The atmosphere in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was relaxed, with everyone discussing the upcoming lesson content, guessing what novel and interesting things Professor Lupin would bring them today.
As time passed, Professor Lupin had reclaimed the title of "Most Popular Teacher" from Professor Hagrid.
This was also related to the content of the two courses.
Care of Magical Creatures mainly focused on familiarizing students with the living habits of various magical creatures. In class, students would learn how to feed, protect, and raise these creatures, as well as how to treat them.
Defense Against the Dark Arts, on the other hand, was a subject that taught students defensive magic to protect themselves from dark magic and dark creatures.
Even if the same teacher taught both courses, Defense Against the Dark Arts would definitely be more popular than Care of Magical Creatures.
The reason Professor Hagrid won the title of "Most Popular Teacher" at the beginning of term was entirely due to his financial capabilities.
As the content of both courses continued to develop, Professor Lupin ultimately gained everyone's praise through his personal charisma and entertaining teaching philosophy.
The good news was that Hagrid had followed Sherlock's advice.
So, although Care of Magical Creatures was no longer in its glory days, it still surpassed Divination, Arithmancy, Muggle Studies, and Ancient Runes, becoming the top choice among the five elective courses.
Even among required courses, it was more popular than subjects like History of Magic and Astronomy.
This already made Hagrid very satisfied.
"Looks like they don't know Snape is substituting for Professor Lupin yet."
Ron looked at his chattering classmates with a pitying expression, feeling sad both for them and for himself.
Harry and Hermione remained silent.
Sherlock's intrigued gaze swept across the entire classroom. "Interesting, Professor Snape is planning to teach in a completely new way."
"What do you mean?"
Just as Harry finished speaking, there was a bang, and the door was thrown open.
Professor Snape glided in like a bat.
Under the surprised gazes of the entire class, he strode toward the podium while waving his wand.
With his movements, one window after another was shut, causing the entire classroom to darken.
When he reached the front of the podium and pulled with his hand, a white screen descended.
At this moment, Harry and Hermione exchanged glances.
They both understood what Sherlock had meant earlier.
This new method was far too... Muggle!
Ignoring the surprised looks from the entire class, Professor Snape spoke slowly in his deep voice.
"Turn to page 394."
"Excuse me, sir, where is Professor Lupin?"
Someone mustered the courage to ask.
He was clearly the Potions professor, yet for three consecutive years he had come to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts, which inevitably aroused suspicion.
Snape looked at the dark-skinned Dean Thomas with cold eyes, revealing a trace of impatience.
"He's very unwell today, so he cannot teach you."
"What's wrong with him?"
Although Harry had already learned from Cho Chang that Snape would be substituting for Lupin, he couldn't help asking again after hearing Snape's response to Dean.
"Nothing life-threatening."
Snape's mouth twitched in what was supposed to be a smile but looked worse than crying, as if to say what a pity that day hadn't come.
He looked at Harry with even more disgust than he had shown Dean.
"This is not your concern, Potter.
For interrupting the professor's lesson without permission, five points from Gryffindor!"
After saying this, Snape ignored Harry and walked straight to the back of the classroom.
"Turn to page 394."
Snape spoke again, while lightly tapping a device with his wand, which immediately lit up.
Ron was leisurely turning pages one by one when Snape, standing at the back of the classroom adjusting the device, suddenly changed expression and quickly waved his wand forward.
With a rustling sound, Ron's book immediately flipped to page 394, startling him.
But when he saw what was on the page, he couldn't help but exclaim: "Werewolves!"
Ignoring Ron's shocked expression, Snape said in an icy tone. "Professor Lupin has left no record of what you have studied—"
"Sir, we've learned about boggarts, Red Caps, kappas, and grindylows..." Hermione said immediately.
"Quiet."
Snape looked at Hermione. "I did not ask a question, Granger. I was merely criticizing Professor Lupin's lack of systematic teaching."
"He's the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had."
Seamus Finnigan boldly spoke up for Professor Lupin.
As soon as he spoke, quite a few classmates chimed in agreement.
This made Snape's expression turn ugly very quickly.
"That's because you're too easily satisfied, or rather, Professor Lupin hasn't given you much burden.
In my opinion, first-year students should be capable of dealing with Red Caps and grindylows.
Now, all of you turn to page 394, everyone, quickly!"
Faced with the domineering Snape, the students could only comply resentfully.
