The moment Elena and Bill slipped into the classroom through the back door, they realized something was wrong in the atmosphere.
The whole class held their breaths and looked in the direction of the blackboard. The classroom was filled with the smell of gunpowder before it was ignited. Professor Quirrell and Professor Umbridge were facing each other on both sides of the podium. The atmosphere was so tense that it seemed as if they were about to pull out their wands in the next second.
"Professor Umbridge, if I remember correctly, I don't think I invited you to come to the podium?"
Quirinus Quirrell said coldly, looking at the fat witch expressionlessly.
"Of course, you have the right to observe any class, but please abide by the basic class disciplines, be calm, sit quietly in the corner of the classroom and write and draw in a small notebook, instead of flying in front of the students like a flying insect
"Wandering around"
After a slight pause for half a second, the young professor grinned, without any apology in his voice.
"Oh, I'm sorry, maybe my metaphor is not very appropriate. After all, flying insects will not block my writing on the blackboard."
Perhaps most teachers in this school would be wary of Umbridge's identity, but Quirrell was definitely not among them.
The undercurrent surging in Hogwarts is even more terrifying than it was last year. If provoking the senior deputy minister of the Ministry of Magic can make him "reasonably" dismissed from Hogwarts, then he will definitely not let go of such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Opportunity.
On the other hand, if it is the "devils" who have the last laugh in the end, his current behavior can be considered a bonus.
"Cough, cough"
Professor Umbridge coughed, but this time it was different from the artificial cough she had before.
She looked like she had been slapped hard. The students could clearly see that her pale, fat face quickly turned from white to red and then from red to blue. Umbridge's chest was heaving violently.
, obviously very angry with Quirrell.
However, when she spoke again, there was no roar as people imagined.
"Professor Quirrell, I think you should have received my note, which contains some of my suggestions and requests for your course."
Professor Umbridge said with a smile, her voice still in that cooing tone. If they hadn't heard Professor Quirrell's sarcasm a second ago, the students would even think that Professor Umbridge had just arrived in the classroom now.
"Of course I received it, otherwise I would have politely asked you out instead of asking why here."
Professor Quirrell arranged the lesson plan, raised his head and glanced towards the back of the classroom intentionally or unintentionally.
Many students exchanged excited glances. Whether it was the deliberately emphasized "politeness" or the look in Professor Quirrell's eyes towards the classroom door, it was without exception a more obvious provocation, short of taking action directly.
.
"Cough, cough. Then I don't understand."
Professor Umbridge looked at Quirrell with an unchanged smile, as if she did not understand the meaning of the young professor's words.
"I should make it clear and unmistakable that according to last week's evaluation, there are huge problems with the content of your course. Whether it is teaching content or teaching format, it is obviously very far from the results that the Ministry of Magic hopes to see...
If you continue to take classes according to this pattern, then I may have to apply for some special rights to make corrections..."
"So...are you going to teach me how to teach me today?"
Professor Quirrell raised his eyebrows and whispered in a playful tone.
"For example, stand on the podium and teach me how to teach Muggle Studies?"
"Oh, it's not to teach, but to point out some of your previous misunderstandings."
Professor Umbridge said softly, still making that very uncomfortable slurping sound.
However, Umbridge's eyes were full of vigilance. She was very aware of the inexplicable hostility of that damn, arrogant, despicable young wizard. She must always be careful not to be aroused and make any mistakes.
sane behavior.
A normal wizard would never dare to speak so boldly and harshly. There must be someone behind Quirinus Quirrell.
The information and speculations fed back from the Ministry of Magic all pointed to one person: Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Only he could give Quirrell the confidence to speak so unscrupulously.
As for the reason...
Umbridge narrowed her eyes slightly, recalling Cornelius Fudge's instructions in the office.
"Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic are in an extremely delicate balance. During the cooperation process, any party that reveals a flaw first will be forced to give up its rights. Your task is to find the flaw, but you are also the other party's breakthrough.
"
Because of this, the more arrogant and rude Quirinus Quirrell becomes, the more vigilant Umbridge becomes.
