With the arrival of June, the weather around Hogwarts became extremely hot and humid, and it was even more unbearable in the castle, but the students had to stay in the castle, forcing their brains to work hard to prepare for the upcoming final exams.
The only comfort for fifth-year students is that professors no longer assign them homework, and the remaining class time is used for them to review what the teachers think are the exam points, so as to better prepare for the upcoming O.W.Ls exams.
While everyone was preparing hard for the final exams, some discordant voices emerged.
For those who have prepared well, O.W.Ls exams are just like that. There is no need to cram like other students, which makes Albert stand out among the busy students.
But geniuses are always a little different from others. Apart from envying them or occasionally complaining and cursing them for failing the exams, people don't waste extra time and thoughts on them.
The sky was clear and cloudless, a good opportunity to go for a walk outdoors, and the summer breeze blew in from the lake, creating ripples on the water.
The students looked out of the windows at the castle, and all wanted to lie outside under the shade of the trees and lazily kill time, but the upcoming exams confined them firmly inside the castle.
However, there are always exceptions.
Albert held Isobel's hand and walked outside the castle, whispering to each other and enjoying their own world.
A breeze blew across the sparkling lake, and the green grass on the lakeside slid like satin. Isobel gently brushed her messy hair, looked at the rippling lake, and smiled gently at Albert beside her.
"Right here!"
Isobel waved her wand and conjured up a picnic blanket out of thin air. She spread it flat on the ground and pulled Albert to sit under the shade of a tree.
"Open it and see what Beetee has prepared for us?" Albert conjured a picnic basket out of thin air, pushed it in front of Isobel and gestured for her to come in.
Isobel opened the picnic basket and a white mist poured out of it. She found a large cup with a strange-looking straw in it. Next to it was an exquisite double serving of ice cream with two spoons and a plate of chilled fruit.
"I think you should focus on your O.W.Ls exams." Isobel picked up the spoon with a smile, scooped a spoonful of ice cream and put it in her mouth. It was sweet and icy. It was really comfortable to eat in the summer.
"It was prepared by the house-elf Beetee. I just asked, and it prepared everything." Albert looked at the girl who gently lifted her hair, lowered her head to sip the cold drink, and slightly adjusted her eyebrows and asked, "How is S's preparation going?"
"I've reviewed everything I need to review. I'll just review it again before the exam to strengthen my memory. What about you?" Isobel picked up the strange-looking straw, held it in front of her and looked at it, then asked in confusion, "How do I use this straw? Why can't I suck up anything?"
"This thing is called a lover's straw." Albert pointed to the other two ends of the straw and said, "It takes two people to use it together to suck it up. Of course, it can also be used by one person, as long as you block the other end and you can suck it up."
"You invented it?"
Isobel felt that she had guessed correctly, and she bit the straw with a smile and took a sip.
Albert always said that he didn't understand romance, but Isobel thought he was deliberately being ignorant.
He has done this kind of thing many times.
Albert felt that it was a bit like drinking a carbonated water drink with mint in it, which made it very refreshing. The house-elf Bit was really talented in cooking.
"Open your mouth, ah!"
Isobel scooped a mouthful of ice cream and held it to Albert's mouth.
Albert opened his mouth and took it in. The ice cream melted in his mouth. It was very cool and sweet.
If all the students in the school were not secluded in the castle preparing for exams, they really would not dare to have an intimate picnic here.
Right now, most students are preparing for their final exams, and no one has the time to spread gossip about them.
In fact, Isobel was not as calm as Albert thought, and the upcoming death still put some pressure on her.
Although Isobel doesn't care much about grades, she still wants to put a perfect end to her school life with all excellent grades.
Most geniuses have a bit of obsessive-compulsive disorder and perfectionism.
"It feels so good now!" Isobel turned her head to look at Albert's face and said infatuatedly. She knew that this was the sweet feeling of love that many girls dreamed of, and it was no wonder that girls yearned for it so much.
"I'll let it go on as long as you want." Albert said, resting his head on Isobel's knees and looking at the blue sky.
"Do you think we'll ever use that boat?"
"That's just a guarantee. No one knows what the future will be like. If you make more preparations, you won't panic when something happens." Albert winked at Isobel and said with a smile, "Besides, even if it doesn't work, we can take a boat to the sea to escape the heat in the summer. I'm looking forward to seeing you in a swimsuit."
"I really don't understand why Muggles would make clothes like that." Isobel's cheeks flushed a little. When they went shopping in a swimsuit store last summer, Albert planned to buy her one, but Isobel eventually declined because she felt that the fabric in that swimsuit was too little and too bold and revealing.
"Perhaps it's to show off their figures and charm. It's a sign of confidence. On the beach where Muggles gather, there are groups of girls wearing swimsuits." Albert said, "If you don't believe me, I can take you there for vacation some other day."
"Alas, Valeria always says that good men are either greedy for power or greedy for beauty, or both." Isobel was pushed to the ground as soon as she opened her mouth. Looking at Albert above, she asked with a smile, "She said you are the second type."
"According to what she said, Dumbledore is that kind of person?" Albert felt a little funny.
"The principal may be an exception!"
"Well, she's right. I do like pretty girls, especially those like you, so..." Before he could finish his words, they were blocked by cherry-colored lips, cutting off all his words.
Next to them, a windmill was spinning in the wind.
Happy times always pass quickly. After June, even Albert has to start concentrating.
He didn't want to fail halfway, after all, it was related to the mission reward.
Even if there was an almost insignificant possibility, Albert would nip it in the bud, after all, there was only one O.W.Ls exam.
