#207 - Chapter 207: Anxiety before the Exam

It was late May, and only seven days remained until the final exams.

A tense atmosphere permeated Hogwarts Castle, with anxiety hanging over the entire school like an invisible mist.

In the corridors, students hurried back and forth, each with a different expression. Some rushed to class, as if hoping to grasp a last-minute lifeline in the final review sessions.

Others looked pale, their steps heavy, as if unable to cope with the pressure ahead.

Some even walked along muttering the content they had memorized, afraid of forgetting a crucial piece of knowledge.

In the Great Hall, the long tables, usually filled with laughter and chatter, now felt subdued.

Many students mechanically shoveled food into their mouths, their eyes fixed on their textbooks, clearly eating only to sustain themselves.

Some even anxiously grabbed their hair or bit their nails, disregarding hygiene during meals, as if it could relieve the stress.

Calming Draughts and Elixir to Induce Euphoria once again became essential potions for the young wizards. Fortunately, the school's potion reserves were sufficient, preventing Madam Pomfrey from being overwhelmed.

Peeves, the poltergeist who often caused trouble at Hogwarts, keenly sensed the students' stress.

He would suddenly appear next to the anxious students, shouting, "Exam time!"

"Stop studying, you're sure to fail at your level!"

These pranks often caused students to scream in terror, and some timid young wizards would even fall to the ground, pale-faced.

Peeves's actions stirred up widespread resentment, and many students went to Sebastian to denounce his misdeeds.

"Peeves has tormented several stressed students to tears in just one morning," Malfoy said, his face full of indignation.

"He must have carefully observed those students to precisely target their vulnerabilities every time."

"Professor Swann," Malfoy pleaded, "can't you do something about it?"

Oh—

Little Dragon has made great progress; he even knows how to care about his classmates.

Sebastian's lips slightly curled into a smile as he looked at Malfoy.

As if understanding Sebastian's look, Malfoy's expression straightened. "It's not like I'm standing up for those students."

"It's just that Peeves is too annoying, causing panic and making it impossible to study quietly."

"Professor, you must help us."

Looking at Malfoy's insincere demeanor, Sebastian smiled slightly.

"Peeves is indeed being a bit much. Let's go deal with him and cheer everyone up."

Soon, they found Peeves in the corridor on the second floor, chasing after young wizards and spewing garbage at them.

Sebastian raised his wand and used emotional magic to make Peeves and the students experience each other's feelings.

Instantly, Peeves suffered a huge shock, his eyes becoming unfocused, and he kept muttering.

"I'm doomed, I'm definitely going to fail, the O.W.L. exams are too hard."

"Why is History of Magic so annoying? There's too much to memorize, I hate memorizing."

"I have to review the compulsory questions for each subject again; I don't want to fail at the last minute."

"I want to blow up the school! I want to blow up the school! That way, I won't have to take the exams."

Emotional magic was surprisingly effective against Peeves. In an instant, it seemed like all the students' anxieties had transferred to him.

"Professor, will Peeves stay like this forever?" the students asked eagerly, exchanging excited glances. "This Peeves doesn't seem so annoying anymore."

Looking at the students' excited eyes, Sebastian smiled slightly. "This state will probably last for a week."

"Peeves won't bother you until the exams, so go study hard."

After Sebastian left, several students who had been bullied by Peeves mustered their courage and approached him.

They folded him into a ball and started playing catch with him.

The young wizards vented their anger, and their faces lit up with smiles, their anxiety greatly reduced.

While Sebastian was dealing with Peeves, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were huddled together in the Gryffindor common room, studying hard for the final exams.

Hermione's quill moved swiftly across the parchment, trying to memorize every possible spell and theory.

Occasionally, she would quietly complain about a difficult problem, but then immediately bury herself back in her work.

Harry quietly clutched his Astronomy textbook, struggling with his weak subjects: Astronomy and History of Magic.

Unlike Harry and Hermione, Ron seemed restless and uneasy.

Suddenly, he slammed his textbook down, slumped into his chair, and wailed loudly.

"I'm doomed, I'm definitely going to have to retake Potions. I still can't remember that compulsory question—all the steps for brewing Swelling Solution."

"My mind goes blank at the thought of Professor Snape's stern expression."

"I haven't succeeded once so far, I'm finished!"

Hermione couldn't help but roll her eyes and said, "I've been telling you to study since February."

"What did you say? There's still enough time, you'll definitely master all the compulsory questions before the exam."

"Now you've dragged it out until now, and there's not enough time, is there?"

Although Harry had a good relationship with Snape, he was also afraid of Snape when he was stern.

If Ron failed the compulsory question, his fate would be miserable.

Harry thought about the brewing steps for Swelling Solution and comforted Ron, "Professor Snape has already simplified the brewing steps for Swelling Solution a lot."

"I'll tell you the tricks. Add 2 teaspoons of dried nettles and 3 portions of pufferfish eyes to the mortar and grind into a medium-fine powder. Don't get the quantities wrong."

"After mixing 2 portions of the powder, add it to the cauldron and heat over medium heat for 20 seconds. Remember that time."

"After gently waving your wand at the cauldron, brew for about 60 minutes."

Harry spoke slowly, afraid that Ron wouldn't remember the key points, showing the demeanor of a Potions teaching assistant.

"After completing the above steps, add 1 portion of bat spleen to the cauldron, stir counterclockwise 4 times, and heat over low heat for 30 seconds."

"Before turning off the heat, don't forget the last step of waving your wand. If you forget this step, you'll still fail."

"As long as you do it step by step, you'll definitely succeed in brewing it."

"How about this, don't just memorize it, I have some potion ingredients for Swelling Solution here, you can go practice directly."

"Thank you, Harry," Ron said with tears in his eyes, taking the potion ingredients from Harry.

"If I pass the Potions exam, I will repay you by working like a dog."

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