A Professor of Magic at Hogwarts C.356: New Developments at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes

After class, the third-year young wizards streamed out of the classroom, each carrying a magical puppet about a foot and a half tall. They were excitedly discussing the content of their first lesson.

Felix stayed behind, checking a form. He put a checkmark next to the name 'Luna Lovegood' and noted the number 17 next to it, representing the number of cards she had interacted with during the class.

In reality, the process of infusing stable magic into the cards became more proficient as the young wizards moved to the back of the classroom. In Felix's view, today's lesson was truly just an introduction to the subject. Especially when compared to the sixth-year class that would follow

"Sixth year is a crucial year"

"Don't say that, Professor." Fred and George protested from the classroom, "We've just gone through O.W.Ls year!" Other students murmured their agreement.

They had heard similar words throughout their fifth year, leaving a psychological impact on them. A few timid students seemed to recall those challenging days, shuddering as if afflicted by some sort of lingering trauma.

The students felt a sense of shared unease, and someone let out a faint groan of discomfort. Heads turned to find the source of the sound, but the atmosphere had already lost its coherence.

Felix couldn't help but chuckle, pacing around the classroom. "The reason I say this is because in this year, you don't have to worry about certificates, and your accumulation of knowledge has reached its peak. This means"

He intentionally paused for a few seconds before revealing the answer: "We have more time for practical work and exploring things worth investigating."

Before the students could fully digest his words, he turned and walked back to the podium, taking out magical cards with a crisp motion. Clapping his hands, he said, "My requirement is simple: by using these cards, master at least seven ancient runes"

"They conveniently form a rune circuit that I will explain in the last half hour of the course."

"But what I truly hope for is that you'll find enjoyment through your own exploration. Let's begin, students. The first to finish will earn twenty points."

Soon, in the advanced ancient runes class for sixth years, students from all four houses held magical cards, projecting symbolic runes one by one. For those who had endured the torment of fifth year, this task was a walk in the park.

However, the key was how to decipher the runes on the cards.

"Oh, right." Felix seemed to remember something. He picked up a roster, "Completing this step individually is quite challenging, so I'll arrange you into groups... Miss Campbell, please don't look around, I will group you in sets of three according to the order on the roster."

And so, students from the four houses were mixed up. Felix thoughtfully transfigured round tables with three chairs each. The Weasley twins took advantage of their last name and ended up in the same group, gazing at the Ravenclaw girl across from them.

"Oh, it's really beautiful," the Ravenclaw girl admired the projection of a small cluster of green shoots on her card. Her eyes gleamed with enchantment, but she quickly came back to herself, lowering her head to examine her notes filled with scribbles.

"Based on past experience, to master a rune, one must first understand its symbol and magical significance... This is most crucial, and these cards provide exactly that. The rest is simplywhy are you all staring at me?"

"Uh, nothing," George mumbled, taking a card from Fred. He infused it with magic and whispered, "Why do you think the professor is doing this?"

"I guess it's to make us capable of learning ancient runes on our own," Fred said.

"Are you serious?"

"I heard from someone in the 'Future World,' well, it's Penelope actually," he grinned, "She said Professor Harp sees these rune cards as educational toys."

"Educational toys!?" George's eyes widened.

"Exactly, like children's picture books, but Professor Harp's main goal is to promote practical runes. Penelope said the professor envisions a scene: parents holding their children, projecting images from these cards. As the children grow a bit older, they naturally become more familiar with runes."

George thought about it earnestly, then sighed, "If it weren't for 'Future World' getting a batch of Muggle toys, I wouldn't realize how lacking our entertainment was... Think of the inspiration it gave us! Magical building blocks, little figurines, colorful bubble wands, prank cards, and the subsequent Wizard's Duel game"

The Ravenclaw girl interjected, "Why no dolls?"

"Um, excuse me, what did you say?"

"Dolls," she said with seriousness, "I loved them when I was little. I spent all my pocket money on them each year, and after a few years, I collected a whole set!"

