As June arrived, the most dreaded time for students had finally come—final exams cast their shadow over all of Hogwarts.
The last-minute crash course Eda had organized for the twins ended the night before the exams began. What started as a study session for just Fred and George gradually turned into a full gathering of their friends.
Lee Jordan had been forcibly dragged into the study group on the third day by the twins. Initially, Fred and George had only sought comfort from him, but when he jokingly teased them, they decided to pull him into the misery.
Since they weren't enjoying themselves, Lee Jordan wouldn't be allowed to either. After all, what are friends for if not to share in both good times and bad.. especially bad times?
Under the pressure from Eda, Lee, already dark-skinned, seemed to grow even darker as his spirits dwindled. This continued until Angelina and Alicia joined, bringing some relief.
As the exams approached, the two girls began to feel a bit anxious too. Since Eda was already helping the twins revise, they decided to join in as well. With more people in the group, Eda found it easier to manage everything.
Angelina and Alicia were better students than the three boys and didn't need as much guidance. In fact, they even helped Eda lighten the load.
The first exam for the first years was Charms.
In the morning, they had a written test in a large lecture hall, with students from all four houses seated together, one house per column, filling the entire room.
When the test papers were handed out, Eda first skimmed through the entire exam.
There weren't any particularly difficult questions. The topics she had emphasized with Fred and George were well-represented on the test.
The exam focused on spells, wand movements, and their effects. Eda answered quickly, and while others were still hunched over their parchment, chewing on their quills, she had already finished and even had time to double-check her answers.
Before leaving, Eda made sure to check on the twins. If they didn't do well on this exam, she was ready to make each of them drink a whole bottle of a brain-enhancing potion.
After turning in her written exam, Eda moved to the small classroom next door for the practical Charms exam, where Professor Flitwick was the examiner.
Professor Flitwick first asked Eda to perform the Levitation Charm, followed by using the Severing Charm to cut a small wooden block, and finally, the Repairing Charm to restore the cut block.
Eda executed the spells flawlessly, her smooth and precise performance bringing a smile to Professor Flitwick's face.
He waved his hand and awarded her full marks. As long as her written exam didn't fall short, she was assured an "O" in Charms for her final grade.
In the afternoon, the students returned to the same classroom for their History of Magic exam, which was a written test only.
Despite often dozing off or doing other classwork during History of Magic, Eda was still very good at it. She had read a lot of history books, which were far more interesting than Professor Binns' lectures.
In the evening, the students still didn't get a break as they had to head to the Astronomy Tower for their Astronomy exam.
Professor Sinistra asked them to draw the night's star chart and label as many important stars as they could; the more names they wrote, the higher their score would be.
Eda wasn't about to miss out on such an opportunity.
After drawing the star chart, she wrote down every star name she could fit until there was no space left. When she turned in her exam, Professor Sinistra felt a bit overwhelmed looking at the densely written star chart.
Professor Sinistra wanted to grab Eda by the collar and ask how she managed to write all those names in such a limited space.
With the end of the Astronomy exam, the first-year students finally got a chance to rest. The remaining exams could wait until tomorrow.
The next day, there were two more exams to take: Herbology in the morning and Transfiguration in the afternoon, both involving written and practical components. The difference was that the practical part of Herbology took place in the greenhouse.
Written exams were never a problem for Eda; she had been through far more grueling tests than those at Hogwarts.
Her only concern was the practical part of Herbology, and sure enough, she made a mistake in the greenhouse, accidentally damaging the roots of a plant, spilling its sap all over the place. The chances of getting an "O" in that subject were likely gone.
For the Transfiguration practical, Professor McGonagall decided to increase the difficulty for Eda. While the other students were transfiguring inanimate objects, Eda was given a live mouse to transfigure.
Eda first turned the mouse into an exquisite snuffbox, then into a goblet, skillfully completing the advanced task.
Professor McGonagall nodded in approval, clearly satisfied with Eda's transfiguration skills, especially since the snuffbox and goblet closely resembled the ones McGonagall herself had transformed during a demonstration at the orphanage—a detail Eda had remembered all this time.
On the third day, they had only one exam left: Potions.
With Flying being a required course but not requiring an exam, and the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam canceled, they were just one step away from freedom!
The morning written exam was easy for Eda, but she was worried about the twins since the topics she had predicted for them to study didn't appear on the test.
They would have to rely entirely on their own knowledge.
The afternoon practical was conducted together, with each student required to brew a Swelling Solution. The final grade would depend on the potion's quality and, of course, Professor Snape's subjective evaluation.
Once the Potions exam was over, the twins were finally free. Classes were done, exams were finished, and they no longer had to endure Eda's rigorous study sessions. They could now enjoy themselves to their heart's content until the results came in.
The twins and Lee Jordan were happily running around on the grass outside the castle, while the three girls walked together, discussing the exam answers.
Angelina and Alicia were mainly the ones comparing answers, with Eda pointing out any mistakes they made.
Eda never understood this behavior—once the exams were over, and with no need to estimate grades for Hogwarts' finals, what was the point of comparing answers?
