Daily News: The Prophet of Hogwarts

Chapter 16 Assessment Requirements

Early the next morning.

Unlike usual, there weren't many young wizards eating in the restaurant, and even those who were were mostly whispering among themselves.

A crowd had gathered around the notice board, with people layering around it, staring at the parchment that had just been nailed up.

"I can't see it, students inside, please read the contents," the little wizard on the outer layer shouted.

"@#￥%￥%……" Faint voices could be heard coming from the crowd.

"I can't hear you!"

"Speak louder!"

"It's noisy!"

Cedric, a third-year Hufflepuff student, squeezed his way into the crowd: "Please be quiet, everyone. I'll make multiple copies of the announcement and distribute them to you."

He raised his wand and pointed it at the parchment on the notice: "Duplicate!"

Soon, a large number of parchments were flying around on the bulletin board, and each little wizard managed to grab one or two.

Cedric also received some; he unfolded them and examined them closely. There were only two sentences on them:

Please write down a project you want to achieve using magic (or a product you want to create), and explain your reasoning.

Please write your ideas on this parchment within three days and submit them to the Adventurers' Club reception desk on the second floor.

Upon seeing the second sentence, some of the young wizards realized: "Thanks to Cedric, otherwise many students who couldn't use the Copy Charm wouldn't have been able to participate in the assessment!"

Upon hearing this, almost everyone realized that the parchment said to "write your ideas on this parchment," which required the students participating in the assessment to learn the copying spell.

This is the first hurdle in the assessment.

But amidst the sincere or insincere thanks from everyone, Cedric felt somewhat lost, unsure whether this constituted cheating.

Afterwards, batches of students came to the bulletin board. After hearing about Cedric's deeds, the younger wizards and the underachievers would ask their senior classmates to help them make a copy.

Harry and his friends hurriedly got up, ate breakfast, and went to the bulletin board.

"Prefect Percy, can you help your poor little brother, Ronnie?"

"Oh, Prefect Percy, Ron needs your help."

The Weasley twins' daily routine: provoking Prefect Percy and teasing their younger brother Ron.

Percy and Ron stood in front of the bulletin board, their faces flushed, looking quite embarrassed and annoyed.

Harry watched the Weasleys' interaction with envy.

More students whispered among themselves, their eyes darting between Harry's scar and the bulletin board.

A little girl with brown curly hair squeezed in, and Harry recognized Hermione. The two greeted each other.

Good morning, Hermione.

Good morning, Harry.

After looking at the parchment on the bulletin board, Hermione asked the older students around her where the Hogwarts library was.

"Hermione, why are you asking about the library?" Harry asked, puzzled.

"I read in 'Hogwarts: A History' that students can borrow books from the Hogwarts library and learn magic on their own." The small head under the brown hair was held high. "I think this is something every student should learn."

As Harry watched Hermione walk away, a sense of unease rose in his heart. He worried about whether he could keep up with his studies at Hogwarts and whether he would be expelled because of his poor grades.

Thinking of Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, Cousin Dudley, and my Hogwarts classmates, thinking of my eleven years in the cupboard and last night's incredibly lavish dinner.

Harry shuddered; he had perhaps found what he believed to be an ending more terrifying than death.

"It's definitely not good to be in the same house as her," Ron said, turning to Harry. "I can't stand her."

"It's not nice to talk about your classmate like that," Harry advised Ron.

Ron didn't say anything more, he just pursed his lips.

Second floor Adventurers' Club.

After a busy night, Ryan downed a bottle of sobering potion and saw someone walk in: "A rare guest."

Dumbledore chuckled. "Your Adventurers' Club only opened today, and there haven't been any guests yet. So where does this talk of rare guests come from?"

Ryan smiled and waved for some candies to fly over: "Honey Duke candies, a couple after a meal would be nice."

"I don't think this is something you prepared for the summer vacation, is it?" Dumbledore opened the package of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. "This looks like a new product that was just launched the day before yesterday."

He then looked at the candy dispenser hanging on the wall and asked with great interest, "Did you design this machine yourself? What a brilliant idea!"

"I suppose so." Because at that time, ordinary people didn't have wall-mounted candy dispensers, and since a summoning spell was embedded in the dispenser, Ryan admitted that it was his own invention.

I've seen your admissions notice.

"What suggestions does the principal have?"

"I was just curious, so I came to take a look." Dumbledore looked at the newly renovated room and some new and interesting devices. With his keen eyesight, he could tell that the magic contained in these devices was not profound, and some of them were even purely mechanical.

He knew that the reason it wasn't an electronic device was because Hogwarts Castle constantly formed a giant Muggle-repelling spell field, which would damage any electronic device.

However, each device brings convenience, a completely different experience from the convenience brought by magic.

"It's truly refreshing," he said. "Perhaps not many wizarding families need these."

"Yes, these things can be done simply by waving a wand; they can be replaced, and are even inconvenient," Ryan readily admitted.

Dumbledore said nothing more; he knew his excellent student.

To others, Ryan's actions may seem unconventional, surprising, and rebellious.

But he knew very well that Ryan often acted this way because he could see things further ahead, beyond the scope of most people's thinking.

After all, someone who can think about the future development of a matter for three to five months can be called shrewd and calculating.

Not to mention Ryan, who could see the future over several years.

Just like right now, these devices that seem less powerful than a wave of a wand, perhaps no one but Ryan himself knows what they mean.

Before leaving, Dumbledore suddenly said, "Oh, I almost forgot. These freshly made sweets represent that you went on a night stroll last night, Ryan, and went to Hogsmeade Village."

He blinked. "Let me think. Because of your behavior, I'm going to deduct ten points from Ravenclaw's record."

"I must remind you, Mr. Lane, the main reason why Ravenclaw has never won the House Cup is that, under your leadership, more and more Ravenclaw students are disregarding the school rules."

"Even if you add more points, it won't be enough to cover the deductions."

Ryan was used to it; after all, the Academy Cup was useless.

He said, "Mr. Principal, it is undeniable that even though Ravenclaw has lost the Academy Cup, the graduates of the past three or four years have been more enterprising, bolder, and more innovative than in previous years."

"Several alumni have been corresponding with me, and they have already achieved considerable success. For example, Ralvin, a senior at the Ministry of Magic, just took office as the Deputy Director of the Department of Magical Transportation this year."

"What an excellent young man," Dumbledore said. He remembered Ralvin, who had been a Ravenclaw prefect, head of the Hogwarts School of Students, and a defender of the Ravenclaw school.

Of course, after Ryan entered the house and a debate, seventh-year student Larvin was quickly "corrupted" and became the first person to start a change in the atmosphere of Ravenclaw.

"Yes, yes," Dumbledore said. "The current Ravenclaw is more like a fusion of Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, but knowledge and wisdom are put first."

"Because we are Ravenclaw, eagles that pursue knowledge. Eagles are fearless."