Rediscovering Potential (2)

The crystal chamber buzzed faintly with magical energy, its ambient hum a backdrop to the professors' hushed conversations. The test had undergone remarkable evolution over the decades. Fifty years ago, Hogwarts, Avalon, Stonehenge, Pendragon, and Fae Haven had collaborated to standardize this assessment, a pivotal move toward unifying magical education. In the past, each institution's crystal only tested students on subjects within their specialization. Now, the standardized crystal encompassed all domains, offering a comprehensive scorecard across various magical disciplines.

This change had opened the door for rare exchanges or transfers between schools in the past decade, though such moves were uncommon. Students typically joined schools chosen by their parents, leaving little room for personal preference. Still, the standardized test served as an excellent tool for uncovering untapped potential and encouraging cross-disciplinary exploration.

The crystal tested students in the following categories:

Pioneered by Hogwarts: Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, History of Magic, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination. 

Pioneered by Stonehenge: Runic & Ward Mastery, Spell Magical Theory, Geomancy, Alchemy, and Ritual Studies.

Pioneered by Fae Haven: Magical Beast Lore, Advanced Herbology, Beast Mastery & Training, Advanced Potioneering, and Animal Empathy.

Pioneered by Pendragon: Battle Spells, Tactical Dueling, Magical Fitness, Defensive Magic & Barriers, and Illusion Magic.

Pioneered by Avalon: Elemental Magic (Fire, Air, Water, Earth, Light, Dark), Healing Arts, Weather Weaving, Druidic Studies, and Purification Magic.

Nero stepped forward again, his wand, Liss, resting lightly in his hand. This time, the crystal's glow grew almost blinding as he channeled his magic into it, his focus unwavering. The room seemed to hold its breath. A ripple of energy pulsed outward, creating a sense of pressure that made even seasoned professors shift uncomfortably.

The crystal vibrated, its core swirling with iridescent light. The professors exchanged wary glances as the crystal began to shake faintly. Then, with a final flash, it emitted a soft chime and produced a parchment. The glow dimmed, but the air still crackled with residual energy.

Professor Flitwick stepped forward, retrieving the parchment. As he read, his eyes widened, and his lips parted slightly in disbelief.

"Four Exalted rankings?" he exclaimed, his voice almost reverent. "And 3 Super Scary?"

The other professors gathered around, peering at the parchment over his shoulder.

"Unbelievable," murmured Professor Sprout, her expression a mix of awe and bewilderment. 

The parchment listed Nero's results:

EX (Exalted) Talent:

-Transfiguration

-Water Magic

-Spell Magical Theory

-Defensive Magic & Barriers

Super Scary (SS) Talent:

-Charms

-Ritual Studies

-Tactical Dueling

-Arithmancy

Outstanding Talent (O) Talent:

-Defense Against the Dark Arts

-Fire Magic

-Earth Magic

-Battle Spells

Exceeds Expectations Talent (E) Talent:

-Air Magic

-Light Magic

-Dark Magic

-Healing Arts

-Purification Magic

-Geomancy

-Magical Fitness

-Illusion Magic

-Animal Empathy

Acceptable Talent (A) Talent:

-Care of Magical Creatures

-Weather Weaving

-Runic & Ward Mastery

-Alchemy

-Herbology

-History of Magic

Poor Talent (P) Talent:

-Potions

-Advanced Herbology

-Druidic Studies

-Magical Beast Lore

-Beast Mastery & Training

Dreadful Talent (D) Talent:

-Astronomy

-Divination

Troll Talent (T) Talent:

-Advanced Potioneering

Nero glanced between the glowing crystal, the parchment bearing his results, and the professors, his excitement barely contained. His thoughts raced faster than he could organize them, and it showed in the gleam in his eyes.

Professor Flitwick, always warm and encouraging, raised a hand to temper the mood. "Congratulations, Nero. Your results are nothing short of remarkable. However, do not let this inflate your ego. True mastery lies not in talent alone but in the dedication and perseverance you bring to your studies."

Nero's grin didn't falter, but it shifted into something more contemplative. "Oh, I'm thrilled with the results, don't get me wrong, but what excites me more is how this crystal works! The way it evaluates raw magical energy and translates it into measurable talents, imagine the applications!" His voice grew animated, hands gesturing as he spoke.

Professor McGonagall's stern expression softened, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Curiosity, tempered with purpose, is indeed an admirable quality, Mr. Ravenclaw. This crystal represents centuries of collaborative magical ingenuity, a legacy we hold in high regard."

Nero leaned forward slightly, his excitement spilling into his tone. "So, if I understand correctly, EX rankings are quite rare?"

"Exceptionally," McGonagall replied, adjusting her glasses. "Traditionally, an EX ranking appears perhaps once every decade across all students. SS rankings, while also rare, occur more frequently, perhaps a few students each year."

"Interesting," Nero mused, his mischievous spark returning. "So, with something this rare, isn't there a reward system in place for those achieving an EX ranking talent?"

The professors exchanged deadpan, sheepish glances before Flitwick admitted with a small cough, "Not as of now."

"Tragic," Nero said with mock disappointment, though the glint of humor in his eyes betrayed him. "Given my exceptional results and the crystal's clear connection to my ancestor's legacy, wouldn't it make sense for me to...oh, I don't know...lightly dismantle it? Or at least claim a small fragment for research purposes?"

The room held its breath for a beat before Professor Sprout's voice cut through, both firm and faintly amused. "Absolutely not. Now, off you go, Mr. Ravenclaw. We still have other students to test."

"Worth a shot," Nero muttered under his breath, turning toward the exit with exaggerated reluctance. His steps were slow, as if expressing his hesitation to leave what he considered a treasure trove of untapped knowledge.

The crystal lingered in his mind. The precision with which it judged talents intrigued him, and he was already brainstorming questions: How were talents assessed? Were they innate, or could they be cultivated? Could inborn talent be elevated to EX ?

The thought of one day retaking the test, armed with mastery over every subject and a parchment glowing with EX rankings, brought a sly grin to his face. The professors would surely be speechless, or perhaps faint outright.

One thing was certain: where his talents fell short, determination would prevail. He would grind every gap in his abilities into submission, one spell, one challenge, and one breakthrough at a time.

As the door closed behind Nero, the professors exchanged a collective sigh of relief.

"All four heirs are monsters in terms of talent," Flitwick muttered, shaking his head in disbelief.

McGonagall adjusted her glasses again, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"And they're more than that," Snape added dryly, his voice laced with annoyance.

"They're walking calamities. Mrs. Gryffindor launched her enchanted dagger at the crystal, claiming she was testing its 'fortitude.' Mrs. Slytherin attempted to blow up the crystal, presumably just to evaluate its durability. Mr. Hufflepuff decided the crystal had a spirit and attempted to negotiate with it. And now Mr. Ravenclaw wants to dissect it."

Sprout shook her head, her expression half-exasperated, half-amused. "We'll have to tread carefully with this group. Clear expectations, precise instructions, and above all, vigilance. The potential for chaos is... immeasurable."

The room fell quiet as they exchanged knowing glances. Each of the heirs seemed destined to leave an indelible mark on Hogwarts. For better or worse.

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