'If you realize you made a lot of mistakes, how could you possibly enjoy the days ahead?'
Just look at the three "unleashed wild dogs" on the grass ahead—they didn't care at all about how they did in the exams, perfectly embodying the carefree attitude.
"I feel like I did terribly. I messed up so much in Potions and Transfiguration. This holiday is going to be a disaster for me," Alicia said, looking worried after comparing answers.
"Same here. I'll probably pass, but my grades won't be great," Angelina added, sharing the same concern.
A familiar feeling washed over Eda.
Their reactions reminded her of those top students who always claimed they did poorly after exams, only to end up with the best grades, leaving everyone else gritting their teeth in frustration.
"How did you do, Eda? Do you think you'll get first place?" Angelina asked.
Eda hesitated for a moment. She considered imitating those top students and downplaying her performance, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. In the end, she chose to be honest.
"Except for Herbology, I should have all Os. Herbology might just be an A," Eda replied.
Being straightforward is key—if you did well, you did well; if not, then so be it.
There's no point in putting on a false front with your friends, it's just pointless!
The only grade Eda was unsure about was Herbology. She wasn't sure how many points Professor Sprout might deduct. If Professor Sprout was lenient, maybe Eda could even get an "Exceeds Expectations."?
"I'm so jealous! If I could get grades like that, my parents would definitely reward me, and my allowance would definitely double!" Alicia said with envy.
"If I did that well, I could get a new broom next term, and my chances of joining the house team would be much higher," Angelina added, equally envious.
Eda laughed and said, "I'm jealous of you guys too! Your broomsticks behave so well in your hands, but in mine, they're only good for sweeping the floor."
"Good thing there's no flying exam, or you'd definitely have a T on your report card!" Angelina teased.
"T? Are you saying Eda's a troll?" the twins, who had just run back, shouted.
"So, you two want to know what it feels like to be knocked out by a troll?" Eda threatened, pretending to be angry.
The twins quickly ran off again, laughing as they shouted, "Catch us if you can, and we'll…"
"You two better stop right there! I'll make you pay today!" Eda yelled, chasing after them.
In the sunlight, the three of them ran and chased each other across the grass.
And so, the first year at Hogwarts came to a close on this beautiful afternoon.
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After the final exams, Eda decided to take a break and gave herself a vacation. She spent her days goofing off with the twins, running around wildly during the day and exploring secret passages at night, living a carefree life.
Eda also took some time to check her system. This system had been a great help to her, but it didn't interfere with her life much, so quiet that Eda almost forgot about it.
With the school year over, students would receive their grades and attend the end-of-year feast before heading home, so the system completed its review of her first year.
The system always had a sharp tongue, which Eda had long gotten used to.
The system displayed:
============
Name: Esmeralda Twist
Gender: Female
Age: Thirteen
Height: 5 feet 1 inch (about 154.5 cm, finally no longer looking for the host on the ground!)
Weight: 86 pounds (about 39 kg, better but still just a little more wid and the host can seen flying!)
Wand: Yew wood, phoenix feather, 14¾ inches (With this wand combination, shouldn't the host be doing something significant?)
Occupation: Hogwarts Student (First Year)
Best Subjects: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions (Dumber than a Troll in Herbology! The host seems a bit biased in her studies, huh?)
Talents:
Magic Reserve: (Your magic reserve has exceeded that of an average adult wizard, lifting you from cannon fodder status, but you're still a novice.)
Quick Learner: (You have strong learning abilities, you learn good things quickly, but bad things even faster.)
Empathy: (Don't you want to learn some skills? Highly recommend the two unparalleled manuals: Tea Talk and Two-Faced Speech.)
Recklessness: (Acting without thinking, or striking out when angry, with a chance of double-casting spells. Let's see how long you will live.)
=============
Eda felt a bit frustrated when she saw her new talents displayed by the system, Even though she was born in Europe in this life, it hadn't changed her nature.
Relying on luck and chances felt too uncertain. It could be the cherry on top, but it was unreliable when you really needed it.
Eda continued reading, noting the system's evaluation of the spells she had mastered. For instance, the system described her mastery of the Lumos charm as "Expert: You said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light."
Spells she frequently used, like Stupefy, Bombarda, and Expelliarmus, had all reached the level of mastery. Even those she used less often were at least at a basic level.
However, Eda noticed three spells on the long list that she had never actively learned:
Avada Kedavra: (Barely proficient. While others use a green flash to claim a life, your green flash might just give someone a nosebleed.)
Cruciatus Curse: (Barely proficient. A thumb clip might be more effective for you.)
Imperius Curse: (Barely proficient. It's recommended that you learn to brew Amortentia; it might have a higher success rate.)
The familiar tone of the system continued to relentlessly criticize Eda. But for a system that could provide her with help without forcing her to complete tasks, wasn't this little flaw tolerable?
Eda could tolerate it, but after reading the evaluations, she quickly exited the system without any hesitation.
"Hmph! " After all, nobody enjoys being belittled.
Eda hadn't actually studied the Unforgivable Curses. She couldn't access such books at this stage. It seemed that Fawley had used these curses on her so frequently that they had somehow been copied into her system.
