days at Hogwarts

Chapter 713 Received a job offer before graduation

In April, the grass in the yard was already lush.

The rainy weather that had lasted for several days finally ended. The sky washed by the rain was clear and bright. It was the right season, neither too cold nor too hot. The perfect amount of sunlight was shining directly, adding a layer of filter to the whole world. The leaves were green, the lake water was crystal clear, and the girls were walking in the sun, their fair skin glowing.

It has been two weeks since the holiday ended and Hogwarts resumed normal classes. Some subjects entered the last chapter of the school year ahead of schedule. Starting from last weekend, Hermione began to start the final review with several boys and made a review plan for Transfiguration, Charms and Potions.

He also asked Loren to organize the notes for the elective courses, which were Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. Other subjects were put on hold for the time being because there were more important things to do.

Sunday noon.

As usual, Loren and his friends, who had been studying hard in the library for the whole morning, were preparing to go to the auditorium for lunch. Before they reached the first floor, they heard a noisy noise coming from the corner of the stairs.

A group of students gathered in front of the bulletin board, most of them were sixth and seventh graders. Seamus and Dean stood in the middle of the crowd, reading the content of the announcement aloud.

Loren and his companions arrived a little late and were unable to hear the entire announcement, but based on the discussions of those around them, they were able to piece together some useful information.

The notice said that classes for grades 9 and 11 will be temporarily suspended tomorrow morning. From 5 to a.m., the Ministry of Magic Commissioner will conduct an Apparition test at the Quidditch Field. Students who pass the test will receive a certificate within working days.

There is no fixed order, and there is no need to arrive early. As long as the test is completed within the specified time, it sounds like students are encouraged to take the exams at different times.

The missed class hours will be made up by the professor at his/her own discretion.

“There are extra classes!”

Loren frowned unconsciously.

Hogwarts has also developed the bad habit of making up lessons. I really don’t know where he learned it. The Apparition test is a serious matter. If it is delayed, it is delayed. Why does it make sense to make up for it afterwards?

"Ugh……"

I feel a little melancholy.

Loren walked into the auditorium with a sigh.

Sitting down at the end of the long table, the tempting aroma of freshly baked food, lightly browned steaks, steaming mushroom cream soup, and roasted chicken drumsticks piled high that were just big enough to eat one at a time, instantly made my depressed mood disappear.

Loren picked up the wipes and wiped his hands.

"Now that things have come to this, let's eat first."

……

The next morning, half past nine.

The entrance hall of Hogwarts Castle.

Hermione was standing at the foot of the stairs in the entrance hall, wearing a black academic-style magic robe. Her slightly slender shoulders were straight, and her excellent figure showed an outstanding intellectual temperament. Her black trousers were loose in style and draped lightly, making her calves look straight and slender.

When Loren walked down the stairs, the girl was looking down at her feet with a calm expression. It was unclear whether she was looking at the tip of her shoes, the unknown wild flower, or the ants crawling on it.

There was a bright blue sky overhead, the castle cast a broad shadow on the ground, and the breeze blew through the treetops, bringing a fresh air mixed with grass and soil, and the signs of summer approaching made people feel happy.

Loren walked lightly to the girl's left side and patted her right shoulder.

Hermione reacted the instant she turned her head to the right, then silently turned her head to the left again, staring at him.

"hey-hey……"

Loren's interest was greatly satisfied. He took the girl's left hand, interlocked their fingers, and rocked back and forth. "Let's go, let's take the exam."

"Childish," Hermione said flatly.

Loren frowned, turned to look at her, and seriously corrected her: "Hey, don't underestimate this prank just because the steps are simple. The principle behind it is very complicated and involves profound biological content."

Hermione chuckled twice and said nothing.

"There is a view in anatomy that the left and right brains have different divisions of labor. The nature of the work of one side of the brain is rational and logical, while the nature of the work of the other side is emotional and intuitive. Considering the slight differences in the physiological structure of men and women, the specific differences at the individual level, and the left and right brains control opposite areas of the body, this prank needs to be adjusted appropriately according to the target, considering whether to tap the left shoulder or the right shoulder."

"What happens if you make a mistake?"

"There is a possibility of failure, maybe someone noticed your position in advance, or maybe someone was tapped on the right shoulder but looked left."

