The person is at Hogwarts, but the system is in Middle-earth!

June at Hogwarts comes exceptionally fast. The young wizards' final exams are here!

[Current Task: Document Trial]

[Objective: To win the strategic simulation (i.e., pass the exam)]

[Remaining Time: 01:59:59]

[Debuff: High Temperature (Double Stamina Consumption)]

Lovikin sat in a corner of the history of magic examination hall, holding a quill pen in his hand.

Under the filter of the flawed system, the test questions completely changed.

The first question on the exam paper: Please discuss the causes of the 1612 goblin rebellion and its impact on the legal provisions of Wizengamo.

Luo Wei frowned. With the system's translation, the question became:

Please analyze the strategic blunders made by the orcs and dwarves in their struggle for the Moria mines at the end of the Second Age, and the impact this had on the Gondor legal system.

Instead of memorizing those tedious years and names (he couldn't remember many of the goblins' names anyway, and they all looked the same to him), he began to unleash his "Middle-earth war history" with the temporary buff of [Intelligence +1] he had gained before the exam.

The quill pen flew across the parchment, making a rustling sound.

"...The essence of war is not about a few gold coins or so-called legal clauses, but about the squeezing of living space. When darkness spreads from the earth, when the sound of anvils is replaced by war drums, whether fairies or wizards, they are nothing more than pawns on the chessboard of fate..."

Lowe wrote with lightning speed, as if divinely inspired. He portrayed the goblins' struggle for control of Gringotts as Sauron's covetousness for the One Ring; he depicted the compromise of Wizengamor as a fragile agreement between humans and elves; and he described the magical silverware used by the goblins as the lost art of mithril forging.

Less than an hour later, Luo Wei put down his pen and let out a long sigh of relief.

Professor Binns (the ghost) floated to Rowe's desk. He glanced at Rowe's exam paper and paused for a full three seconds.

Although the names were all wrong (something Moria, something Sauron, something Gondor), the profound understanding of the cruelty of war revealed in this paper, and the desolate sense of fate emanating from the back of the paper, made this ghost who had experienced countless historical changes feel a long-lost tremor.

"...A unique perspective." Professor Binns murmured, almost a sigh. "Although somewhat pessimistic, this analysis of racial conflict...is very interesting."

……

Every hurdle is difficult, but every hurdle can be overcome.

Next was Charms class. Professor Flitwick had everyone make a pineapple tap dance across a desk. Rowe chanted "Tarantella Dance" over the pineapple, which, according to the system, was the [Animation] spell used on a Tree Spirit. The pineapple not only danced but even tried to attack Ron next to it with its leaves, which Professor Flitwick judged as "full of energy."

Then came Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration exam.

"Turn this mouse into a snuff bottle," Professor McGonagall said sternly, her gaze sweeping over each student through her square glasses. "The more exquisite the better. Points will be deducted for whether it retains any mouse-like features (such as whiskers...)."

Lowe stared at the gray mouse on the table.

Enemy Unit: Mordor Rat

[Status: Fear/Trembling]

[Task: Matter Reconstruction]

Rowe didn't immediately wave his wand and chant a spell like the others. He took a deep breath, regulated his breathing, then reached out his left hand to hold the mouse down, gripped his wand tightly in his right hand, and closed his eyes.

Imagine...imagine its bones compressed, its flesh metallicized, its fur melted and cast into a silver shell...

This is not magic, it is the blacksmithing art of the dwarves! It is a skill bestowed by Aul!

"Change!"

Lowe suddenly opened his eyes, and the wand slammed heavily onto the rat's head like a hammer.

The rat stiffened for a moment, then its body began to contract and harden eerily. A metallic sheen emanated from beneath its skin, spreading rapidly until it completely covered its entire body.

A minute later, a silver snuff bottle appeared on the table.

Professor McGonagall walked over and picked up the snuff bottle. Her expression changed from serious to surprised, and then to deep confusion.

This snuff bottle is exquisitely crafted, with fine, seemingly naturally formed patterns on its surface, resembling some kind of ancient totem. But the most bizarre thing is…

It's heavy. Extremely heavy. Far heavier than ordinary silverware, as if it were cast from some high-density metal.

Moreover, it's hot.

