0102 The Final Exams

No matter how reluctant they were, the final exams inevitably arrived as scheduled.

In this regard, magical schools and Muggle schools shared a common trait.

That is, the vast majority of students disliked exams.

Compared to Muggle school exams, cheating here was much more difficult.

The teachers had given the young wizards special quills for the exams, all enchanted with anti-cheating spells.

Of course, if you could break through the magical enchantments, then your skill level truly wouldn't require taking the exam at all.

The weather had become extremely hot by now, and the large classroom used for exams was particularly stuffy.

This inevitably made them feel restless and irritable while answering questions.

Ron felt this was something the Hogwarts teachers did on purpose.

They could clearly use magic to cool the room, but instead they created this terrible environment, just to prevent them from answering properly. Beyond theory, there were naturally practical exams as well.

The first-year exams were relatively simple—of course, this was only relatively speaking.

For example, in the Transfiguration exam, quite a few people's snuffboxes still had mouse whiskers remaining on them.

But compared to Potions class, this was much better.

The Potions final exam topic was brewing a Forgetfulness Potion.

This was already not simple, and with Professor Snape prowling behind them like an old bat, constantly watching closely,

this made all the young wizards taking the exam extremely nervous, feeling like they had thorns in their backs and fishbones in their throats.

Only when the exam ended did all the young wizards finally breathe a long sigh of relief.

Of course, this didn't include Sherlock and Harry.

Sherlock naturally needed no explanation—as long as Professor Snape didn't use magic, he couldn't affect him at all.

As for Harry—

By now, under Sherlock's influence, Harry had completely accepted this elder who had deep guilt toward his mother and was constantly thinking about protecting him.

As for Snape's dislike of him, that was fine, completely understandable!

I forgive you on behalf of my father!

Noticing Harry's expression, Snape narrowed his eyes.

It took great determination for him to resist deducting points.

Finally, after the last History of Magic exam, the final exams were declared over.

Now they just had to wait a week for the results to be announced.

During this time, they had no classes and could have a wonderful week of fun.

Except for Harry.

He still had one last Quidditch match.

"Much easier than I originally thought!"

When they came out into the bright sunlight, Hermione said cheerfully, "I didn't actually need to remember the 'Werewolf Code of Conduct of 1637' or the course of the goblin rebellions.

Harry, Ron, you should thank me for reminding you to remember who invented the self-stirring cauldron—History of Magic really did test that.

Sherlock, let's compare our answers!"

"Hermione, please, could you not do this?"

Ron looked helpless. "The exam is already over. Even if you know whether you got it right or wrong, it won't help anything!"

"Who says so?"

Hermione put her hands on her hips and said with great momentum, "Exams are just a means, not an end.

Comparing answers helps me clarify the direction for future review. If I discover problems, I can make revision plans in advance and prepare for deeper learning.

Also, comparing answers can reveal better problem-solving techniques, which can inspire me to adjust and optimize my study methods."

"Oh my god!"

"Bloody hell!"

Faced with Hermione's passionate lecture, Harry and Ron simultaneously showed expressions of agony.

Hermione didn't care about them. She grabbed Sherlock and began comparing answers over and over.

Harry and Ron exchanged glances and quietly moved away from the two.

The pair walked all the way to the Black Lake and plopped down under a tree with a thud, finally breathing a long sigh of relief.

"Phew—sometimes I really can't stand her!"

Ron noticed a giant squid lying in the warm shallow water sunbathing, playing with its tentacles, and said to Harry:

"Only Sherlock can put up with her. Mate, what's wrong with you?"

Harry kept rubbing his forehead, saying somewhat irritably:

"Recently, my scar has been hurting constantly—it's hurt like this before, but never as frequently as now."

"Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey," Ron suggested. "If you're sick, you should see a doctor."

"No, it's not because of that—"

Harry hesitated, not knowing whether he should tell Ron about what happened in the Forbidden Forest.

Now that Hermione already knew, it wasn't good to keep it from Ron alone.

"Then what's it because of?"

"Because—"

Just then, the sound of an owl came from above.

Harry and Ron looked up simultaneously and couldn't help but be stunned.

"Watson?"

They saw Watson circling in the air once, then dropping a note to Harry.

"This is for me?"

Harry was even more surprised. Sherlock was right beside him—there was no need to use Watson to send him a message, right?

But when he opened the note and read it, his expression immediately changed.

Without a word, he ran back toward where Sherlock and Hermione were.

"Hey, wait for me!"

Ron abandoned the squid and followed closely behind.

"Why are you back again?"

Seeing Harry and Ron running back one after the other, Hermione said with disgust.

Ron: (￣︶￣)

Sorry for bothering you two!

Sherlock glanced at Watson perched on Harry's shoulder and immediately understood what had happened: "He's gone?"

