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chapter 157 part 1
Chapter 154: Is This Question That Hard?
Although William was already dizzy from the diadem, it was remarkable news among the students.
The top student of each year naturally became the 'victim' of the diadem incident. Just as people focused on top chess players after AlphaGo appeared, the question of whether the diadem or the top students could achieve better grades naturally became a hot topic.
"It's just the top of the year. Once I get the diadem, won't you have to give up the top spot?"
Such remarks spread like wildfire among the students—after all, the diadem had only appeared in legends before, but today it had truly appeared.
Unfortunately, Miss Hermione Granger became the one most affected by this uproar—after all, she was Muggle-born, had good grades, was the Savior's companion, and her own personality wasn't very endearing.
Even with a professor protecting such a student, school bullying was highly likely, not to mention that Hogwarts even had a Head of House who personally engaged in discrimination.
Naturally, this Muggle-born top student of the year heard a lot of unfriendly comments about herself while in the lavatory.
—
"Ha, I wonder what that Granger will do now. Top of the year? Can she even compare to Ravenclaw's diadem?"
"Exactly. Just look at her, practically gluing herself to the professor's face every day. 'Professor, I know this!' 'Professor, I've reviewed!'"
The girl speaking had a great talent for mimicry; she imitated Hermione's voice perfectly, making the circle of girls around her burst into laughter.
"So what's the use? How can Muggle wisdom compare to inherited magic? Hasn't a diadem put that annoying Granger firmly in her place? Can she really compare her wisdom to Ravenclaw's?"
This topic was difficult to respond to; aside from Slytherin, very few dared to openly support blood purity theory on school grounds.
Seizing this opportunity, Hermione quickly emerged from the cubicle, maintaining her proud expression as she swiftly walked past the chattering girls, leaving the criticism and those individuals behind.
But unlike previous criticisms, this discussion truly made her a little worried—even with all her confidence, she dared not compare herself to the legendary Ravenclaw.
—
"Miss Granger?"
Even with some of its severity held back, Professor McGonagall's voice remained incredibly imposing, silencing the noisy students around them.
At the same time, the voice startled a dazed Hermione awake. She looked in surprise at the beetle on her desk; the insect, which should have turned into a beautiful button, was now horribly dead—it had been stabbed to death by her wand.
'They're making fun of me again!'
This thought surfaced in Hermione's mind. She frantically tapped the beetle again with her wand, and this time, it successfully transformed into a button.
"Miss Granger, we are reviewing live Transfiguration. First-year students can already turn an inanimate object into a button."
Professor McGonagall spoke softly, but to Hermione's ears, it was like a heavy hammer blow.
"Alright, quiet!"
The professor raised her voice slightly, then gave her another beetle.
—
"Miss Granger, please stay behind for a moment."
When class ended, though Hermione herself wasn't sure how it had passed, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out from the podium.
"You go on ahead, don't wait for me."
She quickly instructed her friends.
She had run into major trouble during class and was being reprimanded by the professor afterward—she simply didn't have the courage to let her friends hear the scolding.
Fortunately, her two male friends hadn't noticed anything amiss; a quick excuse in class had fooled them, and now they were happily discussing Quidditch.
"Miss Granger, you don't seem to be in good spirits today."
Professor McGonagall's words were direct, causing Hermione to lower her head—it was her first time being criticized by a professor because of her grades.
"It's because of the diadem, isn't it?"
To Hermione's surprise, the professor identified her greatest worry in a single sentence.
"Go find Professor William. Tell him I sent you."
Without any criticism, Professor McGonagall abruptly said this to her.
—
'Calm down, what are you thinking?'
Hermione quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind of all the chaotic things that had happened throughout the day.
'As long as I pass the exam, I'll get the chance to see the diadem!'
She silently encouraged herself, striving to completely push the influence of that accursed diadem from her mind.
She knew a few Ravenclaw students—compared to Gryffindor, students with excellent grades were more popular in Ravenclaw.
She had heard from older Ravenclaw students about Professor William's promise that the student with the top O.W.L.s score would get a chance to use the diadem, but that seemed too far off for her. Now, however, it was different; Professor McGonagall's recommendation had given her an opportunity for an assessment.
'Be serious. Professor McGonagall might have specifically requested this opportunity for you; otherwise, why wouldn't other students get the chance?!'
She scanned the questions with an attitude even more serious than for a final exam.
'Hmm, this one is easy.'
'This one, a bit interesting.'
'This one, they can write questions like this?'
…
As she continued working, the once effortless Hermione slowed down. The scratching of her quill became intermittent, as if it had run out of ink.
—
'Is the second-year's top student this skilled?'
William, who had been reviewing Transfiguration, was thrown off when the accompanying sound of scratching paused. He glanced at the exam paper from a distance and was greatly surprised—among the three years he taught, Percy was probably the only one who could handle second-year questions at this level.
'She can't be that good, can she? Percy is at the level of twelve O.W.L.s! Only a few students have achieved such results over the years. This child, if nothing goes wrong, will probably get at least ten!'
However, with Percy's excellent performance as a precedent, William wasn't too surprised. The top student of the year always surpasses ordinary people by a considerable margin.
'But what does it matter? This exam paper is specifically designed to test top students—wasn't Nancy also at the level of a top student? She still ended up crying.'
William silently gave himself a thumbs-up—Hogwarts always had top students, but true academic prodigies were rare. The difficulty level he set for the exam questions was based on the record Dumbledore had set back in the day. Let alone the child in front of him, even if Percy, a sixth-year, took this exam, William was confident he could make him barely hit the passing mark on his first attempt.
