Chapter 87: Exams I
The week of exams began. Most professors separated the exams into two parts: theory and practical.
"Why does the first exam have to be Transfiguration...?" asked Toby nervously as they ate breakfast.
"The transfiguration formula is influenced by body weight..." muttered Peter as he read his summaries.
"Don't think of it that way. Look on the bright side. It will be over quicker than we thought," said James, trying to calm his two friends down.
"Easy for you to say. You're the best in the class..." said Peter, and his hand went to the next sheet.
"Whatever you say... remember the wand movement is a sort of L shape before you make a mini circle," advised James, and turned his attention back to his rich breakfast.
"Won't you review?" asked Lupin, looking at James quietly eating his breakfast. Everyone at the table was eating breakfast as they were reviewing before going to the exam. The only one who wasn't with his notes was James.
"No. I'd rather relax before going to the exam table," James replied. It would be pointless to try to study now on such short notice.
When breakfast was over, they began to make their way to Classroom 1 along with the other first-year Gryffindor students. Most of them were silent, showing their nervousness.
Professor McGonagall was already waiting for them. The classroom had a different layout, there was more distance between each desk. This is so that no one could copy their classmate.
"Sit down, quickly," said McGonagall in her usual stern tone. When everyone was in their seats the professor began to take roll call, making sure that all the students were present.
"Good, no one was late. As you can see, there are some new pens on your desks. You will use these pens to take the theory exam. The pens are special. They are enchanted with an anti-copying charm," explained McGonagall.
'Is there a charm for copying...?' wondered James. It hadn't occurred to him to use magic for such a thing, but it wasn't anything crazy.
"The exam will be divided into two parts, theoretical and practical. In each part, the maximum you can get is 50 points, to pass you must have a score of 70 points between the two parts. You will have 45 minutes for the theoretical exam, without wasting any more time let's start with the theoretical part," said McGonagall as she waved her wand, and the exam papers flew to the students' desks.
'She's more benevolent than I imagined,' thought James.
You could be very good at theory and get a perfect score of 50 points and in the practical part with 20 points you'd be good enough to pass or vice versa.
The theory exam was easy for James. The first question was about the transfiguration alphabet, which consisted of 26 characters. He had used it with Lily to teach Toby and Mary a transfiguration charm.
It also asked about the transfiguration formula. And about The theory of transfiguration spells, they saw during the year: Ignitum Mutatio, Avifors, and Mutatio Mouseum.
'I don't think I'm forgetting anything,' thought James as he looked at his exam with a smile. He was pleased with his work.
James got up from his seat and walked over to McGonagall's desk which was watching everyone, checking to make sure no one was cheating, "Professor. I'm finished," he said as he handed her the exam.
"Oh, still 15 minutes to go. Don't you want to check it some more?" asked McGonagall.
"It's okay. I already reviewed it," said James, and McGonagall took the exam and rested it on her desk. After James, the pile slowly filled up. Second to finish was Lily, followed by Sirius, Jasmine, Lupin, etc.
"Time," said McGonagall in a loud and clear tone. The professor waved her wand, and the exam papers began to fly towards her.
"No. I'm missing the Avifors charm!" squealed Peter. He wasn't the only one bemoaning not being able to finish the exam.
"Good. Listen carefully. The practical part will be about the charm Ratónum Mutatio. It's the last one we saw in previous classes. You will have three mice to transform into snuffers. Keep in mind that the more attempts you use the fewer points you will get. You will also be assessed on the shape of your snuffbox," explained McGonagall in a serious tone.
"Only three attempts?" complained one student.
"In lessons, we had five attempts."
" Professor, I'm afraid of mice!"
"Silence! In forty-five minutes, you must hand in your snuffbox. I will be watching you, do well," said McGonagall, and three small mice in their cages appeared at each desk.
Ratónum Mutatio was a spell that transfigured a mouse into a snuffbox. James' advice to Peter at breakfast was about this charm.
James had already practiced the Transfiguration charm with Lily. So he was very relaxed.
He opened the cage, and when the curious little mouse came out. He cast the charm, "Ratónum Mutatio," said James, waving his wand in an L pattern and giving it a sudden twirl.