"Yes!"

Harry directly handed the note to Sherlock.

"Harry, I've received word and am preparing to go to the Ministry of Magic. I expect to return tomorrow. Please tell Sherlock."

The handwriting was bold and powerful with strong strokes, unsigned, but no signature was needed.

While Sherlock was reading the note, Hermione had already leaned over.

"Whose letter is this?"

After reading this sentence, Hermione was completely confused.

"Professor Dumbledore."

"How do you know— Wait, how can he leave at a time like this?"

Hermione had originally wanted to ask Sherlock how he knew this was Dumbledore's letter, but then immediately felt this wasn't important.

She had tried to find Dumbledore several times without success, so she followed McGonagall's advice and focused her energy on the final exams first.

She had originally planned to look for the headmaster after the exams.

Who knew plans couldn't keep up with changes—Dumbledore actually left?

The key point was that Quirrell, as Voldemort's minion, had already made his comeback.

He had suffered such a big loss in the Forbidden Forest, and now Dumbledore was leaving—wasn't this clearly creating an opportunity for him?

At this moment, she could no longer care about any exam or answers.

"I must stop him!"

She said this and without waiting for her three companions to agree, ran out just like the previous times.

"Sherlock, this is—"

Ron looked at this scene with a dazed expression, suddenly feeling like an outsider.

"It's fine, she'll come back."

Just like last time, Sherlock didn't stop Hermione, but turned to Harry and Ron, extending an invitation:

"I need assistants now. Do you want to come?"

The running Hermione was anxious.

Ever since learning last time that Dumbledore wanted Sherlock and Harry to face Voldemort head-on, she felt this headmaster might really be like Sherlock said—having drunk too much sugar lemon water flooding his brain.

It was just that she had tried to find Dumbledore several times without success.

Until today.

Dumbledore had specifically written to Harry saying he was going to the Ministry of Magic and wouldn't return until tomorrow.

Hermione couldn't sit still any longer.

How could there be such a coincidence?

Just as the term was about to end, Dumbledore received word from the Ministry of Magic?

This must be Quirrell's... or rather, Voldemort's conspiracy!

He was deliberately luring Dumbledore out of the school so he could have a chance to steal the Philosopher's Stone.

With Sherlock's abilities, he surely saw through this as well.

Yet he didn't seem to care.

And Harry too—being able to escape from Voldemort once didn't mean he could escape a second time.

So even if it meant exposing this matter, she had to see Dumbledore.

Unfortunately, ideals were ideals while reality was harsh.

This time, she still couldn't see Dumbledore.

Professor McGonagall, carrying a large stack of books, intercepted her halfway.

Even her usually kind and pleasant attitude toward her had changed.

"Professor Dumbledore is not at school. He just left."

McGonagall frowned at Hermione. "Miss Granger, even though the exams are over, I hope you'll focus your energy on studying rather than running around all day for inexplicable reasons!"

"I know Headmaster Dumbledore is going to the Ministry of Magic, but I have something very, very important to tell him—"

"Is what you want to say more important than the Ministry of Magic, Miss Granger?"

McGonagall's voice was ice-cold. She didn't understand how this student she had always favored had suddenly become like this!

Even if it was something very important, couldn't she tell her first?

Or did she not even trust her?

"Well then—"

Hermione was very smart. She could see that McGonagall was displeased with her.

She took a deep breath. "What I want to say is about the Philosopher's Stone—"

McGonagall was equally intelligent, or she wouldn't have nearly been sorted into Ravenclaw back in the day.

But she never expected Hermione to mention this.

The news was so shocking that all the books in her arms fell to the floor, and she didn't even pick them up.

"How do you know about this?"

McGonagall asked stammering.

"Professor, I believe—I know—Quirrell is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone. This matter must be told to Professor Dumbledore."

McGonagall looked at Hermione with a gaze mixing shock and suspicion. After a moment, she slowly spoke:

"Although Quirrell's teaching methods are problematic, you shouldn't question a professor like this.

Also, at Hogwarts, you should call him Professor."

Seeing McGonagall wouldn't believe her, Hermione immediately became anxious:

"But Professor, Headmaster Dumbledore also knows—"

But before she could finish, McGonagall interrupted her.

"Miss Granger, I know what I'm saying."

She bent down to pick up the books that had fallen to the floor.

"I don't know how you learned about the Philosopher's Stone, but please rest assured, it's under the strictest protection. No one can steal it.

Also, I must remind you not to say things that are detrimental to unity."

She straightened up and stared at Hermione. "This time I won't punish you, but if anything, similar happens again, you'll not only cause your house to lose points but also face detention."

After saying this, Professor McGonagall turned and left directly.

Leaving Hermione standing there dumbfounded.

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