Exams. A shadow that looms over the hearts of all test-takers throughout history and across the world.
As the saying goes, "The examination hall is like a battlefield." This phrase was originally used to describe how taking an exam is like engaging in a war without gunpowder.
But for the first-year students taking their Defense Against the Dark Arts exam today, this saying had become literal reality.
Crawling out of the examination room like a dying fish, Ron's clothes were already completely soaked with sweat. Harry beside him looked just as close to death, and only Hermione was slightly better off, though she was still panting heavily.
"I should have known that if Professor Goldstein was this difficult during lessons, the examination would be equally torturous!"
Just recalling the exam they had just experienced made Ron's legs feel weak.
"We're only first-year students! Yet we had to last thirty seconds under her attack!"
"Is she training us like Aurors?"
"Actually, this exam wasn't too difficult." Hermione panted while still defending the professor.
"Professor Goldstein only used Stunning Spells just now, and those Stunning Spells were quite weak. You wouldn't completely pass out even if you took a direct hit."
"Plus, her attack frequency wasn't high either. This exam was just testing your adaptability."
"And didn't we get ten attempts? It's not too difficult."
"Easy for you to say!" Rolling his eyes, Ron said irritably. "Among us, only you got special tutoring from Professor Kahn. That danger prediction thing is practically cheating!"
"I offered to teach you! You just didn't want to learn!"
Hearing Hermione's words, Ron's face reddened slightly. "Since you already said the professor would fix this magic onto objects later, who would bother learning it seriously?"
Ignoring the two who had started arguing again, Harry slumped against the wall, fanning himself with his hand while saying. "We don't have any other exams today, right?"
He really couldn't take any more exams. He didn't even want to bathe. He just wanted to lie in bed and sleep without caring about anything.
"No more." Hermione raised her hand with difficulty and looked at a piece of parchment in her bag. "Only tomorrow's History of Magic and Potions exams are left."
"Oh! Dear God!" Hearing this news, Ron looked up to the sky and sighed deeply, his expression like he was to be executed tomorrow.
"Is You-Know-Who really dead? If not, could he knock me out too? Just like Harry?"
"Shh! Professor Dumbledore said not to mention that in public!"
Hearing Hermione's warning, Ron collapsed limply to the ground.
"Or anything else. As long as I can escape tomorrow's exams, I'll do anything!"
"Stop dreaming. If you skip two exams, do you want to be expelled?" Hermione mercilessly interrupted Ron's fantasy.
"Instead of thinking about such nonsense, you might as well come with me to the library to review those subjects again!"
Struggling to raise his arm, Ron was about to retort, but before he could speak, he suddenly froze.
He saw Malfoy walking out of the examination room with wobbly legs. He looked just as close to death as they did, but after glancing at them sprawled on the ground, Malfoy's face actually showed a trace of mockery, and then he shakily headed toward the stairs leading to the fifth floor.
"Is he going to the library again?" Ron stared in shock at Malfoy's retreating figure, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Harry beside him also looked amazed. "Could he really be under the Imperius Curse or something?"
"Hmph, you don't even have as much willpower as Malfoy." Hermione took the opportunity to mock them, which immediately darkened Ron and Harry's faces several shades.
His face turning purple with anger, Ron forced himself to stand up and shouted in a trembling voice.
"Let's go! We're going too!"
The scratching sound of quills on parchment continuously echoed around them. Evans walked back and forth between the desks, occasionally glancing at the answers of the young wizards around him.
Of course, he wouldn't do things like sighing behind them. These young wizards were already nervous enough without increasing their anxiety.
Besides, what if his sigh scared them into changing correct answers to wrong ones?
Shaking his head lightly, Evans walked to the front of the classroom and looked down at the young wizards frantically scribbling below.
This third-year exam was the final Care of Magical Creatures exam of the term, with no practical components. It was purely written.
But a written exam didn't mean it was simple. At least in his view, memorizing the physical characteristics of a Kappa was much more difficult than helping a group of Bowtruckles find homes.
Although he didn't prioritize theory as much as practice, it was undeniable that Care of Magical Creatures had quite a substantial theoretical component.
After all, many creatures simply couldn't be practiced with. Even he would need several companions to defeat some dark creatures. Having these young wizards practice with them would really result in bloodshed.
Surveying the examination room, Evans focused all his attention on those few candidates he considered suitable for joining his magical creatures club.
First was that Hufflepuff student named Cedric.
Looking at this young wizard who could clearly live off his looks but insisted on relying on talent, Evans's eyes were full of appreciation.
This young wizard, who could gain the favor of unicorns, had a very proper attitude toward exams. He respected the exam but wasn't overly nervous, his handwriting was neat, and he could answer every question while adding his own insights.
Such students were truly every professor's favorite.
In contrast, the Weasley twins not far away were practically ready to draw faces on their exam papers.
Looking at the two red-haired boys who were scratching their heads and often getting distracted while answering, Evans shook his head slightly.
Bill wasn't like this back in the day, was he? Even Charlie was very respectful toward exams.
However, their answers were barely acceptable.
After observing several other young wizards who had good grades in this class, Evans glanced at the hourglass nearby.
Time was running short. The young wizards had basically stopped writing, and although a few were still writing, they were just adding annotations.
He was quite confident in this batch of students he was teaching. The third-year exam itself wasn't too difficult, so there probably wouldn't be any failing students.
When the last grain of sand in the hourglass fell to the bottom, Evans waved his wand, and all the exam papers rustled as they flew up and automatically arranged themselves in a neat stack before him.
"Alright, go have fun. You should relax after finishing your exams."
"But I should remind you. Don't wander around near the O.W.L. or N.E.W.T. examinees. You might get beaten up."
Having said this, Evans smiled, picked up the stack of exam papers, and left the classroom, leaving behind a group of cheering young wizards.
Once he finished grading these papers, Hogwarts's final exams would be over.
However, what came next was the real main event.
Folding the papers neatly and putting them in his pocket, Evans stretched his back, and his body transformed into a silver-white arc before disappearing.