Chương 43: 043 Professor Watson's First Lesson
On a dreary Monday morning, as Charms and Herbology classes commenced, hardly anyone seemed to be paying attention. Instead, the halls were abuzz with whispered conversations about the mysterious events that had taken place on Saturday. The students exchanged hushed speculations, their curiosity piqued by the unsettling incident involving Professor Lockhart. Even Hermione, renowned for her unwavering focus in class, appeared visibly unwell and lacking her usual energy.
The questions surrounding Professor Lockhart's condition lingered, casting a shadow of uncertainty over the lunchtime discussions. No one seemed to have a definitive answer as to whether the professor had an alcohol allergy or if foul play was involved. The lack of concrete information only served to intensify the intrigue and fuel further gossip among the Hogwarts community.
It was during this state of suspense that the Heads of Houses descended from the professor's podium, their expressions grave and their movements hurried. They made their way through the murmuring crowd, ensuring that every student caught wind of the shocking news. The second class of the afternoon would be none other than Defense Against the Dark Arts, and it would be held in the Great Hall, combining the first and second-year students from all four houses. The heads of the houses, eager to relay this unexpected change, dispersed among the younger students, their voices a whisper amidst the rising anticipation.
Ron, caught off guard by the sudden shift in schedule, looked at Percy with surprise etched on his face. He turned to Seamus, sharing his astonishment and was voicing his suspicion that someone must have poisoned Lockhart. "Wait a minute," Ron said, his brow furrowed. "If I remember correctly, the second class this afternoon was supposed to be History of Magic!"
Percy, ever the dutiful student, responded with a tone of certainty. "According to Professor McGonagall," he said, "if you have any questions, you can go and ask her yourself." With that, Percy quickly made his way past Harry and the others, his eagerness to relay the news evident as he sought out Ginny and the rest of their group, who were congregated near the entrance hall.
In the afternoon, after their Transfiguration class, Harry and his friends rushed to the Great Hall. Despite their exhaustion, their curiosity had been ignited, and they couldn't help but be intrigued by what awaited them. As they entered the hall, a sense of wonder washed over them, for it had been transformed into an entirely different space. In the center stood a circular platform, encircled by a vast expanse of desks numbering nearly one hundred and sixty to seventy. The first and second-year students from the other three houses had already gathered, their conversations filled with excitement and speculation about this innovative approach to class and speculating about what Professor Watson would teach them next.
"This reminds me of bad memories," Harry muttered to himself. "I just hope this isn't a large-scale stage play!" Nevertheless, curiosity got the better of him and his friends, and they took their places at the desks, exhausted yet eager for what was to come.
The passing minutes saw the desks gradually fill with students from all four houses, the room buzzing with anticipation. Finally, as the last empty desk was claimed by a young wizard. As Bryan made his grand entrance. The crowd erupted with a cacophony of excitement as he gracefully descended from the marble staircase, agilely leaping over the students and landing on the central platform. Standing amidst the sea of expectant faces, he offered a warm and enigmatic smile. His first sentence ignited an intense roar of excitement, shattering the silent hall.
"Now, everyone, put back Professor Lockhart's book from your desks. You won't need it in my class."
"Oh, yeah!"
The proclamation triggered an outpouring of joy and relief, with Hufflepuff's McLaggen being the first to cheer. His exclamation served as the catalyst, and soon the Great Hall reverberated with cheers and howls of enthusiasm from all sides. The resounding energy was so powerful that even the large chandeliers overhead seemed to tremble under the weight of the young wizards' exuberance.
"Can you believe it? I've been waiting for this for over half a year!" Dean exclaimed, throwing his book 'Break with the Banshee' into his bag and laughing happily. Ron seemed to want to express similar sentiments, but Harry, with his mouth half open, stopped him and discreetly pointed at Hermione, who sat between them, looking bewildered. They exchanged a quick glance and suppressed their excitement as they put away their books.
The continuous cheers lasted for several minutes, gradually subsiding after Bryan Watson let out a heavy cough, drawing the attention back to him. The hall fell into a hushed silence as the young wizards eagerly awaited his next words.
"Now, I believe it's time for an explanation," Bryan began, his voice resonating with authority and warmth. He nodded to the audience below, acknowledging their curiosity. "I suppose you must all be wondering why I chose this method of teaching you."
Bryan cleared his throat, capturing their attention as he continued, "The Defense Against the Dark Arts class has suffered from unstable staffing for various reasons. Due to frequent changes of professors, the teaching quality of this subject at Hogwarts has been consistently criticized. Even in my case, I'm afraid my tenure as your Defense Against the Dark Arts professor won't be too long. Therefore, in order to improve your practical defense skills within our limited time, I had to make some changes."
