The air in the Gryffindor Common Room was filled with an agitated hum.
The flames in the fireplace flickered restlessly, casting shifting light over the gloom on the young faces.
"What the hell kind of system is this?!"
Fourth-year Katie Bell grabbed at her hair, her movements full of frustration with nowhere to go.
"My Quidditch training camp! My plans for the whole summer!"
She was practically wailing, her voice thick with tears.
As the Gryffindor Quidditch Team's hope for the future and a strong contender for captain after Wood left school, she had seen this sudden examination system strike her dreams head-on like a well-aimed Bludger.
"Drawing paper B would be the real disaster."
Sixth-year Alicia Spinnet held a stack of heavy textbooks, her brows knotted tightly.
"After a whole holiday, our brains will be full of weeds. How are we supposed to take an exam then?"
She would rather charge into the examination room right now and end it all with one satisfying showdown.
"What are you scared of? It's just an exam!"
Fred Weasley's voice was like a sparkler tossed into boiling water, setting off a string of ill-timed sparks.
He poked his head out from behind the sofa, wearing his trademark grin of someone who never minded making a spectacle worse.
"Paper A is just an early challenge, and paper B is the extended holiday edition!"
George followed right on his heels, chiming in.
"Exactly! Let the other houses see that we Gryffindors are ready for a fight anytime!"
After a brief silence came a collective outburst that had been building for some time.
"You two are fifth-years!"
"You don't have to take it!"
"Easy for you to say!"
"Go take your O.W.L.s if you're so brave!"
"Oh, heavens, O.W.L.s!"
"Professor Holmes's papers!"
"Those are much