Muggle World War!
After all, they had only finished their A History of Magic exam last Friday. Michael and the others quickly realized that the scene Griselda Marchbanks had conjured was likely a recreation of a Muggle war.
Before this, they had only gained a rather vague understanding of the so-called Muggle wars mentioned in their textbook through the words and pictures in A History of Magic.
It was not until they found themselves in the midst of it that they truly realized just how immense a war between Muggles could be.
At the same time, they immediately understood something else: casting Transfiguration good enough to pass the exam in an environment like this would be an exceptionally demanding task.
At that moment, the shrill whistling rang out again.
Another dark shape fell from above. This time, the shell struck less than a meter to Ernie Macmillan's right.
Though the fake blast wave did not send him flying, the deafening boom so close to his ears still froze him in his seat. The Vanishing Spell he had been reciting caught halfway in his throat.
Fortunately, he had not forgotten that he was in an examination hall, taking the practical Transfiguration exam.
During the gap between shell impacts, he drew in a sharp breath and swung his wand. At last, he cast a fairly clean Vanishing Spell, successfully making half the clutter before him disappear.
Megan Jones was having an even worse time. Every thunderous shell impact made her instinctively hunch her shoulders. Her incantation was interrupted time and again, forcing her to start over helplessly each time.
After several attempts, she gradually adapted.
Taking a deep breath, she copied Ernie Macmillan's approach beside her. In the few seconds when the explosions briefly receded, she flicked her wand rapidly and finally