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Chapter 668: Assistance from the Ministry of Magic
Chapter 668: Assistance from the Ministry of Magic
In recent days, the most noticeable change at Hogwarts is that the curriculum has become significantly more challenging, with the professors seemingly eager to impart more knowledge to the students.
At the same time, they are also trying to find ways to alleviate people's fears about Voldemort, and the upcoming Quidditch match is an excellent opportunity.
During the match, everyone's attention will be focused on the pitch, and with each goal scored, the cheers and shouts will be a great way to relieve tension.
As the match draws nearer, the atmosphere in the castle gradually becomes less somber.
"How are you feeling? Are you confident... If we can win the Quidditch Cup this year, it will be an unprecedented five consecutive victories."
During Herbology class that day, Professor Sprout approached Kyle, looking somewhat excited.
"Every other house has achieved a five-time championship record, except for Hufflepuff, which hasn't had such a brilliant achievement in nearly two centuries. This year is the closest we've been to success."
"Before this, when Minerva and the others were chatting about Quidditch, I felt too embarrassed to join in."
To be honest, Professor Sprout was a bit exaggerated. It's unlikely that the professors would only talk about Quidditch when they gathered, and Professor McGonagall was the only true Quidditch enthusiast among them. The other professors didn't have a particular interest in the sport.
However, Kyle could tell that the reason she was saying this in front of everyone was to express her emphasis on the upcoming Quidditch match, diverting people's attention to the upcoming game instead of constantly thinking about the Dark Lord and the escaped Death Eaters.
"Of course, Professor," Kyle replied cooperatively. "We have no intention of giving up the Quidditch Cup."
Two distinct sounds immediately filled the air.
The Hufflepuffs cheered and encouraged each other, while the Ravenclaws, who were also in the class, hissed in disapproval.
As their opponents, the Ravenclaws didn't believe they would lose.
The atmosphere in the greenhouse became tense.
Fortunately, this situation didn't last long. Professor Sprout timely introduced the plant they were about to study, successfully defusing the tension between the two groups.
"Wiktakross," she said. "It's a widely used plant, and its pods and leaves are essential materials for many magical potions..."
"And snacks..." Kyle whispered.
Fox loved to snack on these pods, and when Harry was learning Occlumency, Fox somehow managed to get hold of some and ate them one by one in the tree, like popping corn, enjoying the crispness.
In this lesson, they needed to learn how to set up trellises for Wiktakross and make it produce pods.
Despite the heavy snowfall outside, the greenhouse remained warm. Professor Sprout had placed several special torches around the greenhouse, maintaining the ideal temperature for Wiktakross pods.
Kyle was the first to complete the task and received a small bag of pods as a reward, which he could use to prepare a treat for Fox.
The next day was the weekend, and the snow on the grounds had accumulated to almost a foot in depth. Some students chose to stay in the cozy common rooms, chatting and playing chess, but the sixth-year students had to put on their thick robes and head out for their first Apparition class.
This special course, exclusive to sixth-year students, was originally supposed to be held on the grounds, but the heavy snowfall made it necessary to move the class to the Great Hall.
When Kyle and Cona arrived at the Great Hall, the tables and chairs seemed to have disappeared, and the hall felt larger than before.
The four Heads of Houses, including Professor McGonagall, were already waiting, accompanied by two instructors from the Ministry of Magic.
As they approached, everyone's gaze naturally fell on the diminutive instructor.
His pale complexion was striking, his eyelashes nearly transparent, and his hair was so fine that he appeared almost unreal, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
Kyle guessed that this must be their Apparition instructor, and his fragile physique seemed perfectly suited for disappearing. Kyle even wondered if his Apparition would be soundless.
The other instructor was Nymphadora Tonks, an old acquaintance, but today she had changed to her more common black hair, and Kyle almost didn't recognize her.
"Hello, everyone," said the small instructor from the Ministry of Magic. "I'm Wiktakross, and for the next twelve weeks, I'll be your Apparition teacher. I hope to help you succeed in your upcoming exams."
"I'm Nymphadora Tonks," Tonks introduced herself. "I'll be your Disguise teacher. Although this class doesn't directly contribute to exams, it's crucial for you to learn how to conceal your identity in public and escape certain wizards' tracking or capture."
The mention of a Disguise class sparked another round of whispers among the students, who had only received notice to attend the Apparition class and were unaware of an additional Disguise class.