"..." Hermione was silent.

"Now you understand, pranks are not that simple."

"You misunderstood me." Hermione looked straight ahead. Students who had just finished their tests passed by from time to time on the road. She said calmly, "I'm not saying that the prank was childish. I'm saying that you are childish."

"hateful!"

Loren stopped shaking his hands together.

After thinking for a while, he put his and the girl's hands in his pockets, deciding to warm her hands and make her palms sweat, making her feel uncomfortable.

five minutes later.

The two staggered into the Quidditch pitch hand in hand.

According to the practice of previous Apparition practice, Dumbledore had lifted the magical restrictions in advance, allowing students to perform limited spatial movement in this enclosed space.

In the middle of the stadium, there was a test field circled with old Christmas ribbons from last year. It was flat and spacious. I had never paid much attention to the ground of the stadium before. After all, the seats in the audience were fifty feet above the ground, and Quidditch players were flying in the sky throughout the game. Neither of us was a player, so suddenly stepping into this place, I felt a subtle sense of freshness.

The test process is very clear. First, register the candidate information, and then take the number tag to enter the test.

Loren pulled Hermione to the end of the line and leaned his head to look ahead.

The test had already started for a while, and the most congested period had passed. There were not many students waiting for the test in the venue, only less than ten people, roughly in a group.

There was a table at the front of the line, with a female employee wearing a badge from the Ministry of Magic's Transport Department sitting behind it. There was a sign next to it that said Registration Desk.

"That's what I said, it's better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early."

"..."

Hermione looked at him silently, her eyes dim, "Have you seen Harry and Ron?"

"No."

"That's right, because they should have passed the test successfully and are having fun with the giant squid by the Black Lake."

“Don’t feel sorry for them.”

"??"

"Their time is not valuable, so it's okay to waste more than ten minutes waiting in line."

"..."

The female employee of the Ministry of Magic who registered the information was very diligent. Even though she had repeated it dozens of times, when it was Loren and Hermione's turn, she still patiently told them what information they needed to fill in. Her voice was soft and gentle, but a little hoarse. After getting the number plate, Hermione expressed her dislike for this simple system and planned to change the registration method to self-filling the registration form after taking office, with the title of the information that needed to be filled in printed on the header.

Including name, age, college...

The process of collecting the number plate can be omitted.

The girl is young, but already has the bearing of a minister.

The test process is similar to the practice process. Students stand within the specified range with an old-fashioned wooden circle placed not far away, waiting for the examiner to give the command. The candidate activates Apparition and after confirming the landing point is accurate, a specialist will check the body and starting point. If there is no separation, it means that the test has been passed.

Each candidate has only one chance.

Those who successfully pass the exam will receive a qualification certificate within 5 working days. Those who fail the exam can only re-register and take the next Apparition exam three months later.

"Okay, next group!"

It was Loren and Hermione's turn, and they walked into the designated area, making sure their toes did not cross the white line.

There were several Ravenclaw students in the same group. They lined up in a row, ten feet apart, facing the old-fashioned wooden circle in front. After an hour of invigilation, the examiner's voice became a little hoarse, but his waving gesture was still neat. With a series of air explosions, the candidates disappeared from the spot and landed in the wooden circle in an instant.

"qualified!"

The male examiner first glanced at Loren's body. His limbs were intact, his facial features were regular, and his eyebrows were still in place. He wrote down his number in the register, then looked at where his feet were landing and raised his eyebrows:

"Lucky lady, the landing point is accurate, without any deviation!"

"Thank you for the compliment."

As expected, the two passed the test successfully. Just as they turned around and walked back, a somewhat weak voice came from behind them.

"Wait a minute!"

The white-haired Vicky Texan trotted over to the two of them. His pale skin was even more transparent under the sunlight, and the blue veins could almost be seen. "Greetings, Mr. Morgan and Miss Granger."

"Hello, Mr. Tycross."

While panting, Tycross said, "I have good news to inform you. Because of the mysterious man's hibernation, we have regained our original office location. My colleagues and I have been encouraged and have sped up the compilation of the textbooks. If nothing unexpected happens, it should be published ahead of schedule."

"How far in advance?"

"Two or three years later...right?"

"Oh, that's really... a long time in advance."