The twins exchanged glances. Fred asked deliberately slowly, "George, what do you think?"

With a similar tone, George replied, "Mate, I thinkwe should find some partners in these last two years at school..."

"True." Fred nodded, turned to the Ravenclaw girl, and asked, "Terri, would you like to join us?"

Terri looked at them in surprise.

"What did you say?"

"Join Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. Currently, there's nothing, but in the future, it will be the world's largest supplier of prank products and wizarding children's toy manufacturer."

"Youumthis is somewhat unexpected," Terri said bewilderedly, "This isn't another one of your pranks, is it?"

"Of course not. Do you have any plans for the future? Like joining the Ministry of Magic?" Fred and George exchanged a glance and asked. It had started as a joke, but now they were actually considering hiring people.

"Well... I don't, actually. I come from a Muggle family, and I haven't decided whether to stay on that side after graduation."

"In that case, give it a try." Fred and George tried to persuade her.

Terri found herself inexplicably cast as an elder of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. She clenched the card in her hand and shook it vigorously. The projection of a segment of a blue waterfall flickered and then vanished.

...

In the last half hour, Felix explained the subject matter and assigned homework.

"Today's essay topic is how to efficiently use rune cards to learn ancient runes. I need you to summarize an effective learning approach based on your classroom experience."

After class, Felix overheard the Weasley twins as they passed by, murmuring to each other

"What do you think of Cedric?"

"He's quite fond of magical puppets..."

"Isn't that perfect?"

"Well... Aubrey is good too, and there's Selton and Pardis."

Felix stroked his chin, watching their retreating figures. The people they mentioned were all members of the Rune Club. Was there something about this that he didn't know?

After the afternoon classes ended, Felix walked toward the Great Hall, a sniff on his shoulder drawing curious glances. As he arrived at the entrance hall, he saw Harry and Draco in an argument.

Harry said something angrily, then turned and left with Ron. Draco Malfoy's face turned red. He dropped the newspaper in his hand, angrily drew his wand from behind, and pointed it at Harry.

"Bang!"

Harry agilely jumped aside, a fiery spell barely grazing his hair. He turned around and forcefully swung his handDraco seemed to have been struck by something, his wand flew out of his hand. He stumbled back and would have fallen if Crabbe hadn't caught him in time.

Several belated screams followed.

"Merlin's beard, what was that?"

"Nonverbal and wandless casting, Potter is incredible, it's a pity he's only a fourth-year..."

"Do you think if there were no age restrictions, he could be a champion?"

"Hard to say, everyone's made significant progress these past two years."

Ron looked at Harry in astonishment, "How did you do that?"

Harry looked somewhat dazed at the wand that had appeared in his hand, Draco's wand. Harry had no idea how he did it. He was just incensed at suddenly being attacked and instinctively retaliated. He was about to say something when a loud noise echoed through the entrance hall.

Bang! Followed by a roar.

"You can't do this, kid!"

Moody appeared limping, his wand pointed at a completely white ferret. The ferret shivered on the stone floor, right where Draco had been standing.

In the midst of silence, Moody asked, "Did he hurt you?"

"No," Harry said, "The spell missed."

"Don't touch it!" Moody roared.

"Don't touchwhat?" Harry asked baffled.

"Not youhim!" Moody shouted again, raising his thumb, pointing over his shoulder at Crabbe. Crabbe was about to pick up the ferret, but he froze in place, too frightened to move.

Moody began to limp towards Crabbe, Goyle, and the ferret. The ferret let out a frightened squeak and darted away, heading in the opposite direction.

"I don't believe this!" Moody roared again, raising his wand at the ferret. Just then, someone stepped in front of the ferret.

"Oh, Professor Moody, I can't let you do that."

Felix smiled and waved away the spell.

The ferret huddled at his feet, while Snuffles the Sniffer was perched on his shoulder, curiously observing it.

As for Felix himself, his gaze had already fallen upon a trampled, dirty Daily Prophet on the ground. It was quite fortunate; he had just read the headlines this morning.

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