Today was the first day of June, soon our exam will start. I myself am plenty prepared but same could not be said about some other students. My friends in particular, have done all the studies they could and a bit extra on the top, even the two typical Gryffindors have done their best. So I was not worried about them at all.
My personal work has been going excellent as well, with different topics I have been picking up, coming nicely along with my normal studies. I am well into the later topics taught in second year and would be able to start learning runes and all topics related to it by myself as soon as the second term starts. I have already picked up learning new and unique spells for expanding my spell pool.
Few of them I like the most are the impediment Charm useful for crowd control, the full body bund curse I particularly liked this one seeing my enemy just seize up and fall was fun, the next on my list of most liked spell was the disarming charm which helped disarming a opponent as the name suggested, the last one was obviously porteago, it provided sufficient cover from normal spells and curses. My magical powers helped in making it all more effective.
I was still searching other spells but this is it for now, all other short comings were covered by transfiguration, the most versatile one of all. The thrill of controlling the battlefield itself was something else. The other series of transfiguration spells which were elemental transfiguration, pretty advanced if one goes by the age one would start learning it. But I can manage easy ones, more accurately transfigurations of air to lightning, which while a bit uncontrollable was best for a surprise attack against a dangerous enemy.
This was it for my current pool of spells, after the exams are over I will have to return to the orphanage. There I wont be able to practice with a wand and would need to come to the Diagon ally for practicing. The law that is against doing magic in muggle area for underage wizards is lenient if the said little wizard is in an wizard populated area. Well that is the thing my future self has to sort out so best of luck to him.
I would have to do proper combat training in my second year not just dodging but counter firing of my own spells. This would help me push the room more and figure out it's capabilities. Which were pretty versatile from what I have experienced. I still couldn't fathom the amount of work that would have gone into the ritual aiding part of the room it was pretty much not heard of in known history. This rooms was not mentioned because of a vow, I can feel it on myself I wouldn't ever be able to talk about how it helped my rituals.
But thinking about all this won't help me I should just not focus on it for now, when I have studied all that I would need, I can get back to this.
Few days later.
Today was the day of first end of the year exam, I am confident in doing well enough to get an O in all my subjects, even history of magic would be an easy O. I had woken up at my usual time, at 6 that is, and I had slept at 2 the previous night which meant I had fully rested my body and mind.
First exam was Transfiguration, it will be held in the Great Hall. We would be provided with stationary for the written part to prevent cheating. The outside of the Hall was filled with nervous students, some holding books, some had there notes but the most carefree were from Gryffindor. They had just one person holding a parchment filled with the theories on transfiguration and was reciting it for every other Gryffindor.
I left my friends to do there last minute study while I thought about what to do after this exam. A text had mentioned a strong mind is must for doing any powerful magic but that itself is not enough, one has to have their minds boosted by occulmency even if they had already done some rituals to boost it. I would have to look into the books about it and see if I can learn it by myself, it would be great to have full control of my mind. It wanders to different places every once in a while, being able to control it would make focusing easier.
The bell rang signalling that the students should get in the Great Hall for their first exam. As one we moved, others placing whatever they had brought with them in there bags and setting the bags up against the walls out side the Great Hall. Entering we were handed anti-cheating quills along with a ink pot.
Sitting according to the order in which we were sorted. The question parchment was given out, I took mine and looked at it. It was pretty easy and how the marking scheme was done was excellent. The questions themselves didn't give any points, we could write what we knew of a topic and if it fell short we could just write more than necessary about other topics which we knew off. I quickly got to work with it write down the max I could for each question, and in about 1 and a half hour I was ready to submit my paper and move on to the practical test.
Submitting the paper I moved on to the room attached to the hall, an antechamber of sort. There was professor Dumbledore sitting in a chair in front of him various items placed like matchstick, needle, beetle, button, rat, cup, etc., "Ah.. Marcus I knew you would be early than most but not even I anticipated fir you to come this early. Let me ask you, are you sure about all the answers you have written?" he asked me with a gentle and concerned smile.
Giving him a confident nod I said, " Yes professor Dumbledore, I am confident in all the answers I have written In my answer sheet." His concerned smile eased a bit at my confident answer.
He smiled a bit professionally this time and pointed towards the items placed on the deck and said, "These are the items you will have to transfigure today they each have the already transfigured counter parts for those you have to undo the transfiguration . Do notice that these already transfigured works are the ones which you did, this is done to make this exam a bit easier. Now you can start at any time you want."
Hearing him I raised my wand and moved it in a sweeping arc while channelling my intent through it, it resulted in the already transfigured works to transform back into there original form and with another wave of my wand I transfigured the rest of the objects to the intended results, this all was done perfectly silent and in just two strokes of my wand making it pretty impressive.
There was a expression of astonishment on Dumbledore's face after he saw my spells, "Merlin bless me, Marcus you were not lying when you said that the books you asked for would help to make your transfiguration better, the spell you did on that day was enough to get you and O in my subject as a first year, but this, this calls for a special grade. Truly this would have gotten you an O in OWLs. For this work I will give you an O+ the highest grade that is to give." His face was beaming as he said this, "Now generally I wouldn't tell a student his or her grade but you earned it Marcus. Now be on your way and enjoy the rest of your day, I don't think you need to study much. Seeing your performance in my subject tells me you are at least at this level in your other subjects too."
I smiled, "Thank you professor Dumbledore, this would have been difficult if you hadn't indulged in my curiosity." I thanked him. He smiled at me, "Difficult but not impossible you mean, heh cheeky little bugger. Now go off to somewhere else." He smiled at my remark and shooed me away, I chuckled and moved out of the room to the corridors and walked around there waiting for my friends.
One by one the other students came out of the Hall as I waited and soon enough they both came out along with Henry and Elizabeth trailing behind them focused in their own discussion. I greeted them and said, "How was it for you all?" they all looked at me and Elizabeth said, "Well seeing you here means it went good for you I guess." I chuckled and nodded at her remark.
"What else did you expect from our perfect raven, he would naturally do better than everyone else," this was Edgar, "My written was good enough but in practical I fumbled a bit so maybe I'll get an EE." He continued telling about his exam.
I looked at Eleanor who perked up at my gaze. "My was good better than Edgar's for sure I am expecting an O." she said directing a mischievous smile at Edgar who just huffed in response.
Next Henry spoke up, "I also expect to get an EE like Edgar, but my theory was not that good while practical was great." He smiled at us.
Last was Elizabeth. "My transfiguration is not that strong I was well enough theory wise but my practical had much to improve, I am expecting an A." she was a bit sheepish.
I chuckled and said, "That is good enough for now, you can always improve later." She beamed at those words and we were off to relax for the rest of the day.
We went to sit by the Lake which was now open to first years, we discussed our summer plans. They all were going to visit various other places, they didn't ask me but also didn't offer me anything knowing I am not the type to go on vacation, they knew I would rather hole up in my room and study, even if it was just theory. They did assure me that they would send me souvenirs form the places they will visit. I felt warm at their kindness and thanked them with all my heart.
By the time of dinner we were in the Great Hall again this time for the last meal of our day, eating to our heart contents we all went of to our respective common rooms and dorms, in my dorm I stayed awake till my usual time of 2 AM and just allowed my thoughts to wander off in any direction they went. By the time of bed sleep had already claimed me in its warm embrace, like a mother welcoming her child after he spent it all enjoying.