Chapter 436: Eve of Easter

When Wizard Sean Green left the alchemy office, the evening glow burned crimson-hot.

Professor Terra had already secured suppliers and even built a complete production chain using her own alchemy workshop.

This meant they could truly meet the needs of the entire magical world.

The only problem was that mass-produced magic hand mirrors were of abysmal quality; the magical circuits Wizard Sean had engraved were incomprehensible to alchemy apprentices, and even wizards with years of experience in alchemy struggled to perfectly replicate them.

As a result, the best of these mirrors lasted no more than two years.

Yet Professor Terra actually laughed and called it a good thing…

In her eyes shone a cunning light Wizard Sean had never seen before.

It made Wizard Sean realize he still had a long way to go in the field of alchemy.

…

Bright spring had arrived.

The weather grew clearer and warmer, with gentle breezes, yet young wizards spent their days cooped up indoors, finishing assignments and making endless trips to the library.

Perhaps the course selection had instilled a sense of urgency, or perhaps professors had piled on more homework—before the Easter break, young wizards seemed to have endless tasks ahead.

They discussed not only the recently concluded course selection but also upcoming exams.

“You don’t know? In fifth year, we’ll face a terrifying exam.

Fred and George Weasley will need to study hard next year—they’ll take the O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level).

Percy must prepare to pass the N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test), the highest qualification Hogwarts offers.

Percy must maintain top grades—he’s obsessed with joining the Ministry.”

Ron gestured wildly over breakfast.

“O.W.L.?”

Harry asked helplessly.

“Ordinary Wizarding Level, Harry—all fifth-year students take it,”

Ron said.

“Mm-hmm, Professor McGonagall said her N.E.W.T. class only accepts students who score ‘Exceeds Expectations’ or higher on their O.W.L.,”

Hermione added.

“And what’s N.E.W.T.?”

Harry’s head spun.

“Oh, Harry, Wood’s trained you into a fool—Jia Jia Siting mentioned it just a few days ago…”

Ron shouted on, then suddenly fell silent. He remembered Harry had been absent—he’d been training. His words stuck in his throat, half-swallowed.

Finally, he looked as if he’d swallowed a slug, his face swollen.

“It’s the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test… After fifth year, Hogwarts cancels most courses and keeps only top-performing wizards in the N.E.W.T. class—they continue studying at Hogwarts and eventually take the N.E.W.T. exam.”

Jia Jia Siting patiently explained again.

“What if you don’t want to take it?”

Harry blurted out, thinking of Potions class.

Two more years of that…

Harry shook his head hard.

“You leave Hogwarts, Harry,”

Jia Jia Siting said.

“No…”

Harry felt as if struck by a sledgehammer.

Even Potions class now seemed tolerable.

“You can choose the courses you like, Harry—you don’t have to take them all.”

At the mention of “all,” Hermione glanced at Wizard Sean.

He ate quietly, making no sound.

After hearing their conversation, he slipped into his usual state of deep thought.

It was easy to tell when he shifted into that state—he slowed down dramatically in eating.

Wizard Sean sipped pumpkin juice while pondering Hogwarts’ education system and the future paths of wizards.

Hogwarts had two major exams: the O.W.L. and the N.E.W.T.

They determined wizards’ futures in sequence.

For example, St. Mungo’s Hospital required at least an ‘E’ in N.E.W.T. exams for Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

For Aurors, you needed at least five N.E.W.T. certificates, none below ‘Exceeds Expectations.’

Most young wizards didn’t realize this—they simply studied every subject well, hoping to have enough options when career guidance arrived.

Jia Jia Siting and Wizard Sean both realized this simultaneously; Jia Jia Siting instinctively turned his gaze to his side, and by chance, Wizard Sean met his eyes.

“It seems the magical world has no career guidance?”

Jia Jia Siting whispered.

“There will be some in fifth year—too early a guidance won’t be effective,”

Wizard Sean said.

“Hmm, but we’re different, aren’t we?”

Jia Jia Siting glanced especially at Harry.

He’d been vacillating lately between training and skipping it.

“Yes.”

Wizard Sean replied softly.

Outside Hogwarts Castle, the morning was brilliantly bright.

The sky was a clear, hazy pale blue; through the window, Wizard Sean could see the tall beech tree at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where Hagrid worked, wearing a not-too-thick coat, his beard trembling with each movement.

Easter was approaching, and with it came the news of Lockhart’s trial.

People were so astonished they nearly swallowed their tongues.

In the Great Hall, when the news was announced, Professor McGonagall immediately fixed her piercing gaze on Wizard Sean.

Around her, the professors were delighted—no one liked Lockhart; even Professor Sprout had drunk extra cups of butterbeer, her cheeks flushed.

The young wizards held the newly released Daily Prophet, unable to believe that Lockhart, a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, had deceived the entire magical world.

Even more surprising was that Rita Skeeter was still the lead reporter.

No one knew when she had begun to “turn over a new leaf.”

Though her reports remained exaggerated, at least they weren’t pure fabrications.

Rita herself had been riding high lately.

With ready-made sensational news, she had no need to embellish.

After all, though she was a Daily Prophet reporter, she wasn’t always the lead writer—otherwise she wouldn’t have had to transform into a beetle and fly around everywhere.

But since meeting that person…

“Defense Against the Dark Arts is canceled?”

Harry asked eagerly.

“I think so!”

Ron answered eagerly,

“Besides, we’ve already had plenty of practical experience.”

Ron added to the gloomy Hermione.

“You’re overthinking it!”

Hermione snapped.

She looked at Dumbledore, his beard long and white.

The kind headmaster indeed announced that Professor Snape would serve as the temporary instructor.

Amid Harry’s stunned silence and Ron’s mournful expression, Wizard Sean realized something.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts position was cursed—no professor lasted more than a year.

But Professor Snape was always the substitute, and he wouldn’t last a year either.

Was this… a bug in the curse?