By June, temperatures in the Scottish Highlands had risen considerably, though the climate remained pleasant overall.
Yet the students of Hogwarts were in a state of restless agitation, for final exams were imminent.
Particularly the fifth and seventh years, who were swamped with revision.
Nearly every time Wayne returned to the common room, he'd find Cedric buried under piles of books, with numerous classmates approaching him for advice.
Even George and Fred had uncharacteristically settled down.
The twins knew full well that if their exam results failed to satisfy Molly, not only would their joke product research be halted, but their very survival might be at stake.
"We're not aiming for all 'Outstandings'—that's impossible. Just four 'Exceeds Expectations' will do."
"Thank Merlin, Lupin saved our Defence Against the Dark Arts. That one should be secure."
On the first day of exam week, the twins shared their hopes with Wayne.
Wayne analysed, "Given your Ancient Runes level, an 'E' should be no problem. Potions is a breeze, too."
"That depends on whether Snape allows it," George said with a headache.
"You've forgotten," Wayne reminded them. "O.W.L.s aren't invigilated by Snape. The Ministry has an entire department dedicated to these two exams."
George and Fred paused, then exclaimed in unison:
"Right! How could we forget that?"
Their faces immediately brightened. As long as Snape wasn't invigilating or grading, getting an 'E'—or even an 'O'—wasn't out of the question.
"See you later, Wayne. If we survive this summer, let's go to the World Cup together."
Fred dropped this ominous flag before hastily dragging George off to their exam.
Wayne shrugged and headed upstairs to take his History of Magic exam.
The third-year History of Magic curriculum primarily covered the Wizarding War between Wales and England, focusing on how the division of Muggle political powers impacted wizards.
These questions were child's play for Wayne, but for students who'd been snoring through class, they might as well have been written in hieroglyphics.
Many couldn't even recall the correct years of the war, resorting to desperate guesswork. Some even invented fictional standout wizards in hopes of scraping a pass.
"Wayne, who led the 1322 border rebellion?" Toby demanded the moment the exam ended.
"The Earl of Lancaster. He commanded eight wizards known as the Eight Sages, but they were ultimately defeated by the royal court's wizard contingent and forced into exile. The Earl was executed afterwards."
Hearing his textbook-perfect answer, Toby and Norman turned ashen.
"Did you get it wrong?" Wayne took one look at their expressions and understood. "It's just one question out of fifteen. No need to panic."
"No, you don't get it," Toby said despairingly. "That... was the question I felt most confident about."
Norman nodded mournfully. "Same here!"
Wayne: "..."
...
Though Wayne usually had more free time than other students during lessons, exam season made him the busiest.
He had to sit all twelve subjects.
That afternoon, barely thirty minutes into the Charms written exam, Wayne finished his paper, handed it in early, and rushed straight to the Ancient Runes examination hall.
Come to think of it, this was his first time seeing the Ancient Runes professor—Bathsheda Babbling—all term. She blinked at Wayne, only then remembering that while he didn't attend classes, he still had to take exams.
With time to spare before the test, Wayne planned to review the syllabus boundaries to avoid losing marks for overcomplicating his answers.
But the moment he sat down, the middle-aged Professor Babbling announced:
"Lawrence, no need for you to take this exam. I'm giving you full marks."
Wayne froze, entirely unprepared for this outcome.
"Professor, isn't that against regulations?" he hesitated.
His arrangements with Snape and Lupin had been fair exchanges—he'd earned those full marks. But he barely knew Professor Babbling...
"What's inappropriate about it?" Babbling chuckled. "The game cards you designed alone contain rune combinations and applications I've never seen before."
"I'm hardly qualified to teach you. If anything, you should be teaching me."
"There are still several I haven't figured out, like that core undulating rune on the cards..."
"That involves projection technology fundamentals—specifically light vibrations, so..."
With other students yet to arrive, Wayne ended up tutoring Babbling instead.
The professor was highly competent, just overly rigid in her application of runes.
"Don't treat runes as special characters," Wayne shared his experience. "The fundamental purpose of writing is to record and communicate."
"Approach it like learning any ordinary foreign language – that'll make it easier to grasp the true essence of runes."
"Is that so?" Professor Babbling looked thoughtful.
Then, when the other students arrived, they saw Wayne holding his grade report, waving at them with a smile before departing.
...
The next morning, Wayne and Hermione went together for their Care of Magical Creatures exam.
The test was remarkably simple – students only needed to bathe a Crup using provided materials and tools, then prepare some food for it.
Clearly, Hagrid intended to hand out marks freely. Everyone's faces showed delight.
While Wayne was petting the dog, Hagrid sidled up to him.
"Wayne, wha' d'yer mean by sayin' I'll see Norbert by the end o' the year?"
"Yer takin' me to tha' Romanian dragon reserve, then, are ya?"
"You're still hung up on that?" Wayne looked astonished at the half-giant.
Two months had passed – he'd assumed Hagrid would have forgotten by now.
Hagrid's massive face twisted with frustration. "I've been thinkin' 'bout it all the time… jus' tell me already!"