Any spell that appeared in the system could be successfully cast by Eda—that was the benefit of having a "cheat." However, the effectiveness of the spell depended on Eda's own abilities.
For example, with the Stupefy spell, whether it just knocked someone down or completely knocked them out, and how long the target remained unconscious, all depended on Eda's skill level and her mastery of the spell.
The three Unforgivable Curses not only required magical power but also a strong emotional drive to maximize their potency. So, while Eda could technically cast them, she couldn't achieve the same level of power as Fawley or other Death Eaters.
Although the system's evaluations were harsh, they were honest.
On the last day of the term, the exam results were finally released.
The previously joyful atmosphere in the common room was replaced by a chorus of groans and complaints.
As expected, Eda's Herbology grade was an "E," while all her other subjects received "O"s. In her heart, Eda once again prayed to Merlin, hoping he would bless the kind Professor Sprout with a 'long' life.
The twins' results were quite decent; they passed all their courses and even got an "O" in one. Their faces were full of excitement, knowing that with these grades, they would at least escape a scolding from Mrs. Weasley during the holidays.
Angelina and Alicia's results were also better than they had anticipated.
The two had already begun discussing which brand of broomstick they should buy. The one who performed the worst was Lee Jordan, barely scraping by in every subject.
Even with his grades in hand, it was still a nail-biting situation.
Early romance can be detrimental to studies—though, on second thought, Lee Jordan was just nursing a crush, so maybe it wasn't so bad...
Throughout the week, Eda kept running into Snape in the corridors, almost as if she were stalking him. Every time they crossed paths, Snape's demeanor was peculiar.
He would press his lips together, looking as though he wanted to say something to Eda, but up until today, he hadn't uttered a word.
In the evening, Eda went downstairs with the twins to attend the end-of-year feast.
By the time they arrived at the Great Hall, it was already packed. Everyone was talking loudly, eagerly discussing their holiday plans.
The hall was adorned with green and silver decorations, the colors of Slytherin.
Though Dumbledore had yet to officially announce it, everyone was certain that Slytherin had won the House Cup.
A massive banner depicting the Slytherin serpent hung on the wall behind the head table. For the fifth year in a row, Slytherin had secured the House Cup.
Snape sat at the teachers' table, his sallow face brimming with satisfaction.
He was doing his best to keep his emotions in check, but if he let go, he might just float away, turning into Hogwarts' latest landmark—the flying bat in the sky.
The Slytherin table was the rowdiest part of the Great Hall. They had won, so they had every right to celebrate, and the other three houses could do nothing but silently endure it. Victory gave them the privilege to revel, after all.
After a while, Dumbledore appeared in the hall, and the noisy chatter around the four long tables gradually died down.
"Haah~ Another year gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Before we indulge in these delightful dishes, I must ask you to bear with an old man's tedious speech. This year, your little minds have surely grown richer than before... Ahead lies an entire summer for you to absorb the knowledge you've gained..."
"Now, as I understand it, we must first conduct the House Cup awarding ceremony. The scores are as follows: In fourth place, Gryffindor, with 404 points; in third, Hufflepuff, with 410 points; in second, Ravenclaw, with 446 points; and in first place, Slytherin, with 482 points."
The Slytherin table erupted in thunderous cheers, and Snape clapped his hands so hard they turned red.
On the Gryffindor side, however, it was quiet.
They had long since fallen out of the race for the House Cup, and their Quidditch performance had been disappointing, leaving them in fourth place—dead last.
For Gryffindor, it was a year of failure. Even though their head, Professor McGonagall, was clapping, everyone knew what she truly felt.
Professor McGonagall had wanted to dethrone Slytherin from the champion's seat for a long time, but with a gap of 78 points between the two houses, her desire to bring them down was far beyond her ability to make it happen.
"Everyone performed quite well, especially Slytherin," Dumbledore said. "Let us congratulate Slytherin for winning this year's House Cup!"
There was no suspense, no last-minute twist.
Slytherin celebrated their victory with unrestrained enthusiasm, making so much noise that it felt as if an explosion had gone off.
The other three houses clapped perfunctorily.
This was the fifth consecutive year of witnessing such a scene, and everyone was longing for a hero—someone who could finally defeat the serpent.
After the banquet, Professor McGonagall handed out a notice to each student, warning them not to use magic during the holidays. Fred Weasley was tempted to tear the notice to shreds, but under Professor McGonagall's stern gaze, he ultimately decided against it.
Eda didn't completely empty her wardrobe. She planned to pick out just a few appropriate outfits to take home, leaving the rest of her trunk's space for next year's belongings.
However, when she opened her trunk, she discovered a small leather pouch inside.
"Hmm?"
This wasn't something that belonged to her, but it had the inscription "Esmeralda, E.J.T." on it.
"Oh.... OHHHHH!"
Opening the small pouch, Eda's eyes gleamed as a small pile of Galleons came in view, probably around thirty or forty.
Eda now had many questions. Who had sent this? Professor McGonagall? Professor Dumbledore? Or perhaps the annoying Professor Snape?
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