Chapter 27: The Practical Examination
Normally, when students were punished by Professor Sprout, they were sent to collect manure for fertilizing magical plants.
But the Weasley twins had managed something far more impressive.
After causing trouble the previous night, they had somehow provoked three professors in a single morning.
That required a special kind of talent.
Douglas folded the note from Professor McGonagall and slipped it into his pocket, silently acknowledging the message.
Then he gestured for the fourth-year Gryffindors to line up along the corridor.
The unusual scene quickly drew attention.
Not far away, a group of Slytherin students who were waiting for their Charms class paused to watch.
Their next lesson would also be Defense Against the Dark Arts—and it would also be a practical examination.
Unfortunately, none of them dared skip Professor Flitwick's class.
When the bell rang, they reluctantly rushed into the Charms classroom.
Meanwhile, Douglas began addressing the Gryffindors.
"Students, don't be nervous."
He spoke casually, as if this were nothing special.
"The content of today's lesson is very simple. You'll be reviewing what you've learned during the past three years."
He gestured toward the classroom door.
"I've selected several dark creatures that might appear in future O.W.L. examinations."
"Your task is to use what you've learned to defeat or subdue them."
He smiled faintly.
"See? Very simple."
Simple?
The students exchanged uneasy looks.
Most of them had forgotten nearly everything from their textbooks during the first three years.
Although the previous class had included a written test, many students had only glanced through their old textbooks.
They had studied so many magical creatures over the years—how could anyone remember them all?
They had assumed the practical exam would simply involve casting whatever spells they remembered.
But now it seemed they would also have to choose the correct spell at the correct moment.
Douglas ignored the whispers spreading along the corridor.
Instead, he called out,
"Mr. George Weasley. As the class representative, you will go first."
One twin immediately shoved the other forward.
"George, the professor said you go first!"
The one who had been pushed out protested loudly.
"Merlin's beard, George, how could you do this? Professor, I'm Fred—he's George!"
Truthfully, Douglas couldn't tell them apart.
"If you find this amusing, Mr. Weasley," he said calmly, "perhaps we should add the Charms textbook to your detention as well."
He pointed down the corridor.
"The Charms classroom is not far from here. I'm certain Professor Flitwick would happily support my suggestion."
Douglas had begun to suspect that his current detention arrangement was still too comfortable.
Under that threat, George finally stepped forward himself.
He raised his wand and cautiously entered the classroom.
Douglas instructed the rest of the students to remain outside and followed George inside.
The moment they stepped in, the room transformed.
A small pond blocked the way forward.
To reach the next section of the classroom, the student had to cross the water.
The pond was roughly two meters deep.
At first glance, it seemed simple enough.
George studied the water carefully.
The pond was filled with murky water and tangled aquatic plants. The bottom was difficult to see.
He hesitated, glanced at Douglas, then looked back at the pond.
Finally, he slowly waded forward.
Douglas quietly watched a particular spot in the water.
There, barely visible beneath the surface, lurked a small sickly-green creature with pointed horns.
It grinned maliciously and stretched its long claws toward the swimmers.
It was a Grindylow.
Douglas had personally caught this one in the Black Lake.
Strictly speaking, Grindylows were not especially dangerous—as long as you remained calm.
They attacked anyone who approached, grabbing them with their thin claws and dragging them underwater.
Unlike the spirits of certain myths, however, they were physical creatures.
If someone stayed calm underwater, they could often escape simply by kicking the Grindylow in the head.
George crouched at the water's edge, testing the surface.
Feeling no immediate danger, he confidently began swimming across.
His soaked robes felt heavy and uncomfortable, so he tried to paddle quickly toward the opposite side.
He planned to dry himself with magic once he got there.
Soon, something felt wrong.
The faster he paddled, the stronger the resistance became.
The water felt thick and sluggish.
Almost like mud.
Years of experience in pranks gave George a sudden realization.
The pond must have been enchanted with a Swamp Curse.
The more violently he moved, the more stuck he would become.
George smirked slightly and, beneath the water, discreetly raised his middle finger in Douglas's direction.
When he slowed his movements, the resistance indeed decreased.
Just as he began feeling proud of himself—
Something grabbed his ankle.
His heart jolted in panic, and he instinctively began thrashing faster.
Immediately, the Swamp Curse took effect again.
And whatever had grabbed him was surprisingly strong.
Within seconds, George was dragged beneath the surface by the Grindylow.
Douglas watched the stream of bubbles rising to the surface and shook his head.
The boy had completely lost his composure.
Through the water, Douglas could see George struggling.
He had even pulled out his wand and pointed it at the Grindylow.
But the moment he opened his mouth, water rushed in and a cloud of bubbles escaped instead.
George's face began turning red from lack of oxygen.
He kicked wildly in desperation.
By sheer luck, one of his kicks struck the Grindylow squarely on the head.
The creature released him in pain.
Unfortunately, George's frantic movements had activated the Swamp Curse again.
The water around him thickened like mud, trapping him in place.
Douglas checked the time.
Only three minutes had passed.
He sighed.
With a flick of his wand, a rope beside the pond suddenly sprang to life.
It dove into the water like a living snake, wrapped around George, and dragged him quickly back to shore.
George collapsed beside the pond, coughing violently.
Douglas tapped his back lightly with his wand.
George's soaked robes instantly dried.
Then Douglas produced a small bottle filled with dark liquid and handed it to him.
George pinched his nose and swallowed the potion.
Within seconds, the coughing stopped.
He looked up at Douglas with a pitiful expression.
"Professor… isn't this a bit dangerous?"
Douglas rolled his eyes.
Without answering, he opened the door and led George back out into the corridor.
The classroom interior and the corridor outside felt like two completely different worlds.
When the waiting students saw George emerge after barely three minutes, they immediately began whispering.
"No way, George!"
"Yeah! That was only three minutes!"
"Was the test too easy?"
"Look at his face. Obviously he didn't pass the first stage!"
Douglas clapped his hands to silence them.
Then he turned to George.
"Mr. Weasley, why don't you share your experience with your classmates?"
George blinked in confusion.
"Professor… didn't you say this was a test?"
Douglas sighed.
"Yes, it's a test—but not a life-or-death one."
He gestured toward the class.
"You're allowed to share your failures and successes."
"I want to measure your ability, not watch you waste energy guessing the problem."
In truth, Douglas never intended to stop students from revealing the exam tasks.
Such restrictions were impossible anyway.
More importantly, he hoped the test would reveal which spells students had forgotten from the past three years.
Once they recognized their weaknesses, they would naturally begin reviewing those spells again.
Reviewing wasn't difficult.
Targeted reviewing—that was the challenge.
Besides, the faster everyone passed the levels, the better his class performance scores would look.
George reluctantly described everything that had happened in the pond.
The students began discussing strategies immediately.
"This is insane. The Swamp Curse and a Grindylow at the same time!"
"I have an idea—what about a Vanishing Charm?"
"That might remove the water, but then how do you cross the pit?"
"There are rocks and plants in the pond. You could use Transfiguration to create a ladder!"
George stood nearby listening to his classmates brainstorm solutions.
Finally he stamped his foot in frustration.
Why hadn't he thought of that?
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