sly look appeared on Professor McGonagall's face.

Hephis responded with a smile.

On the eve of the exam, the gate of Hogwarts Castle welcomed many guests.

Dumbledore smiled as he led a group of elderly wizards slowly towards the castle.

They were chatting happily.

Professor Marchbank, a short, hunchbacked witch with a face covered with dense wrinkles like spider webs.

Although Dumbledore was very close to her, she spoke very loudly, and it seemed that she was a little hard of hearing.

"This trip was really smooth, we arrived much earlier than expected!"

Dumbledore smiled and responded, "Then I will take you to the teachers' lounge.

After a long journey, a cup of hot tea may help relieve fatigue. "

"Oh, by the way, I heard that two students this year are going to take the exam for consecutive years.

It has been a long time since such a genius appeared in the wizarding world!" Professor Marchbank exclaimed.

"He will definitely surprise you." A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Dumbledore's eyes.

"Is he even more powerful than you were back then?" Professor Marchbank asked curiously.

"Remember when I was invigilating your NEWTs?

I always thought that your Transfiguration and Charms were the ceiling of what a wizard of your age could achieve."

"Thank you for your compliment, but I believe that what he can do will be even more incredible than mine," Dumbledore praised.

"Then I'm really looking forward to it more and more. What's the child's name?" Professor Marchbank asked curiously.

"Hephaest Dam."

"Hephes Dam..." Marchban murmured the name repeatedly.

She is a pure academic who lives in seclusion in a corner.

I am old and don't want to move around much.

I usually like to read books and academic publications at home.

As for newspapers and the like, she never reads them.

To her, if there was any truth in it, even a sow would climb a tree.

However, she had some impression of the name Hephis.

She remembered her grandson, who had run back happily to tell her the good news some time ago.

He announced that he had joined the Shadow Organization and had also obtained the Shadow Flame bestowed by the Master.

She originally thought it was an evil organization like the Death Eaters.

I finally found out about it through her grandson.

It is a just organization that fights for a better life for wizards in the world.

“Then I’m really looking forward to it.”

The OWL and NEWT examination subjects are held at different times during the same period.

The first exam was on spell theory.

That is to say, after Hephis and Hermione took the OWL spell theory exam.

Then you will continue to take the NEWT exam.

After breakfast on Monday, students from other grades headed to their classrooms.

The seventh and fifth graders were wandering around the hallway doing nothing.

It was not until half past nine that they were called to the front one by one and returned to the auditorium.

The auditorium has been rearranged.

The original four college tables have been moved away;

In their place were many small single tables, neatly arranged facing the faculty tables at the end of the auditorium.

Professor McGonagall stood, facing the students.

As the students took their seats, the auditorium fell silent.

Professor McGonagall announced, "You may begin."

She had a huge hourglass turned upside down next to her, and on the table were spare quills, ink bottles, and rolls of parchment.

Hephis opened the test paper and looked down at the first question:

a) Write a spell that can make objects fly; b) Describe the motion of waving a wand.

Fortunately, he went to find Percy in advance and absorbed his shadow.

Otherwise, for someone like him who doesn't even use a magic wand, it would be really difficult to describe the action of waving a magic wand.

To his left, in the second row and fifth seat forward, Hermione was already rapidly writing down her answers.

Four hours later, they finally finished both Charms theory exams.

If early submission of the paper was not prohibited, Hephis would not have bothered to waste so much time.

At lunchtime the hall was restored to its original appearance and the four house tables reappeared.

Students in the school enjoy lunch together.

Then they entered the small room next to the auditorium in groups.

Waiting to be called for the practical exam.

The students were divided into groups in alphabetical order and entered the examination room in groups of four.

Those who stayed behind were nervously chanting spells and practicing the waving of their wands.

From time to time someone accidentally pokes someone else in the back or eye.

Hephis looked at the little wizards around him with amusement.

This reminded him of the nervousness and last-minute cramming he had before exams.

"Hermione Granger." Professor Flitwick's voice sounded.

Hermione left the small room with Anthony Goldstein, Gregory Goyle, and Daphne Greengrass.

Students who have completed their exams will leave directly through the auditorium door and will not be allowed to return to this small room.