—
Chapter 154: Is This Question That Hard?
Although William was already dizzy from the diadem, it was remarkable news among the students.
The top student of each year naturally became the 'victim' of the diadem incident. Just as people focused on top chess players after AlphaGo appeared, the question of whether the diadem or the top students could achieve better grades naturally became a hot topic.
"It's just the top of the year. Once I get the diadem, won't you have to give up the top spot?"
Such remarks spread like wildfire among the students—after all, the diadem had only appeared in legends before, but today it had truly appeared.
Unfortunately, Miss Hermione Granger became the one most affected by this uproar—after all, she was Muggle-born, had good grades, was the Savior's companion, and her own personality wasn't very endearing.
Even with a professor protecting such a student, school bullying was highly likely, not to mention that Hogwarts even had a Head of House who personally engaged in discrimination.
Naturally, this Muggle-born top student of the year heard a lot of unfriendly comments about herself while in the lavatory.
—
"Ha, I wonder what that Granger will do now. Top of the year? Can she even compare to Ravenclaw's diadem?"
"Exactly. Just look at her, practically gluing herself to the professor's face every day. 'Professor, I know this!' 'Professor, I've reviewed!'"
The girl speaking had a great talent for mimicry; she imitated Hermione's voice perfectly, making the circle of girls around her burst into laughter.
"So what's the use? How can Muggle wisdom compare to inherited magic? Hasn't a diadem put that annoying Granger firmly in her place? Can she really compare her wisdom to Ravenclaw's?"
This topic was difficult to respond to; aside from Slytherin, very few dared to openly support blood purity theory on school grounds.
Seizing this opportunity, Hermione quickly emerged from the cubicle, maintaining her proud expression as she swiftly walked past the chattering girls, leaving the criticism and those individuals behind.
But unlike previous criticisms, this discussion truly made her a little worried—even with all her confidence, she dared not compare herself to the legendary Ravenclaw.
—
"Miss Granger?"
Even with some of its severity held back, Professor McGonagall's voice remained incredibly imposing, silencing the noisy students around them.
At the same time, the voice startled a dazed Hermione awake. She looked in surprise at the beetle on her desk; the insect, which should have turned into a beautiful button, was now horribly dead—it had been stabbed to death by her wand.
'They're making fun of me again!'
This thought surfaced in Hermione's mind. She frantically tapped the beetle again with her wand, and this time, it successfully transformed into a button.
"Miss Granger, we are reviewing live Transfiguration. First-year students can already turn an inanimate object into a button."
Professor McGonagall spoke softly, but to Hermione's ears, it was like a heavy hammer blow.
"Alright, quiet!"
The professor raised her voice slightly, then gave her another beetle.
—
"Miss Granger, please stay behind for a moment."
When class ended, though Hermione herself wasn't sure how it had passed, Professor McGonagall's voice rang out from the podium.
"You go on ahead, don't wait for me."
She quickly instructed her friends.
She had run into major trouble during class and was being reprimanded by the professor afterward—she simply didn't have the courage to let her friends hear the scolding.
Fortunately, her two male friends hadn't noticed anything amiss; a quick excuse in class had fooled them, and now they were happily discussing Quidditch.
"Miss Granger, you don't seem to be in good spirits today."
Professor McGonagall's words were direct, causing Hermione to lower her head—it was her first time being criticized by a professor because of her grades.
"It's because of the diadem, isn't it?"
To Hermione's surprise, the professor identified her greatest worry in a single sentence.
"Go find Professor William. Tell him I sent you."
Without any criticism, Professor McGonagall abruptly said this to her.
—
'Calm down, what are you thinking?'
Hermione quickly shook her head, trying to clear her mind of all the chaotic things that had happened throughout the day.
'As long as I pass the exam, I'll get the chance to see the diadem!'
She silently encouraged herself, striving to completely push the influence of that accursed diadem from her mind.
She knew a few Ravenclaw students—compared to Gryffindor, students with excellent grades were more popular in Ravenclaw.
She had heard from older Ravenclaw students about Professor William's promise that the student with the top O.W.L.s score would get a chance to use the diadem, but that seemed too far off for her. Now, however, it was different; Professor McGonagall's recommendation had given her an opportunity for an assessment.
'Be serious. Professor McGonagall might have specifically requested this opportunity for you; otherwise, why wouldn't other students get the chance?!'
She scanned the questions with an attitude even more serious than for a final exam.
'Hmm, this one is easy.'
'This one, a bit interesting.'
'This one, they can write questions like this?'
…
As she continued working, the once effortless Hermione slowed down. The scratching of her quill became intermittent, as if it had run out of ink.
—
'Is the second-year's top student this skilled?'
William, who had been reviewing Transfiguration, was thrown off when the accompanying sound of scratching paused. He glanced at the exam paper from a distance and was greatly surprised—among the three years he taught, Percy was probably the only one who could handle second-year questions at this level.
'She can't be that good, can she? Percy is at the level of twelve O.W.L.s! Only a few students have achieved such results over the years. This child, if nothing goes wrong, will probably get at least ten!'
However, with Percy's excellent performance as a precedent, William wasn't too surprised. The top student of the year always surpasses ordinary people by a considerable margin.
'But what does it matter? This exam paper is specifically designed to test top students—wasn't Nancy also at the level of a top student? She still ended up crying.'
William silently gave himself a thumbs-up—Hogwarts always had top students, but true academic prodigies were rare. The difficulty level he set for the exam questions was based on the record Dumbledore had set back in the day. Let alone the child in front of him, even if Percy, a sixth-year, took this exam, William was confident he could make him barely hit the passing mark on his first attempt.
—