"Please maintain silence!" Professor McGonagall said sternly, and everyone immediately fell quiet.
"Indeed," she continued, "these two are the Aurors sent by the Ministry to teach you Dark Arts Defense. They are your new professors."
"Assisting... Professor McGonagall, we're just assisting Professor Umbridge, not being professors," Tonks emphasized, clearly not keen on taking on the title of professor.
But Professor McGonagall simply nodded, saying nothing.
"I know what you're thinking," Tonks continued at that moment. "My Disillusionment Charm won't take up your weekends. Instead, it will be taught during regular Dark Arts Defense classes. I'm here to deliver something from the Ministry to Hogwarts and also to get to know you all."
Upon hearing that the Disillusionment Charm wouldn't take up their weekends, some people immediately breathed a sigh of relief, enthusiastically responding to Tonks.
It had to be said, as a newly graduated Auror, Tonks truly understood these students just as she understood herself.
Tonks scanned the people in front of her, finally resting her gaze on Kyle, and she winked at him. Among those present, he was the only one she was familiar with.
Next, Wiktakross continued.
"Perhaps some of you know that Hogwarts doesn't permit Apparition, but to enable you to learn this magic, Headmaster Dumbledore has temporarily lifted this restriction for an hour, limited to this Great Hall only."
"I must remind everyone, do not move outside the walls, or you'll be carried off."
"Now I need everyone to stand in their places, leaving at least five feet in front of you."
Everyone immediately took action.
Once everyone was in position, Wiktakross waved his wand, and an old-fashioned wooden hoop immediately appeared in front of each student.
"This is your target," he began to elaborate on the points to note when learning Apparition.
Kyle listened for a while and found that it was quite similar to what Chris had taught him... But this was normal, perhaps Chris was the one who taught him, so it was quite similar.
As it was the first class, Wiktakross explained in great detail, taking nearly half an hour to elaborate on the points to remember, and he asked everyone to remember them by heart.
Then, he demonstrated it once.
Just as Kyle had imagined, Wiktakross's Apparition was almost silent. He naturally disappeared and then reappeared in a wooden hoop five feet away.
If someone else's Apparition was like throwing a stone into water, his was like a leaf, no matter how high he fell from, there was not a sound to be heard.
"That's it, everyone saw it clearly, right?"
Wiktakross shouted, "Now do it just as I did... If you really don't know how to enter the void state, just spin in place."
"Now everyone try it."
Students in the Great Hall began to spin in circles.
Wiktakross walked among the rows, "That's right, that's it, just relax yourself, remember what I just said... Try it now, the target is the wooden hoop in front of you."
"Now listen to my command... Begin!"
The Great Hall immediately echoed with a crisp sound.
Of course, this wasn't the sound produced by Apparition, but the sound of flesh colliding with the ground.
Many people lost their balance and fell due to spinning for too long.
"Haha, I succeeded!" came an excited shout from the crowd.
Mikel was seen standing in the wooden hoop, jumping and waving his arms excitedly, "Look, Professor, I don't know how I appeared in the hoop, I must have learned Apparition!"
"No, you didn't... Come out." Wiktakross said expressionlessly.
Mikel didn't understand what had happened. He had seen it clearly, that kid had simply been spun dizzy and stumbled into the wooden hoop... and it wasn't even his hoop.
Didn't he notice that his position was a bit off? Apart from Mikel, most of those who ended up in the hoops were also those who had jumped in.
"No worries, no worries, everyone return to your positions, we'll try again." He said dryly.
Everyone set up the wooden hoops and returned to their original positions.
"You shouldn't be discouraged. Apparition isn't a simple magic, it's impossible to learn it in a day or two. My expectation of you is three classes."
He stretched out three fingers and said, "If everything goes well, the most talented among you should be able to truly master this magic by the third class."
"As for those with slightly less talent, it will take longer... I've seen many who, after twelve weeks of classes, still couldn't move even a foot and naturally failed the exam."
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"That's not necessarily..." Mikel muttered, "What if someone learns it today?"
He always believed that he had just Apparated, just that he hadn't mastered the direction well.
"Then I'll treat him to snacks and sweets." Wiktakross smiled, not minding at all, "Okay, now everyone recall the feeling from earlier..."
"Snap!"
Before he finished speaking, a crisp sound echoed through the Great Hall.
