"You said today was your first match, so do your best. You've even poked a troll's nostrils, so Quidditch will be a piece of cake. Even if your opponent is Slytherin."
“···”
I spoke sarcastically to Dae-hwi and walked down the hallway. I tried to endure it, but my leg hurt so bad. After being bitten by that monstrous Fluffy, there's no reason it shouldn't hurt. I debated whether I should go to the ward, but decided against it. If I didn't see any signs of improvement, I'd go. For now, just reciting one spell would suffice. I quietly slipped into the bathroom, avoiding the many eyes.
“Oipalephuton.”
Oipalephuton is a spell I created. It's not an official spell, but I spent a lot of time on it, so I have to use it. Of course, it's not a spell that makes your wounds invisible or completely heal them, but it does make you lose the sensation of pain. But it's only temporary. I created it when I was a student, in my second year, so it's not really useful. I'm trying to think positively.
It didn't feel like that much time had passed since the semester started, but surprisingly, November was already approaching. And that means exam period is fast approaching. I'm worried about how many idiots will fail their exams this year. I know their grades aren't my concern, but if I make my classes too difficult, everyone will fail, leaving only one or two students who can take them. If I make them too easy, everyone will understand, and even the idiots will join me.
The fourth graders didn't seem to have a general understanding of Dittany's original solution (a highly effective wound healing agent), so I'll only give them one or two questions about it. On the other hand, they showed considerable understanding of bezoars (stones that can save lives from poison), so I'll give them more questions about it.
···
Frankly, exams aren't that important in first year. They might be a little more important in second year, but from third year until graduation, they become something you have to overcome, even if it means befriending them. First-year students don't know what they're good at or what they're not, and they haven't learned much yet, so I struggled a lot with what to test. I'd just give them something very basic. For example, what happens when you add ground daffodil root to mugwort water? First-year students are at an age when they should be having a lot of fun, so there's no reason to make it so difficult.
Having to teach grades 1 through 7, I was always busy, but exam period made me even busier. Of course, the excuse "I had to write problems" isn't entirely wrong. But there's a bigger issue. Whenever I tried to take a break, the kids would come in and ask questions like crazy. How wonderful it would be if they were like that normally. I couldn't help but resent those kids who would listen in one ear and out the other during my classes, only to suddenly declare that exam period was upon them. And on top of that, when I asked them if they had any questions after class, they never asked.
I haven't been able to sleep properly lately because of the kids who keep coming in, even at night. Today, too, I was walking down the hallway with a sullen face.
“Professor…! Will this exam be difficult too…?”
“It’s not difficult at all.”
“That’s…your own standard.”
“You asked me, didn’t you?”
"ah···"
He asked if the test was difficult, as if he'd already given up. I'd focused on the strengths of my grade, so there shouldn't be many difficult questions... Is it difficult?
I was wondering if I should make the test a little easier... Oh, right. I forgot. I told the lord about Quidditch, but then I turned around and he forgot... I guess I'm getting old. I checked the time and there were three minutes left until the Quidditch match. I ran like crazy to the Quidditch pitch.
Luckily, I managed to get there and take my seat before the match was over. I was trying to enjoy it, but Dae-hwi's broom seemed to have been enchanted by some kind of magic, swaying back and forth. He couldn't even keep his balance. "Oh dear, it's our first match... I have to do well. What am I going to do?" I thought, immediately starting to mutter a spell. But Dae-hwi's broom wouldn't stop. "Will I fall?" "Will I get seriously hurt?" I thought, worrying, as I chanted the spell even harder.
“Fire…fire…!”
The professor sitting next to me tapped my shoulder and shouted. I was momentarily distracted from reciting the spell, and then stomped on my clothes. Perhaps my clothes caught fire, drawing attention, and Dae-hwi's broom was fine again.
Daehwi followed the Golden Snitch and landed on his broom. He was flying low, but I was worried he'd fall. Then, perhaps he went too far ahead and fell off the broom. He didn't seem seriously hurt. But then he tried to vomit, perhaps because he was feeling sick. Then, a Golden Snitch came out of his mouth. How could he possibly have eaten it? Naturally, Gryffindor won, and I was elated that Daehwi had won his first match.
This time, it was Professor Quirrell who enchanted Daehwi's broom. Why on earth does he keep doing this? I saw him last time trying to get the Philosopher's Stone, but why is Daehwi touching it? What did Daehwi do wrong? What was his purpose? I really couldn't figure it out.