After the attack was resolved, the long-paused Quidditch matches resumed.
But now, with less than a month left before the end of term, to make up for lost time, the upcoming matches were nearly back-to-back, with at least three games every weekend.
Overall, the audience was thoroughly entertained, but the players were utterly exhausted.
Especially Kael.
The closer it got to the final exams, the more he regretted choosing twelve courses in the first place, though it hadn't been his intention, but this explanation didn't sway Professor McGonagall or Headmaster Dumbledore.
He still had to memorize those long passages in the books for the exams, like the formulas and meanings from Arithmetic Divination, and various common knowledge in Muggle life… especially the latter, where Kael wasted most of his time.
How should I put it, it was only after diving deep into it that Kael realized the way Muggles lived in the wizards' eyes was slightly different from what he remembered.
Take the role of a garden, Kael thought of playing, having afternoon tea, resting, chatting… but none of those were right.
It wasn't until he flipped through the book that he found out the correct answer was for mowing the lawn.
My goodness, a garden just for lawn mowing… how idle must one be.
And for the most popular group activity, Kael couldn't believe the answer was watching television...
It wasn't just Kael who was baffled; even Mikel was too. He even once suspected he had been a fake Muggle for eleven years.
For the first time, Kael wished Mandrake would mature later, preferably after exams.
Unfortunately, a few days later, Charity Burbage was discharged from the hospital.
Despite lying in the hospital wing for months and barely having any classes, the school still had no intention of canceling the exam for this subject.
Professor Burbage had a full two weeks to prepare the exams for the students.
Mikel was so worried he hadn't had a proper meal for several days. He only chose this subject to make his transcript look good, but now he thought forget about high scores, getting an A (pass) would be nice.
If the exam questions were any trickier, he might end up with his first P (fail) in his Hogwarts career.
But apart from these, the remaining days of the summer term were rather enjoyable.
Soon enough, on a sunny morning, exam week arrived.
For three full days, Kael rushed between various exam halls…
During the Transfiguration Technique exam, as soon as Kael stepped in, Professor McGonagall moved a teapot aside on the desk… students were meant to transform it into a turtle.
"This is too easy for you; let's change the exam content," she said. "I want you to write an essay that's at least five feet long on multiple transformations."
Kael was momentarily stunned. He had thought Professor McGonagall would ask him to complete a more challenging transformation.
But writing an essay… Kael didn't understand what kind of exam content this was.
A written test? But they had done that yesterday.
"It's for Today's Transfiguration Technique,"
Professor McGonagall quickly explained, "I'm old friends with the editor of this magazine, exchanging letters monthly. She's very interested in the points you raised in the Transfiguration Club before.
So, I want you to compete for Today's Transfiguration Technique's Most Promising Newcomer Award.
Almost all contemporary masters proficient in Transfiguration Technique subscribe to this magazine. If you could have your name printed there, it would greatly help your future."
"When should I write it, now?" Kael's eyes lit up.
"Certainly not; you need to write an excellent essay, and this time isn't enough…"
"Two months should be enough," Professor McGonagall smiled. "At the beginning of the next term, I'll help you send the essay over; as for the exam now…"
She casually circled on the transcript, "Full marks!"
Besides Transfiguration Technique, Kael also received full marks in the Charm exam, with Professor Flitwick carrying on his directness from last year, not wasting any time with him.
And following that, Care of Magical Creatures… Ancient Runes… Defence Against the Dark Arts… Kael passed them all smoothly.
However, there were troubles with Muggle Studies and Magic Potion.
There's no need to elaborate on Muggle Studies; it was a test of both imagination and memory. Kael wrote until the very last second of the exam before putting down his quill.
But the Magic Potion exam was different; Snape didn't even let Kael into the classroom, blocking him right at the entrance.
"Professor, the exam is about to start..." Kael said.
He had reasons to suspect that Snape intended to stop him from taking the exam this way, then excuse him for being absent and directly give zero marks.
This sort of thing wasn't impossible.
But Snape didn't care about these in the slightest, and asked coldly, "Tell me, what's with that Charm!"
"Which Charm?"
"Don't play dumb," Snape enunciated each word, "That pillar in the Chamber of Secret that was nearly sliced open, should not have been Riddle's doing!"
"Oh… you mean Sectumsempra." Kael realized, "It was taught to me by an upperclassman."
"Speak the truth!"
Snape, with a grim face, holding a small bottle in his hand.
"Don't lie to me again, or I wouldn't mind using other means… You should recognize this."
"Veritaserum."
"That's right, Veritaserum…" Snape sneered, "Just two drops will make you spill all your secrets."
"But Professor, using Veritaserum privately is illegal," Kael advised, "You shouldn't, out of mere curiosity, step onto the path of unlawfulness, the Dementor…"
"Bang!"
Snape squinted his eyes and opened the bottle.
"Alright, I'll talk."
Kael sighed, "A senior student really taught me this… don't be agitated, Professor, let me finish."
He blocked Snape's stretching arm, "It was a sixth-year… or at least a sixth-year student, I found his Advanced Potion Making."
Snape's expression stiffened.
Kael continued, "I only know he's called the Half-Blood Prince, but I don't know his real name; it's not written in the book.
But I have a feeling that the Half-Blood Prince… should be a good-looking guy. Or, he might be quite ugly… so he named himself this way for self-consolation."
Snape's complexion turned purplish blue, with muscles twitching continuously on his cheeks.
"Shut up…"
Kael continued as if he hadn't heard, "If you're interested in the Half-Blood Prince, Professor, I could help find out.
You know, I get along well with others in school and know quite a few senior students; possibly, they know who calls themselves the Half-Blood Princ… "
"I said, shut up!" Snape roared.
The students in the classroom, hearing the commotion, turned their heads to see what was happening.
"Turn your heads back, anyone who peeks around won't get to take the exam, straight zero!"
Snape shouted into the classroom, then turned and glared at Kael, speaking through gritted teeth, "Where's that book?"
"It might be in the dorm… or maybe elsewhere." Kael thought for a moment, "I can't quite recall."
"Then find it and hand it to me!"
"But Professor, the exam…"
Snape's expression shifted again, hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Tell me, which ingredients are needed for brewing a Universal Antidote."
"Bezoar, Mistletoe Berries, Unicorn's horn." Kael answered immediately.
"Good, full marks," Snape gritted his teeth, "Now, go find that damn book for me!"
"Okay."
Kael jogged out of the underground classroom, made a round outside, then returned.
After all, he had always kept the Advanced Potion Making on him and never left it in the dorm or classroom.
"Professor, guess what, I…"
"Give it to me!" Before Kael could finish, Snape reached out and snatched the book.
It was really snatched, faster than Peeves, and Kael suddenly felt like he was feeding a Long-Browed Tree Monkey at Newt's place; the food just vanished the moment it was out.
Snape looked at the Advanced Potion Making in his hand with a complex expression, not raising his head, he said, "You can go now."
"Professor, do you know the Half-Blood Prince…"
"Get out!"
...