It took Umbridge decades to climb to the position of Senior Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Magic. In the process, she experienced too many conspiracies and traps. In fact, she herself is extremely good at some methods. If she is really in
Quirrell was the first to pull out the wand under the cynicism. It would undoubtedly be a terrible scandal and her political career would be over.
And she also noticed an intriguing detail...
No matter how dissatisfied he was in his words, Quirrell never drew his wand, which was very unreasonable.
In the magical world, wizards often subconsciously take out their wands. According to Umbridge's many years of experience, there are only two explanations for this counterintuitive situation: the other party is a very bad wizard, or he is deliberately controlling himself.
Behavior.
As the only straight-A graduate of Hogwarts in the past century, Quirrell obviously would not be the former.
There is no doubt that this is an invisible war!
Umbridge was extremely vigilant, always reminding herself that she must hold back and never fall into the trap of the other party.
Of course, restraining her emotions doesn't mean she has to tolerate everything.
Just as Quirinus Quirrell refused to give in, as the spokesperson of the Ministry of Magic at Hogwarts, Umbridge also had to find a way to demonstrate the authority of the Ministry of Magic and use reasonable and regulated means to control the initiative.
right.
"Perhaps you didn't notice the additional instructions in the Ministry of Magic files, Professor Quirrell."
Umbridge's toad-like mouth smiled even wider, she picked up her bag and said coquettishly.
"If the 'investigator', that is, me, discovers obvious errors during the audit, he should promptly remind the professor of this course to prevent students from receiving wrong knowledge... For example, this is the situation now."
"Obvious...error? Do you think you know this course better than me?"
Quirinus Quirrell repeated softly, looking at the Ministry of Magic official with a playful expression.
Compared to a certain mysterious castle administrator, the resume of this Defense Against the Dark Arts professor assigned by the Ministry of Magic is no longer a secret. Umbridge has been emphasizing her experience in Slytherin since she entered the school.
Those past events, and to prove the closeness between himself and Hogwarts, the arrogance in his words can be said to be an extremely standard pure-blood bureaucrat.
As far as Quirrell knew, purebloods, Slytherins, and the Ministry of Magic were the furthest groups from the Muggle world.
"Compared to the knowledge in books, it is more accurate to say that I understand reality better"
Professor Umbridge said softly, glancing at the top line of Quirrell's lecture notes, her eyes shining with pride.
"During the two days over the weekend, I randomly checked the past examination papers of Hogwarts. I was surprised to find that the teaching content of Muggle Studies at Hogwarts was so naive, backward, and full of errors, especially Professor Quirrell.
Since you started teaching, you seem to have been obsessed with preaching that Muggles have magical powers comparable to wizards, and you have deviated from the essence of this course."
"The essence of this course? Isn't Muggle Studies just about studying the daily life of Muggles?"
Quirrell shrugged, frowned and looked at Umbridge, secretly guessing what the witch was going to say.
As one of the elective courses at Hogwarts, Muggle Studies mainly studies and understands the daily life of Muggles, including how Muggles use electricity and technology. It is mainly aimed at wizards who do not have much direct contact with Muggles.
Previously, if a wizard wanted to work in a job closely related to Muggles after graduation, he had to take this course.
However, with the reform of new curriculum standards and the promotion of professional titles, this course has gradually developed into a compulsory course.
"Of course not. The most important thing about this course is to observe Muggles from a wizard's perspective..."
Umbridge sneered and said softly, with a hint of disgust in her tone.
"Wizards don't need to understand Muggles in order to become Muggles. The reason why this course is established is to allow more wizards to understand the limitations of non-magic and how to hide the mysteries of magic from Muggles. You spend too much time.
Spend more time and energy on describing how Muggles imitate wizards, and there are many things wrong with it!"
"I'd better be more clear and straightforward, Professor Quirrell."
said Professor Umbridge, smiling at Quirrell in that particularly irritating way.
