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228. The New Professor of Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts
Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts finally felt a little more like a real class—though each professor taught in their own preferred style.
Professor Flitwick focused on casting various spells. Professor McGonagall taught them how to use Transfiguration to deal with dangerous beasts. Professor Sprout demonstrated how to identify dangerous plants. And Professor Snape? He always said, “If you’ve got a bottle of XXX Potion on hand, you can solve this problem with no effort at all.”
The class had become little more than an extension of the other subjects.
Worse still, during Lockhart’s lessons, assignments had been a joke—just fill them with exaggerated flattery, and you’d get top marks without lifting a finger. But now, with the new professors, the workload had doubled. No assignment was shorter than a foot.
“This class has bombarded you with too much information!” every professor insisted. “To even pass the final exam, you’ll need to work harder than ever!”
The mountain of assignments crushed the students. Everyone began cursing Lockhart—though even with his dazzling, most charismatic smile in all of Britain, the new professor had already lost the hearts of every girl in Hogwarts.
Even worse, the expensive books the students had bought turned out to be worthless. And no new textbooks had arrived.
The professors agreed: it was time for the new Professor of Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts to decide what materials to use.
From then on, every lesson began with key points written on the blackboard. Students were expected to copy them all down—then spend hours in the library researching, writing essays, and deepening their understanding.
Finally, on a quiet weekend evening in early March, the feast was more lavish than usual. For the first time in weeks, Professor Dumbledore appeared at the staff table—sitting beside a mysterious witch.
She wore black wizard robes, edged with deep blue and golden stripes. In her thirties, with dark skin and sharp, angular features, she carried an untamed, wild elegance.
Every student turned to stare. Murmurs rippled through the Great Hall. But the witch didn’t flinch. She studied the students with quiet curiosity, her gaze sweeping across the room like a lioness surveying her prey.
She paused at the Weasley twins, grinning with excitement. Then her eyes lingered on Harry Potter. Finally, she turned—her gaze locking briefly with Wade’s.
After dinner, Dumbledore tapped his fork against his goblet. The clear, crisp sound silenced the hall instantly.
“Good evening, children. I hope you’ve all eaten well.”
A chorus of polite responses rose from the students. Fred called out, “The strawberry cake was amazing, Professor!”
“Thank you, Mr. Weasley. I agree,” Dumbledore smiled warmly. “Now, allow me to introduce our new Professor of Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts—Miss Serah Abigail, from America.”
The hall erupted in applause. Someone even blew a loud whistle.
But Miss Abigail didn’t speak. She merely raised one hand lazily and waved.
A few students exchanged uneasy glances. She seemed… difficult to read.
“Furthermore,” Dumbledore continued, “the board of governors has generously donated funds to provide every student with a new set of textbooks for Defensive Magic Against the Dark Arts.”
“Really?” someone asked, astonished.
“Indeed,” Dumbledore replied. “The books have already arrived in the common rooms. Prefects will distribute them shortly. So, what are you waiting for? Go and see what you’ll be studying next!”
Chairs scraped against stone as students scrambled to their feet. Many turned back one last time, gazing at the new professor.
“She’s absolutely stunning, isn’t she?” Michael murmured, still staring.
“Hmph.” A cold sound came from beside him. Padma shoved past Michael with a sharp motion, her head high, striding out with her roommate.
“I swear, she’s the most magnetic professor Hogwarts has ever had,” Terry said. “I wish we’d started the class tomorrow!”
“Our class is on Thursday,” Wade said. “Be patient.”
“Oh no…” Terry groaned dramatically. “Wade, you really don’t have to discourage me.”
They laughed all the way back to the common room, where Prefects handed out the new textbooks.
Defense and Deterrence Charms.
The title page bore a bold, striking line:
“Attack is the best defense.”
“Looks like our new professor is truly one of a kind, huh?” Michael whispered, eyes wide.
Every student wore a look of pure excitement. The choice of textbook already revealed the professor’s unmistakable style.
Before Wade’s class, Gryffindor and Hufflepuff had already taken their first lessons. Other years followed suit.
The reactions were mixed.
“Best defensive magic class I’ve ever had!”
“She’s completely mad!”
“Can she really stay as our professor?”
“How could Dumbledore allow this? It’s worse than Lockhart’s theatrical nonsense!”
Students who had taken the class came back with bruises, scrapes, or worse. Rumor had it Madam Pomfrey stormed out of the professor’s office in a fury after a heated argument.
Padma timidly asked Hermione how her class had gone.
“Well…” Hermione paused, thinking. “It was… intense. Very dangerous. Honestly, just bring White Moss Essence with you next time.”
“Brilliant!” Harry said enthusiastically. “I wish she’d been teaching us from the start.”
“Harry,” Padma whispered, “your nose is bleeding.”
“Oh, blast,” Harry muttered, frantically pressing his fingers to his nose. Wade quickly cast a healing charm, stopping the bleeding.
“Thanks, Wade,” Harry said, grumbling. “I just… bumped my nose.”
“We all saw it,” Michael said. “So, what did you learn?”
“Duels,” Harry grinned. “Real wizard duels.”
“Too intense,” Fred admitted, grinning. “But honestly? Heaven.”
“Worried?” George slung an arm around Michael. “Think about it—how many mazes have you survived? What’s a duel compared to that?”
Michael wasn’t sure whether to believe him—or if they were just trying to make him feel better.
And so, with nerves and anticipation, Ravenclaw students waited for Thursday.
(End of Chapter)
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