Harry Potter:
Charms: Empty
Transfiguration: E (Good)
Potions: E (Good)
Herbology: E (Good)
Divination: P (Poor)
History of Magic: D (Very Poor)
Astronomy: A (Pass)
Muggle Studies: O (Excellent)
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O (Excellent)
...
Draco Malfoy:
Charms: Empty
Transfiguration: E (Good)
Potions: O (Excellent)
Herbology: E (Good)
Divination: D (Very Poor)
History of Magic: D (Very Poor)
Astronomy: A (Pass)
Care of Magical Creatures: A (Pass)
Defense Against the Dark Arts: E (Good)
"You lost!"
Harry, hands on his hips and one foot planted on the table, roared with delight. "A clown is still a clown! Malfoy, why is your nose so red? Did you forget to wash your face? Ahahaha!"
All in all, Harry's grades were indeed better than Malfoy's.
"..."
Malfoy was speechless. He should have known better than to choose Care of Magical Creatures.
He had no interest in magical creatures, so his grades were mediocre. As for the other subject he chose, it was Divination.
If Trelawney had been the one grading his report, he could have flattered her into giving him a good grade, but alas, she was not.
...
Not far from the Slytherin table, at the Gryffindor table, Ron Weasley sweated nervously.
"By Merlin, by Professor Tom Riddle… please don't let me fail..."
Ron slowly peeled his hand away from his report card, dreading the sight. Heaven knows how much it had stung when the first "T" (Terrible) had appeared in previous years.
However, he could barely live with it back then. After all, he had spent a lot of time recruiting Gryffindor wizards into the Death Eaters over the years, and for a long time, the Elder Wand had been a hindrance.
Failing one subject is understandable, right?
Ron, comforting himself with this thought, let out a long sigh. After calming down, he opened his hand a little further.
T.
"..."
Ron's heart plummeted.
After a moment of silence, he cried out in a slightly manic state, "No, no, no, please don't let it be a T..."
He opened it again!
"Finally... finally it's not a T!!!"
Ron excitedly roared to the sky, attracting the attention of Seamus Finnigan and Neville Longbottom beside him.
"But why is it empty?"
Ron, having calmed down, finally noticed something was wrong. "Did they forget to fill in my grade?"
Seamus Finnigan leaned over. "No, Ron, did you fail?"
"..."
...
Night fell, and curfew had passed.
Beneath the curtain of night, the ancient trees' branches intertwined, preventing even moonlight from penetrating the dense canopy. The ground was covered with decaying leaves and damp moss, each step producing a dull thud.
The low howls of unknown creatures and the rustling of intertwined vines and branches constantly filled the air.
Occasional flashes of eerie light in the distance resembled the eyes of unknown creatures, sending chills down one's spine.
Even though every step felt like heading into an unknown realm of terror, for Cassandra Volle, as long as he was there, there was no fear.
"..."
Tom Riddle walked silently ahead, his mind focused entirely on using magic to sense his surroundings and find a suitable unicorn to keep as a pet.
Cassandra Volle, on the other hand, followed Tom Riddle with measured steps, hands clasped behind her back, her interest piqued as she gracefully surveyed her surroundings.
The Forbidden Forest was unusually quiet at night, especially as they ventured deeper.
Aside from the rustling of fallen leaves underfoot, there was almost no other sound.
Cassandra Volle felt she could even hear Tom Riddle's soft breathing.
She lowered her head, trying to ignore it, but a blush crept onto her face as she pondered her thoughts.
Before she could even process what was happening to her mind, Tom Riddle stopped.
"What is it?"
Cassandra Volle peeked out from behind Tom Riddle, following his gaze.
A slightly tall figure appeared not far ahead of them.
Her upper body was like that of a normal young woman, clad in a bodice made of the fur of an unknown animal, while her lower body was that of a horse with a soft, lustrous silver-white coat.
Her long silver hair, lifted by the breeze, shimmered faintly in the moonlight. She lowered her head, tracing star trails on the scattered fallen leaves with her hooves.
It was a centaur, a female centaur.
"…"
Tom Riddle gazed calmly at the young female centaur, silent, his thoughts unreadable.
Cassandra Volle looked back and forth between Tom Riddle and the female centaur, puzzled as to why the other was staring at her.
What? Not even as pretty as me.
This wasn't Cassandra Volle being narcissistic; few could rival her beauty.
However, Cassandra then noticed the centaur's "weapon," and looking down at her own, she felt a pang of frustration. She's not human…
Cassandra Volle had a graceful figure, beautiful but not exaggerated.
But the enemy… just as she said, wasn't human.
Great Crisis!, Cassandra Volle inwardly screamed, unable to even take Tom Riddle away in time.
Tom Riddle, however, looked down at Cassandra Volle and calmly uttered the explosive question, "You desire her as a pet?"
"Who would think that?!"
Cassandra Volle was bewildered by Tom Riddle's peculiar thought process, but secretly relieved.
Tom Riddle felt a little disappointed at the answer; this was a rare silver-white type.
Unlike the plain, unassuming "wild horse physique" of other centaurs, this one was "shimmering," clearly very rare.
However, since it wasn't the powerful type he preferred, and being an intelligent race, Tom Riddle had only mentioned it casually.
Since it was useless, he would continue searching for unicorns.
With that thought, Tom Riddle ignored the centaur and continued walking in the direction he sensed.
"Jupiter is in the west tonight; you ought not be taking this route."
She spoke suddenly, her voice somewhat cold, just as the two were about to pass the centaur woman.
"..."
Tom Riddle raised an eyebrow... Showing off Divination in front of me? Even Trelawney's resurrected ancestors would not dare.
He did not dwell on it, simply leading Cassandra Volle towards their target.
"..."
The female centaur watched the two curiously, her smooth tail swishing gently before she followed.
"Something amiss?"
Tom Riddle glanced sideways at the newcomer.
"You saved my brother; I must assist you."
The female centaur shook her head slightly. "Since my prophecy cannot aid you, then so be it."
"..."
Tom Riddle looked away, ignoring her.
"Nothing to inquire?"
The female centaur narrowed her eyes; she could not see this man clearly.
"Too indolent to ask."
"..."
Tom Riddle was not curious, but Cassandra Volle, extremely wary of the man carrying a "weapon," had many questions. "Who are you? What did you mean when you said Tom Riddle saved your brother?"
---