Year-End Feast and the House Cup

Linley merely gave his wand a simple flick, completing the Charms class exam with a flawless Vocalizationless Spell.

The Transfiguration class exam was much the same. For Linley, who could effortlessly transform lions and venomous snakes, turning a mouse into a snuffbox could hardly be called an exam. When casting the Transfiguration spell, he even created a Great Wall of China pattern on the snuffbox.

As for the Potions class exam, Professor Snape swished his robes and watched him like a bat. However, Linley, who had devoted himself to studying alchemy, had long cultivated an unshakable temperament. Although his partner Irvin's hands trembled several times under Professor Snape's gaze, Irvin was only responsible for processing the ingredients and would not affect the final result. In the end, Linley handed in a bottle of perfect-quality Forgetfulness Potion.

History of Magic was the final exam. This sort of rote-memorization subject posed no difficulty whatsoever for Linley. Before Professor Binns announced that time was up, Linley had already handed in his paper and slipped out through the classroom's back door.

After the exams ended, the young wizards could spend a week having fun in Hogwarts Castle, but Linley was an exception. Professor Green had no intention of letting him off.

After seven consecutive days of practical combat classes, Linley felt as though he could not muster even a shred of strength. Even Madam Pomfrey's potions could not fully restore him.

"Finite Incantatem!" In the final practical combat class, Professor Green waved his wand and released Linley from the Full Body Bind that had restrained him.

Looking at Linley, who was covered in injuries, Professor Green first cast Episkey, then said happily, "I'm delighted that your strength has improved so greatly over this half of the school year. I imagine that even if you encounter a Dark wizard like Cassirachi again, you'll be able to hold him off for more than ten minutes."

As Professor Green had put it, Linley was merely a first-year student, yet he could contend with a Dark wizard like Cassirachi for over ten minutes. That showed just how much Linley had improved.

Once Linley became an adult and the magical power within him reached its peak reserves, even if he did nothing for the next five years or so, his current combat skills alone would be enough to let him go toe-to-toe with Cassirachi!

Professor Green continued, "I only agreed to teach at Hogwarts for one year at Dumbledore's request. Once this term ends, I'll be leaving Hogwarts as well. I hope you'll meet another good Defense Against the Dark Arts professor next year!"

Linley spread his hands.

Professor, it looks like your wish is going to fall through. Next year's Defense Against the Dark Arts professor will be a garlic-headed fellow with Voldemort stuck to the back of his head, stumbling through every lesson!

"So, I plan to return to France in August and visit my teacher. If you're willing, you can travel to France with me and meet my teacher—your grandmaster! I'll come to your home to pick you up in August!"

That was what Professor Green said.

Linley's eyes immediately lit up, and he agreed at once.

Who was Professor Green's teacher?!

The renowned Great Alchemist Nicolas Flamel!

For Linley, who was studying alchemy, this was an incredible opportunity!

"Professor, this is my home address. My home is protected by the Fidelius Charm. Anyone who has not seen this address cannot enter!"

Linley wrote down the address of Rohl Manor on a slip of paper and handed it to Professor Green.

Linley was not worried that his home address would be leaked. Professor Green was not the Secret Keeper of the Fidelius Charm cast over Rohl Manor, so even if he knew Rohl Manor's address, he could not tell anyone else. Not even Legilimency could extract the address of Rohl Manor from Professor Green's memories.

Professor Green glanced at the address on the slip of paper, then burned it to ashes with a flame.

"No problem." Professor Green smiled gently.

By the time Professor Green and Linley returned to Hogwarts Castle, the evening's year-end feast was about to begin.

The Great Hall on the first floor of the castle was already packed. It had been decorated in Slytherin's green and silver to celebrate Slytherin winning the Hogwarts House Cup for the sixth consecutive year. Behind the high table hung an enormous banner depicting the green serpent that symbolized Slytherin.

Harry Potter had not enrolled this year, so Dumbledore naturally would not give Gryffindor bonus points through the back door. Thus, Gryffindor had ultimately become Gryffindor.

Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet and said cheerfully, "Another year has gone by! Before we enjoy these delicious dishes to our hearts' content, I must trouble you all to listen to an old man's tired speech. What a wonderful year it has been! Your little minds must surely be a little fuller than before... The whole summer holiday lies ahead of you, giving you plenty of time to digest all that before next term begins and clear some room in your heads...

"Now then, as I understand it, we must first proceed with the House Cup award ceremony. The final scores are as follows: fourth place, Gryffindor, 281 points; third place, Hufflepuff, 361 points; Ravenclaw, 443 points; and Slytherin, 542 points."

The Slytherin table immediately erupted with thunderous cheers and stomping, while the Gryffindors nearby were thoroughly demoralized.

Over the past half-year, the Weasley twins, armed with Improved Stink Pellets, had clearly lost Gryffindor quite a few points. Of course, most of the deductions had come from the little lions being mischievous day after day.

Meanwhile, because Linley could earn points for Slytherin in every class, Slytherin's House points for this school year had reached a record high.

If a special contribution ranking were made for Slytherin's House points this year, Linley would undoubtedly sit at the top. He would even be more than a hundred points ahead of second place!

After the year-end feast came the release of the final exam results.

Linley unquestionably received an O, denoting "Outstanding," in Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration class, Charms class, and Potions class. In his other subjects, he received Es, denoting "Exceeds Expectations." Though he was not like Hermione in the original story, earning Outstanding in every subject, Linley was already among the very best compared to the other young wizards.

Besides, Linley had not earned Outstanding in every subject not because he could not, but because he saw no need to waste time on subjects that were of little use to him.

Even though Hermione in the original story could earn Os in every subject, even third-year Hermione probably would not have been able to defeat first-year Linley in actual combat.

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