Friday, third floor of the castle.
Melvin had two classes that day.
In the morning, the Advanced Muggle Studies Class of Seventh Year, an advanced course exclusively for upper-year students.
Teaching at Hogwarts is divided into three stages. First, for lower years up to third year, the core courses are Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. In addition, there are some minor courses such as History of Magic, Astronomy, and Flying. The course content is basic knowledge, and the difficulty is relatively low.
Then, from third to fifth year, students at this stage begin to take elective courses, such as Ancient Runes, Divination, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies. They gradually expand their horizons and acquire advanced knowledge related to the principles of magic.
At the end of fifth year, they must take the Ordinary Wizarding Level exam, commonly called "OWLs" by wizards. Exam results are not published, but are ranked in six grades, from best to worst:
"O" (Outstanding);
"E" (Exceeds Expectations);
"A" (Acceptable);
"P" (Poor);
"D" (Dreadful); and
"T" (Troll).
Students who pass the exams and achieve the required grades receive a certificate of proficiency in their subject from the Magical Examinations Authority. This allows them to access mid- to low-level jobs in related fields, such as working at a shop in Diagon Alley or joining a department in the Ministry of Magic.
After the start of sixth year, students will choose their subjects again. Instead of distinguishing between compulsory and elective subjects, they will select those that interest or are required for them according to their academic certificates and grades, seeking advanced knowledge in related subjects. This is commonly known as advanced classes.
Advanced classes continue until seventh year, and before graduation, students take the second unified exam, the N.E.W.T. (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test).
This exam is more valuable, and the certificate is even more prestigious. Students who hold the relevant certificates can use their achievements to access more demanding positions, such as Gringotts Curse-Breakers, Ministry of Magic Reserve Officer, and Auror Reserve.
The Advanced Muggle Studies Class of Seventh Year went through two rounds of selection, leaving only a dozen students. Most have muggle backgrounds, excellent grades, and genuine interest in Muggle Studies. Additionally, they find the teacher approachable. Melvin always answers questions, making the class smooth and stress-free.
Unfortunately, this group of students is about to graduate, and focusing on exams is crucial, leaving little room for expansion or change.
Melvin felt a little disappointed.
That afternoon was fifth-year class.
The class had more than thirty students, slightly fewer than the third-year class, probably due to student attrition. Hogwarts' course selection system is flexible. After the beginning of third year, students have two months to adjust. If they feel a course is unsuitable or there is a scheduling conflict, they can request a change or withdrawal from the headmaster.
Changes beyond two months are allowed, depending on the headmaster's justification.
Melvin entered the classroom with a stack of materials. He wore a cotton-linen patterned shirt, a white short-sleeved shirt, and straight trousers with sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His movements were somewhat casual, revealing a certain freedom.
As a teacher at Hogwarts, he usually has a more stable image, but Professor Lewynter always wears muggle clothes, without adhering to formal dress codes, and the colors and styles are very fashionable.
He has something strange and fresh, as if out of place in this castle, but also subtly influential.
Teachers must maintain their posture and a solemn and dignified image so that students are more likely to obey classroom discipline. However, they cannot be too distant from students and need a certain degree of affinity to facilitate communication with them.
Previously, teachers' styles had always adhered to tradition.
Whether it was the elderly Professors McGonagall and Flitwick, or the younger Snape and Viktor, they almost always wore black and gray robes. The red and gold, blue and cyan, yellow and black, and green and silver, distinctive of the four main houses, were rarely seen on teachers. On the rare occasions they attended dinners, they deliberately accentuated bright and vivid colors with darker touches, looking as dignified and firm as men from the previous century.
Previously, only Dumbledore occasionally wore brighter colors.
Now, with the arrival of young Professor Lewynter, his attire had become a constant topic of conversation among students during dinner.
Melvin placed the materials on the desk, with a straight back and an attractive face. He looked like the students in the audience. His voice was also youthful, but his tone was kind.
"Good afternoon, students."
"Good afternoon, Mr. Lewynter."
"Before we officially begin classes, there are a few things I would like to clarify." Melvin glanced around the room. "As you all know, the Magical Examinations Authority has appointed me as a special advisor to review the Muggle Studies curriculum. However, until the new curriculum is implemented, this year's two exams will remain the same. Your most important task this school year is to prepare for the exams."
"Ah..."
A sigh of regret echoed in the classroom.
During the past week, they had heard a lot about the innovative experiences of the Muggle Studies class from other courses: novel presentations, new interrogation methods, and fresh content. Before class began, they even made sure everyone in the room knew each other.
It turns out those novel experiences were for others, and they could only prepare for the exams.
Percy Weasley listened silently, somewhat disappointed, but not surprised.
The OWLs were the most important.
Melvin's voice continued: "Originally, I wanted to ask Professor Quirrell about your previous studies, but now he teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts and is very busy. I couldn't find him several times, so I had to ask Professor McGonagall. I didn't find much useful information, so I contacted Madam Marchbank and obtained some old exam materials. I reviewed the materials and discovered that you have almost mastered the main points of the exam over the past two years, and this year there is only a small amount of new knowledge."
"Based on all this information, I have developed a review plan. I plan to finish the new course in a week and complete three rounds of review over the next few months, interspersed with practice exams. If the review is successful and we have enough time, we can cover more interesting content."
"Interesting content..."
murmured the young wizards softly, their imagination awakened.
"Let's begin."
Melvin picked up the chalk, and his words and voice flowed simultaneously. "I have reviewed your textbooks from last year. They mainly deal with everyday customs of muggles and commonly used appliances. Much of the content is outdated, so we will discuss this topic later. In this year's course, I will explain appliances in detail, including their functions, basic structures, and components."
The students in the advanced class are the best in each year and have practically reviewed the material beforehand. But when Professor Lewynter breaks down the key points one by one and displays them on the board with diagrams, the students seem to see how the knowledge in the book is refined and condensed, presenting itself before them.
Penelope Clearwater, of Ravenclaw, was the first to react, opening her notebook and beginning to copy.
"Isn't this just knowledge?
It's the exam!"