The order for taking the Transfiguration practical exam was clearly arranged alphabetically.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron were among the first students to finish the exam. Led by a Ministry of Magic employee, they slowly made their way toward the exit.
"Ugh..." Ron scratched his head, still recalling the practical exam they had just taken. "Harry, do you think there's a possibility that..."
"I know what you're going to say!" Harry cut Ron off. "I don't think so! Absolutely not!"
"Then it can only be one hell of a coincidence." Ron shrugged. "Anyway, I never expected this practical exam... to line up with last weekend's detention."
"Isn't that a good thing?" Hermione said. "I noticed that you all did quite well this time, so you won't let Professor McGonagall down. She is our Head of House, isn't she?"
Harry brought the previous subject back up. "Anyway, I don't believe Snape would really help us."
"That's true!" Ron said with a shrug. "I was just saying it offhand..."
"Come to think of it, that's right... Rather than believe Snape would help us cheat, I'd sooner believe he'd blow up the Ministry of Magic!"
"Agreed!" Harry grinned. "The odds of that second thing are definitely much higher!"
The moment he finished speaking, countless blinding camera flashes struck them head-on, turning everything before his eyes white.
His instinct was to draw his wand. He had barely raised his arm and opened his mouth when he felt something hard knock against his teeth, making tears spring to the corners of his eyes from the pain.
Before he could recover, an unfamiliar male voice rang out. "As one of the first students to leave the examination room... Mr. Potter, how do you think you performed?"
He blinked furiously to adjust to the glare of the flashes