Chapter 235: Like a True Army…
Despite Wade still having some doubts about Professor Abigail, Dumbledore's assurance put his mind at ease.
His age, combining his past and current lives, still didn't amount to half of Dumbledore's. Wade didn't believe his judgment of character could surpass that of the old man.
However, Wade was also certain that Dumbledore was holding back much of what he knew.
Of course, considering their age difference, Wade wasn't particularly bothered by this.
Or rather, whenever he felt annoyed, he'd put himself in Dumbledore's shoes—would he tell a twelve-year-old child classified information?
Certainly not.
After thinking this, he calmed down and even felt that Dumbledore was being overly lenient with him.
...
By late March, the weather had gradually warmed up. Even though it rained almost incessantly for more than half the month, neither the gloom nor the muddy ground could deter the students' enthusiasm for outdoor games.
The Maze Challenge once again became Hogwarts' most popular game.
After a whole winter, the students' excitement for the game reached an alarming level. The maze was almost always packed during all hours outside of curfew.
Professor Abigail instantly fell in love with this activity. She also discovered that as long as she was playing the game, she could freely knock down opponents without fear of being reprimanded by Madam Pomfrey.
Of course, the professor finally understood that children were far more fragile than adults, and getting injured would lead to trouble from their "protectors." As a result, her attacks became much more measured.
The students were rarely injured, but they were consistently knocked out before they could even glimpse their opponent, then sent out of the maze, resulting in an extremely poor gaming experience.
They protested to the "referees" several times, but the professors merely offered a few comforting words and did nothing to stop Abigail.
The resentful students simply formed various alliances, with clear divisions of labor for luring, scouting, attacking, and defending. They tried to use their numerical advantage to defeat the unsporting Professor Abigail.
To the Young Wizards, this was just a game. But the adult Wizards, observing the children's transformation, felt a subtle sense of alarm.
"This is practically... like a true army..."
Snape stood by the window, watching the students in the distant Game Arena attempting to surround Abigail from all directions, cautiously hiding behind cover as they ran and jumped.
He whispered, "Dumbledore, is this your intention?"
"Believe me, not everything goes according to my predictions," Dumbledore replied, also with a surprised tone. "Initially, I just wanted the children to become more familiar with using Spells."
Snape looked at him suspiciously, but he couldn't discern from Dumbledore's face whether he was telling the truth.
"Alright," Snape said. "Whatever you do, don't let Fudge see this... he might be scared right off his feet."
"You underestimate our Minister for Magic," Dumbledore said. "He should have a bit more courage than that."
Snape scoffed, a sarcastic smile on his face, but said nothing.
Watching the bustling scene outside the window, his expression gradually turned somber.
He couldn't help but wonder—if they had undergone the same training at school back then, would Lily have...
Then Snape remembered that training would undoubtedly have been conducted by both sides, and he had been a Death Eater at the time.
They were enemies.
The stronger their respective abilities became, the more brutal the war would be.
But regardless, seeing these children grow more capable day by day, the professors, while finding management more challenging, were also genuinely happy for them.
Perhaps Abigail's desire for combat had been sufficiently satisfied in the maze, or perhaps Madam Pomfrey's wrath had finally made her apprehensive. In any case, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes finally became a bit more normal afterward.
Abigail began to teach from the textbook about how to deal with common Dark creatures, but more often, she focused on how to prevent sneak attacks from Dark Wizards and discussed various Dark Wizard tactics.
When she was in the mood, she would, like the previous professor, have students demonstrate the process of subduing and counter-attacking.
However, in Lockhart's class, students merely roared and flailed before being defeated by the "heroic Warrior Lockhart."
In Abigail's class, however, she would truly demonstrate counter-attacking methods, and the performing students often ended up bruised and battered.
"Honestly, Professor Abigail is better than I initially expected. Everything she teaches is useful—it would be perfect if she just went a little easier when hitting people."
Anthony said, wincing, as Michael helped him apply ointment to the bruises on his back.
Many students echoed his sentiments.
Nowadays, after Defense Against the Dark Arts class, most people had adopted a new habit—going to the empty classroom nearby to apply ointment to each other.
The girls went to a classroom on the other side.
A few bruises and scrapes weren't worth bothering Madam Pomfrey for; going to her might even result in a scolding, or at least a lengthy lecture. If they applied the ointment themselves, ordinary bruises would disappear in fifteen minutes at most.
Most of the Ravenclaw and Slytherin students had good grades in Potions. Even Goyle and Crabbe could occasionally brew a passable potion.
Of course, for the most effective Potions, Wade was Ravenclaw's top choice, and Malfoy was Slytherin's.
They were always surrounded as a result.
The relationship between the two houses had been at an all-time low last term, but as Wade demonstrated increasingly powerful abilities, those grievances seemed to fade.
They were all teenagers, seeing each other constantly. They practiced Spells together in class, sat at adjacent tables during meals, and even got beaten by a certain professor together during the Maze Challenge...
Most people had long forgotten the reasons for their initial arguments, and gradually, they returned to a state of laughter and conversation. Some Slytherins once again walked with Malfoy, though Malfoy was much colder towards them now.
After Charms Class on Friday, Professor Flitwick asked the Ravenclaw students to stay behind and informed them of an important matter.
"Next week marks the start of the Easter Holiday," Professor Flitwick said solemnly to his students from atop a tall stack of books. "During this holiday, you'll need to decide which courses you want to take in your third year."
"This concerns your future, so you absolutely must not choose haphazardly! Before making your decision, I advise you to discuss it with your parents, and if there's anything you need to know, don't hesitate to ask me."
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