Download App
25.06% A Bend in Time / Chapter 307: C.S.A.E. Office

Chapter 307: C.S.A.E. Office

Strangely enough, the three of them were given wide ample room inside the lift. This was possibly due to Reginald's icy glare, which spoke of an instant, painful death should any of the employees of the Ministry of Magic decide to foolish be in close proximity. The wizards and witches in the elevator pointedly kept their eyes away from them as the various buttons on the panel are pushed. The grilles slid shut with a crash and the lift ascended slowly, chains rattling all the while, while the same cool female voice from the telephone box rang out again.

"Level seven, Department of Magical Games and Sports, incorporating the British and Irish Quidditch League Headquarters, Official Gobstones Club, and Ludicrous Patents Office."

The lift doors opened to reveal a rather untidy-looking corridor with various posters of Quidditch teams in a pile as office members were running around like their heads were cut off. But it made sense given that the World Quidditch Cup was nearly upon them. In fact, there was a small fire burning in the hallway that no one seemed to have yet noticed. It vividly reminded Rowan of some sort of future apocalyptic setting. A haggard witch in the lift let out a fearful shriek at the sight of the burning blaze and rushed out as the doors closed shut and the lift juddered upward again.

They stopped at several floors as several paper airplanes swooped inside the lift. The paper airplanes idly flapped above their heads before getting off at their correct floors. They were the last ones to get off as they got off on the first floor and did as they were told.

Severus blankly stares at the windows that show sunlight streaming through despite their being underground. "Er," Severus starts to say, before Reginald replies, "The windows are enchanted by the Magical Maintenance department every day."

Severus nods and turns towards Rowan, who still had her perpetual look of disinterest on her face. Muttering under his breath, Severus says, "Sheesh, at least act a little bit surprised." And either Rowan hadn't heard him, or she simply didn't care to answer.

Reginald stopped before the door that read, "C.S.A.E., the Comprehension Student Apprenticeship Exam Office." Reginald moved to open the door to find a very old witch by wizarding standards by the door, (who had presided over Reginald's own N.E.W.T exams during his time at Hogwarts).

The old witch's eyes were still bright as she said, "Prince, I remember your Charm and DADA scores. Top marks, they were."

Reginald flushes in discomfort as Madam Professor Griselda Marchbanks, (also an elder of the Wizengamot), says, "But you did absolutely terrible on your Divination and Transfiguration exams." Both Rowan and Severus turned to eye their grandfather as Reginald, who is rather flustered by Madam Marchbank's works quickly glanced away.

As if satisfied at causing a former student examinee to blush in embarrassment, Madam Marchbanks turns to stare at the two young examinees. Severus warily stares back as Rowan maintains her usual cool demeanor. Slowly nodding, she finally understood the abrupt rush for the apprenticeship and why the Minister of Magic had personally approved the sudden testing. Only fourteen and the two Prince grandchildren were showing the initial crackles of power. They were a potential danger to themselves and others if their power was not properly channeled.

"You are no longer needed, Reginald Prince," Madam Marchbanks dismissed the younger wizard in her eyes, who still was far too young in her opinion. (Then again, Madam Marchbanks had even been the exam instructor for Headmaster Albus Dumbledore back in the 1890s). "Run along, you cannot accompany them any further than this."

Reginald glares at the old witch, but despite his towering height, he was the one who felt rather young and small before her. Rather reluctantly, he turns to the twins and says, "I'll be back as soon as you're both finished." Too embarrassed to give them a hug, he ruffles their hair, before he irritably strides away.

Madam Marchbanks lets out a sound of satisfaction hiding a cheeky grin. "That boy always thinks he's so clever. He needs to be brought down a notch or two, every now and then." Severus choked, while Rowan smirks at the remark.

Despite her being much shorter than Rowan and Severus, Madam Marchbanks seemed rather imposing. Madam Marchbanks motions for them to enter the small office, where a single middle-aged clerk with cropped hair sat behind one of the desks, while the other desk held the head of the office, an elderly wizard carefully reviewing the few applications they had. The office was rather simply decorated with only a plant and some plain decorative furnishings hung inside the tiny office.

Sitting in chairs against the wall are three older figures, a witch, and two wizards. "This is Master Linnaeus," Madam Marchbanks pointed to a solemn wizard. "Master Linnaeus will be administrating the Potions and Herbology portions of the exam."

