Hogwarts' Golden Glory

The Slytherin stands were deathly silent.

Draco landed pale-faced, his hands still trembling slightly—not from fear, but from anger and resentment.

He looked towards the teachers' section, then towards his brother...

Kane nodded calmly to him.

It wasn't blame, it wasn't disappointment, it was just... a calm acceptance.

You did your best, but your opponent was better today.

Draco took a deep breath, straightened his back, and walked towards his teammates.

He added that even if he lost, he should lose with dignity.

However, the Quidditch victory did not directly determine who would win the College Cup.

With exam week approaching, Hogwarts is gripped by a tense atmosphere.

Outside the OWLs and NEWTs exam halls, fifth and seventh graders, pale-faced, recited their last-minute notes.

Exam week is grueling for most students, but for Kane, it's just another period where he needs to manage his time efficiently.

He didn't enter the examination hall, but he was busier than any other candidate:

In the morning, he took a "defense-style exam" on ancient magical theories in Professor Flitwick's office—not answering questions on a test, but engaging in an academic debate with the professor, from grammatical controversies surrounding ancient runes to energy conversion models in astrological magic.

"A remarkable chain of logic," Professor Flitwick wrote on the evaluation form. "Mr. Malfoy not only grasped the entire theory but also pointed out three contradictions in the existing textbook and proposed reasonable revisions. Recommendation: He could participate in the revision of the 'Advanced Ancient Runes' textbook next semester."

In the afternoon, he underwent Snape's "practical test" in the Potions Lab. The task was not to brew standard potions, but to design and create a potion that matched the symptoms given randomly by Snape within half an hour.

"Fine...passable." Snape's comments on the evaluation form were still sparse, but the following line of small print revealed his true assessment: "The improved moonflower processing procedure has reduced the preparation time of the wolfsbane potion by 18%, and a patent application has been filed. Inventors: Kane Malfoy & Severus Snape (Note: I only provided laboratory support)."

That evening, he conducted a comprehensive assessment in the headmaster's office. There were no exam papers, only a pot of tea brewed by Dumbledore and a two-hour conversation that covered magical ethics, history, politics, and even the philosophy of life.

"Your thinking has exceeded my expectations, Kane," Dumbledore wrote at the end of the assessment. "But remember: wisdom is not a tool to prove that you are smarter than others, but a gift to understand the world and to make it a better place. I wish you a fruitful summer adventure—whether it be the waters of Lake Morag or the stars within your own heart."

All the professors' evaluation forms were bound into a booklet with a gold-embossed title on the cover:

[Kane Malfoy: Second Year Academic Assessment Report (Special Curriculum Pilot)]

Mrs. Pince locked the report in the rare book section of the library—not because it was confidential, but because it would serve as a reference case for Hogwarts' special talent development.

Finally, there was a comprehensive assessment written by Dumbledore himself:

[School Year Summary and Suggestions for Next Semester]

"Kane Malfoy has demonstrated magical talent, academic rigor, and leadership potential beyond his years this academic year. Of particular note are: first, his ability to transform his personal abilities into a teaching resource that benefits the entire school; second, the courage and wisdom he displayed during the Chamber of Locks incident; and third, the constructive cooperative relationship he established with the centaurs."

"Suggestions for next semester: 1. Continue serving as a Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching assistant, and increase the grade level you are responsible for; 2. Conduct small-scale research on Starlight Magic under the supervision of a professor; 3. Participate in planning the 'Hogwarts-Century Cultural Exchange Project'."

"Note: If you need to conduct habitat surveys in the Molag Lake area during the summer vacation, please report your itinerary and safety plan one week in advance. You may apply to use the school's protective equipment and communication devices."

Have a great summer vacation. Looking forward to seeing you again in September.

"—Albus Dumbledore"

Kane put away the parchment and looked out the window.

The exams were over. Students poured out of the exam hall, their faces a mixture of relief, anxiety, and anticipation—relief from academic pressure, anxiety about the results, and anticipation for the long summer vacation that was about to begin.

He saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione carrying books and walking towards the lake, clearly arguing about the answer to the last spell puzzle.

Seeing Draco surrounded by a group of Slytherin students—despite losing the House Cup, his performance in the practical assessment earned him respect.

I saw Colin holding up his new camera, chasing after a tabby cat rolling around on the lawn.

Seeing Hagrid carrying large bags of feed toward the Forbidden Forest, Tooth excitedly followed at his feet.

This is Hogwarts.

Just a week later, a flood of owls poured into the Great Hall of Hogwarts.

Each owl had an envelope of varying thickness tied to its leg—it was a student's report card for the year, and also the official announcement of the start of summer vacation.

Hermione Granger almost trembled as she opened the envelope. She held her breath the moment the parchment unfolded.

Second Grade Final Report Card

Student: Hermione Granger

House: Gryffindor

Charmsology: O (Outstanding)

Transfiguration: O

Potions: E (Exceeds expectations)

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O

Herbalism: O

Astronomy: O

History of Magic: O

Flight Lesson: A (Pass)

Overall rating: First in the grade.

Special recognition: Extra credits awarded for the elective course on ancient runes.

Hermione's fingers gripped the edge of the parchment tightly, her knuckles turning white. Then, she let out a suppressed sound, somewhere between a sob and laughter.

"I...I did it..." she whispered, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. "I really did it..."

Harry's report card arrived. He took a deep breath before daring to look at it:

Charmsology: E

Transfiguration: A

Potions: A (Professor Snape's note: Barely passable, considering the final paper had some ideas)

Defense Against the Dark Arts: O (Professor Black's note: Excellent performance in actual combat)

Herbalism: E

Astronomy: A

History of Magic: P (Poor, but an improvement over last year)

Flight Lesson: O

Overall ranking: 27th in the grade (out of 142 students).

Harry breathed a sigh of relief. Not top-notch, but definitely not bad.

This year, he has spent a lot of time on Quidditch in order to win!

"At least you passed Potions," Ron patted him on the shoulder. "And Defense Against the Dark Arts is an 0! I told you Sirius wouldn't treat you unfairly!"

Speaking of Ron's own achievements—

He stared at the parchment for a full ten seconds, then jumped up abruptly: "Merlin's Beard! I didn't fail a single subject! Even Potions—an A! Mom will buy me a new broom! She definitely will!"