Chapter 11: 11
Chapter 11: A History of Magic
The afternoon class was History of Magic, attended jointly by Ravenclaw and Slytherin students. Sitting in front of Wade was a boy with light blond hair, flanked by two chubby followers. Wade recognized him as Draco Malfoy, the antagonist from the original series who had a seven-year feud with the protagonist. However, relations between Slytherin and Ravenclaw were amicable, and Malfoy, aside from his somewhat arrogant demeanor and tendency to flaunt his family's wealth, behaved politely in class.
His attitude toward his nemesis Harry Potter, however, was notably different.
As Professor Binns materialized through the classroom wall, Malfoy continued disparaging Harry Potter to his cronies. "He flaunts that scar on his forehead all the time, as if it's something special—hanging around with the stinky Weasleys, reeking of their family's poverty—"
The Ravenclaws around them glanced sidelong, discreetly distancing themselves from the Slytherins.
——Regardless of what happens, Harry Potter remains a hero in the eyes of many wizards. Most children at Hogwarts grew up on tales of his adventures. Malfoy's words naturally repulsed everyone, hinting at truths long buried.
"I heard that Malfoy—Draco Malfoy, that is—his father was a Death Eater under You-Know-Who," Michael whispered to Wade. "After You-Know-Who was defeated by Harry Potter, his father claimed Imperius Curse and made hefty donations to the Ministry of Magic, thus evading Azkaban. Look at him now, still harboring a grudge against Harry Potter for vanquishing his master—must be something his father drilled into him..."
Wade shook his head silently. He knew Draco Malfoy probably didn't ponder these matters deeply. Initially, Malfoy seemed eager to befriend Harry Potter, but his arrogance only alienated him—how could such a proud young heir endure such slights? Thus, he persisted as Harry's adversary.
"Don't take him lightly, and don't get too close to Malfoy," Michael cautioned. "Their family is one of the staunchest advocates of blood purity among the Sacred Twenty-Eight."
"Sacred Twenty-Eight?" Wade realized this was a gap in his knowledge.
"They're the twenty-eight pure-blood families—no Muggles in their ancestry, no intermarriage with Muggles," Michael explained dismissively. "But my dad says it's all nonsense. Many of those families have Muggle ancestry or claim to have it."
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It must be said, History of Magic was indeed a dreary class. Professor Binns, a ghostly figure, lectured in a monotonous drone, reading from his notes, uninterested in students' activities. His voice, wheezy and unclear, lulled half the class to sleep within five minutes, while the remainder either dozed or doodled on parchment, planning wizard chess moves.
Ignoring Binns' hypnotic monotone, Wade sketched a timeline, jotting down key dates, historical figures, and significant events from magical history—essential for the upcoming exams. Beside him lay a borrowed book, "Hogwarts: A History," from the library. Comparing the two, Wade wondered about the founders' epic adventures and the school's role over a millennium.
History itself fascinated Wade, but Professor Binns rendered the subject unappealing.
As class ended, Binns' voice abruptly ceased, fading through the wall. Wade nudged Michael awake, and they headed to the library to tackle their History of Magic homework—a twelve-inch essay on the reign of terror under Emeric the Evil.
"No one at Hogwarts is as diligent as you," Michael muttered while writing. "I bet most students wait until the last minute."
Before he finished, a shuffling figure passed them—Hermione, balancing a stack of books that shook the table upon landing. Spotting Wade, she halted and greeted him, depositing her books.
"Hi, Wade," Hermione greeted, settling in. "How's Ravenclaw treating you?"
"Besides climbing too many stairs, it's fine," Wade replied. "Hermione, this is Michael Corner. Michael, meet Hermione Granger—we met on the train."
"Hello," Hermione greeted warmly, extending her hand. "Are you in Ravenclaw too?"
Michael eyed her towering stack of books, hesitating before shaking her hand. "Um, I think so?"
Before them, Michael felt inadequate compared to these two.
"—Think so?" Hermione frowned.
Feeling suddenly outclassed, Michael stammered, "Can I ask... why so many books? Are you planning to read them all?"
"Of course! These are the books I plan to finish this week," Hermione declared matter-of-factly.
Michael's face paled, glancing at Wade—what was this? More curious than you?
Wade raised an eyebrow at him.
Michael ceased griping about Wade dragging him to study and focused on his essay. Finished already, Wade continued refining his timeline.
"Oh, this method is quite effective," Hermione observed, leaning over. "But integrating Muggle history could add depth."
"I plan to do that later," Wade replied, pushing his work toward her. "Since you've read more, could you check if anything needs revision in the earlier section?"
"Let me see," Hermione agreed readily. After a thorough read-through, she pointed out, "Here, the exact origin of the wand remains unknown. Melaena Sims is credited with studying the magical properties of eighteen wand woods, proposing the Wand Adaptation Theory and Sims Formula..."
She pulled a book from her stack, flipping it open. "In 382 BC, the Ollivander family began crafting wands. They remain the foremost wand makers today. This might be on the test..."
Quills scratched parchment, while Madam Pince glanced their way, poised to eject any rowdy patrons.
Engrossed in his own thesis, Michael felt increasingly insignificant. After a while, he discreetly began copying Wade's revised History of Magic timeline. Suddenly, his eyes brightened, nudging Wade and whispering, "Look!"
Theo stood at the library entrance, scanning. Fresh from Herbology, soil still clinging, he'd been barred entry by Madam Pince. Catching Wade's eye, Theo waved, signaling them outside.
Wade bid Hermione farewell and gathered Michael to join Theo and Ryan. Seeing their disheveled state, he asked, "Is something urgent?"
The two Hufflepuffs exchanged looks. Ryan nodded subtly. "Go ahead. You asked Professor Sprout."
Theo grinned. "Remember this morning, Wade? You wanted a quiet spot to practice spells. After Herbology, I stayed behind to help Professor Sprout. After class, I gathered the courage to ask—"
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