<h4>Chapter 79: Exam week is here.</h4>
Drac finally prepared the final exam papers.
But they weren''t his own creation. Instead, they were crafted by a seasoned professor with extensive experience in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Yes, that person''s name was Albus Dumbledore!
Dumbledore, as a veteran professor who began teaching in the early 20th century, initially served as the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. It wasn''t until some twenty to thirty yearster, when he became the Head of Gryffindor House, that he transitioned to teaching Transfiguration.
Thus,pared to the numerous Defense Against the Dark Arts professors who neversted more than a year over the past fifty years, Dumbledore''s experience in teaching and exam preparation was unparalleled. He was more than capable of crafting exam papers for the students!
In the headmaster''s office, Drac spent a good half day negotiating with Dumbledore.
In the end, Drac promised Dumbledore to extend Hogwarts'' lease for seven more years in exchange for having the headmaster personally create the exam papers.
...
Time quickly flew by, and June arrived.
The weather in Scond became swelteringly hot. The grass outside the castle, though lush and green, was bathed in sunlight, giving it the appearance of the African savanna.
The marble floors exposed to the sun were so hot that heat waves could be seen rising from them. Students walked gingerly, afraid their shoes would melt and stick to the floor.
The water in the ck Lake steamed up, and the mist that rose into the sky was quickly dissipated by the sun.
The weather was stiflingly hot, with no clouds or wind.
Drac hated this kind of weather the most. He stayed in his office all day, reluctant to go out. Even during the crucial first week of June, the exam week, he was toozy to move. He hoped the mischievous students could be a bit more considerate, collect their exam papers,plete them, and hand them in on their own...
However, Drac''s peaceful solitude in his office was soon interrupted.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The sound of knocking came from outside the office door.
"Come in," Drac snapped his fingers, and the office door swung open.
Two red-haired students slipped in quietly. George even peeked cautiously outside to ensure no one had followed them before he breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door.
Drac, now used to their antics, lounged back in hisfortable armchair, not bothering to acknowledge them.
"Wow, professor, it''s so cool in here!" Fred eximed in surprise, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Professor, did you cast some kind of cooling spell here?" George asked, approaching with curiosity. "If there''s an easy cooling spell, please teach us!"
Drac had no intention of telling them that the cool air was due to his own constitution.
He nced at themzily and replied casually, "Just cast a freezing charm on each other. You''ll be cool in no time."
The twins'' faces fell.
"We''ve tried that before, but the cost is a bit too high..." Fred shot George a nce. "George ended up as an ice blockst time, and it took hours to thaw him out."
"You''ve got the nerve to mention that?" George snapped, giving Fred a light p on the forehead. "You used me as a test subject without telling me, and then you were too scared to take me to the hospital wing after!"
"Look at it this way, brother. At least you stayed cool all day," Fred said awkwardly.
"Cool? I nearly froze to death that day!"
Seeing that the two were about to start a fight, Drac promptly intervened.
"This is my office. If you want to fight, take it outside," he said coldly, ring at them and making them jump. "The exam starts in two hours. If you''re not going to study, at least don''t disturb my rest."
"If you don''t start talking business, don''t me me for using a freezing charm on you to cool you off."
Fred and George finally shut up and sneaked up to Drac''s desk to discuss their "business."
"Professor, do you have the answers to the exam?" Fred asked quietly. "We''re quite familiar with each other now, so perhaps you could be lenient."
"Yes, professor," George echoed. "Even if you don''t give us the answers, at least give us the exam scope!"
Drac stared at them in disbelief, then rubbed his temples in exasperation.
He was genuinely surprised. Even after knowing them for so long, these twins never ceased to amaze him with their audacity.
Were there really students bold enough to directly ask the professor for exam answers? It seemed he had been too lenient with them and needed to give them a little surprise.
"You want the answers?" Drac smirked and raised an eyebrow at them.
The Weasley twins, seeing hope, eagerly nodded their heads like two jackhammers.
"Alright, no problem," Drac said with a sly grin. "Go to the headmaster''s office and ask for them. This exam was prepared by Dumbledore."
Fred and George''s hopeful expressions froze.
Going to the headmaster''s office to ask for exam answers? That would practically guarantee expulsion...
Just then, the office door was knocked on again.
Drac, amused by the twins'' reactions, chuckled and opened the door, letting the person outside enter.
This time, a familiar student in a yellow Hufflepuff uniform with a youthful but already handsome face walked in.
The Weasley brothers saw the new arrival, and their stiff expressions came back to life.
"Hey, Cedric, I didn''t expect you to be that kind of person too!" Fred used, feigning heartbreak.
George red at Drac, eximing, "Professor, did you see that? Cedric is here for the same reason. How can someone like him be your teaching assistant? If he can do it, so can I!"
Cedric looked bewildered at their performance,pletely out of the loop and unsure what they were talking about.
Drac, feeling a headacheing on, interrupted their usations and looked at his admired student, Cedric.
"Tell me, Diggory, what brings you here?" he asked.
"Yes, professor," Cedric nodded. "I have a question about my review, and I wanted to ask you in person."
"What? You''re not here for the exam answers?!" Fred and George gaped.
Cedric: "???"