Hermione's hands moved faster than her brain.
Even as she caught the newspaper, she had already torn open the string binding it.
The front-page headline was printed in enormous, bold black type, larger than any she had ever seen.
"Minister Fudge signs Educational Decree Number Twenty-Three-Practical Survival and Physical Fitness Assessment officially incorporated into the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s National Examination System"
The subheading was even longer.
"Wizarding Examinations Authority unanimously signs in support; practical survival and physical fitness to account for twenty percent of overall grades in both examinations-Ministry of Magic calls move a future-oriented national education strategy"
Hermione's breath stopped for half a beat.
Her eyes swept rapidly from left to right, then jumped back to the left, her lips moving silently along with every word.
Three seconds later, she jerked her head up.
"Harry."
Hermione kept her voice very low.
"Have you seen this?"
"Yes."
Harry was holding his own copy of the newspaper; he had started subscribing that summer.
"Twenty percent."
With half a slice of buttered toast still stuffed in his mouth, Ron mumbled the number.
He swallowed with difficulty, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Twenty percent? That's not just one or two bonus questions. That's a fifth."
"If you fail your physical fitness assessment, even full marks in Charms might still leave your overall O.W.L.s grade a level lower."
Hermione was already turning to the detailed grading criteria on page two, her finger tracing the densely packed tables, her eyes shining.
"Look here-the Practical Survival Ability Assessment will use simulated scenarios. Candidates must complete at least three survival tasks under specified conditions. Grading criteria include physical endurance and environmental adaptability, as well as Wandless Emergency Response and Teamwork."
"Wandless Emergency Response?"
Ron's face fell.
"They want us to survive without wands? Then what am I studying