At Hogwarts, certain subjects rely heavily on memory, understanding, and observation. Alex refers to these as "theory-based knowledge subjects." For students willing to dedicate time to reading and memorizing textbooks, or who are adept at test-taking strategies like highlighting key points and cramming, these subjects can yield good grades. Examples of these subjects include History of Magic, Arithmancy, Divination, and Muggle Studies.
While these classes are classified as theory-heavy due to the examination focus, some still involve practical spellwork, especially in advanced stages. For instance, Arithmancy and Divination occasionally require spellcasting skills, though sparingly.
Divination, however, is an outlier at Hogwarts. The Professor rarely provides proper instruction on actual divination techniques, and the exams are mostly written. Alex considers this class particularly absurd but still ensures that his strategies apply to it. For the students in Slytherin, Alex introduced a structured self-study schedule, making it easier for them to excel in these theory-based subjects. His focus is purely on passing exams and earning high grades, rather than a deep understanding of the material.
His approach includes concentrating on key topics, practicing with a large volume of questions, and using prior exams to prepare. To streamline the process, Alex tasked department representatives with gathering exam content from previous years. Whether through their own memories or by reaching out to alumni, they compiled a detailed record of the typical questions and patterns preferred by each professor.
During the college committee meetings, Alex organized the representatives to highlight key topics across grades 1–5. These key points were then turned into mock exams for the monthly tests, ensuring that students could focus on the most likely test areas. Additionally, Alex introduced "betting questions," split into two categories: predictions based on past exams and questions professors inadvertently revealed during class.
Alex found Hogwarts exams somewhat flawed; many professors had a habit of unintentionally revealing exam content early in the term, making it easy to predict test material. Despite this, some students still struggled to pass, let alone excel.
Under Alex's guidance, this changed. He implemented a system to monitor and manage exam preparation across all grades, ensuring consistent performance. He also noted that many professors revealed potential test topics when introducing new spells or lessons, so he created a test-question collection team led by grade representatives. This team's job was to track such moments throughout the semester, creating a pool of questions to help students prepare for end-of-term exams.
Alex classified another group of courses as "theoretical and practical subjects." These required a balance of memorization, understanding, and occasional spellcasting, with exams typically split between practical and written components. This group included Herbology, Astronomy, Ancient Runes, and Care of Magical Creatures.
Astronomy and Ancient Runes leaned more toward theoretical study. Astronomy mostly involved identifying constellations, though practical exams were common at the end of the year. Ancient Runes required translating magical texts, and while advanced studies included some spellwork, beginners could succeed by focusing on translations.
In contrast, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures involved more hands-on learning. These courses required students to handle plants and animals directly, which posed a challenge for self-study. Magical creatures, for instance, couldn't be brought into the common room for practice. Though Alex was familiar with Hagrid and Professor Kettleburn, he preferred not to rely on them for help.
To address this, Alex devised a creative solution using one of his new teaching aids—a modified Pensieve designed for memory storage and projection. Instead of its traditional use, he linked it to an enchanted viewing surface that could display the stored memories like a tv.
Alex planned to lend this device to students studying Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Department representatives could deposit memories of various herbs or magical creatures into the Pensieve, allowing younger students to observe them in detail. This method provided a more immersive study experience, bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Finally, Alex categorized another group as "spellcasting practical subjects," which required regular practice and spellwork. These subjects included Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Exams for these courses were heavily weighted toward practical demonstrations, with written tests playing a smaller role. Mastery of these subjects required not only frequent practice but also a strong grasp of the principles behind spellcasting.
But Potions class at Hogwarts was a tricky subject when it came to practice. Brewing potions required specific ingredients, and spellcasting was often part of the process. Unlike Charms or Transfiguration, where students could practice with just a wand and determination, Potions demanded resources. And resources cost money.
Fortunately for Alex and his fellow Slytherins, their head of house, Professor Snape, was in charge of the class. Snape was infamous for favoring his own house, showing far more patience with Slytherins than with students from the other three houses. While he was strict, he was at least willing to give his own students more opportunities to brew.
The other spellcasting subjects—Charms and Transfiguration—had excellent, dedicated professors who explained the material thoroughly and guided students well during practice. In those classes, students mainly needed to put in the effort to improve.
Defense Against the Dark Arts, however, was a different story. With professors changing almost every year, the quality of instruction was wildly inconsistent. Some professors spent the entire year lecturing on theory without allowing students any practical spellcasting experience, leaving those who weren't motivated to practice on their own completely unprepared. Then, when a new professor took over the next year and expected students to have learned certain spells, the ones from the previous class found themselves struggling to keep up.
This pattern repeated every year, creating a widespread problem. It wasn't just Slytherins—students from all houses suffered because of it. As a result, Hogwarts students generally had poor grades in Defense Against the Dark Arts compared to other subjects.
Alex, however, wasn't the type to sit back and let things slide. To address this issue, he took it upon himself to become the student representative for Defense Against the Dark Arts and even designed a special training tool to help his classmates improve. He had been working on this project for a while, mostly using his free time to sketch designs and refine the concept. He had finally completed the prototype recently.
Excited to test it, Alex called over Fang to watch as he pulled off the cloth covering the device in the corner of his dormitory. Underneath was a humanoid figure, roughly his height, mounted on a sturdy base. It had no face, and its body was made of a combination of wood and metal.