#204 - Chapter 204: Final Examination of the Auror Training Class
In May, Hogwarts was lush with greenery, the air around it carrying the warmth of early summer.
The students' discussions gradually shifted away from Sebastian's personal life and began to focus on reviewing their subjects.
After all, in just one month, they would face the end-of-year exams.
During Auror training class, Sebastian solemnly announced:
"To avoid taking up your review time, the Auror training course will conduct its final assessment within the next week."
"Unlike other subjects, this course has no written exam."
"Instead, Aurors from the Auror Office will personally lead you in a practical examination."
A practical examination?!
Aurors from the Auror Office personally leading it!
The young wizards' expressions immediately became tense.
They wondered how difficult the exam would be.
As the first group of students in Hogwarts history to participate in the Auror training program, they all wanted to achieve excellent results.
"You need to prepare yourselves in the coming days. Once you receive a message from an owl, pack your equipment and head to the gates of Hogwarts, where someone will take you to the assessment."
"The assessment will be conducted in groups of two. You won't know who your partner is until the day of the exam."
"The location of the assessment is not at Hogwarts."
Sebastian scanned the students, "The order of assessment will vary for each person, with some going first and others later. Seventh-year students will be assessed first."
"Therefore, those who finish the exam first must not reveal the content of the assessment to others in any way. Violators will have their exam scores revoked."
"Don't be nervous. I've seen your progress throughout the year. As long as you are diligent, you can all achieve good results."
........................
Ever since hearing the news of the assessment, Harry had been in a state of anxiety.
There were only 12 students in this class.
Assuming two groups per day, it would be his turn in at most three days.
Harry didn't bother complaining about the suddenness of the exam. He understood the format of the assessment.
After all, Aurors were a highly specialized profession, facing various emergencies throughout their careers.
When dark wizards appeared, Aurors had no time to prepare and had to step up immediately.
Just after finishing lunch on Thursday, Harry saw an owl fly to him and drop a letter.
Opening it, he saw the following written on it:
【Mr. Harry Potter, please come to the main gate of Hogwarts within twenty minutes, or you will be marked as absent.】
The moment had finally arrived.
Harry's anxious heart suddenly calmed down.
After all, the exam was about to begin, and there was no point in being nervous. It was better to adjust his state so that he could perform better.
He checked his belongings, said hello to Hermione and Ron, and walked towards the school gates under their concerned gaze.
Arriving at the gate, Harry found that Cedric was already there, standing next to a tall wizard, looking down and seemingly lost in thought.
Great!
His partner was Cedric.
Because they were both on the Quidditch team, the two were relatively close, which meant they would definitely cooperate better.
Harry greeted Cedric, then stood with him, waiting for the wizard's instructions.
Seeing that both of them had arrived, the wizard looked at the magical watch on his hand and said approvingly.
"Very good, your group's assembly time was very short, taking less than eight minutes. You will receive a high score for the assembly portion."
"You can call me Delores. I will lead you in the assessment."
"Today's assessment is very simple. Last week, a dark wizard escaped our capture, leaving behind only an old hideout."
"Your task is to carefully explore his hideout, search for any clues he left behind, and deduce his whereabouts."
"In addition, you must also collect evidence of his crimes in his house. Remember, not a single dark magic item can be missed."
As he spoke, Delores pointed to an old cup on the open space: "This is a Portkey. I will count to three, and we will all put our hands on it at the same time. It will take us directly to our destination."
"One, two, three."
"Now! Quick!"
Hearing the other party's instructions, Harry did not dare to neglect and quickly put his hand on the old cup.
Instantly, he felt a hook suddenly yank behind his navel, and his whole body flew off the ground.
After a dizzying whirl, the three landed in a dense forest.
Harry looked up and saw a gloomy and terrifying wooden house. There were also traces of spells left around the house.
"Listen," Delores' serious voice rang out, "the house is full of traps. You must be vigilant at all times and use your skills to avoid these dangers."
"Unless you encounter a life-or-death crisis, I will not intervene."
"You have two hours. Begin now."
Harry and Cedric looked at each other, simultaneously took out a pair of dragonhide gloves and put them on their left hands, then gripped their wands in their right hands and cautiously walked towards the house.
"No traps at the door, safe!"
"Everything looks normal in the living room, but we can't let our guard down. We need to continue to be vigilant."
"Strange... Why do several rooms look normal? Do you have any ideas, Cedric?"
Cedric looked around and whispered in response.
"I think we should look for something unusual, like... traces on the ground. I think there must be a secret basement here."
"That makes sense," Harry cooperated with Cedric, and soon found a suspicious floor.
It blended in perfectly with the surrounding floor, and if you weren't careful, you wouldn't see a small keyhole on it.
"Cedric, this floor doesn't feel right. There's an aura of dark magic beneath it."
"Harry, be careful. It gives me a bad feeling. I suggest using the Shield Charm now."
As he spoke, Cedric used the Shield Charm, and Harry also created a magical shield in front of him using a simple Shield Charm.
"Alohomora!"
The floor opened, revealing a dark opening, with a strong aura of dark magic below.
The two carefully entered the basement, cooperating with each other to remove all the magical traps they encountered.
They carried dark magic items out one trip after another, and soon, various items were spread all over the ground.
Just as the collection of dark magic items was about to be completed, a sharp laugh came from the woods.
"Delores, you actually dared to come back alone, and even brought two burdens."
"Today is the day I take revenge."
Delores looked serious and shouted at the two students who ran to his side to help.
"The opponent is very strong. I can only stall him for a while."
"Quickly use the Portkey to return to Hogwarts and get the professors to help. Be quick, or I might die here."
"Go now, that's an order!"
Hearing this, Harry and Cedric, who had originally wanted to join the battle, made up their minds.
Time is life, they must quickly go back to get reinforcements.
They absolutely couldn't be burdens here.
Thinking of this, the two looked at each other and simultaneously reached for the old cup on the ground.
Before they could react, the familiar pulling sensation suddenly struck, and the two were teleported out at the same time.
After landing, Harry and Cedric were surprised to find that what appeared in front of them was not the gates of Hogwarts, but a strange dense forest.
Where is this?
......
...
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