By the time Sean left the Alchemy office, the sunset was burning a fierce red.
Professor Tyra had already lined up suppliers and had even set up a complete industrial chain using her own alchemy workshop.
This meant they could truly satisfy the demands of every wizard in the magical world.
The only issue was that the quality of the mass-produced Magic Hand Mirrors was terrible. The magical circuits Sean had engraved in them were incomprehensible to alchemy apprentices, and even wizards who had been immersed in the trade for years found them hard to replicate perfectly.
As a result, the Magic Hand Mirrors would, at best, only last for two years.
And yet, Professor Tyra actually smiled and said this was a good thing...
There was a cunning light in her eyes that Sean had never seen before.
It made Sean feel that he still had a long way to go in the field of alchemy.
...
A bright and beautiful spring arrived.
The weather grew sunnier and warmer, with gentle breezes blowing, but the young wizards were stuck indoors all day, finishing homework and running back and forth to the library.
Maybe the course selection had given the wizards a sense of urgency, or perhaps the professors were piling on more assignments, but the students seemed to have endless things to do before the Easter holiday.
They weren't just discussing the recently concluded course selection, but also future exams.
"You don't know? In fifth year, we have to take a terrifying exam. Fred and George Weasley have to buckle down next year; they're taking their O.W.L.s—Ordinary Wizarding Levels."
"And Percy has to prepare to pass his N.E.W.T.s—Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests. That's the highest qualification Hogwarts offers."
"Percy has to maintain top grades. He wants to get into the Ministry of Magic so bad he's going crazy."
Ron waved his arms exaggeratedly during breakfast.
"O.W.L.s?"
Harry asked, looking lost.
"Ordinary Wizarding Levels, Harry. All fifth-year students have to take them," Ron said.
"Uh-huh, and Professor McGonagall said her N.E.W.T. class only accepts students who achieve an 'Exceeds Expectations' or higher in their O.W.L.s," Hermione added.
"What are N.E.W.T.s?"
Harry's head was spinning.
"Oh, Harry, Wood has trained you into an idiot. Justin was just talking about it a few days ago..."
Ron continued loudly, then suddenly paused. He remembered that Harry wasn't there at the time; he had been at Quidditch training. His words got stuck in his throat, going neither up nor down.
Finally, looking like he'd swallowed a slug, his face puffed up.
"That's the ultimate wizarding exam... After fifth year, Hogwarts cancels the current curriculum and only keeps the students who performed well to join the N.E.W.T. classes. These wizards continue studying at Hogwarts and finally take the N.E.W.T. exam."
Justin explained it again patiently.
"What if I don't want to take this exam?"
Harry blurted out. He was thinking of Potions class.
Two more years of that...
Harry shook his head vigorously.
"Then, of course, you leave Hogwarts, Harry," Justin said.
"No..."
Hearing this, Harry felt like he'd been hit by a bludger.
Suddenly, even Potions class seemed warm and friendly.
"You can choose the subjects you like, Harry. You don't have to take all of them."
Speaking of taking all of them, Hermione turned her head to glance at Sean.
He was eating quietly, not making a sound.
After listening to their discussion, he had fallen into that familiar, contemplative state of his.
It was easy to tell when his mood shifted—his speed at demolishing food would slow down significantly.
While sipping pumpkin juice, Sean thought about the Hogwarts education system and where wizards went in the future.
Hogwarts had two major exams: the O.W.L.s and the N.E.W.T.s.
They determined a wizard's future path in that order.
For example, St. Mungo's Hospital required an N.E.W.T. score of at least 'Exceeds Expectations' in Potions, Herbology, Transfiguration, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts.
For Aurors: at least five N.E.W.T. certificates, with no grade lower than 'Exceeds Expectations'.
Most young wizards didn't realize this. They just had to do well in every subject to ensure that when career guidance came around, they still had plenty of options.
Justin and Sean realized this at the same time. Justin instinctively looked to his side, and by coincidence, his eyes met Sean's.
"It seems there's no career guidance for wizards?" Justin whispered.
"There will be in fifth year. Career guidance too early isn't necessarily helpful," Sean said.
"Mm, but we're different, right?"
Justin gave Harry a meaningful look.
Harry had been wavering between going to training and not going to training lately.
"Yeah," Sean replied softly.
Outside Hogwarts Castle, it was a truly glorious morning.
The sky was a clear, misty powder-blue. Facing the window, Sean could see the tall beech tree at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Hagrid was bustling about over there, wearing a coat that wasn't too thick, his beard twitching.
Easter was coming, and along with it came the news of Lockhart's sentencing.
People were so shocked they nearly swallowed their tongues.
In the Great Hall, when the news was announced, Professor McGonagall immediately fixed her burning gaze on Sean.
Beside her, the professors were all happy. No one liked Lockhart. Even Professor Sprout had a few extra tankards of butterbeer, a flush rising on her cheeks.
The young wizards were clutching the latest issue of the Daily Prophet. They couldn't believe that Lockhart, a recipient of the Order of Merlin, Third Class, had deceived the entire wizarding world.
Even more surprising was that Rita Skeeter was still the lead writer.
At some point, this "notorious" reporter had started to "turn over a new leaf."
Although her reporting was still exaggerated, at least it wasn't fabricated nonsense.
Rita herself had been riding high lately.
With ready-made explosive news, she didn't need to embellish anything.
After all, even though she was a reporter for the Daily Prophet, she didn't always get the headline column—otherwise, she wouldn't have resorted to transforming into a beetle and flying around.
But ever since she made contact with that person...
"Defense Against the Dark Arts is cancelled?"
Harry asked excitedly.
"Looks like it!"
Ron answered impatiently. "Anyway, we've already had plenty of practical experience in that area."
Ron added to a sullen Hermione.
"You wish!"
Hermione bristled.
She looked toward Dumbledore and his long white beard.
Sure enough, the kindly Headmaster announced that Professor Snape would be the temporary professor.
Amidst Harry's daze and Ron's mourning, Sean realized something.
The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was cursed; no wizard who took the job lasted a full year.
But Professor Snape was always the substitute, and he wouldn't stay for a year either.
Was this... exploiting a bug in the curse?