Pointing to the next seated occupant, a curly silver-haired witch, Madam Marchbanks says, "This is Madam Berk, and she will be administrating the Astronomy, Arithmancy, Ancient Runes, and Divination portion of the exam."

Pointing to a rather tanned man with a scholarly air, she says, "Master Strauss, will be administrating the Care of Magical Creatures exam portion and that of the History of Magic written exam."

"I myself will be administrating the exam portion for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Charms, and Transfiguration," Madam Marchbanks firmly declared. "Are there any questions up to this moment?"

"Excellent," Madam Marchbanks said at seeing that neither of them had raised their hands. "The written portion of the exams will solely consist of questions rather than any essay questions. This is a comprehensive exam to see what knowledge has been acquired and what is lacking. As for the practical exams, they will all be administrated by the assigned proctor with one of us serving as a witness to be certain there has been no tampering nor cheating during any of the exams."

Madam Marchbanks had paused in emphasis of her last statement, before adding, "The entire exam process should take no more than a week. I trust the both of you have been duly informed?"

Rowan and Severus both nod as Madam Marchbanks says, "Now if we may take a closer look at your bags?" Madam Marchbanks casts a spell, but nothing happens showing that there is no contraband nor anything that was forbidden on the list of instructions.

"Good, now if you would hand over your wands to Madam Berk to be checked," Madam Marchbanks instructed. "Then we can be on our way to the first written exam."

Severus hands his wand over first to Madam Berk, the curly silver-haired witch checks the wand in her hand. Peering at the wand, she finally says, "Blackthorn with a silver dragon's heartstring. 13 1/2 inches. Firm, but flexible."

Satisfied she hands the wand back as Rowan hands her wand over. Madam Berk's eyes narrow into points as she slowly says, "Elder with a Thestral core. 13 Inches. Powerful."

The adults are rather stunned as Master Linnaeus mutters the wand lore phrase known to all wizarding children, "Wand of elder, never prosper."

Madam Marchbanks flashes Master Linnaeus a warning glance as Madam Berk quickly hands the wand back as if she'd been scalded. There had been an unnatural presence to that wand. As though there was a snake coiling around in her hand ready to strike back.

"Now that has been taken care of, we shall start with the first of the written exams followed by the astronomy exam to be held later at midnight," Madam Marchbanks said, before leading them out of the office and down the corridor. A nearby room had been specially prepared for those applying for the C.S.A.E examination.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
EsliEsma EsliEsma

As I wrote this chapter, I had the sudden realization that the Magical Maintenance holds a great deal of control and power over the Ministry of Magic. Example: Voldemort's forces were successful, cough, and I am pretty sure that all it took was one successful bribe to any of these fellows and suddenly the keys to the kingdom were his. Was it any wonder that the Ministry of Magic fell as easily as it did in HP?

Chapter 308: C.S.A.E.

After Rowan and Severus's wands are checked, they are instructed to put their wands away, before taking a seat at two desks. They were each given anti-cheating quills and told that the first written exam would be on the History of Magic. And after a quick glance at the parchment, the twins realized that this written exam was more of multiple questions or replying with the correct answer rather than being in an essay format.

The two of them quickly got to work and tried their best to remember everything they had studied even if that seemed like an impossible feat at the same time. The History of Magic contained vast information and they had only had roughly a month and a half to prepare. However, there were portions on the exam where they had to simply just guess or write semi-detailed answers as they couldn't recall the entire relevant or obscure pertaining details for said historical event. Needless to say, neither Rowan nor Severus was pleased as they had always been able to give their best on an exam.

Finally, roughly after two hours, Rowan and Severus finished with a loud groan of relief. Master Strauss, the proctor for the exam chuckled at seeing their exhausted faces. "I'm sure both of you would like a break now, before your next exam. We'll have a bit of tea before Master Linnaeus has you take the Potions written exam."

"Thank you," the twins with great relief, while Master Linnaeus, who had been the witness snorted in annoyance. However, Master Strauss jovially winked at them and also subtly pointed out the restroom door that was connected to the classroom for them to use.

After a fifteen-minute break, Master Linnaeus had them go back to work. Not very surprisingly, this portion of the exam was a cinch for Severus, who flew through the exam and finished first. Rowan took much longer to finish and was greeted by Severus's smug face smirking at her. Rowan in turn sneered back at him vowing to get back at her twin.