Loren had a perfunctory expression of excitement on his face, but his voice was full of obvious sarcasm. He didn't have any idea about publishing the book. Anyway, no matter when it was published, he would have graduated, and he didn't need to rely on this to embellish his resume to find a job in the magic world.

Tycross heard the teasing in his words and laughed, "I have another piece of news. Under the suggestion of Percy Weasley, Ms. Bones plans to implement the Floo Network reconstruction project. The Transportation Department needs to recruit more staff. I would like to invite you to join the Ministry of Magic and the Transportation Department."

Hermione beside her listened silently, her eyes slightly shining.

"Floo Network reconstruction project?" Loren was a little confused.

"Ms. Bones feels that the current Floo network is too rudimentary. Although it is convenient for wizard families to travel long distances, it has poor confidentiality. Anyone who sneaks into the Transportation Department can monitor the Floo network movements throughout Britain. This is irresponsible to the public and a dereliction of duty by the Transportation Department." Tekros explained, "The reconstruction project plans to encrypt the Floo network routes. After the reconstruction is completed, any monitoring behavior must be signed and approved by the Wizengamot or the Minister's Office..."

"I think you are very talented in this area, and since you will graduate next year, I would like to invite you to join the renovation project."

"Thanks, I'll consider it."

It can actually beautify your resume and help you find a job.

Loren smacked his lips.

After saying goodbye to Mr. Wicked Texel, the two men walked along the path towards the castle, shoulder to shoulder, almost touching each other.

"Would you really consider Mr. Tycross's invitation?" Hermione asked softly.

"of course."

"I thought it was a polite social statement." Hermione's eyes changed slightly, and she felt a little surprised. "You said before that you didn't want to find a job after graduation. Considering Grandpa Bates's assets, alchemy, and the magic of the Philosopher's Stone, I thought you would stay at home for a long time after graduation, and only come out to find something to kill time when you are really bored."

"You're wrong." Loren walked beside her, rubbing his shoulder against hers as he moved, soft and bouncy. "I won't get bored no matter how long I stay at home. The Internet is developing rapidly, and the film, television, and gaming industries will usher in a whole new era..."

"So what changed your mind?"

"Didn't you say before that you wanted to be my colleague and go to work and go home together?"

"..."

Hermione didn't respond, but a faint smile appeared on her lips.

The two of them slowed down their pace tacitly, walking hand in hand on the winding path, like a teenage couple in love.

The grass is green and tender, and the wild flowers are fragrant.

Although there was no fork in the road, the two outstanding students who were tied for first place in the grade still got lost and turned towards the lake without realizing it. They strolled along the lakeshore, occasionally stopping to admire the ripples on the water and the beautiful tree branches, not paying any attention to the passage of time.

It was not until they saw the bass jump out of the water that Loren remembered it was time for lunch and the two turned around and walked back.

……

Return to the castle.

Other students who had been wandering around the grass and lake also returned one after another. Many of them were seventh-year students who were supposed to be in the library preparing for their final wizarding level exams, but had been tricked out of the castle by an Apparition test and ended up getting lost in the late spring scenery.

As you walk into the foyer, before entering the auditorium, the enticing aroma fills you, and you can tell what food is on the long table just by the smell.

"That's enough, Theodore."

A familiar voice sounded, and Draco walked by. He must have stayed outside after the test and didn't come back until now. He lowered his voice and said to Nott beside him: "Don't ask anymore, I really have no news about them, I don't know where they are..."

"..."

Loren watched the two men walk towards the Slytherin table.

Hermione said softly, "The Daily Prophet published a follow-up report last week. It is said that someone saw Death Eaters in Albania. However, Professor Lupin mentioned in his letter to Harry that they appeared in Northern Ireland. The Aurors of the Ministry of Magic are conducting a follow-up investigation around the Death Eater families, but there are no concrete results yet."

"Whether in the eyes of the Ministry of Magic or Voldemort, the wealth of the Malfoy family is too conspicuous. Given their current situation, the whereabouts of Mr. Malfoy is unknown, which may be good news." Loren sighed, "As the heir of Malfoy, Draco must resist the covetousness of outsiders for the family wealth. This kind of hardship will prompt him to grow."

"That sounds exactly like Dumbledore."

"Huh~"