Taking a Leave

"I think she's talking about Fred and George," Ron whispered, nudging Harry with his leg.

"Most likely," Harry nodded in reply.

Aside from these two, Professor McGonagall probably won't call on anyone else.

"Pay attention." Hermione turned around and glared at them both.

Professor McGonagall sighed softly, and the nostrils of her pointed nose flared.

"—No matter what, you should all do your best. You need to think about your future."

"Professor," Hermione said, raising her hand in the air, "When will we be able to find out our grades?"

"An owl will deliver it to you in July," Professor McGonagall said.

"That's great," Dean Thomas whispered. "We don't have to worry about anything before the holidays."

"And then your parents receive your report card and give you a good beating?" Seamus asked from the side.

Dean immediately fell silent.

When class ended, the whole class was listless because of what Seamus had said.

Imagine this: a holiday is supposed to be fun, but then you suddenly receive a report card saying you failed an exam. In that case, the rest of the holiday won't be so enjoyable.

Perhaps parents are wondering what kind of Charms they can use to torment their children? Something that won't leave any lasting health problems or obvious scars, right?

Their first exam was on the theory of Charms, scheduled for Monday morning.

Harry lay in his dorm room, not reading a single book, and when he had nothing to do, he would call each of his girlfriends.

Cassandra had calmed down. When she learned that Lupin had beaten her to it, she tormented Harry severely and remained angry with him for over a month before she recovered.

"I think," Ron said to Harry when he got back to the dormitory, "You need to straighten up, Harry. You need to study hard; you have exams tomorrow."

"Yeah, there's an exam, but what does that have to do with me?" Harry shrugged. "I got twelve zeros on 0. WLs, Ron, I don't need to take this exam."

Ron then realized that his good friend in front of him had already finished the exam.

"I shouldn't have talked to you," Ron said, turning his head away. "I'm not talking to you anymore, I need to study all day."

I'm so frustrated I want to punch myself. Why do people have to take the 0. WLs exam?

"Because you want a job," Harry said with a shrug.

Ron walked out of the dormitory, carrying the notebook he had kept over the years.

At dinner time, Harry finally came out of his dormitory. The Common Room was quiet, and the students from other grades gave up their seats to the fifth-year students who were studying for their exams.

At this moment, Ron was reading his Charms notes from the past two years. He covered his ears with his fingers and his lips moved silently.

Seamus Finnigan lay flat on the floor reciting the definitions of basic Charms, while Dean checked them against "The Standard Book of Spells, Level 5"; Parvati and Lavender were practicing basic movement Charms, making their pencil cases race around the edge of the table.

"I think you guys can definitely do it," Harry whispered encouragingly to Ron. "Don't worry about the exam, Ron. I believe you can get at least ten zeros on 0. WLs."

Ron looked up, rolled his eyes, pointed to the door, and said, "If you don't mind?"

Harry left the Common Room anyway, intending to chat with students from other years.

Anne isn't in the Great Hall now; she's in the Common Room studying— Anne was cursed in fourth grade, so she didn't take the 0. WLs exam, meaning she still needs to take it.

Dinner that day was quiet.

No one said much; they had been studying hard all day, so they ate with great gusto.

Hermione, however, would often put down her knife and fork, bury her head under the table, and pull a book out of her bag to check some facts or figures.

"You should eat properly, Hermione," Ron said worriedly. "Listen to me, Hermione, finish your meal properly, or you might not be able to sleep tonight."

"I'm fine, Ron," Hermione said listlessly. "I'm just a little anxious—pre-exam anxiety, and I don't know what to do right now."

"Eat something," Ron said firmly, grabbing the food and placing it in front of Hermione without further ado. "Now, eat all of this, and listen to me, okay?"

Hermione had no choice but to accept Ron's arrangement.

At that moment, her hand went limp, and the Prongs clattered and fell onto the plate.

"Oh my God," she said timidly in a low voice, staring at the Entrance hall, "Is it them? The examiners?"

They looked toward the entrance to the Great Hall and saw Dumbledore standing with a small group of wizards who looked very old.

Harry recognized all these people, only they weren't this old back then—the one in the lead was Professor Marchbanks, her face covered in wrinkles, wrinkles that Harry had no doubt could even Bowtruckle... no, a Flobberworm.

They chatted as they walked inside.

"The journey went very smoothly, very smoothly! We arrived well ahead of schedule!" Professor Marchbanks exclaimed. "It's been a long time since we last met, Dumbledore —I remember when you took the NEWTs exams, I was the one who tested you on Transfiguration and Charms. You are truly a gifted wizard—oh, and I haven't even congratulated you yet on finally getting rid of that High Inquisitor."

Before Professor Dumbledore could answer, Professor Marchbanks replied again, "Speaking of which, do I know anyone at this school? Harry Potter —I remember very clearly, in June of 1892, I personally examined his Transfiguration and Charms —of course, the O. WLs exams. He was a truly outstanding wizard, even more outstanding than you were back then."

"He shouldn't need to take the 0. WLs exam, right?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"Of course not," Professor Marchbanks waved his hand. "He's already achieved twelve '0's in 0. WLs, and even Mr. Malfoy Sr. was full of praise for him—you know who I'm talking about, not Lucius Malfoy, nor his father Abraxas Malfoy, but Abraxas's grandfather, Mr. Malfoy. Septimus Malfoy."

"By the way," Professor Marchbanks asked again, "I heard that Mr. Malfoy's daughter has also appeared? Is she at the school? She made a strong impression on me; she's a very temperamental girl, but her temper matches her abilities, as does her family background."

It's clear that Professor Marchbanks talks a lot, and very frequently.

However, none of the students heard it, except for Harry, whose hearing was quite good.