"Professor Watson!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Seamus raised his hand enthusiastically. He looked at Bryan Watson on the platform and said loudly, "Give us a self-introduction, Professor. Of course, we all know you were sent by the School Board to investigate the Chamber of Secrets, but before that, what were you doing?"
The question hung in the air, and Bryan Watson scratched his head, observing the dozens of curious eyes fixed upon him. After a moment of contemplation, he raised an eyebrow and began to respond.
"That's an interesting question, Mr. Finnigan," Bryan Watson scratched his head, looking at the dozens of curious eyes below. After thinking for a moment, he raised an eyebrow and said, " Well, I can tell you this much. Before coming to Hogwarts, I was what you might call a... freelance worker. I made a living by running errands for people, finding magical ingredients, and delivering goods. Ha, I was just an insignificant nobody, nothing compared to the famous Professor Lockhart!"
Ron leaned toward Harry, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "I can't say I entirely believe that," he whispered, and Harry nodded in agreement, a hint of skepticism lingering in his gaze.
However, Bryan Watson's lackluster self-introduction didn't satisfy the young wizards. The air in the hall grew slightly colder, and a palpable tension settled among the students. They were still waiting to hear what Professor Watson had to say next.
"I understand that you must be curious about what I'm going to teach you," Bryan finally acknowledged, his smile captivating the audience below. "But let me turn the tables on you. What do you hope to learn from me?"
The question hung in the air, perplexing the young wizards as they exchanged uncertain glances. However, one student, Blaise Zabini, a second-year Slytherin, wasted no time in raising his hand and voicing his desire.
"I hope to learn powerful spells, Professor Watson," Blaise declared confidently. "Because I believe that only powerful spells can resist dangerous and intriguing dark magic."
The young wizard's words struck a chord with his peers, resonating with their shared yearning for strength and protection. Even the Gryffindor students, known for their dislike for Slytherin, found themselves hesitating, nodding in agreement with Blaise's sentiment.
Professor Watson nodded approvingly, acknowledging Blaise's response. His eyes scanned the circle of young wizards, his voice lowering in intensity as he prepared to impart his wisdom.
"Since you're all interested in powerful spells, let's explore that avenue," Professor Watson suggested. "Now, who can tell me which category of spells can be considered immensely powerful?"
The young wizards exchanged glances once again, uncertain of how to respond to this intriguing question. Many eyes turned expectantly towards Hermione, knowing her penchant for knowledge and academic prowess. As expected, Hermione rose from her seat, her hand raised high.
"If I understood your question correctly," Hermione began, her voice confident, "the category of spells that can be considered immensely powerful would be ancient magic, most of which have been lost in the present day."
Bryan's interest piqued as he fixed his gaze upon Hermione. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, "Can you explain why, Miss Granger?" He asked with great interest, staring at Hermione.
"Ancient magic—known for its immense power—refers to the spells invented and created by previous wizards during the tribal era up until about eight hundred years ago. In those times, people relied on a harsh natural environment, and many now-extinct dangerous magical creatures were still active during that period. To defend against threats from the cruel natural environment, the highly intelligent ancient wizards developed a series of spells primarily focused on seeking power."
Hermione's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she delved deeper into her explanation. "However, with the development and growth of both Muggle and wizarding civilizations, humans tamed nature, and the role of magic gradually shifted from defense against danger to serving everyday life. Simultaneously, the rapid advancement of wand-lore and its strong compatibility with modern magic made casting spells simpler, which led to the rapid abandonment and eventual loss of ancient magic, which was immensely powerful but complex, obscure, and required a high level of magical ability."
Professor Watson's applause echoed through the Great Hall, filling the space with a sense of admiration and appreciation. "Fantastic, Miss Granger!" he exclaimed. "I don't think anyone would object if I award Gryffindor ten points for that insightful explanation."
Blushing with pride, Hermione returned to her seat, a contented smile playing on her lips. Ron, unable to contain his excitement, leaned towards Harry and whispered, "Did you see that? Hermione really knows her stuff!"
Harry nodded, equally impressed by their friend's vast knowledge.
Ron stared at Professor Watson with hopeful eyes. "Professor Watson," Ron spoke up, "are you saying that you will teach us those mysterious ancient magics?"
AUTHOR'S NOTE : The Explanation about ancient magic mentioned in the chapter are outside the canon and the wizarding world, They are only theories.
I may introduce some OC background characters like McLaggen; Henry and grace in the earlier chapters. They won't have much affect on the story.
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