By the time Harry and Malfoy finished binding The Monster Book of Monsters and returning it to its cage, a considerable amount of time had passed. Dusk was approaching, and they needed to hurry to find the remaining books.
Fortunately, they had already preemptively secured essential textbooks like The Standard Book of Spells, A Thousand Magical Herbs and Mushrooms, and Advanced Potion-Making. After all, they were building upon the previous year's curriculum.
With few texts left to acquire, Harry and Malfoy completed their shopping quickly, only to find Hermione and Cassandra conspicuously absent from their designated meeting point.
Frustrated, the pair reluctantly proceeded to the cashier to pay their bill. Upon exiting the bookshop, they finally located Hermione and Cassandra patiently waiting near the entrance, with Tom in tow. They learned that Cassandra and Hermione had grown tired of waiting, paid for their books, and indulged in additional purchases from other shops.
Hermione, in particular, now possessed a rather distinctive ginger cat. Its face was somewhat flattened, and its tail possessed an unusually upright posture. While its appearance could be described as 'unconventional' rather than beautiful, Tom recognized traces of Kneazle blood. He knew the cat's most significant contribution would likely be fetching a high price in the future.
Hermione had already christened the feline Crookshanks—a testament to her fondness for it. Tom, who favored more…substantial pets, couldn't quite fathom the appeal but kept his opinions to himself.
Satisfied that everyone had procured their essential textbooks and equipment, Tom swiftly escorted Harry and company to Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions to commission new attire before promptly dispatching them home, concluding their Diagon Alley expedition. Harry, of course, returned to The Leaky Cauldron.
...
Time flowed rapidly until the highly anticipated commencement of the school term.
London, King's Cross Station.
"Hurry! We're going to miss the train!"
A boisterous cluster of red-headed individuals careened through the bustling station.
They dodged bewildered travelers, vaulted over luggage, and collided squarely with the seemingly impenetrable barrier concealing Platform Nine and Three-Quarters.
Tom and his companions, who had just arrived, observed the Weasleys' chaotic entrance with barely concealed bemusement.
"Are they always like that?" Hermione murmured, her gaze following the Weasleys.
"I haven't really noticed before," Cassandra said with a shrug.
"Let's go, the train won't wait," Tom stated flatly and set off toward Hogwarts.
...
Perhaps due to their slightly tardy arrival, nearly every compartment on the Hogwarts Express was already full. The group was forced to trek toward the rear of the train before discovering a relatively vacant compartment.
Occupying a corner seat was a man of indeterminate age, dressed in remarkably shabby clothing, clutching a battered leather suitcase. He was slumped against the window, fast asleep.
"Er… Harry, where do you think that homeless person came from?" Malfoy whispered in Harry's ear, his eyes fixed on the man.
While Harry wanted to chide Malfoy for his lack of tact, he was forced to concede that the man bore a striking resemblance to a vagrant.
"I don't know," Harry replied thoughtfully, stroking his chin. "Perhaps he's new?"
Malfoy stared at him. "Are new students really this young these days?"
"You imbecile!" Harry retorted, playfully shoving Malfoy. "He's obviously a new professor!"
Malfoy's confusion cleared. "A professor? Which one? Oh… the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor!"
A look of commiseration washed over Malfoy's face as he regarded the slumbering man. "Has Albus Dumbledore's hiring process become this absurd? Last year, he hired a complete imbecile like Gilderoy Lockhart, and this year, he's just hired a homeless man to fob us off...What about our Ordinary Wizarding Levels and Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests?"
The Ordinary Wizarding Levels (OWLs) were compulsory for all fifth-year students at Hogwarts and significantly influenced their future career prospects.
The Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests (NEWTs) were required for all seventh-year students at Hogwarts and served as their academic qualifications for job applications upon graduation.
Both examinations were graded from highest to lowest: O (Outstanding), E (Exceeds Expectations), A (Acceptable), P (Poor), D (Dreadful), and T (Troll).
Grades of O, E, and A were considered passing grades, while P, D, and T were considered failing grades.
Reportedly, an Auror position in the Ministry of Magic required a minimum of five subjects with an E or higher on the NEWTs.
"I heard the examiners are from the Ministry of Magic; they wouldn't understand our circumstances."
In fact, even if they did know, Malfoy doubted those imbeciles would lower the difficulty of the exams for them.
"Alright, alright, stop worrying about it," Harry stated, patting Malfoy's shoulder reassuringly. "We still have two years until the exams."
Unbeknownst to the students, the Hogwarts Express had covered a substantial distance, and the sky was growing noticeably darker. As the train sped onward, an inexplicable grayish-white mist began to permeate the atmosphere...
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We are climbing the charts faster than ever because the work I am putting in this time is on a completely different level of excellence.
The Top 10 is within our reach, and every Powerstone is a step closer. Smash the vote button and share your best theories in the comments so I can see who is really paying attention to the plot!