Today was the last practical lesson before the exams.
Murphy gathered all the students in the clearing.
"Practical lessons," Murphy said, "after a year, I believe everyone understands the purpose of this course."
"I did not teach you any specific knowledge. Everything you have gained in this class belongs to you."
"Over the past year, you have learned how to learn, how to raise a question, how to plan the direction and steps for researching it, and ultimately how to find a solution."
"I am very pleased by this. You are all outstanding students. Compared to before, I think you now possess broader horizons and sharper minds. I believe that, in the future, you will all become excellent wizards."
"A year is a short time, but you have already achieved remarkable results."
"Dean's group has preliminarily completed the design and test flights of single-person flying armor. Although its comfort and safety still need improvement, I believe that an era in which people can fly freely without relying on brooms is not far away."
Dean Thomas held up the flying boots his group had recently been working on, earning a round of applause.
"Lucius's group, through carefully designed questionnaires and precise data analysis, has proven the fallacy of bloodline theory. The relevant paper has already been published in Magic Weekly, where it caused quite a stir. Even Headmaster Dumbledore considered it an extraordinary academic discovery."
When Lucius heard Murphy mention his name, his little face turned red.
Although he had submitted his work to Magic Weekly on Murphy's suggestion, he had received nothing but interrogations from acquaintances and elders. It had left him deeply conflicted for a time, but now, Murphy's generous praise gave him that feeling of being recognized again. He was almost moved to tears.
The weight on his