The door behind the teachers' table swung open, and Dumbledore and Viktor entered the Great Hall, filled with students and staff.
— I still don't grasp this Muggle music, — Dumbledore said thoughtfully, stroking his long beard.
Viktor rolled his eyes.
— So, wizarding songs are better? They're always singing some made-up nonsense.
Dumbledore, with unexpected seriousness, replied:
— But at least we sing from the heart.
Viktor sighed wearily. This morning, right after his training, he had stopped by the Headmaster's office to show off his new invention—a portable speaker capable of reproducing music directly from his memories. However, he hadn't expected that wizards' and Muggles' tastes in art would be so different. No matter what songs he played, Dumbledore didn't like any of them.
— Fine, — Viktor said, — but our conversation isn't over yet. I'll stop by tonight, and we'll continue to immerse ourselves in real art.
Dumbledore nodded understandingly and headed to his place at the teachers' table. Viktor began to descend the steps to the Slytherin table, not forgetting to sneak a look at Professor Quirrell. The Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, who had already returned to school after his "vacation," noticed his gaze, gave a slight nod, and even smiled back at him, to which Viktor also smiled and winked. Quirrell immediately began talking intently with Snape, trying to avoid any further eye contact. However, Viktor noticed him clench his fist—the very one he had broken. This reaction made his already good mood even better.
As soon as Dumbledore took his seat, Professor McGonagall addressed him disapprovingly:
— It's not good for the Headmaster to be so late, Albus. You know what an important day this is for the students.
Dumbledore laughed good-naturedly.
— Forgive me, Minerva, Viktor was just showing me his new alchemical invention. You know, he's quite talented.
McGonagall, hearing Dumbledore, just sighed tiredly. Ever since Viktor started visiting the Headmaster regularly, Dumbledore had begun acting like a child who had found a new friend. They would play together late into the night and eat tons of sweets. She had even once seen them skipping stones across the lake, competing to see who could get the most skips.
Today, all the wizards were eating breakfast less cheerfully than usual, because after breakfast, they had their end-of-year exams. Some nervously gnawed on their spoons, while others frantically reread their textbooks, trying to remember every last detail. Dumbledore tapped his goblet with a spoon, getting everyone's attention, and stood up.
— And so, another school year comes to a close, — he began, his voice echoing through the hall, filling it with solemnity. — Each of you has learned something new, made new friends, and, I hope, had a good time, for that is the most important thing when you are young. But today, one trial awaits you—your end-of-year exams. I know you have worked hard, and I believe in each of you. Remember that knowledge is your best defense, and courage and a clear mind are your most faithful allies. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, for they are what teach us to be wiser. I wish you good luck, clarity of thought, and confidence in your abilities!
— ...And, — Dumbledore interrupted his own guidance with an intriguing smile. — I also want to announce that at the end of the year, Mr. Moss has prepared a little surprise for everyone.
All eyes immediately turned to Viktor. He, in turn, looked at Dumbledore in surprise, then sighed tiredly, stood up, and bowed. He had lost to the Headmaster in a game of magical chess again! What's more, when they played for fun, Viktor often won, but as soon as a wish was on the line, the Headmaster, using magical tricks, would invariably win. Their game already had a multitude of rules: no setting the board on fire, no duplicating pieces, and a bunch of other magical prohibitions. But in the world of magic, there's always a way to cheat. Viktor thought they would soon be trying to directly destroy each other's kings with magic.
After breakfast, all the students, as if heading to an execution, went off to take their exams. All of them, except for Viktor. Thanks to his brilliant academic performance, he was exempt and automatically received "Outstanding" in all subjects. However, he did attend one exam, but not to take it.
— George, if you fail this exam after all my efforts, I will flay you alive! — Viktor said seriously, standing next to him. — I'll cast a curse on you that you've never even heard of!
George swallowed nervously and nodded, his face pale. For him, this wasn't just an exam; it was a matter of life and death.
Finally, when the exam began, Viktor moved away from George and approached Snape. While the professor, with his characteristic sternness, paced between the tables, watching every student, Viktor also began to move unhurriedly around the class, trying to discreetly help everyone by giving them subtle hints and small clues.
For George, those forty minutes stretched on forever. He was sweating profusely, trying to act as carefully as a surgeon in a complex operation—no, more like a sapper disarming a bomb, where a mistake meant death. With trembling hands, he added ingredients, stirred meticulously, checking against the textbook, trying not to get distracted by anything.
When the exam came to an end, Snape and Viktor walked up to George's table to check his potion. George froze, holding his breath, his heart pounding like crazy. Snape carefully examined the potion, then sniffed it. A look of surprise appeared on his usually impassive face, followed by satisfaction.
— Very good, Mr. Barnes, you have truly surprised me. This is an Outstanding, — he said, giving a slight nod.
Viktor proudly puffed out his chest.
— Of course, I was the one who helped him!
George, hearing the grade, looked at Snape, then at Viktor, then laughed loudly, and his legs gave out. He collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling from nervous exhaustion and relief.
Snape and Viktor exchanged glances, silently nodding at each other. The professor continued to check the other papers, while Viktor simply left the classroom, leaving George lying on the floor, happy but exhausted.
Viktor headed back to his room. Approaching the portable speaker, he turned on the song "Come and Get Your Love."
Hey (hey) what's the matter with your head, yeah...
Caught by the rhythm, he began to dance, moving around the room. He walked to the closet and took out a neatly folded black suit, tossing it onto the bed. It was his battle attire, which he had created himself, without any unnecessary designer frills. He didn't bother to come up with a style—why reinvent the wheel? He simply "borrowed" an idea, and the suit was strikingly similar to Cid Kagenou's outfit from The Eminence in Shadow!—a black coat that concealed the body, a strict silhouette, both elegant and menacing.
Continuing to dance, he began to get dressed, feeling a shift from his usual lightness to a battle-ready focus with every move. When he was done, he walked to the mirror. He spun around, assessing his appearance, and nodded with satisfaction. Pulling up the hood, which hid half of his face in shadow, he sat down in a chair and waited. Today would be his rematch with Quirrell. Although he believed he had won last time, a feeling of incompleteness remained, and today he would finally get some closure. All that was required was to wait for the famous trio to act. He didn't want to mess up Dumbledore's carefully constructed plans by intervening too early.
He was only interested in Quirrell. Viktor was burning with the desire to prove to himself that he was no longer the little boy who could be tormented with impunity. This fight was meant to be the final confirmation of his strength in this world.
Listening to the music, Viktor could barely contain the battle cry that was desperate to burst out. He looked at the time and realized the last exam for first-years must be ending soon. This meant the finale was approaching. He stood up abruptly, checking his outfit in the mirror one last time. Satisfied that everything was in perfect order, he pulled out his wand and cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself, completely disappearing from view. Without losing a second, he headed to the forbidden corridor on the third floor to wait for the beginning of the great finale.