Chapter 461: The Vampire Professor
Chapter 461: The Vampire Professor
"Alright, children, it's almost time, let's call it a day!"
Professor Sprout clapped her hands and said cheerfully, "Put away your tools... Morag, don't forget the trowel you left under the pot... Pansy, be gentle with the geranium next to you... Don't leave anything in the greenhouse, and remember to complete your homework on time!"
The students, covered in dirt and the smell of dragon dung, left the greenhouse one by one.
Ved walked around a few students and approached Professor Sprout.
"Professor?"
"What is it, Ved?" Professor Sprout held her trowel and asked while tidying up the plants the students hadn't transplanted properly. "Do you need help with something?"
"Well, Professor", Ved glanced around, and when the last two students had left the greenhouse, he whispered, "Do you remember Haley?"
"Of course." Professor Sprout stopped digging and said sympathetically, "She was such a poor child... Is there something you need to talk about with her?"
"Yes... no, not me, actually." Ved said, "Her sister wants to see her. I asked Professor Dumbledore, and he said the child was placed with a foster family you arranged."
"Yes, that was me... Oh, Merlin!"
Professor Sprout's face lit up with a mixture of surprise and joy. She was about to shout but quickly suppressed her voice, asking, "Her sister isn't... You mean... the child... she..."
In response to Professor Sprout's inquiring gaze, Ved nodded affirmatively.
Professor Sprout's smile was almost radiant.
"Thank Merlin! I've been so worried about her... So, her... her little issue?"
"We're working on it", Ved said. "Dumbledore has contacted Newt Scamander, but he's currently in Cherrapunji, India, trying to rescue a Bowtruckle. Once he returns, he'll start researching a cure."
"If there's anything I can do to help, just let me know!"
Professor Sprout's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she said sincerely, "I'm more than willing to assist... By the way, I think the Ministry's decision is as absurd as if their heads were hit by jumping bean stalks!"
Ved couldn't help but laugh, "I couldn't agree more, Professor."
"Oh, right, the address!"
Professor Sprout wrote down an address on a piece of paper and handed it to Ved, saying, "You can take the child to this place, but it's best if you don't show yourself. I suspect the Ministry has people keeping an eye on Haley. They know how much she values this little girl."
"I understand, Professor." Ved glanced at the address, which was in a small town near Kilmarnock, and asked, "The people who adopted her are..."
"A distant cousin of mine. He's a Squib, and his wife is a Muggle who doesn't know about magic. They're both very kind. They don't have children of their own and have grown very fond of Haley."
Professor Sprout smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "After all, she's such a sweet and well-behaved child. She deserves the best."
...
Sunlight filtered through the small windows, casting a warm glow on the brass chandeliers and oak tables. Professor Trocar held a book and was lecturing the students.
"Vampires are ancient magical creatures that feed on the blood of living beings. Of course, they can eat regular food, but their dulled sense of taste makes it taste bland, and it's difficult for them to digest."
Professor Trocar's voice was dry as he continued, "So most vampires prefer blood or food made from blood."
"Vampires possess extraordinary strength, speed, and healing abilities, but they also have their weaknesses, such as sunlight, garlic, holy water... and, of course, wooden stakes."
The professor's eyes twitched, and he involuntarily leaned back, as if trying to distance himself from the book in his hand. After a brief pause, he resumed his lecture.
Ved glanced down at his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook and noticed that the page depicted a vampire with a stake through its heart, its mouth open in a silent scream.
He felt a pang of sympathy for the new professor and looked around. No one else seemed to have noticed Professor Trocar's momentary discomfort; most of the students were dozing off.
Vampires and humans don't have many obvious differences in appearance. Ved had to study some specific content with Dumbledore to recognize Professor Trocar's true identity, but the other students hadn't noticed anything.
"Help...", nearby, Michael was slumped on the table, speaking in a weak voice, "Is Professor Trocar infected by Professor Binns? This is the first time his Defense Against the Dark Arts class has been so boring, hum hum hum... hum hum hum..."
Michael's humming successfully put Goyle, who was sitting nearby, to sleep. The tall boy "thumped" onto the table, and the usually stern Professor Trocar just glanced at him without saying a word.
Michael couldn't help yawning, trying hard to open his eyes to take a few notes. Suddenly, he realized that Professor Trocar had been reading from the textbook the whole time.
He completely gave up fighting his sleepiness, quietly pulled up Goldstein's hood who was sitting in front of him, and put it on, giving him a bit more height before laying down to sleep.
Ved covered his mouth with his fist to barely suppress a laugh. Even though he tried to control himself, the amusement spread from his eyes.
Goldstein, of course, noticed. He turned to look at Michael, then at Ved, shook his head in exasperation, but didn't take off the hood. Instead, he sat up a bit straighter.
The boring reading from the textbook continued for most of the class, and finally, a student couldn't take it anymore, raising their hand high.
Professor Trocar wanted to ignore it, but the student's determination was unyielding. He put down the book and asked, "What is it, Mcdougall?"
"Professor!" Morag Mcdougall from Ravenclaw asked, "We've read all this in the book. When will we get to practice?"
"Well..." Professor Trocar said sheepishly, "The school doesn't have any live vampires to help you practice..."
"What about the Chamber of Secrets? I heard it's been refurbished!" Blaise Zabini from Slytherin added, "Professor Abigail told us that we could do very exciting practical exercises in there this semester!"
"Right, right!" The other students joined in, "We want to go to the Chamber of Secrets! Why can't we enter it this semester?"
On this, Professor Trocar knew the answer.
"Um... the school has temporarily closed the Chamber for a reason. It involves a 'top-secret project' from the Ministry of Magic, which will only be announced when the Ministry deems it necessary..."
"What project, Professor?" The students, ignoring Professor Trocar's subsequent words, excitedly pressed on.
"I can't say... No one can reveal anything until it's all settled."
Professor Trocar refused to say more, but the students' pleading and protests wore him down. He reluctantly said, "I can only tell you that it's an unprecedented event... Prepare yourselves, children. Maybe one of you will earn a lifelong honor..."
"Prepare for what, Professor?" Several girls pleaded, "Please, Professor Trocar, tell us a bit more?"
"Um... Well..." Professor Trocar hesitated for a moment, "If I were you, I would start studying hard now, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts... It will definitely come in handy. Don't regret it when it's too late, children..."
The classroom fell silent.
The students looked at Professor Trocar with puzzled and probing eyes, suspecting he was just making up an excuse to "motivate" them to study hard.
After a series of persistent questions, they got no more information. Professor Trocar continued the lesson, and soon, the students all had drowsy expressions.
When the bell finally rang, both the students and the professor wore expressions of relief.
"Ved Grey?" Professor Trocar stood at the classroom door, looking at Ved, "If you have time, come to my office?"
(End of Chapter)
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