Hogwarts Castle.
The dungeons.
On the way to the Slytherin Common Room.
"Marcus, why are you still at the library so late?"
Devero turned his head toward the Slytherin Prefect walking beside him, the book How to Trace a Transfigured Object tucked under his arm.
"Haha, fifth year isn't as easy as first year. We have exams to prepare for. O.W.L.s are really difficult. I want to go into medicine in the future, so I have to get six Outstanding grades in my N.E.W.T.s."
Marcus smiled, holding a book in one hand.
With the other, he rubbed his hair in frustration.
"And I have to get an Outstanding in Potions, too. You know how strict Professor Snape is. You need an Outstanding in your O.W.L. to keep taking his class and sit the exams afterward. So I have to work hard!"
Marcus looked a little troubled.
But his spirits were still high.
As he spoke,
he couldn't help pumping a fist in front of his chest.
Devero watched him, the corners of his mouth lifting.
He hadn't expected this Slytherin Prefect
to seem so much like a Gryffindor.
Well, that made sense.
The wizarding world had exams like middle school and college entrance exams, too.
The O.W.L.s must be the wizarding world's middle school exams.
They looked pretty difficult.
Even Marcus, a Prefect, was this stressed about them.
It was easy to imagine the pressure they put on students.
"Oh, right. Then why were you in the Restricted Section? And why did you take so many books about Dark Magic?"
Devero remembered the moment they'd bumped into each other earlier.
He asked casually.
"You mean these? Professor Quirrell asked me to get them. I'm his teaching assistant for Defense Against the Dark Arts now."
Marcus flipped through the books in