Wiktakross turned stiffly, only to see someone standing steadily in the wooden hoop.
"You... must not have returned just now, right?" he asked tentatively.
Kyle smiled but didn't speak.
Another crisp sound, and the next second, he appeared in the wooden hoop of the person in front of him.
"Oh!" A cheer of excitement echoed around, and even Professor McGonagall, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but smirk.
Snape scoffed, "Childish."
Tonks watched Wiktakross, who was as stiff as a wooden board, trying hard not to laugh, but half of her hair had turned golden.
After Wiktakross realized what was happening, his pale face started to turn red. He sighed, "You guys must've planned this, right?"
"No, Professor," Kyle said, "In fact, I succeeded the first time, but you didn't notice."
"That's right, I can testify," Professor Sprout said with a smile. She had been watching the Hufflepuff students, especially Kyle.
Wiktakross was speechless for a moment. The scene was too chaotic just now, and he seemed to have missed those who were full of tricks, and there was even a real one mixed in!
"Okay, okay, I lost," Wiktakross said. "I'll keep my promise."
As he finished speaking, he couldn't help but laugh.
He was very happy that someone could learn Apparition so quickly. As for whether Kyle already knew it beforehand... he didn't care.
Learning Apparition before the age of sixteen is already an impressive feat. The younger the age of learning, the higher the innate talent.
"Alright, you can stop practicing," Wiktakross waved Kyle away, indicating for him to step aside. At the same time, he looked forward to the next class even more.
If one person succeeded, would there be a second one...
With this thought, Wiktakross shouted the command again.
However, to his disappointment, the second attempt wasn't much better than the first. He widened his eyes, but still didn't see a second person who could Apparition.
It wasn't until the third attempt that a change occurred.
Someone completed the task, but only halfway.
Autumn stood shakily in the wooden hoop, but her right leg remained in its original position.
Someone let out a terrifying scream.
"Don't be nervous, this is a very normal phenomenon," Wiktakross said calmly. "Remember what I said before? Dismemberment is the most common situation when learning Apparition."
As he spoke, Professor McGonagall quickly walked over, picked up Autumn's leg, and brought it to her side.
"Pomona, White Fresh..."
"Is this it, Professor?"
At this moment, someone suddenly handed her a bottle of White Fresh Essence.
"That's right, this is it," Professor McGonagall said, glancing at Kyle. She took the White Fresh Essence and applied it to Autumn's wound, reassembling her like a jigsaw puzzle.
"Don't be afraid, walk it off," Professor McGonagall said softly. "Dismemberment isn't a scary situation. As long as you reattach it in time, there's no problem."
Autumn's face turned pale, and she took a deep breath, stepping forward tentatively. Only then did she discover that she could still move normally and felt no discomfort.
"Next time, don't hesitate, and don't worry about what will happen if you fail. We'll help you in time," Professor McGonagall reminded her before leaving again.
Autumn nodded and returned to the queue.
However, it was unclear whether Autumn's dismemberment had left a shadow on everyone, as in the following half-hour, not a single person succeeded.
Everyone, including Autumn, who now had experience, was going through the process of spinning in place and then jumping into the hoop.
Wiktakross was a bit disappointed, but he also understood that Kyle was a special case, and this was normal.
After witnessing the visual shock of dismemberment, it became more difficult to maintain determination and composure. This was why he had said that it might be possible for someone to succeed only on the third lesson.
Overcoming the fear of dismemberment is the most difficult step in learning Apparition. This takes time.
He fastened his cloak, saying, "Everyone, don't forget: goal, determination, composure. See you on Wednesday."
"Wait a moment, Professor..." someone suddenly said. "Aren't we supposed to learn Apparition every Saturday?"
"That's right," Wiktakross said. "But I'm also assisting Professor Umbridge in teaching you Defense Against the Dark Arts. The Ministry of Magic originally wanted to send two Aurors, but most Aurors have their own duties and can't get away. So they found me."
It was unclear if it was Kyle's illusion, but he noticed that Tonks' hair had turned darker, as she glared at Wiktakross.
Kyle quickly understood the reason.
Other Aurors had their own duties, which meant that in the entire Auror Office, only Tonks was free.
Kyle couldn't help but laugh, but the next second, he found himself under Tonks' fierce gaze and quickly closed his mouth.
(End of Chapter)
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