From across the entrance hall, Orli felt a piercing gaze from the Slytherin ranks, but she kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, waiting with marble-calm composure as Umbridge conducted her invasive examination.
Spell after spell materialized under the Prior Incantato charm—nothing more exotic than standard fifth-year curriculum. Protean Charm, Reductor Curse, Stunning Spell—each incantation flickered to life like ghostly echoes before dissolving back into memory. When her wand finally had nothing left to reveal and began trembling violently in Umbridge's grip, Professor McGonagall's patience snapped like overstretched wire.
"Are you attempting to destroy this student's wand?!" she roared, lunging forward to rescue the cedar wand from Umbridge's brutal handling.
"Oh my, nothing so dramatic," Umbridge simpered in her nauseating little-girl voice. "I simply required a more... comprehensive examination. Quite impressive, really—this student appears to have mastered several advanced spells." Her bulging eyes rolled around Orli like marbles loose in their sockets.
"I prefer to study ahead," Orli replied with perfect equanimity, though her fingers closed protectively around her rescued wand. She could feel it radiating waves of magical distress, like a wounded animal trying not to whimper.
"Exemplary attitude, Waters!" Professor McGonagall declared with pointed emphasis. "Academic initiative is precisely what we expect from Gryffindor students!" Her emerald eyes blazed as she added, "If your wand exhibits any irregularities after this morning's... examination, come to my office immediately. Now hurry along to breakfast—first period begins in ten minutes."
The pointed reference to time sailed completely over Umbridge's head, or perhaps she simply chose to ignore it with characteristic obstinacy.
How does one properly discipline a pink toad? The question plagued Orli throughout the morning like a persistent itch. Childish pranks were one-time affairs with no lasting impact. She needed something with permanent consequences—something that would send Umbridge packing back to whatever Ministry dungeon had spawned her.
The day's lessons proved relentlessly focused on their approaching O.W.L. examinations. Both Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick devoted fifteen precious minutes to stern lectures about academic responsibility.
"You must never forget," Professor Flitwick squeaked from atop his precarious tower of textbooks, barely managing to peer over his desk, "these examinations will shape the trajectory of your entire adult lives! If you haven't seriously considered your career aspirations, the time for such reflection is now. I expect unprecedented dedication from each of you—you owe yourselves nothing less!"
Before dismissing them, he assigned enough homework to keep a small army of house-elves busy for a week.
If that bombardment wasn't sufficiently demoralizing, Professor McGonagall's Transfiguration class delivered the killing blow.
"Excellence cannot be achieved without rigorous, repetitive, and utterly committed practice," she announced with the finality of a judge pronouncing sentence. "However, provided you invest adequate effort in your studies, every student in this classroom possesses the capability to achieve passing marks."
Neville emitted a sound like a deflating balloon—equal parts misery and skepticism.
"Yes, Mr. Longbottom, that includes you," Professor McGonagall said crisply. "Your academic work suffers from nothing more serious than insufficient self-confidence. Today we shall commence practicing Vanishing Spells—typically reserved for more advanced students, but well within your O.W.L. examination parameters."
Professor McGonagall's assessment proved accurate—the magic was fiendishly complex. Hermione achieved success on her third attempt, making her snail disappear with a satisfied flourish that earned Gryffindor ten house points. Orli required five attempts before her own snail finally dissolved into nothingness, but Professor McGonagall's response surprised her.
"Entirely understandable, Waters," the professor said quietly as she passed Orli's desk. "Your wand endured considerable trauma this morning. Under normal circumstances, you would have succeeded much sooner. Five points to Gryffindor."
As McGonagall moved on to terrorize the next student, Orli felt a small smile tug at her lips. Even the formidable Head of Gryffindor was offering comfort in her own stern way.