Professor Trelawney's Prophecy

"[Three Feet Retreat] "

Loren waved his wand, and a white beam of magical light shot out from the Apple Wood wand, slamming into the charging Grindylow. The powerful impact left the little monster Grindylow dizzy and submerged in the deep pond for a long time, unable to get up.

After wading through the deep pond, Loren, his body enveloped in transparent bubbles, gently touched the surface—

Pop!

The bubble burst instantly.

Looking at the uneven, rocky reef before him, Loren brandished his wand, a thoughtful expression on his face, wondering what kind of dark Magical Creatures Professor Lupin might be hiding among the rocks...

Regardless of what was hidden inside, Loren had no intention of taking any risks. He casually waved his wand and used Transfiguration to seal the pit in the reef.

A series of thumping sounds suddenly came from inside the reef. Loren walked across the reef without changing his expression, across the wet swamp, and came to an old box.

Just as he was preparing to use a Piercing Charm to destroy the box, Professor Lupin, with a complicated expression, popped out from the side and said reluctantly, "That's enough, Loren. Congratulations on passing the Defense Against the Dark Arts practical exam with a perfect score."

Loren clicked his tongue, somewhat unsatisfied. "Only three levels? I thought there would be at least five..."

Professor Lupin's face darkened, and he couldn't help but raise his voice slightly. "There are four! If you hadn't blocked the rock cave where the Red Cap is hidden, noticed the light emanating from Hinkypunk when you passed through the swamp, or opened the box containing the Boggart, you would have found them!"

"Professor, I think my approach was very sound, but if..."

Before Loren could finish speaking, Lupin pushed him out of the fence and called out to the waiting young wizards outside, "Next, Harry Potter!"

It's Thursday morning of exam week, and it's the penultimate exam for third-year wizards— Defence Against the Dark Arts.

Professor Lupin presented the young wizards with the most unusual test they had faced in three years: an outdoor obstacle course-like test where they had to wade through a deep pool with Grindylow, navigate a series of pits filled with Red Cap, grunt across a swamp, ignore any Hinkypunk misdirection, and then climb into an old chest to defeat Boggart.

Unfortunately, these levels encountered setbacks as soon as they were opened, with the first student it encountered being Loren Morgan.

As Harry passed by, he asked if there was anything noteworthy.

"Watch out for traps, just keep going straight ahead," Loren said.

Harry used the Disarming Charm to knock Grindylow away, and then knocked away a group of Red Cap who were waving clubs and attacking him. Harry walked straight across the swamp.

"Trap?"

Looking at the old box in front of him, Harry didn't think much and immediately threw a powerful Disarming Charm at it.

Professor Lupin stopped him with the Disarming Charm, his face darkening further. He couldn't help but ask, "Why don't you open the box and check, Harry?"

"Loren warned me to be careful of traps..." Harry scratched his head. "I think it would be better to test the waters with a spell first."

"Then why did you only use the Disarming Charm the whole time?"

"This is my specialty." Harry glanced furtively at the old box. "No, isn't it unsuitable?"

Lupin took a few deep breaths. He couldn't say that Harry was wrong; there was no standard answer to Defence Against the Dark Arts. Anything that could defend against these little monsters was acceptable, but he was feeling uncomfortable.

"Congratulations on passing the exam with a perfect score, Harry." Lupin shoved Harry forward and called out in a muffled voice, "Next, Neville Lomberton!"

Ten minutes later, Grindylow floated on his back in the deep pool, Red Cap lay neatly on the rocks, and several Hinkypunk lay in the swamp.

Lupin stopped Neville, who was about to cast a Stunning Spell on the old box, and asked, puzzled, "Neville, why did you only use the Stunning Spell the whole time?"

"I... my parents taught me..." Neville answered weakly, "To ensure that the enemy is incapacitated in one strike, the Stunning Spell is the best, as it can achieve the goal without causing serious damage."

Lupin's eyes twitched a few times. As expected of the Aurors family, his teachings were very reasonable.

"Then why did you use Stunning Spell on the old box?"

"My dad said that if we can pinpoint the enemy's location, it's best to avoid a direct confrontation, so..."

"Perfect score, next!"

Fortunately, most of the remaining young wizards were normal. They dutifully opened the box and used the clown charms to deal with the Boggart. In particular, Miss Granger, who was first in her class, followed the textbook in all her methods. For the first time, Lupin gave her a perfect score with great satisfaction.

Ron started off well, but was led astray for a while when he met Hinkypunk. Fortunately, he came to his senses before getting stuck in the mud.

Harry and the others' last exam was Divination, while Hermione went to study Ancient Rune. She and Loren also had an Arithmancy that evening.

In the North Tower, many students sat on the spiral staircase leading to Professor Trelawney's classroom, some hoping to cram at the last minute.

"She met with each of us one by one, supposedly to determine whether we had Inner Eye."

Neville opened his book, * Unfogging the Future *, on his lap, and opened to the chapter on the crystal ball. He asked with distress, "Have you really seen anything in the crystal ball?"

"Of course... no!"

Ron chuckled and put his hand on his shoulder, "Just like our Divination assignment, you just have to say you saw a bad omen. By the way, how's your grandma doing lately?"

"It's alright." Neville nodded blankly. "Why do you ask that?"

Loren explained, "Because at the beginning of this school year, Professor Trelawney Prophecy your grandmother wouldn't be doing well, remember?"

Neville recalled for a moment, his eyes becoming even more blank. "But during the Christmas holidays, my grandmother did have a cold for a while, and she wasn't feeling well."

Harry remembered the signs of death Trelawney Prophecy for him; he had indeed been in several near-death situations.

"It's all a lie. She just got lucky and guessed right. I can Prophecy right now that your grandma will catch a cold again next year..." Ron said contemptuously. "She's just an old liar."

Amidst the chatter of the young wizards, the line outside the classroom shortened more and more slowly. As each person descended the stairs, the other students whispered, "What did she ask? Is she alright?"

But no one was willing to speak, and it was Neville who finally answered their questions, "She said the crystal ball told her that if I told her, there would be a great calamity!"

Loren, Harry, and Ron were the last three in line. Ron was called first, went up and made up a few minutes before being sent down.

Ron agreed to meet in the Common Room after the exam and then left.

Next was Harry, and finally only Loren was left waiting for the exam at the bottom of the stairs. He leaned against the bay window, looking out at the sunny venue, and pondered things related to Trelawney.

Divination is clearly a magic that relies on talent, but he has not yet shown any such talent, probably because he does not have the Inner Eye"that Professor Trelawney mentioned.

When Hermione dropped Divination Class, he considered dropping the class too, but when he thought of the Prophecy that Trelawney triggered, Loren stayed.

Suddenly, Loren looked up and saw Harry frantically sliding down the stairs.

"Trelawney made a very strange Prophecy ..." Harry said in a low voice, looking surprised. "She said that the Dark Lord will return with the help of his servants, stronger and more terrifying than before... and that when the sun's light is far away from us, Dark Arts will unleash darkness!"

Loren's heart skipped a beat. Seeing Harry's somewhat flustered look, he patted him on the shoulder. "See you in the Common Room."

Upstairs, Professor Trelawney's voice was already calling out, "Loren Morgan!"