Chapter 205: O.W.L.s Exam

"Quarreled with a friend? Why."

"Because of those negative news about Harry."

After the Ancient Runes class, John and Hermione walked in the long corridor of Hogwarts Castle, and Hermione shared with him what happened in the Gryffindor common room yesterday.

After listening to Hermione's sharing, John nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah, so that's it."

"But don't you think Harry is a bit too stressed?"

"People were just describing the negative news flying all over the sky, and hadn't even stated their position yet, and he started asking about their mothers..."

According to Hermione's description, yesterday Harry greeted his friends in the common room.

It was originally fine, but a classmate named Seamus brought the fresh "Daily Prophet" and told Harry about the evaluation of Harry in the newspaper.

Conspirator, clown seeking attention, Dumbledore's pawn.

And Seamus also said his mother also believed the content above.

But before he finished speaking, Harry sarcastically replied, "Then your mother is really discerning."

And then the two quarreled.

Regarding John's words, Hermione shrugged noncommittally and said.

"Maybe because they are friends, yet they still don't believe him, so he reacted so strongly."

"And the influence of those public opinions in the school is even greater than we imagined."

"Just on the train yesterday, quite a few people came to mock him, and he was angry all the way."

Regarding this, John didn't know what to say.

Ignorance is universal, and this cannot represent a person's position or concept.

They are just wrapped in an information cocoon, becoming the appearance that the rumor-mongers hope for.

If it were just a strange follower, scolding them would be fine.

But friends who have been classmates for many years, it's better to have a little more patience to explain.

If they still don't listen after explaining, then you can use family law.

It could also be that during the summer vacation, he was surrounded by comrades who believed in him, so he underestimated these public opinions.

After facing the public once, the contrast was too great for him to bear.

Let's not talk about this, change the topic.

"Do you have class this afternoon?" John asked Hermione.

"Yes, I have Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon."

"So many?"

"What did you think? We fifth-years have to take the O. W. L. s exam this year, so the academic pressure is very high."

Hermione rolled her eyes and said helplessly.

O. W. L. s exam—literally "Ordinary Wizarding Level" exam.

Can you treat this thing as a high school entrance exam, or a college entrance exam?

As everyone knows, Hogwarts' academic system is a seven-year system, and you graduate after reading for seven years.

But in reality, you can graduate after just five years.

Of course, the difference between the two is like the difference between a university graduate and a high school graduate.

Still remember why little wizards are semi-compulsorily enrolled in magic schools?

It is to allow little wizards to systematically understand and learn the common sense of the wizarding world, as well as control over their own magic, to avoid situations of magical runaway.

After learning magic for five years normally, it is basically enough to improve personal magic application and knowledge popularization.

So you can graduate normally.

But if you plan to mix in the wizarding world, get a better degree, or hope to improve your subjects.

You can participate in the O. W. L. s exam.

As long as you pass the O. W. L. s exam for relevant subjects, you can continue to improve your knowledge in this area in the sixth and seventh years.

For example, Potions and Charms; if I only passed the O. W. L. s exam for Charms, then in the sixth and seventh years, I will lose the qualification to advance in Potions class.

I can only advance in the subjects or subjects I passed the exam for.

So the fifth year is a watershed.

You have to think about future planning.

There are many career paths in the wizarding world, and these paths require corresponding N. E. W. T. certificates.

And if you want to get the qualification to take the N. E. W. T. exam, the prerequisite is that you must first take down the O. W. L. s exam for the corresponding subjects.

For example, if you want to be an Auror at the Ministry of Magic.

Then the job requirements for an Auror are N. E. W. T. certificates in five subjects: Potions, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.

So you need to pass the O. W. L. s exam for these five subjects in the fifth year.

Only then will you have the qualification to advance in these five subjects in the sixth and seventh years, and only then will you be able to participate in the N. E. W. T. exam for these five subjects when you graduate in the seventh year, in order to obtain the corresponding certificates.

In short, it is a relationship of layer-by-layer progression.

"Then have you thought about your future planning?"

John asked curiously.

"Hmm, about the same. I want to enter the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, or the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

Hearing Hermione's choice, John nodded. Hermione had complained to himself more than once about the injustice of the law and wanted to change all of this, so these choices were normal.

"Oh, then what subjects do you need to take?"

"Didn't look, anyway, just pass all the exams, maybe there will be choices if you change your mind later."

"......"

What kind of academic master speech is this?

John could only silently give a thumbs up.

"By the way, you shouldn't need to find a professor for tutoring every night like last year this year."

Saying that, Hermione looked at John and asked again.

"Yeah."

Last year it was because he was selected to participate in the Triwizard Tournament that he was dragged by Professor McGonagall and Professor Moody for tutoring; this year it was indeed not needed.

"Then come to accompany me to study every night from now on, do you hear me!"

Hearing John's words, Hermione immediately said milk-fiercely.

"... Fine."

Anyway, learning Apparition with Professor Flitwick was also in the early morning and wouldn't delay the evening.

So John agreed, but...

"But... Professor Snape might still drag me to do coolie work."

Saying that, John remembered

"It's fine, I'm not the one doing the manual labor anyway."

?

No, how can you say such cold-hearted words with that 36° mouth of yours?

Seeing John's resentful and aggrieved expression, Hermione couldn't help but burst into laughter.

She reached out and pinched John's cheek, her force as light as if she were adjusting a faulty pocket watch: "I'm afraid I can't help you either, big brother~"

There was no pity for John, only a complete understanding of his character.

To be so self-aware that he'd get singled out by Snape for manual labor, this guy must have done something to provoke Snape again; he had a guilty conscience.

Although, she didn't know what kind of trouble he could have stirred up on just the first day of school.

Anyway, as long as he could come and spend more time with her besides that, it was enough.