After leaving the classroom, Kael felt relieved. From what Professor McGonagall had said earlier, he thought the potential newcomer award assessment would be troublesome, but unexpectedly it was quite simple.
When Kael arrived at the upstairs classroom, the exam had already started. When Professor Flitwick saw him, he was somewhat startled.
"Merlin's beard, why are you here? Didn't Professor McGonagall find you?" He jogged over to Kael and pointed in the direction of the second floor. "Quickly go to the room beside the library, someone is waiting for you there..."
"I just came from there, Professor Flitwick," Kael said.
"What?" Professor Flitwick paused, "You've already seen Professor Marchbank?"
"Yes." Kael said, "And I've passed the assessment. She's the one who asked me to come to the exam, said it's not too late to come now."
"Indeed, you're not too late; actually, the exam hasn't started yet." With this answer, Professor Flitwick smiled and said, "However, you actually didn't need to come..."
Kael said nothing.
Although Professor McGonagall also said so, everyone else was taking the exam, and the castle was empty, going back would have been boring.
The two of them walked into the classroom.
The content of the Charm Class exam was the Leg-Jinx, which Kael completed easily.
After dinner, the students hurried back to the common room to start revising for the upcoming exams.
After the Magic Potion exam on the next morning, the atmosphere within the castle plunged to a frightening level, even lunch was unusually quiet, as if the Dementors would attack the school tomorrow.
"It was too hard."
Mikel finally couldn't hold back and sighed, "With Snape standing behind me, I simply couldn't think, I made mistakes in many steps and the potion color was wrong.
And when leaving, he noted something in the book, I dare say it must be a zero."
His words resonated with those around him.
It seemed everyone had the experience of being stared at by Snape from behind, feeling like he wished everyone would score zero.
But when it came to the afternoon, the Care of Magical Creatures exam hosted by Hagrid was much more interesting.
He managed to get hold of a big barrel of Fire Crab, saying that to pass the exam, they had to find out the Fire Crab's favorite food.
There were three types of food on the field, all part of the Fire Crab's diet, so even grabbing randomly with eyes closed would pass, it was the easiest exam they ever took.
Kael also had plenty of opportunities to chat with Hagrid.
"Thank you for the tonic, Kael."
Hagrid said softly: "There are some spiders in the Forbidden Forest lacking energy lately, they just need some tonic."
"How are they now?" Kael asked.
"Much better," Hagrid said happily, "they look just like before, very healthy."
"That's good," Kael was also pleased.
Then without even glancing at the Fire Crab Kael held, Hagrid gave him full marks.
Late at night was the Astronomy exam, everyone fought to stay awake, drowsily heading to the top of the tallest tower, along the way complaining that this class should have been the last exam.
So afterwards, they wouldn't have to worry about being late for the next day's exam and could finally get a good sleep.
Magic History was on Wednesday afternoon, the hardest exam to endure, the classroom with doors and windows closed, not a hint of wind, suffocatingly hot.
Luckily, it would all soon be over, once tomorrow is passed... they would be greeted with a full two-month holiday.
The second-to-last exam was Divination.
Early in the morning, Kael went ahead to the Divination classroom, placing a brand new Crystal Ball in the corner, in a place directly facing Professor Trelawney.
The exam lasted a long time, averaging about ten minutes per person, making Divination the longest exam running from morning until midday.
When finally Professor Trelawney came out, Kael, who had waited a long time, quickly returned to the classroom.
Unfortunately, this time, Professor Trelawney never made a real prophecy until the exam ended.
The Crystal Ball remained spotless, revealing no record inside.
Kael regrettably picked it up, putting it back into his pocket.
This thing wasn't cheap, ten Galleons each, and he wondered if it could be returned...
When Kael reached the Auditorium, the place was already full.
Everyone was excitedly gathered, eagerly awaiting the end of the afternoon's exam.
Kael sat down between Conna and Cedric, just in time to hear them discussing the O.W.Ls.
"How does it feel?" Conna asked, "Were the questions very difficult?"
"Harder than usual exams," Cedric said, "but still okay, all content we've learned, don't worry, you will definitely pass next year.
Actually, the N.E.W.T. in the seventh year is truly challenging, some seventh-years haven't slept at night for days, continuously reciting."
"How do they manage the daytime exams then?" Mikel approached, "No sleep for days, do they even have energy?"
The Astronomy exam only meant losing a few hours of sleep, and today he felt incredibly sleepy, not sleeping for two or three days in a row, he figured he might not even wake up.
"Force themselves," Cedric said, "or drink some Stimulant Potion the night before, although during the Ultimate Wizarding Exam many Magic Potions are banned, Stimulant Potion is not among them as long as it's drunk early enough, there's completely no problem."
The last exam was Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Professor Lupin gave the most unusual test they had faced so far, a kind of outdoor obstacle course.
The field he set up near the Forbidden Forest came in handy.
They had to go through a forest inhabited by Fwooper, break through a swamp full of Little Demons, reach a shrub, and find three Budtuckles hidden in advance; if they failed to find them within the stipulated time, or harmed them, points would be deducted.
"Well done, Kael."
When Kael emerged from the passage, Professor Lupin smiled and said, "Full marks!"
Kael achieved the first full marks.
Mikel, who went with him, was still stuck at the first challenge, influenced by the Fwooper, he kept walking in circles, occasionally jumping as if something were blocking the road.
Until a few minutes passed, he suddenly collided with a tree, snapping him out of it.
Even Kael from afar could see his flushed face.
Afterwards, Conna also passed the exam, and like Kael, achieved full marks.
...