My partner at Hogwarts is Tom

As Viktor finished speaking, a deathly silence filled the classroom.

The only sound in the quiet classroom was the faint rustling of parchment against the desk.

The fifth-grade students gripped their quill pens tightly, their knuckles turning white, their faces a mixture of fear and unease.

Professor Victor's vision of the future loomed over everyone like a dark cloud.

After all, who wants to be the background figure in their classmate's brilliant life who "can't get into the office"?

"certainly……"

Just then, Viktor's voice suddenly changed.

The sharp, oppressive feeling receded like the tide.

That gentle, even encouraging smile returned to his face.

He slowly walked back to the center of the podium, relaxed his posture, and glanced at the tense little faces.

"I'm not being unreasonable. The rigorous assessment is just a test, meant to unleash your true potential."

His tone became light and cheerful, even carrying a hint of alluring mystery.

"Therefore, to reward students who have demonstrated talent and hard work..."

He paused deliberately, pleased to see many young wizards raise their heads, their eyes regaining a glimmer of light.

"Students who achieved an 'E' (Good) in this mock test..."

As he spoke, Viktor held up two fingers.

"Not only can it earn your college 20 extra points—"

A suppressed gasp rose from the audience. Twenty points!!!

This is basically the sum of the points that other professors added in two or three classes.

"—I will also receive a 'freedom to audit the class' permit, which I specially requested Professor McGonagall to grant," Victor added with a smile.

"This means that, as long as the time doesn't conflict, you can attend any grade level—including advanced classes for sixth grade, or even specialized seminars for seventh grade."

"Audit my courses, or other professors' courses that you are allowed to audit. Experience higher-level magic in advance and build your knowledge advantage."

Whispers began to rise, and the eyes of several Ravenclaws and eager students shone with an astonishing light, as if they had spotted another path leading to the restricted area.

"And if we can get an 'O' (Excellent)..." Viktor's voice became even more infectious as he opened his arms.

"In addition to all the above rewards, you will also have the opportunity to consult with me privately or to have a customized learning plan made."

"Furthermore, your name will be added to my list of 'outstanding students' for this course—I will give you priority consideration if there is a need for interesting practical projects or research assistants in the future."

Several ambitious Slytherins, along with other young wizards with the same goal, sat up straight and raised their chins slightly.

It was as if I could already see my name being engraved.

"Even those who get an 'A' (pass)," Victor's tone became relaxed and reassuring, "can receive a small, practical gift from me. For example..."

With a flick of his wrist, a delicate little device with a leather wristband and spring mechanism appeared in his palm.

It was the wand launching device that the seventh-graders had been showing off yesterday, and that made the other young wizards envious.

"...similar to these convenient and somewhat cool little gadgets. Of course, there are many more types than just this one."

After that terrifying "big stick" called life was revealed

The mouthwatering radish was finally revealed, and it looked so juicy and tempting.

The atmosphere in the classroom changed subtly in an instant.

The fear and resistance did not completely disappear, but they were covered by a new, intense emotion.

That's competitiveness, it's desire, it's the excitement of calculating gains and losses.

The pressure on OWLs remains immense, but at this moment, it seems as if a golden staircase has been laid on the mountain.

At the top of the stairs lie the scores from the Academy Cup, the privilege of knowledge that surpasses those of peers, the favor of professors, and tangible, cool rewards.

"What are we waiting for?" Professor Victor clapped his hands, his voice cheerful, as if he wasn't the one who had just been sternly describing a cruel future.

"Time is your most valuable resource, so start investing now. In an hour and a half, I'll come and see your...effort and talent."

He walked to the chair by the window, sat down, and leisurely crossed his legs, watching the little wizards below who had already started impatiently grabbing their quills and getting to work.

Tom, standing to the side, was no longer the listless man he had been when he first arrived.

After witnessing the little wizards' dramatic transformation, Tom perked up.

At this moment, he was enthusiastically patrolling among the young wizards who were writing furiously, acting as an examiner.

The young wizards below exchanged glances.

The Hufflepuffs' faces showed eager seriousness, while the Gryffindors rubbed their hands together as if they were about to conquer a fortress.

The Ravenclaws were already eagerly browsing the first problem, while the Slytherins were sharp-eyed, assessing the value behind the reward.

The sound of quill pens dipping into ink filled the air.

The rustling sound of writing replaced the previous silence.

The questions on the exam paper that originally seemed cold and terrifying.

Regarding the control of incubation temperature for the bird-snake, the variant application of the Ironclad Charm when dealing with the Chimera, and ten characteristics to distinguish between poisonous mushrooms and edible glow mushrooms, etc.

At this moment, it seems to have become a series of checkpoints leading to the 20-minute mark, the audience pass, and the customized device.

Conquering them gives you "value," allows you to escape the fate of being a "background character," and enables you to reach those coveted rewards.

Viktor's gaze swept over the faces that were sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes writing furiously, and sometimes lighting up slightly when they thought of a solution.

Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air and the increasing ink stains on the parchment.

A big stick intimidates the soul, while radishes whet the appetite.

Ancient educational wisdom from the East has once again quietly taken root in this magical classroom.

Meanwhile, the fifth-grade wizards were willingly doing their utmost for the shimmering radish hanging in front of them.

After all, who wouldn't want to be an "outstanding student," go to a seventh-grade classroom, or wear a cool gadget with a slingshot on their wrist?

However, gradually, the sound of pens writing incessantly in the classroom began to become intermittent.

Unlike when the young wizards first started doing the tests with confidence and quick writing, this time it was different.

When they had written a third of the first parchment, all the young wizards began to write at a slower pace.

At that moment, the young wizards stared in horror at the questions on the test paper.

They clearly recognized all of these questions, and they even seemed to have read them before.

But at this moment, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't figure out the answer to this seemingly familiar question!

At that moment, the young wizards felt as if they had met a familiar face they hadn't seen in a long time.

His name was on the tip of my tongue, but I just couldn't remember what it was.

In the end, all I could do was awkwardly wave at him and then look at the next unfamiliar acquaintance.