However, Harry did not see Professor Marchbanks, and it seemed that Professor Dumbledore did not want him to see him.

When Harry went to sleep at night, he heard Seamus's sleep talking in a different way.

The content includes, but is not limited to, the advanced use of various Charms; it all sounds quite sophisticated.

The next day at breakfast, the fifth-graders didn't say much. Parvati was practicing her spells in a low voice, the salt shaker on the table twitching in front of her; Hermione was reviewing "The Charms Achievement" quickly, her eyes looking a little dazed; Neville kept dropping his knife and fork and spilling jam.

"You guys really shouldn't be so nervous," Harry reassured Ron. "I mean, there's no point in being so nervous; we're going to have to go up there eventually, don't you think?"

"You're not nervous because you don't take the 0. WLS test," Ron said irritably.

Harry scratched his head. "When I took this kind of test before, I wasn't nervous at all."

Once breakfast was over, the students from other grades went to class, leaving only Harry and his classmates from the fifth grade, as well as the seventh graders who were going to participate in NEWTs.

Some of them leaned against the wall, looking extremely agitated, while others paced back and forth in the Entrance hall.

"Harry," Anne said anxiously as she walked to Harry's side, "I have exams coming up—what am I going to do? What if I don't do well?"

"I believe in you, Anne." Harry reached out and ruffled Anne's soft hair. "Don't worry, you have to believe in yourself. After all, you did two assignments by yourself, so the basic theory shouldn't be a problem—"

Anne bit her lip, looked up and glared at Harry.

"I was just trying to comfort you, why are you glaring at me?" Harry asked, spreading his hands helplessly.

Anne didn't say anything. After a while, they were called into the Great Hall in groups, divided by college and year.

The Great Hall had clearly been rearranged, with many small single tables installed, and a giant hourglass placed at the front of the faculty and staff seats.

Harry didn't go inside; instead, he went outside the castle to get some fresh air.

"It feels really good not to have to take an exam, doesn't it?" Professor Dumbledore's voice suddenly appeared.

Harry turned his head and saw Dumbledore, with Professor Marchbanks standing next to him.

"Hello, Professor Dumbledore, and Professor Marchbanks," Harry nodded in greeting.

"Hello, Potter," Professor Marchbanks stepped forward, somewhat pleased. "It seems I'll be seeing another old friend here besides Dumbledore? I must say, Potter, you really made a deep impression on me during the exams."

"Looks like I did alright back then?" Harry asked, scratching his head.

"It's not just okay, Mr. Potter," Professor Marchbanks said with a chuckle. "You, and Miss Malfoy,

Miss Grindelwald also left a deep impression on me. Of course, when Miss Grindelwald was taking her NEWTs exams, I was the one who took her Charms and Transfiguration, but unfortunately, I was delayed by other Hogwarts the following year and missed Miss Malfoy's assessment.

"I'm so happy to see you so healthy," Harry said sincerely.

Professor Marchbanks said a few more words and then walked into the Great Hall.

"I never thought she was still here," Harry said to Dumbledore.

He didn't say the next sentence, but Dumbledore guessed what Harry wanted to say.

"What do you think their grades will be like?" Dumbledore asked Harry casually, looking into the Great Hall.

"Hermione should get twelve zeros, I have faith in her." Harry thought for a moment, then added, "As for Ron, he'll probably get around eight, but I'm not entirely sure. What if he really put in the effort during Professor Snape's Potions Class?"

"Yes, I heard you asked Severus to tutor Ron," Dumbledore chuckled. "I know how much Severus and Ron don't get along. Perhaps we could go and see how Severus tutors Ron sometime, what do you say?"

After saying that, Dumbledore winked at Harry.

You know what, Harry is actually quite interested.

Go see how Ron gets tutoring? It'll be hilarious!

"This is the ordeal one must endure to become Auror," Harry said with a determined look in his eyes. "I believe Ron can definitely overcome this difficulty."

Time flies, and before long, it was time for the exam to end.

"Hmm, not too bad, right?" Two hours later, Hermione asked anxiously in the Entrance hall, still clutching the test paper tightly. "I'm not sure if I answered all the Cheering Charm correctly; time just ran out. Did you write down the Hiccups Cure Charm? I don't know if I should write it down; I think I wrote too much—and there's still the twenty-third question—"

"Hermione," Ron said firmly, "This exam is over. We don't want to have to do it all over again. One exam is enough."

Hermione had no choice but to shut her mouth, but she was still wondering whether she should ask someone for the answer.

But after thinking for a long time, she sadly realized that throughout the entire fifth grade, it seemed that no one could go over the answers with her.

"Hey, did well on the test?" Harry asked as he walked over.

"There's a practical exam this afternoon," Ron said, scratching his fiery red hair. "Was that Professor Marchbanks's name just now? I've kind of forgotten. She said she'd be testing our Charms this afternoon. I wonder if I'll perform well."

Or is it just bad luck?

"You exceeded expectations." Hagrid appeared out of nowhere and handed each of them a rabbit's foot. "Here, this is Lucky Rabbit's Foot. Wearing it will enhance your luck—at least that's what everyone thinks."

I've prepared some for you.

This belief is held in many parts of Europe, Africa, and the America.

This belief is said to have existed among the Celts Britain Europe as 600 BC. In different versions, the rabbit that provides the Lucky Rabbit's Foot must possess certain qualities, either in a specific place or in a specific way.

Or be killed by someone with special characteristics—like a cross-eyed person.

Of course, Hagrid is also a special person, after all, he is much taller and stronger than the average person.

"Thank you, Hagrid." Hermione immediately put on the rabbit's foot; she desperately needed it right now. "Hopefully, it will help me do well on my exams, don't you think?"

"No problem at all." Ron also put on the rabbit's foot. "Thank you, Hagrid!"