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Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: Exam Expertise

Friday, third floor of the castle.

Melvin had two classes that day.

The morning was with the seventh-year Muggle Studies Advanced class, a course exclusive to upper years.

Hogwarts' curriculum was split into three stages. First, the lower years—first through third—focused on core subjects: Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts, plus electives like History of Magic, Astronomy, and Flying. These were foundational, with lighter difficulty.

Then came third to fifth years, where students picked electives like Ancient Runes, Divination, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies, broadening their horizons with advanced magical theory.

At the end of fifth year, students faced the Ordinary Wizarding Level exams, or O.W.L.s. Scores weren't numerical but graded on six tiers, from best to worst:

- O: Outstanding

- E: Exceeds Expectations

- A: Acceptable

- P: Poor

- D: Dreadful

- T: Troll

Passing with qualifying grades earned students subject certificates from the Wizarding Examinations Authority, opening doors to mid- or entry-level jobs—like shop work in Diagon Alley or basic Ministry roles.

Starting sixth year, students chose courses again, no longer split between core and elective. Based on their O.W.L. certificates and grades, they selected subjects of interest or necessity, diving into advanced studies—the so-called N.E.W.T.-level courses.

These advanced classes ran through seventh year, culminating in the Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, or N.E.W.T.s. These carried more weight, with certificates unlocking prestigious careers like Gringotts Curse-Breaker, Ministry fast-track roles, or Auror training.

The seventh-year Muggle Studies Advanced class, whittled down by two rounds of selection, had only a dozen students, mostly with Muggle backgrounds. They were high achievers, genuinely curious about the subject and fond of their professor. Melvin's lessons were interactive, with eager responses to his questions, making the class smooth and enjoyable.

But these students were graduating soon, focused on exams, leaving little room for innovation.

Melvin felt a twinge of regret.

The afternoon was with the fifth years.

The class had just over thirty students, fewer than the third years—some must have dropped the course. Hogwarts' elective system was flexible: third years had two months to adjust to their choices. If a subject didn't suit them or clashed with their schedule, they could petition their Head of House to switch or drop it.

Even after two months, changes were possible with a convincing reason.

Melvin entered the classroom carrying a stack of materials, dressed in a floral linen shirt, white tee, and straight trousers, sleeves rolled to his elbows. His casual air carried a hint of effortless rebellion.

Hogwarts professors typically projected a serious, dignified image, but Professor Levent always wore trendy Muggle clothes, shunning formal robes for vibrant styles.

He stood out in the castle—a stranger, yet subtly reshaping its atmosphere.

Professors needed to balance authority with approachability. A stern demeanor ensured discipline, but too much distance hindered communication with students.

Until now, professors had stuck to tradition.

Whether it was older professors like McGonagall and Flitwick or younger ones like Snape and Vector, they wore dark gray robes. The Houses' colors—red-gold, blue-bronze, yellow-black, green-silver—rarely appeared on faculty. Even at feasts, they favored muted, somber tones, like elders from a bygone era.

Dumbledore was the only one who occasionally wore bright robes.

Now, young Professor Levent's wardrobe was a regular topic at student dinners.

Melvin set his materials on the lectern, standing tall with a youthful face that could pass for a student's. His voice, though young, was warm and steady. "Good afternoon, everyone."

"Good afternoon, Mr. Levent."

"Before we start, I want to clarify a few things," Melvin said, scanning the room. "You've probably heard I've been appointed as a special consultant by the Wizarding Examinations Authority to revise the Muggle Studies curriculum. But until the new material is finalized, this year's exams will follow the old syllabus. Your top priority this term is preparing for those."

A collective sigh of disappointment rippled through the room.

Over the past week, they'd heard about the exciting new Muggle Studies lessons from other years—unique introductions, engaging questions, fresh content. They'd even made sure everyone in the room knew each other, hoping for the same.

But their lot was exam prep.

Percy Weasley listened quietly, disappointed but unsurprised.

O.W.L. certificates were everything.

Melvin continued, "I tried to get insights from Professor Quirrell about your prior studies, but he's busy with Defense Against the Dark Arts now and was hard to track down. I consulted Professor McGonagall, but she didn't have much detail. So, I reached out to Madam Marchbanks and got hold of past exam materials. After reviewing them, I found you've covered most of the key topics over the last two years, with only a few new ones this term.

"Based on that, I've drawn up a revision plan. We'll cover the new material in a week, then spend the next few months on three rounds of review, interspersed with mock exams. If we're efficient and have time to spare, we can explore some more interesting topics."

"Interesting topics…" the students murmured, imaginations stirring.

"Let's get started."

Melvin picked up a piece of chalk, his writing and voice flowing together. "I reviewed last year's textbook, which covered Muggle daily life and common appliances. Much of it's outdated, but we'll discuss that later. This year, I'll explain appliances in detail—their functions, basic structures, components…"

The advanced students, top performers from their Houses, had likely previewed the material. But as Professor Levent broke down each point, illustrating them on the blackboard with diagrams, the knowledge from their books seemed refined and distilled, laid bare before them.

Ravenclaw's Penelope Clearwater was the first to react, flipping open her notebook to jot it all down.

These aren't just lessons.

These are exam questions!

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