The Hogwarts morning remained as deserted as always, with only Dudley's morning training group on the entire lawn.
Dudley led the run up front while the others followed closely behind. After nearly a year, everyone had gradually adapted to Dudley's training intensity. Everyone's physical fitness had been strengthened to some degree.
After morning training ended, everyone sat on the ground rubbing their thighs while Dudley stood straight as a rod.
"Exams are in one week. That shouldn't pose any difficulty for everyone here, right?" he said calmly.
In the blink of an eye, their first year of study was about to end. The little Hogwarts wizards had finally reached the "first-year completion" state. They just needed to pass the final exams to advance to the second year.
"No problem."
After a period of individual tutoring from various professors, the morning training group members were brimming with confidence. Even at their current first-year level, they were confident they could challenge second-year students.
The final exams shouldn't trouble everyone. What's important is the test after the final exams.
"Are you sure we can do it?" Ron asked with slight hesitation. "I mean, Big D, you'll definitely be fine, but can we really pass the test Professor Dumbledore set up?"
"That's a test from the greatest white wizard."
To avoid putting too much pressure on them, Dudley only told them part of the truth. Well, he said he wanted to establish a club. There were quite a few organizations of this nature at Hogwarts, like the Slug Club.
Dudley didn't plan to recruit them as official members until Harry and the others finished third year.
"We can do it, definitely no problem."
It was Neville speaking in his deep voice. His originally chubby face had gradually disappeared, replaced by a somewhat sturdy build. Of course, not as exaggerated as Dudley's—just looking more solid than average people. The differences between individuals were still quite significant.
However, following Dudley's training during this period had benefited him greatly. Through repeated physical breakthroughs, his willpower had become more determined, and most importantly, his confidence had grown.
Exercise was also a method of tempering one's spirit. What Neville had lacked most before was self-confidence.
Now Neville only knew one thing: follow Big D and you won't stumble. If Big D said they could do it, then they could.
"Ron, you need to believe in yourself."
Dudley looked at Ron earnestly: "With your current abilities, no one in Gryffindor's year is more excellent than you."
He silently added in his mind, excluding everyone else present.
"Me?" Ron was embarrassed by Dudley's praise, his freckles becoming more prominent as he blushed, then denied, "That's impossible. I know my abilities—I'm the most unremarkable one in my family."
Actually, Ron had the same problem as Neville. Lack of confidence, or rather, an inferiority complex.
However, Neville's inferiority stemmed from childhood experiences and would grow into confidence with age, while Ron's inferiority depended on his family situation—poverty. Ron had known about his family's circumstances from a young age, so he was the most obedient and most "sensible" one at home. This "sensibility" was the source of his inferiority.
Little Ron, like Neville, Harry, and Malfoy, was a very talented and excellent wizard.
Dudley said no more, just patted Ron's shoulder. Facts would prove everything.
Meanwhile, Harry and Malfoy had already made a bet—whoever lost this final exam couldn't call Dudley "Big D" for one month. If they failed the subsequent test, then three months.
Such children.
Dudley shook his head and turned his gaze to Hermione. Compared to Ron's lack of confidence and Neville's blind confidence, Hermione appeared completely assured.
"Don't worry, I've already memorized all the textbook content for first and second year, including all the professors' weekend class notes."
Dudley: ...
That's so you.
During breakfast, an owl descended from the sky, landing in front of Dudley with a letter. After feeding it some food, Dudley opened the letter.
It was about "Dragonlance Chronicles." Due to the work's excellence and solid quality, it had unsurprisingly become a massive hit. The fantasy world of otherworldly continents had successfully conquered the hearts of wizards young and old, sweeping through awards large and small, directly claiming the title of "Most Popular Novel of the Year" and leaving second place far behind.
Rumor had it that the Order of Merlin was considering awarding Dudley a Third Class medal. Third Class medals weren't particularly useful—they were entertainment contribution awards.
This letter invited Dudley to attend the awards ceremony. However, Dudley currently had no time, so he could only have Carrow accept it on his behalf.
Before Dudley could properly eat two bites, another owl landed on the dining table. This was an unsigned letter. The assessment content had arrived.
A week later, Dudley faced his first Hogwarts exam. The exam was divided into written and practical components. The written portion was incredibly simple for Dudley—he was always the first to finish.
"The questions were so hard..."
Many little wizards emerged from classrooms looking completely dejected.
"I probably failed completely. I couldn't remember any of that content."
"Did the teacher really cover this in class? I have no memory of it at all."
Even Ravenclaw students were saying such things.
Ron and Neville happened to pass by them. The two turned simultaneously, making eye contact and looking at each other in bewilderment, both seeing surprise in the other's eyes.
They thought the exam questions were quite simple—not even as difficult as their usual tests.
As for the practical exams...
Potions required making a Forgetfulness Potion—unsurprisingly, perfect marks.
Charms was making a pear dance. Dudley wore gloves with transmutation circles drawn on them and clapped his hands together. That pear not only danced but split in half to perform a duet.
For Transfiguration, turning a mouse into a snuffbox—hands together. The most exquisitely beautiful snuffbox appeared before them.
Hands together.
Dudley no longer had to rack his brains trying to achieve magical effects through scientific methods. As long as you could understand the essence of matter, it was even simpler than using pure spells.
Alchemy is really useful.
The full day of multi-subject exams finally ended. The liberated little wizards cheered as they poured out of classrooms like fish. They reveled freely in the castle, lay sprawled on the lawn, and even rode broomsticks recklessly through the sky.
Oh wait, you can't fly freely above Hogwarts Castle, so they were caught by professors and severely penalized with point deductions.
In any case, the end of final exams meant they were free.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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