A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts

Chapter 124: Professors

Chapter 124: Professors

This lesson also made the new professor, Berby, realize a part of reality – that times have truly changed.

The "average level" he had in mind and the "average level" displayed by young wizards differed drastically, making him doubt life itself.

"Perhaps it's just this particular year that's below par?" Berby thought with unrealistic hope.

The young wizards streaming out of the classroom seemed particularly pleased with the new professor.

"Today's class was absolutely fantastic."

"Did you see me use the Leg-Locker Curse?"

"I totally exceeded my own abilities!"

"Crabbe looked utterly foolish."

...

After all the classes for the day concluded, Berby finally gained a clear understanding of the magical accomplishments of the young wizards. He no longer held onto any shred of luck – he was even leaning towards the opposite extreme.

"They seem to lack a sense of danger and only know how to stand still and chant spells," Berby complained to Felix Harp during dinner.

Felix chuckled heartily. "I told you, Damocles, to get to know their level in advance."

"But this is completely different from when I was in school," Berby remarked.

"In truth, the older years have a decent level; they've at least mastered quite a few useful spells, but they lack the skill to apply them flexibly. However, in recent years, the professors for this course haven't been very reliable, leading to a complete lack of awareness in the younger students about guarding against danger," Felix explained.

He suggested:

"Dark Arts Defense and Dueling are closely related; we can have them interact."

"Interact?"

"You also know that many dueling spells are equally applicable in Dark Arts Defense. Spells like the Ironclad Curse or the Entrapment Hex."

Berby looked pensive.

Dark Arts Defense, a class teaching students how to use magic to protect themselves from dark creatures and dark magic, involved learning offensive and defensive spells to fend off danger.

But the content of the course extended far beyond – danger had multiple sources: dark wizards, dark magic, dangerous magical creatures, magical plants, handling minor curses, and responding to common dangerous situations...

Rather than just defense against dark magic, it was more like defense against potential danger.

Identifying danger, perceiving danger, responding to danger, as well as assessing the strength of opponents, finding weaknesses...

These were the core principles behind the Dark Arts Defense course.

Therefore, Berby shouldn't and couldn't invest a lot of time in having young wizards focus solely on one or two sources of danger.

From this perspective, Dueling could naturally be considered a supplement and practical part of the Dark Arts Defense course – this was also one of the reasons why Lockhart easily gained approval for the Dueling Club.

...

In the following period, Felix Harp put all his energy into upgrading the "Answering Parchment."

Professor McGonagall exercised her authority as Deputy Headmistress and gathered almost all the corresponding subject professors for a professorial meeting.

The professors raised their hands to express their willingness to participate in this plan.

Aside from a few courses – like the practical Flying class and Divination, known as requiring "rarefied vision" to learn, along with some elective classes (like Illusion Shapeshifting and Career Counseling) – the professors of other subjects eagerly agreed to join in.

Professor Kettleburn had a complex expression as he spoke, "I've always hoped to do something meaningful before formal retirement. I had plans to organize an opera and invite my giant friends..."

Felix Harp was quite relieved he abandoned that idea.

As for the History of Magic professor – the ghost Cuthbert Binns – his translucent silver-white form took on a peculiarly luminescent and pale state, raising concerns that he might feel his existence was being replaced, thus vanishing forever.

But fortunately, he was just somewhat excited, "This is good; I believe the young wizards' grades in the History of Magic will improve."

...

From an observer's standpoint, a room full of professors coming together would reveal many interesting things.

For instance, Professors Flitwick and Sprout rarely made direct eye contact, yet they didn't exhibit any bodily language of resistance toward each other;

Or, Snape's demeanor toward Berby was cold, but he didn't refuse to discuss potion knowledge with him;

Felix also met the Divination professor for the first time since joining, Sibyll Trelawney.

Three years hadn't changed her appearance: Trelawney appeared very thin, high cheekbones, her large glasses reflected firelight, making her expression difficult to discern, like a large beetle coming forward.

Only when you got closer could you make out her eyes, magnified several times. She draped a thin, transparent, shimmering shawl over herself, heavy necklaces and beads hung from her slender neck, bracelets and rings adorned her arms and hands.

'Perhaps she's the professor at Hogwarts who understands self-presentation the most, cloaked in an air of mystery,' Felix thought.

He didn't have good feelings about this Divination professor because she had repeatedly hinted during Felix's time as a student that he would meet with misfortune...

And when Felix realized he had no aptitude for Divination, he promptly dropped the class.

This left his Divination grades perpetually in a dismal state.

"Oh, Felix, I remember you... In the eyes of ordinary folk, you were a wizard with remarkable potential, but in my sight," Trelawney pointed to her own eyes, staring straight at him, "I saw vast murkiness and darkness."

"Felix, I believe it's because you haven't yet emerged from a state of inebriation," Professor McGonagall interjected without mincing words, also not holding any fondness for this vague and mystical professor.

Trelawney blushed and said, "Inner Eye does not change due to external influences, whether I've been drinking or not!"

She huffily took a seat in an empty chair.

During this meeting, Felix also took the opportunity to have a tentative conversation with the Muggle Studies professor, Caridy Babajee, which left him somewhat disappointed.

This professor wasn't entirely unfamiliar with Muggle society; according to her, she resided in a Muggle neighborhood. However, Babajee approached problems from a wizard's perspective; at least, she had never considered understanding the principles of technology – not even at the level of elementary school crafts.

"Felix, I believe this is enough. I visit bookstores twice a year to select the most popular books," Babajee politely stated.

Felix inquired, "What book have you been studying recently?"

"Mendel's Legacy: Father of Genetics," Babajee said with great interest. "It has provided me with much inspiration..."

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