But judging from the boy's relieved expression, he should still make it in time.
Kael wasn't surprised either, as there were always such people in every exam—trying their luck with reckless probing but keeping a backup plan for themselves.
After all, the Examination Law stipulates that only those who have drunk Bafe Awakening Potion and Felix Felici will have their exam scores directly canceled; the punishment for other Magic Potions is quite ordinary.
This could be considered a minor drawback.
But this is the business of the Wizard Examination Board, and Kael is too lazy to meddle in such affairs.
He walked into the classroom and sat down, which originally had ten people, but now there were nine. Parchment, quills, and ink were prepared on the desks in advance, as students were not allowed to bring anything in.
Professor Marchbank circled around the classroom a few more times before leaving for another place.
Twenty minutes later, the exam began.
The morning sunlight streamed in through the windows, warming everyone and making Kael a bit sleepy.
Having finished the paper long ago, he forced himself to wait for the exam to end and was the first to hand it in and walk out of the classroom.
Coincidentally, sixth-year students had also just finished their class. On the stairway leading to the entrance hall, he happened to run into a group of Gryffindors who had just finished class.
Among them were Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Kael." Hermione waved and called out from afar.
She quickly ran over and asked nervously, "How did it feel? Is the N.E.W.T. exam harder than the regular final exams?"
"Hmm... Maybe." Kael pondered for a moment before saying.
"Maybe?" Ron was puzzled, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Just that I can't really tell." Kael shrugged his shoulders, "Let's put it this way, which do you think is harder: the Lighting Spell or the Levitating Spells?"
"They're both pretty easy." Ron blurted out.
These two charms were introductory spells learned in first year, and naturally posed no difficulty for a sixth-year student like him.
However, he quickly added, "If I had to say, the Levitating Spells are still harder."
"That's my answer too." Kael shrugged, "To be honest, the N.E.W.T. is still harder."
This time, Ron understood, but he wished he hadn't. This was the first time he encountered someone likening a terrifying final exam to a "Lighting Spell."
So infuriating... For a moment, he truly wanted to smash the book in his hand into Kael's nonchalant face.
But due to certain purposes, he had to suppress this impulse and patiently continued asking questions.
"So, any tips?" Ron asked hopefully, "About how to score high on the N.E.W.T. exam."
This was something he urgently wanted to know right now, as a sixth-year student, Ron felt N.E.W.T. exams are closer to him than ever before.
Harry and Hermione also perked up their ears, focusing intently.
"Tips, huh." Kael thought for a moment, "Just don't be nervous, don't write the answers in the wrong places, and you can pass."
Ron was stunned. "That's it?"
Don't be nervous... How is that any different from not saying anything? Doesn't he know not to be nervous during exams?
"Hmm... Also, don't act smart." Kael continued, "I know you might all have Felix Felici, but remember, never use it during the N.E.W.T., otherwise your scores will be invalidated.
And don't think it's just a matter of repeating a year, that you'll simply retake it next year... Getting caught cheating like that is akin to expulsion, you won't get a single certificate."
"Of course, we won't cheat." Hermione blurted out, and Harry and Ron nodded in agreement.
"That's good then." Kael said.
"But even if someone used Felix Felici, they wouldn't be able to find out, right?" Ron suddenly muttered softly, "I mean, it's a Lucky Potion, getting caught cheating isn't lucky, right?"
"Why would you think that?" Kael glanced at him, "Lucky Potion is just another name for Felix Felici. Its true effect is just making you make more favorable choices, not being undetectable.
"Put it this way, if someone drank Felix Felici before the exam, they're most likely not going to want to take the exam... After all, compared to all scores being invalidated, just missing one subject is quite lucky."
"Really?" Ron blinked.
"Absolutely." Kael replied, "Otherwise, why do you think major sporting events and exams have regulations against using Felix Felici? If it were truly undetectable, why bother with all those rules?"
While talking, they reached the first floor and saw Conna waiting at the entrance of the auditorium. Kael immediately left Harry and the others to walk over.
"What's the exam this afternoon?" he asked.
"Didn't you see the schedule when you left?" Conna replied, "It's still the same test in the afternoon, only Gryffindor and Slytherin will be taking it, while our second subject is tomorrow."
"Oh, I forgot." Kael scratched his head.
Due to strict proctoring, with fewer professors and tools, only one subject is taken per day for the N.E.W.T., with all seventh-year students divided into different batches.
Of course, only courses with a large number of students are like this; subjects like Ancient Runes, with few participants, could be completed in just one morning.
Lunch was sumptuous, but Kael noticed that there were fewer people around the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables, all seventh-year students.
It seemed like they were eating elsewhere to avoid leaking exam questions and interacting with students who hadn't finished their exams.
Looking at it this way, being tested first has its benefits, at least it doesn't come with restrictions.