The Year of the Revolution VIII. The Return to Innocence

19. Forge the future

Tuesday, four in the afternoon, Arithmancy exam. Ten statements to be scored out of ten, two hours to solve them. Sev finished them in an hour and a quarter, took another quarter of an hour to review, and then dictated everything to Heather projecting and corrected Cecile's and Remus's papers bonded to them. All for Outstanding, note that they needed for Medimagic.

Wednesday, last day off, locked in the Library all day, preparing Defense theory with Fiona and Heather, and Potions and Charms with the third years.

Thursday, ten in the morning, practical Defense exam. In the end, the proposal to summon the students in groups at different time intervals had not gone ahead, because according to the court, the students who had already taken the exam could reveal information about it to those who had not done it yet and who were not concentrated, so the latter would have an advantage over the first. So the situation of Monday of the previous week in Charms was repeated. Just over half an hour wait for Lily, just under two hours for Sev.

The exam consisted of a duel against an Auror which was kept at a low level, somewhat lower than appropriate for fifth year. The student started with a grade of four and the duel lasted a maximum of five minutes. Every time they reached the Auror, a point was added, and every time they was reached by him, it was deducted.

Each spell used to score points had to be different, otherwise it didn't count. To protect themselves, Protegos or dodging could be used. If the corresponding counterspell was not known for any of the spells with which the Auror was hit, the point, instead of being added, was deducted.

The duel ended when the student reached a score of eight for the highest or zero for the lowest, or five minutes after it began. Both Lily and Sev added their four points in a row with non-verbal spells, without being hit once and without needing to use Protegos. Sev, in fact, hit the Auror with the first four spells he cast, his examination lasting just thirty seconds. The court was amazed and congratulated him, also informing him that he was awarded an Honorable Mention. Unbeatable for my Chair, Sev thought.

Next, the Patronus was performed, which added the two missing points up to ten, so it was essential to be able to conjure it to take Defense, since otherwise it was impossible to achieve the Outstanding. Lily conjured the lioness, Sev the hawk, which he kept flying for a long minute across the wide space of the Hall, whereupon the court gasped for the second time.

The five members of the group came down from the stand and said goodbye to him with firm handshakes, as did the Auror he had fought against. In case there was any doubt about my change of sides, this rumor is also going to spread throughout the Wizarding World. I have cleared my name and secured my future in a minute and a half. The distilled essence of five years of sweat and tears.

He waited for Anthony after the exam, and when they got home the entire Sly family was waiting for them. He told them how it had gone and they celebrated with butterbeers that had already been bought and stored in view of the planned Rave house party that was being organized after the exams. They told everyone who passed by the house and came to say hello and they also congratulated him.

This afternoon the whole school will know, indeed the rumor is going to spread throughout the Wizarding World. And something else, this prevents me from becoming a double agent, because it would not be credible at all, Voldemort would never accept me into his ranks. Albus, I have once again won you by the hand.

Four in the afternoon, Defense theory exam. Once again unbearable heat in the Great Hall, but this time, everyone who knew it used the heating spell as a refrigerator. Two hours to answer five topics to be developed, among them... werewolves. What a joke between those who were bonded and in the secret of Remus, Lily and Cecile did not let him do the exam in peace. Luckily, he only needed Exceeds Expectations for Medimagic.