The exam for Defense Against the Dark Arts, led by Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, was somewhat peculiar, and the thought-provoking aspect was that other little wizards certainly did not have this psychological test sheet for their Defense Against the Dark Arts exam.
This could be discerned from the whispers and idle talk among other little wizards as they left the classroom; in general, the content of the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam for other little wizards followed a typical pattern of testing magic skills related to defending against dark arts.
The same applied to several grades.
There were numerous examinees.
Only Ian received a psychological test sheet as his exam content. Ian guessed that Albus Dumbledore probably thought that he practiced dark magic too frequently on a daily basis, and was thus concerned that his mind might be eroded by the dark arts, so he wanted to use this exam to understand Ian's psychological condition.
As for why Albus Dumbledore knew how many times Ian practiced magic each day, Ian wasn't surprised, after all, Albus Dumbledore had demonstrated his prophetic ability at Hogwarts more than once, which Ian suspected might be related to the headmaster's authority.
No matter how you look at it, the old headmaster's concern wasn't unwarranted; if it were someone else practicing dark magic so frequently, they might go mad like someone without a nose after a few months.
Ian, however, was somewhat different.
"Dark magic seems to have no corrosive impact on me." Ian didn't understand why; he had never felt the slightest influence from the side effects of magic.
Aurora's assessment was that Ian might be too dark to further deepen. Ian from the depths of his heart disagreed with this obviously misunderstood view; he believed he was a wizard with a nature of "true goodness and beauty," and it was his pure heart that shielded him from evil taint.
While answering the questions on the psychological test sheet, Ian shared his thoughts with Albus Dumbledore, who was clearly more respectful than Aurora.
"There's indeed such a possibility."
Albus Dumbledore smiled reassuringly. No one knew what judgments he was forming in his mind; the emotions and thoughts of this old headmaster were the hardest for little wizards to perceive.
"This test sheet will give us the answer."
Albus Dumbledore seemed very concerned about Ian's psychological test results, but even a wise man like him likely didn't anticipate how meaningless the test sheet was to Ian.
A Psychology Mastery of Level 6 allowed Ian to derive the analytic angle behind each question, enabling him to choose answers that would make him a "true goodness and beauty" little wizard.
Similar sheets.
Before starting school, he had already studied many varieties of test sheets to improve his skill level of Psychology Mastery; although this sheet differed in many ways from those he had analyzed in the Muggle World, ultimately the logic behind them wasn't too different, since the thinking of wizards and Muggles wasn't vastly different after all.
"Done!"
Ian stopped his pen and handed the psychological test sheet back to Albus Dumbledore, feeling that the old headmaster had overlooked something crucial and wouldn't anticipate that he was an overall well-rounded warrior without any shortcomings.
Just a mere psychological test.
He vowed to show Albus Dumbledore a once-in-a-century "Holy Mother" level child.
"Excellent."
Albus Dumbledore nodded slightly and did not review or check Ian's psychological test sheet; he simply indicated that Ian could leave what felt like an empty examination room.
"Aren't you going to give me a score on the spot?" Ian wasn't concerned about being caught "cheating"; he was simply eager and wanted to know his exam result sooner.
"Actually, this test won't affect your final result; your practical exam already provided us with the most satisfactory answer half a semester ago."
Albus Dumbledore maintained his smile.
"Ah?"
Ian was slightly taken aback, "Are you referring to Professor Quirrell's incident?"
Half a semester ago, the only thing he could think of associated with the Defense Against the Dark Arts exam that was witnessed entirely by Albus Dumbledore was the battle with Senior Tom.
"That's correct." Albus Dumbledore confirmed Ian's guess, his tone soft, "Though few know you defeated the century's most powerful dark wizard, both I and our Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts are aware, and we both agree that no one could have responded better under those circumstances."
"No other exam content could better demonstrate your achievements in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class than that battle, so your grades will certainly be the result you expected."
Albus Dumbledore's voice was unhurried yet logical. The act of soloing the noseless one without taking injury; such an achievement definitely already counted as top-level defense against dark arts capability. If not for a level that could instantly defeat Voldemort, Ian's achievement already represented the best outcome in a confrontation.
"Then why did you tell me the psychological test sheet was my final assessment?" Ian recalled asking Albus Dumbledore about the exam content when he first entered the door.