The little mouse gradually began to turn into a golden snuff box. The transfiguration was flawless. The mouse's fur melted and contracted, forming the exquisite texture of the box. The mouse's tail became an elegant hinge, and its ears were molded into a decorative clasp.
"Splendid," praised McGonagall, taking the snuffbox and examining it carefully. The students who heard the stern professor's praise were gaping at James.
McGonagall opened the snuff box and noticed a polished and gleaming interior. The quality was exceptional, "That is the best charm Ratonum Mutatio I have ever seen by a first-year student. Twenty points for Gryffindor," said McGonagall with a slight smile.
"Thank you, professor. It's thanks to your guidance," said James, pleased at the success. McGonagall nodded in satisfaction and took the snuff-box back to her desk.
James, as he had finished was allowed to leave the classroom. He knew that his first exam had been a success. In the practical part, it was obvious that he would get the maximum score because of McGonagall's comment. As for the theory he was sure he would achieve 40 points minimally.
Waiting for his friends, James began to think about Transfiguration and all that this branch of magic encompassed. Ever since he started reading magic books he didn't read about Transfiguration, for the fact that it wouldn't do him any good in combat. However, he realized that he was very wrong.
For example, he could turn the mouse into a knife or something sharp and then use Wingardium Leviosa and throw it at his enemy. Or if there are many mice turn them all into sharp knives and then start throwing them like crazy.
The variables and ways to use them were endless. Indeed, the more basic uses of Transfiguration are not as useful in combat, plus they are much harder to learn, compared to a Flipendo or Expelliarmus which has immediate utility in a fight.
Also in a fight, it could be counterproductive to have to carry small objects to transform them into something more dangerous. However, there is Conjuration. The art of conjuring things. James didn't know much about this art. He had seen his father conjure a chair out of thin air among other things.
From what he understood it was a subject seen in the last few years at Hogwarts, but if he mastered it he could conjure knives out of thin air and employ them in combat.
'I have a long way to go to achieve conjuration...' thought James with a grimace. In this case, he wasn't as far along as he was in Charms or Potions. He was on par with a first-year student.
Just then Sirius and the others came out. They began to head for the common room as they talked about the exam. The last exam of the day today would be in the afternoon so they had a couple of hours free that many would use to review.
Sirius told James about McGonagall taking points off a student because in all three of his attempts his snuffbox had mouse whiskers on it.
As for the other marauders, they thought they would pass, and although they didn't do it perfectly like James, they managed to transfigure the mouse into a cigarette case. Toby and Peter used all three attempts, but they made it.
The second and final exam of the day was Herbology with Professor Sprout much to the relief of Toby, who liked this subject. As with all Herbology lessons, the exam was held in greenhouse 1.
80% was a practical part, and 20% was an oral part where Professor Sprout asked each student about the magical properties of a certain plant or magical fungus they saw during the year.
They had to handle the spiky bush without using Incendio because if they used it, it subtracted points, and if they set fire to three bushes, they would fail. James succeeded, Sprout asked him, what was the Dittany?
"Dittany is a powerful healing and restorative herb and can be eaten raw to heal superficial wounds," answered James, who remembered the answer in the Thousand Herbs and Magic Mushrooms book.
...
"Ugh... it's only the first day, and I already want to die," said Sirius sprawled on a couch. He just wanted to complain as usual, since he did well on both exams.
"Don't complain, we only have one exam tomorrow. The bad thing is that it's History of Magic," said Lupin.
The first year had seven subjects. The exams were divided between the five days this week.
"I have two," commented James, who was setting up a tower of exploding playing cards, something relatively dangerous, as if they fell they would cause a slight explosion.
"Will you be taking the Flight exam? It's not obligatory," asked Toby, looking at James like he was crazy.
Flying classes from the second year onwards would be voluntary. Students could choose not to attend. James had decided to keep signing up for flying classes in later years, as Madame Hooch was a great instructor and gave very good flying tips that were useful for quidditch matches.
"I'm not the only one. Some Gryffindor students will. Besides, since I want to sign up for next year, I have to pass the exam," replied James.
"What do you say, Black? Tomorrow afternoon we go. It's only an hour," added James without taking his eyes off his card tower.
"Oh, a flying exam... sounds like fun, let's do it!" replied Sirius with a smile. He was confident in his flying skills just like James, plus he wasn't losing much by going.
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