In the last Transfiguration class, everyone finally learned about the schedule for the O.W.Ls exams.
"Your O.W.Ls will last for two weeks."
Professor McGonagall distributed the exam dates and times to everyone and said, "You will take the written exam in the morning and the practical exam in the afternoon. You will still have plenty of time to review the exam key points during this period."
Albert glanced at the exam schedule. The first exam was Charms Theory, scheduled for Monday morning.
Well, it's actually no different from the previous O.W.Ls exam arrangements.
"They still want to stop others from cheating?" Fred said to the people around him in a low voice. In recent days, they compared what the professors said with the test papers of previous years. Although there are some differences, they are basically the same.
"The written test is relatively simple. You just need to memorize it. The main thing is practice." George speculated. "I heard that many people get nervous during practical tests and then make mistakes. Doesn't Snape often do that?"
"There is one thing I must remind you of. Cheating is absolutely not allowed during exams." After distributing the exam timetable and returning to the podium, Professor McGonagall said seriously, "Every year there are always students who think they can cheat successfully, but they all fail and receive the most severe punishment."
"Don't try to use automatic answering quills, memory balls, detachable cuffs and automatic error-correcting ink, or even take dragon claw powder in advance. Intelligence enhancers will be detected. I remember a class of students took inferior Bafe brain-stimulating agents and almost turned themselves into fools." When talking about Bafe brain-stimulating agents, Professor McGonagall's eyes stayed on Albert for a moment.
"I emphasize again, do not try to cheat by any means, because your test papers have been cast with the most stringent anti-cheating spells." Professor McGonagall glanced at the students below with a stern look and said, "I hope that there will be no fools in Gryffindor House, or even in the whole school, who will take the initiative to challenge the authority of the Wizarding Examination Board. That would bring shame to the school."
"When will we know the results?" Sana asked, raising her hand.
"Your results will be sent to you by owl in July." Professor McGonagall glanced at Fred, George and Lee Jordan and said sternly, "This exam is related to your sixth grade course selection and your future, so everyone must do their best."
"By the way, there is one more thing. I hope you don't hand in your papers early during the written test, so as not to affect other students who are taking the test." Professor McGonagall looked at Albert again, and it was obvious that her words were directed at him.
"Don't hand in your paper early," Lee Jordan said gloatingly, nudging Albert with his elbow.
Albert always slipped away early for every exam. Now this guy has to stay with them in the stuffy classroom. It's really a pleasant thing.
"I think there's nothing wrong with my theory of the spell."
During dinner, George discussed the exam with everyone at the table: "As for the practical aspects, it will probably be basic movement spells, levitation spells, color change spells, happiness spells... According to the information we have obtained, the professors will also ask you to do certain things to judge your use of spells, but these are not difficult, right?"
As he spoke, he tapped the plate with his magic wand, and it grew legs and started running across the table.
"I don't think this is difficult either." Fred was also good at spells, because this course was very helpful for making joke props, Flitwick always studied very hard, and Flitwick was a great professor, he could always get along well with everyone.
"Where's the practical exam for Transfiguration?" Angelina asked.
"Albert thinks the Vanishing Charm will be tested, because this magic is the most difficult in the O.W.L. Transfiguration exams. It is tested every few years. Last year, the Vanishing Charm was not tested, but it was tested the year before last. The probability of it appearing today is very high. Usually, they will make some animals for you to make them disappear."
"Hearing you say that, I feel like I might get some excellent scores." Sana took out a notebook and wrote these down. He planned to do some special training, as they were all the key points, so it wouldn't be a loss even if he didn't pass the exam.
"I think you will have no problem in this area." The girls were all envious of Shanna's achievements. As for Albert, he was too far away from them.
"By the way, where are the Alberts?" George asked doubtfully.
"He seemed to be going to pick someone up." Li Qiaodan whispered, "I remember he seemed to be very familiar with the examiner. He was probably chatting with them in the professor's lounge."
What Li Jordan said really came true. Albert was indeed called to the classroom lounge to apologize to these elderly examiners.
There was no other way. Dumbledore was the only one who was very familiar with these examiners. The other professors had only average relationships with them and could not chat with them. They had to treat them respectfully, which made both sides very uncomfortable. On the contrary, Albert, who had been exchanging letters with most of them, was able to chat and laugh with them easily and talk about some light topics.
"I heard that Fudge is helping you apply for the Order of Merlin, Third Class." During the chat, Marchbanks happened to mention something about Albert recently. "He said that he saw you use the Restoration Spell on a transformed werewolf and successfully turned the werewolf back into human form. He thought that the spell might be effective in reducing the harm of werewolves. He has exempted you from the review process, but you have to submit some relevant data. I dare say you are definitely the youngest recipient of the Order of Merlin badge."
"I can testify to that." Dumbledore, who had been smiling but saying nothing, said. He probably guessed that this was one of the deals Albert made with Fudge.
"What's going on, Marchbank? Why haven't I heard about this?" asked Professor Tofty.
"I've only heard that Fudge plans to apply for the Order of Merlin, First Class, to recognize his contribution to the wizarding community as Minister of Magic." An elderly man said, "And surprisingly, half of the Wizengamot voted in favor of it. I remember you voted in favor."
"Greengrass, some things are just the way they are. Even if we don't like it, we can't change the fact that Fudge wants a medal. As for how much controversy this will cause in the wizarding world, that's a problem Fudge should solve himself." Marchbanks said bluntly, "Anyway, this isn't the first time he's awarded a medal himself."
"Oh, damn prejudice." Greengrass glanced at the genius next to him and understood.