Just a substitute professor—what are you so arrogant about!
After turning on the device, Snape slowly walked to the side of the screen at the podium and posed his first question.
"Can anyone tell me the difference between a werewolf and a true wolf transformed through Animagus?"
Hermione immediately raised her hand high.
Just then, the students were amazed to discover that images of werewolves appeared on the screen.
Not the kind of moving portraits from the magical world, but static images that could switch from one to another continuously.
Pure-blood wizards didn't know what this meant and just found it quite novel.
But Muggle-born and half-blood wizards understood perfectly well.
Sherlock showed an obvious smile.
Clearly, Snape was the only person in all of Hogwarts who lectured in robes while using a projector.
"No one knows?"
On the other hand, Snape completely ignored Hermione's raised hand. His face showed a mocking expression as he commented mercilessly.
"It seems Professor Lupin never told you the fundamental difference between the two. Truly a lack of systematic teaching..."
Hearing Snape criticize Lupin again, the students couldn't help speaking up for him.
"Sir, we haven't studied werewolves yet!"
"It won't be until several more weeks when we reach nocturnal creatures!"
"We're currently learning..."
"Quiet!"
Snape said the word for the second time.
His gaze coldly observed the entire class as he spoke in a tone full of contempt.
"That's no excuse. I don't expect you to face a real werewolf, but I didn't expect to encounter a class of third-years who can't even identify a werewolf!
It seems I must speak with Professor Dumbledore about how the Defense Against the Dark Arts curriculum is far too behind schedule."
"Please, sir!"
Hermione's nails nearly dug into her palms.
She watched as Snape described Professor Lupin's adaptive teaching as lacking systematic approach, watched as he belittled the courses that had made her search the library for information at midnight.
When the word Animagus leapt to her tongue, she could no longer restrain herself. Maintaining her raised hand, she said.
"An Animagus is a wizard who can choose to transform into an animal like a wolf, while a werewolf has no choice. They—"
"This is the second time you've spoken without permission, Miss Granger."
Snape directly interrupted Hermione. His gaze was stern, staring at Hermione's flushed face, making no effort to hide his contempt.
"Do you lack self-control, or do you take pride in being an insufferable 'know-it-all'?"
Ron muttered quietly to Harry. "He does have a point."
Harry: ￣△￣
"For your presumption, Gryffindor loses another five points."
Hermione's face turned completely red as she slowly lowered her hand.
She looked at the floor with tears in her eyes, forcing herself not to think about it.
Almost everyone glared at Snape resentfully, which was enough to show how much they hated him.
Even Ron, who had just made a snide remark, couldn't help wanting to argue back, but Harry beside him was quick to cover his mouth.
He signaled his best friend with his eyes—a wise man knows better than to fight a losing battle, just bear with it.
The small incident ended there, but just when everyone thought the matter was over, Snape suddenly turned to Sherlock.
"So... Master Detective Holmes, you answer this question."
The entire class's anger turned to amazement at that moment.
'What was going on?'
It wasn't strange for Snape to ask questions in class.
It wasn't strange for him to ignore Hermione, who knew the answer, and use it as an excuse to deduct points.
It wasn't even strange for him to say "Master Detective Holmes" in a mocking tone.
But saying "Master Detective Holmes" while directly calling on Sherlock to answer the question—that was too bizarre.
You see, ever since the first lesson in first year when Sherlock had perfectly answered Snape's question, Snape had never asked Sherlock to answer a question again.
The reason was simple. Besides Hermione, who was called the know-it-all, there was only one person who could definitely answer the teacher's questions.
That was Sherlock Holmes, whom Snape called the "Master Detective."
The difference was that one would always volunteer to speak.
Sherlock hadn't expected Snape to proactively ask him to answer a question.
Of course, he thought more deeply than the other students.
Ever since before the start of second year, when he had Hermione write to Snape for help resolving the house-elf Dobby situation, this professor had been intentionally avoiding contact with him.
Sherlock naturally understood that this was because Snape didn't want him to see his secrets.
As Professor Flitwick had said, everyone at Hogwarts had their own secrets.
But Snape was the first person to be so concerned about his own secrets.
Yet this person who usually avoided him was now acting out of character, proactively making contact.
As the saying goes, when something abnormal happens, there must be a reason behind it.
Sherlock looked at Snape, his gray eyes flickering with curiosity.
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