“Very high quality, Mr. Baggins.” Professor McGonagall quickly placed the snuff bottle back on the table and flicked her wrist. “Although I’m not sure how you did it… but no beard, no tail. Very good. Pass.”

Luo Wei breathed a sigh of relief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

[Skill Proficiency Improvement: Physical Shapeshifting (Lv 2)]

[Note: You have successfully converted biomass into a high-density alloy. This is not scientific, but it's magical.]

……

The last exam was on herbalism.

The sunlight streaming through the glass in the greenhouse made me feel drowsy.

"We can score points by calming these bouncing bulbs down," Professor Sprout said with a smile. "Watch out for their tentacles, don't get tangled in them."

Luo Wei stood in front of the control panel, looking at the purple bulbs wriggling in the soil.

His hands were trembling.

It wasn't due to nervousness, but rather some kind of physiological aftereffect. The fear he felt that night in the Forbidden Forest when facing the "Ringwraiths" (although it was Voldemort, he was wearing a hood and cosplaying as him) was something he forcibly suppressed with his willpower, but the body's instinctive reactions were hard to eliminate.

Whenever he saw this twisted thing, resembling the limbs of some dark creature, his fingers would involuntarily spasm, wanting to pull out his wand and smash it on the head until it stopped moving.

"Love?"

A warm hand covered his trembling hand.

Lowe turned his head sharply, his body tense, almost launching a counterattack. But he saw Susan Borns' worried round face.

"Your hands are so cold," Susan said softly, her eyes full of concern.

"I'm fine." Luo Wei subconsciously tried to pull his hand away, his voice a little hoarse. "I'm just a little tired."

But Susan held on tightly, a rare display of strength in her usually gentle demeanor.

"Don't push yourself." Susan looked into his eyes, her gaze reflecting Rowe's slightly pale face. "I know what happened that night in the Forbidden Forest... Harry didn't go into details, but I know it must have been terrible. You haven't looked well."

Luo Wei fell silent.

"It's over, Rowe," Susan said gently. "It's daytime now, we're in the greenhouse, it's safe here. There are no monsters, just these ugly bulbs. Professor Sprout is over there."

Luo Wei took a deep breath, and the chilling feeling that had been lingering in his heart from the depths of the Forbidden Forest seemed to have subsided somewhat with the arrival of this warm hand.

On the system interface, the [Sanity] bar, which had been flashing a faint red light, finally stopped its violent fluctuations and began to slowly rise.

[Sanity level is recovering...]

[Gain Buff: Ally's Appeasement]

[Effect: Hand stability +50%, fear resistance +20%.]

"Thank you," Luo Wei said softly, his voice warmer.

He squeezed Susan's hand in return; it was soft and warm. Then he let go and picked up the shovel.

This time, his hands no longer trembled. They were as steady as a rock.

"Listen up, you little bastards from underground." Rowe stared at the bouncing bulbs, his eyes regaining their usual sharpness. "Either quiet down, or I'll turn you into a salad with the finest balsamic vinegar."

The bouncy bulbs seemed to sense this tangible killing intent, instantly freezing in place and even shrinking back into the soil.

Professor Sprout walked by and nodded with satisfaction: "Perfect control! While I don't recommend frightening plants, I must say, very spirited!"

……

As I stepped out of the greenhouse, the setting sun had already dyed the treetops at the edge of the Forbidden Forest crimson, turning the entire Hogwarts into a blood-red hue.

Exam week is over.

Most students were cheering and throwing their backpacks into the air, discussing their summer vacation plans, whether to go to the beach or Diagon Alley.

On the other side, Harry, Ron, and Hermione huddled together, talking in hushed tones with serious expressions. Harry clutched the scar on his forehead, his face contorted with pain and anxiety.

Rowe stood at the edge of the crowd, looking at the three little wizards who were destined to save the world, and then at the shadows stretched long by the setting sun in the distance.

Just then, a huge red exclamation mark suddenly popped up on the system panel in front of him.

[Main Quest Update: The End of the Magic Stone]

Objective: Pass through the trapdoor and stop the Dark Lord (Sauron) from seizing the One Ring.

[Countdown: Tonight]

[Difficulty: Epic]

[Note: Prepare your sword, or your frying pan. Tonight, there is no turning back.]

Rowe tightened his grip on his wand and smiled helplessly.

"Very well," he said softly, "for Middle-earth."