The third day of exams dawned with the same thick, anxious energy that had become the atmosphere of Beauxbâtons during exam week. Students flitted nervously across the courtyards and corridors, clinging to their notes and whispering incantations under their breath. The next subject on the schedule was Charms, and it was Professor Eric Chamberlain's domain.
Professor Chamberlain, with his ever-spirited nature and cheerful smile, was one of the more beloved instructors in Beauxbâtons. His enthusiasm for charms was contagious, and many students, despite their nerves, looked forward to performing in front of him.
The written portion of the exam was held in the main lecture hall. The parchment laid out before the students bore the elegant handwriting of Chamberlain himself. The questions focused heavily on the tickling charm, Rictusempra, and the laughing charm, Risus, delving into their origins, early uses, and their place in magical dueling and entertainment. One question read:
"Explain the historical creation of the Rictusempra Charm, including its inventor, the year it was first documented, and its use in both practical defense and non-combative magical performance."
Another asked:
"Compare the effects of Risus and Rictusempra. How do their magical properties differ despite sharing similar laughter-inducing outcomes?"
Eira wrote her answers with care, her handwriting sharp and clear. She had studied the origins of these charms thoroughly and knew how Rictusempra had been first developed by Silvius Prewett in the 15th century as a means to disarm duelists by throwing off their composure, while Risus was created a century later in theatrical circles to create laughter during plays. Her answers included citations and footnotes that even some sixth-year students wouldn't have thought to add.
Once the written portion ended, students were ushered into the practical testing hall. The high-vaulted chamber shimmered with magical wards to prevent spell damage. Each student had to perform a series of second-year level charms. Eira stepped forward confidently when her name was called.
She began with Rictusempra, casting it silently and with flawless wand movement. The volunteer assistant giggled uncontrollably under the effect, just as the spell required. Then, without pause, she moved to Risus, which caused gentle laughter to erupt with a soft golden glow. Her charm sparkled with finesse, showing a unique control of magical energy.
Next, she performed a floating charm on a stack of books and a precise color-changing charm that turned a flag from blue to gold without a flicker. All cast silently.
Professor Chamberlain clapped softly, clearly impressed. "Miss White, your wand movement, silent casting, and spell strength are truly commendable. It is rare to see such elegance and control at your level. You show great promise."
Eira nodded with a polite smile and returned to her seat beside Marin, who leaned over and whispered, "Show-off."
"You're just mad because your color-changing spell turned that flag pink," Eira whispered back.
Marin smirked. "Pink's a powerful color. You should try it sometime and also a very feminine color."and then he winked at her.
⸻
The next day brought the dreaded History of French Magical Civilization exam. Few students looked forward to this one. The instructor, Madame Duvall, was notoriously stern, known for her razor-sharp eyes and no-nonsense tone. She had taught magical history for over thirty years and had a reputation for being one of the toughest graders in the school.
The exam was held in the solemn Hall of Archives, an old wing of the château lined with dusty portraits and ancient tomes. Students entered in silence, met by Duvall's piercing gaze as she handed out the written test without a word.
The central essay question focused on the Goblin Rebellions—specifically, how they had affected France, even though they had largely taken place in Britain. The prompt read:
"Though the Goblin Rebellions of the 17th century were centered in England, discuss their economic, political, and societal implications on French magical society. Provide examples of specific legislation, trade disruption, and any notable French figures who responded to the crisis."
Eira read the question carefully, her mind already working. She knew this well. Her answer included the ways the rebellions had caused fear across European magical governments, forcing France to enforce stricter trade protections and increase Auror deployment along its borders. She wrote about Madame Lorette Valenne, a famous French legislator who had worked with the Wizengamot to prevent cross-border goblin uprisings.
Once the written part ended, Madame Duvall conducted brief oral assessments, calling each student forward to ask them about key historical figures. Eira stood calmly when called.
"Mademoiselle White," Duvall said coldly. "Tell me of Augustin Flamel. His influence during the Enlightenment era."
"Augustin Flamel, younger brother of Nicolas Flamel, served as a prominent magical philosopher during the French Enlightenment," Eira replied. "He advocated for the expansion of magical education beyond the noble classes and was instrumental in the creation of Beauxbâtons' open scholarship system."
Duvall gave a small nod. "Very well. One more. The Treaty of Versailles, magical counterpart—what was its primary condition?"
"The magical Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919 alongside the Muggle version, required magical nations involved in muggle World War I to establish non-aggression pacts, particularly between France and the newly formed magical German Council."
"Acceptable."
Eira returned to her seat as Professor Duvall turned to call the next student.
Marin leaned over and whispered, "Are you secretly, like… a hundred years old in disguise? That was scary good. I mean, who even remembers stuff about Muggle history or those greedy, smelly goblins? Ugh, I hate them."
He huffed under his breath. "You know, my mother borrowed money from them to expand our bookstore. Just a month later, those greedy bastards started harassing us—day and night—for repayment. They'd show up at our home, at the store, constantly. It got so bad they even threatened to seize everything. The house. The shop. All of it."
Eira tilted her head, intrigued. "Oh? So what did you do to save yourselves from the greedy hands of those goblins?"
Marin let out a weary sigh. "Nothing, really. After weeks of harassment, my mum was forced to sell the house just to repay the debt. And the worst part? The agreement clearly gave us a year to repay it, but those bastards came knocking after only one month, demanding the full amount with interest. It was completely unfair."
He paused, shaking his head. "But then… something unexpected happened. We sent a letter to Minister Voclain—honestly, just out of desperation. We didn't think she'd even read it, let alone care. But she did. She actually launched an investigation."
Marin's eyes lit with something between gratitude and disbelief.
"She punished the goblins who handled our case and returned the extra money they extorted. With that compensation, we bought a new house. Gringotts protested, of course—they even forged documents to try and trick her. But she didn't give them a second glance."
The rest of the day passed in a haze of relieved chatter. The third and fourth exams had gone well, and students slowly began to smile again, seeing the end of exam week in sight.
As the both of them left the Hall of Archives, Marin stretched and said, "two more days of this and then it's pastries and sun for the rest of summer. You ready for that?"
"More than ready," Eira said.