Wayne sighed, releasing the dog and standing up.
He'd considered patting Hagrid's shoulder, but seeing the thick grease stains on his coat, thought better of it.
Smiling, he said, "Well, since you've waited two months already, what's another two months?"
"Dumbledore will explain everything when the time comes."
"This… involves Dumbledore, does it?" Hagrid grew even more curious, his heart itching like a kitten was scratching at it.
"That's all I'm saying." Wayne shrugged.
Hagrid groaned in despair. "Might as well o' said nothin'!"
"..."
Though thoroughly teased, the good-natured Hagrid still gave Wayne full marks without hesitation.
That afternoon brought the much-dreaded Transfiguration exam.
Regardless of the year, Transfiguration exams were always the most challenging. Under Professor McGonagall's watchful gaze, few performed at their best.
Norman was typical – he became so nervous he held his wand backwards, nearly causing an accident. Fortunately, Professor McGonagall noticed in time and stopped his spellcasting.
Though his subsequent transfiguration proved satisfactory, that small mishap still cost him marks.
Come evening, the group climbed the Astronomy Tower to chart star positions, not returning to rest until midnight, utterly exhausted.
Day after day passed. By the fourth day, some students had finished completely, but Wayne still faced the Arithmancy and Divination exams tomorrow.
Arithmancy had another name – 'Numerology' – a discipline using numbers to interpret fate and personality, rarely involving future predictions.
This was among the more difficult subjects, requiring a clear understanding of English vowels and consonants, plus the meanings behind each letter's corresponding numerical value.
Students had to memorise nearly the entire thick textbook and apply it fluently.
The third-year exam involved using Arithmantic derivation theory to analyse one's own name.
The result Wayne calculated turned out rather interesting indeed.
According to the meanings corresponding to each letter in the name combined, it represented that his life would be smooth sailing with numerous descendants.
No wonder Hermione liked this subject so much—there was actually something to it.
In the afternoon, Wayne finished his meal and went to queue outside the Divination Classroom.
Inside, only one person was called every ten minutes or so.
Fortunately, Wayne only had to wait for two people before Trelawney called him in.
The room was hotter than ever, with a fire blazing in the fireplace, yet Trelawney still wore a thick cloak.
"Hello, dear," she said softly. "Please look into this crystal ball... take your time... then tell me what you see..."
Wayne sat opposite, staring intently at the crystal ball, where white mist swirled unpredictably...
He did see something, but the shapes corresponded to trivial divination outcomes. Wayne guessed Trelawney wouldn't be satisfied if he mentioned them, so he had to take an unconventional approach.
The boy fully committed to his performance, his expression shifting unpredictably—anger, shock, and finally settling into grim solemnity.
Trelawney grew excited. "Quick... child, your Inner Eye seems to have opened. Tell me what you've seen..."
"I saw... blood, wounds, and war!"
Wayne's voice suddenly rose, startling Trelawney, but she paid no mind and urged him eagerly.
"Soon... very soon, strangers will invade our castle, unleashing a fierce battle, seemingly fighting over some treasure. People will die! Oh, heavens!"
Wayne clutched his head in disbelief, ending the prophecy.
"Professor, perhaps I saw wrong. Could I have another chance?"
"Saw wrong? No, no, no. This is true talent." Trelawney was utterly pleased, giving Wayne full marks on the spot and encouraging him, "Child, you have great potential as a seer. You must continue to work hard in the future."
Wayne nodded obediently and left the classroom. Then, at the corner, he cast a Disillusionment Charm on himself and followed another student back inside, standing in a corner.
He remembered that during Harry's exam, Trelawney had made a genuine prophecy.
Though this world had already been turned upside down by his meddling, Wayne firmly believed that, with the protagonist's plot armour, Harry might still trigger Trelawney's switch.
As for what he'd just said... it was almost entirely nonsense.
Still, if he wanted to make it all come true, it wasn't impossible.
Was this the true essence of prophecy?
If I will it, I have the power to steer events in the intended direction.
...
One by one, students entered and exited. After nearly an hour, it was finally Harry's turn.
Harry pressed his face against the crystal ball, practically trying to crawl inside it. After staring for a long while, he finally said:
"I see a black dog."
A black dog?
Trelawney became excited again - she adored such ominous omens.
"Child, you may have witnessed death once more... What was the black dog doing? Was it attacking you?"
"No," Harry said. "He was chasing a rat. He caught it, and then... then he played with me."
"A dog catching rats?" Trelawney said incredulously. "Are you certain? Was he playing with you or hunting you down?"
"He was playing," Harry said impatiently. "I'm sure. Very sure."
Trelawney sighed.
"Very well, child. I suppose my expectations were too high, but I believe you did your best."
Harry exhaled in relief and stood up to leave. After finishing this final exam, he still needed to find Sirius.
Suddenly, a loud, shrill voice came from behind. Harry whirled around, and Wayne perked up.
He'd guessed correctly!
Trelawney was about to begin her prophecy!