A new week arrived.
When the students out for their morning run woke up and walked through the Castle corridors, they suddenly felt that something was very wrong with the atmosphere.
The various portraits in the Castle no longer pretended to sleep early in the morning or spouted nonsense. Instead, it was as though each portrait had been assigned a line.
At the stairway corner on the sixth floor, the portrait of Emeric Switch, author of A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration, immediately declared in a stern, righteous voice whenever he saw a student pass:
"Confidence comes from ability, and ability comes from diligence."
"A day of hard work earns a peaceful night's sleep; a lifetime of diligence earns a happy eternal rest."
On the Seventh Floor, whenever Sir Cadogan's portrait saw students passing, he immediately reined in his pony, raised his greatsword, and shouted:
"Good morning, my comrades! If you desire noble souls and strong bodies, take exams.
"An exam is like a hurdle on life's long road. Whether you succeed or fail, I believe that no longer matters now.
"What matters is taking stock of what you gained and lost in the exam, so you can clear every hurdle on the road ahead, just like the mighty Sir Cadogan."
Several monks beside him chimed in:
"In the face of setbacks, we must persevere!"
"In the face of difficulties, we must rise to the challenge!"
"In the face of failure, we must never give up!"
"Diligent and wise as you are, you will surely succeed. Good morning, my friends!"
The portrait of the Fat Lady guarding the entrance to the Gryffindor Common Room spoke whenever someone came out:
"Cheer up! Our difficulties will soon pass!"
"Hey, children, keep going, keep going, I'm cheering for you~"
That final operatic high note