"How much? We're really, really poor, you know."
George planned to haggle.
However.
The little wizard shook his head.
"I'd prefer if you could use your own skills to pay me. Some of the basic work in my alchemy research requires help to be completed."
Ian hoped to assign some of the alchemical creation molding tasks to the twins, which didn't require much technical skill. The twins' alchemy level was more than enough to handle it.
"You actually want us to work for you! You're such a little tyrant who loves to enslave people!" Fred immediately put on a dramatically exaggerated outburst.
"But he doesn't want money, Fred, this is something free." George was quite tempted, and he pointed out a reason that made Fred immediately make up his mind too.
"And he also said we have skills! Not many people have such vision!" Clearly, being recognized was very meaningful for both George and Fred.
"You're right, we should help this fellow student who is as imaginative as we are. He might be the future of the prank world, a rising new star!"
Fred changed his mind.
"So? What do you say?"
Ian immediately seized the opportunity to inquire.
The two brothers exchanged a glance.
"Deal! Ian!"
They high-fived Ian with great joy, and gleefully ran towards the exam location with the Instant Escape Sugar. Ian watched their backs disappear around the corner, silently pulling out a bunch of magic-based gas masks.
"Ah, perhaps Aurora was right, sometimes I really am too wicked." Ian mused, considering that after the brothers were isolated by Madam Pomfrey, he would have about three hours to spread some panic.
These unsellable products should be quickly dispensed of—perhaps because he had just been thinking of Aurora, Ian spotted her holding a notebook and conducting a "last-minute exam cramming" by the stairs.
"You're feeling anxious about exams too?" Ian was somewhat surprised as he scooted closer, remembering that Aurora always seemed confident in other exams.
The German girl looked up at Ian upon hearing this. "I've heard that Defense Against the Dark Arts Class is being conducted by Dumbledore, who threatened to make it the most difficult exam to trouble me."
Aurora's tone was a bit apprehensive. As Albus Dumbledore's apprentice, it was true that Headmaster Dumbledore held her to stricter standards than other little wizards—in all honesty, Ian wasn't surprised by this, he was just curious about Dumbledore actually making threats.
"How did he threaten you?"
Ian looked at Aurora with quite a bit of astonishment.
Aurora responded with an exceedingly serious expression.
"Dumbledore came to see my grandfather last night, and after that, he returned to his office and, teaching me magic, told me he would prepare a unique Defense Against the Dark Arts exam for me."
After speaking.
Aurora, filled with worry, continued to bury her head in her notes.
"Huh?"
Ian was still waiting for more to follow, but didn't expect Aurora to remain silent, so he reached out and covered the notebook in Aurora's hands.
"And? Where's the threat in that?"
The little wizard asked, quite puzzled.
"Huh?"
Aurora also looked puzzled.
"Isn't that a threat?"
She recalled and couldn't find any part that was left off.
"Huh? Did I misunderstand something?"
Ian was immediately bewildered.
"I've prepared a unique Defense Against the Dark Arts exam for you." Aurora, guessing Ian might not get it, used her wand to press against her throat, imitating the old headmaster's ancient voice.
She used the Human Body Transformation Technique, capturing the tone and pitch perfectly.
"???????"
Ian's expression hinted to Aurora that he might have realized her point.
She added further explanation, "I just grasped the hidden meaning in his words, Ian. You should take some time to improve your reading comprehension skills."
"I can recommend a few books I've studied." The German girl appeared quite kind-hearted, though her inherently superior reading comprehension hinted that the books she read were not the usual kind.
"No, no, I'm fine as I am now." Ian quickly waved his hands to refuse, and attempted to divert the conversation, "I'd like to help you, but my exam content probably won't be the same as yours... Actually, Headmaster Dumbledore isn't the kind of person who enjoys making things difficult for others."
As he spoke.
Ian told Aurora about his exam project—the psychological test.
The German girl thought deeply after hearing it.
"Still, Ian, we need to understand the meaning behind others' words. I think Dumbledore tricked you; there must be another hidden meaning behind that psychological test."
Aurora began her analysis, "I believe this psychological test is closely related to the exam scores of all other students."
Admittedly.
Even after a year-long friendship with Aurora, Ian still struggled to comprehend some of her perplexing statements, perhaps akin to how some other little wizards felt when they heard his babble.
"How is this related to other students?"
Ian displayed a posture of being all ears.
Aurora pondered for a moment and gathered her words slightly.