Before the next written exam could be given by Master Linnaeus, there was a knock on the door. The single clerk from the C.S.A.E office is a middle-aged woman with neatly cropped hair who peeks her head inside the classroom. "It is lunchtime," the clerk quickly announced.

Master Linnaeus frowns, but says, "Very well, bring in their lunch."

The clerk quickly steps inside with a tray filled with two bowls of creamy potato soup, two slices of bread, and two cranberry scones. The clerk carefully places the trays onto each desk without spilling a single drop of soup. "Please merely place the trays outside of the door, I'll come back and collect them in a bit," the clerk mumbled, before scurrying away and closing the door behind her.

Starving Rowan and Severus happily dug in and devoured every single crumb of their meal. And if they were honest, the meal simply tasted divine. But then again, they were starving, and food always tastes better that way.

The instant they were done, Master Linnaeus had them take the Herbology written exam. Rowan happily made her way through this exam, while Severus struggled a bit on some of the questions. With great delight, Rowan put down her quill and smugly waited for Severus. It took Severus some time to complete the exam and he fiercely scowled at her when he put down his quill. Rowan merely smirked back in petty revenge.

Feeling rather dizzy with a bit of a headache at this point, Rowan and Severus hope that they will get another break as Master Linnaeus collected their scrolls. As if right on cue, the cropped-haired female clerk knocks on the door and says, "It is dinner time."

Master Linnaeus snorts and says, "The written exam portions are done for now. After dinner, the clerk will escort you to a secure area in which to rest. I suggest the both of you nap as Madam Berk will have the both of you up at midnight to take the Astronomy exam portion." With a flourish, Master Linnaeus departs with Master Strauss, who had been the witness to Master Linnaeus smiling at them, before leaving the classroom.

After dinner, the middle-aged female clerk returns to the twins their small overnight bags. "Please follow me, this way examinees," the clerk directed them towards a nearby door just down the hall from where they were at.

The clerk unlocks the door with a great golden key and says, "There are two small, clean beds found inside. There is also a small adjacent bathroom including a small shower for use. The door will be locked from the outside to keep the examinees from wandering about. Are there any questions?"

Rowan and Severus tiredly shook their heads, before stepping inside. The room was dimly lit by candles and smelled a bit dusty as if not in frequent use, but the bedroom was clean even if it was devoid of any other furniture other than the two twin-sized beds propped up against the wall. With a loud click, the clerk firmly closed and locked the door behind him.

Too tired to talk, the two take turns using the bathroom, before climbing into bed and falling fast asleep. They must have slept the entire time because they woke to a start when the door clicked open. Rowan and Severus groggily reached for their wands that were under their pillow as Madam Marchbanks said, "Madam Berk is waiting for the both of you, it's time. However, I'll give you both five minutes to wash your faces and wake up."

Rowan and Severus shuffled to the bathroom and washed their faces with cold water to wake up. The cold water did the trick and they found themselves brightly awake. Shivering at the cold, they followed Madam Marchbanks back to their prior classroom.

Thanks to the Magical Maintenance department the classroom was enchanted to show the night sky hanging overhead. Overall, the Astronomy exam wasn't so bad as it was basically them plotting the planets, stars, constellations, and said astrological movements. Memorizing the Astronomy textbook paid off as the two of them began to fill out the star sheets.

It was just after three in the morning when Rowan and Severus were finally done charting the required cosmos for the Astronomy exam. They are cold and tired, and their hands were aching from writing. They didn't even say thank you to Madam Marchbanks when she escorted them back to their room. Instead, the twins merely kicked off their shoes and climbed into bed, falling fast asleep with their clothes still on.


CREATORS' THOUGHTS
EsliEsma EsliEsma

Please comment, vote, review, and enjoy! Thank you!

Load failed, please RETRY

Weekly Power Status

Batch unlock chapters

Table of Contents

Display Options

Background

Font

Size

Chapter comments

Write a review Reading Status: C307
Fail to post. Please try again
  • Writing Quality
  • Stability of Updates
  • Story Development
  • Character Design
  • World Background

The total score 0.0

Review posted successfully! Read more reviews
Vote with Power Stone
Rank 200+ Power Ranking
Stone 71 Power Stone
Report inappropriate content
error Tip

Report abuse

Paragraph comments

Login

tip Paragraph comment

Paragraph comment feature is now on the Web! Move mouse over any paragraph and click the icon to add your comment.

Also, you can always turn it off/on in Settings.

GOT IT