Seeing another pile of cheating tools being uncovered, Professor McGonagall's expression grew even darker. "I'll stress this one more time: any form of cheating during examinations will bring serious consequences, possibly even mandatory expulsion... This is your final chance. Don't say I didn't warn you!"
Rustle, rustle.
More and more students lifted their robes, greatly broadening Vaughn's horizons.
In the crowd, Harry and Ron stared wide-eyed.
"Where did they even get all this stuff?"
"Why did no one tell us?"
Ahead of them, Seamus wore a pained expression as he reluctantly pulled out an unlabeled potion of questionable composition. "You two are always with Granger—who would dare tell you? Look, Granger looks like she's about to explode!"
Hermione was indeed furious. She hated such underhanded tricks most of all, yet Gryffindor had turned out to be the House with the most cheating tools found among the crowd!
Professor McGonagall was in an equally terrible mood.
Vaughn, who was conducting the search, remained in fairly good spirits despite the interruption. The little wizards had put their minds to work for the sake of cheating, and the strange assortment of tools was dazzling. He had no idea where they had dug up all this junk.
Unfortunately, none of their clever schemes got the chance to be used; they were strangled outside the examination hall.
Because so many students had brought cheating tools, the first examination began a few minutes late. Overall, though, everything went fairly smoothly.
At 9:15 in the morning, the first- and second-years were assigned to large classrooms serving as examination halls. This area, which had been sealed off for the entire year, made the already hot and anxious summer air feel even more stifling and oppressive.
Unlike the older students, who already had electives, the first- and second-years had