[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-hogwarts-learning-panel":3,"chapter-hogwarts-learning-panel-hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-436":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Hogwarts Learning Panel",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2250674,4210,"Chapter 436: Eve of Easter","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-436",436,"\u003Cp>When Wizard Sean Green left the alchemy office, the evening glow burned crimson-hot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Professor Terra had already secured suppliers and even built a complete production chain using her own alchemy workshop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This meant they could truly meet the needs of the entire magical world.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a result, the best of these mirrors lasted no more than two years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Professor Terra actually laughed and called it a good thing…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her eyes shone a cunning light Wizard Sean had never seen before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made Wizard Sean realize he still had a long way to go in the field of alchemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bright spring had arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They discussed not only the recently concluded course selection but also upcoming exams.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know? In fifth year, we’ll face a terrifying exam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fred and George Weasley will need to study hard next year—they’ll take the O.W.L. (Ordinary Wizarding Level).\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Percy must prepare to pass the N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test), the highest qualification Hogwarts offers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Percy must maintain top grades—he’s obsessed with joining the Ministry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron gestured wildly over breakfast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“O.W.L.?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry asked helplessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ordinary Wizarding Level, Harry—all fifth-year students take it,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione added.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And what’s N.E.W.T.?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry’s head spun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, Harry, Wood’s trained you into a fool—Jia Jia Siting mentioned it just a few days ago…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, he looked as if he’d swallowed a slug, his face swollen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“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.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Jia Siting patiently explained again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What if you don’t want to take it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry blurted out, thinking of Potions class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two more years of that…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry shook his head hard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You leave Hogwarts, Harry,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Jia Siting said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry felt as if struck by a sledgehammer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Potions class now seemed tolerable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You can choose the courses you like, Harry—you don’t have to take them all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the mention of “all,” Hermione glanced at Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He ate quietly, making no sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing their conversation, he slipped into his usual state of deep thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was easy to tell when he shifted into that state—he slowed down dramatically in eating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean sipped pumpkin juice while pondering Hogwarts’ education system and the future paths of wizards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hogwarts had two major exams: the O.W.L. and the N.E.W.T.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They determined wizards’ futures in sequence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Aurors, you needed at least five N.E.W.T. certificates, none below ‘Exceeds Expectations.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most young wizards didn’t realize this—they simply studied every subject well, hoping to have enough options when career guidance arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It seems the magical world has no career guidance?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Jia Siting whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“There will be some in fifth year—too early a guidance won’t be effective,”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hmm, but we’re different, aren’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jia Jia Siting glanced especially at Harry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d been vacillating lately between training and skipping it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wizard Sean replied softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outside Hogwarts Castle, the morning was brilliantly bright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Easter was approaching, and with it came the news of Lockhart’s trial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People were so astonished they nearly swallowed their tongues.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Great Hall, when the news was announced, Professor McGonagall immediately fixed her piercing gaze on Wizard Sean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Around her, the professors were delighted—no one liked Lockhart; even Professor Sprout had drunk extra cups of butterbeer, her cheeks flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even more surprising was that Rita Skeeter was still the lead reporter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one knew when she had begun to “turn over a new leaf.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her reports remained exaggerated, at least they weren’t pure fabrications.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Rita herself had been riding high lately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With ready-made sensational news, she had no need to embellish.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>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.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since meeting that person…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Defense Against the Dark Arts is canceled?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Harry asked eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron answered eagerly,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Besides, we’ve already had plenty of practical experience.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ron added to the gloomy Hermione.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re overthinking it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hermione snapped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She looked at Dumbledore, his beard long and white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The kind headmaster indeed announced that Professor Snape would serve as the temporary instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid Harry’s stunned silence and Ron’s mournful expression, Wizard Sean realized something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Defense Against the Dark Arts position was cursed—no professor lasted more than a year.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Professor Snape was always the substitute, and he wouldn’t last a year either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this… a bug in the curse?\u003C\u002Fp>",1011,"2026-06-19T10:00:42.198Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","c823057229ea376f08aefa04e0ef1f9d3bab6fb37314ac2fc0093403683297dc","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-437","hogwarts-learning-panel-chapter-435",526,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhogwarts-learning-panel-cover.jpg"]