"You taught everyone to stay away from large Muggle electrical appliances, and asked students to be wary of cars plying the streets, and not to linger near Muggle airports... These are indeed the contents of the textbook, but your reason should be
Doing so would risk a serious breach of confidentiality rather than being dangerous. You simply don't understand the limitations of the non-magical world."
"Wrong? Non-magical limitations?"
Quirinus Quirrell grinned silently, perhaps he would have thought so a month ago.
But the longer he stayed in research outside Hogwarts, the more clearly he became aware of how stagnant the wizarding world was. Many of the common sense he was talking about now were those of ten-year-olds outside.
Something that every child knows.
"Muggles are not insignificant, and magic is not omnipotent, Professor Umbridge"
Quirrell said bluntly, his expression gradually became serious, and he waved the lesson plan in his hand impatiently.
"There are enough people in this world who believe that wizards are supreme and Muggles are not worth mentioning. The purpose of this class is to tell you how to live in the non-magical world and how to be wary of things that may harm them... If one day they
If they have to live in a world without magic, they must first learn to protect themselves and how to survive."
"Living in a world without magic?"
Umbridge raised her gaze and looked at Quirrell thoughtfully.
"This is Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the students will belong to the wizarding world after graduation." She said softly.
"But further outside, in more vast places, aren't there Muggles living everywhere?"
"The magical world and the non-magical world have existed for centuries without interfering with each other. A good wizard does not need to, nor should he allow himself to degenerate into imitating the life of Muggles. Mr. Quirrell, this is what you should tell your children.
of."
"Oh, really? How long can this form exist, ten years, twenty years, fifty years?"
Professor Quirrell snorted. He waved his hands a little irritably. This problem also troubled him.
"Wait, I'm sorry, I may have a problem understanding..."
Professor Umbridge sneered and said in a terrifyingly intimate voice.
"It sounds like you think the magical world should merge with the non-magical world?"
"I never thought the world was separate. It is knowledge, not magic, that determines a wizard."
Quirinus Quirrell said in a stiff tone, tapping the lesson plan in his hand heavily on the podium.
"If you think that I have the intention to violate the "Confidentiality Law" or have questions about the content of my teaching, you can report it to the ministry, but until the school removes me from my position, I will still be the professor of this course.
Ms. Dolores Umbridge, you have seriously affected the normal conduct of this course, please get out now."
As he spoke, he took out his wand and quickly moved away from Umbridge towards the back door of the classroom.
As Professor Quirrell drew out his wand, the whole class held their breath at the same time.
They looked nervously at Umbridge, who was standing by the podium, as if they were expecting something to happen. In the last row of seats in the classroom, Bill Weasley also smiled bitterly and pulled out his wand, preparing to execute someone.
Lady's order.
[If a fight breaks out, disarm Umbridge in advance]
However, Professor Umbridge did not draw out her wand in response.
"Oh, okay, okay"
Her eyes stayed on the black shadow around Quirrell's waist, her pupils shrank slightly, and then quickly returned to normal.
"As you wish, Professor Quirrell, I will truthfully report the information I know to the Ministry of Magic."
Umbridge put away her handbag and hurriedly walked out the door. Her vicious and satisfied expression looked like she was the winner of this confrontation. She finally thought of the secret hidden in Hogwarts.
.
Hogwarts, or Albus Dumbledore, is most likely planning something terrible.
Of course, maybe this is not the real plan of the old wizard, but from Quirinas Quirrell and the new professors who have just joined Hogwarts, something can definitely be found that accuses them of posing a threat.
.
For example...
Umbridge's eyes flickered.
As a mixed-blood wizard, she naturally knew what was on Professor Quirrell's waist.
Pistols are murder weapons produced by Muggles.
And this is what the Ministry of Magic is looking for, a reasonable excuse to further interfere with Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
In less than half a minute, her footsteps disappeared outside the door.
at the same time.
"I'm lost"
Elena snapped her fingers expressionlessly and said softly.
"Burley, from now on, seal Hogwarts and seize all owls that fly out. At the same time, tell Professor Apokalis that the guests from the Ministry of Magic may have seen something dirty and prepare to evaluate the treatment plan."