A magical journey that begins at Hogwarts

Sirin isn't very skilled with a few spells, so as her prefect, it's only right that I help her out.

Upon hearing this, Professor Snape turned his gaze to Sirin below.

He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Aaron suspiciously, "Miss Mackenzie is dressed much more carefully than usual today!"

"Any questions?"

"No, no, there's no problem at all." Snape's lips curled into a slight smile. "I'll issue you the approval slip right away."

“Wait a moment, Professor Snape,” a sweet voice came from the side. Umbridge said with a smile, “I think I just heard Mr. Gaius teaching a little witch some spells.”

"Yes."

Umbridge pursed her lips. "Mr. Gaius, to prevent students from falling in love too early, I have clearly stipulated in the regulations that male and female wizards cannot be alone in the same room."

"Puppy love?" Aaron sneered. "Are you doubting me?"

“That’s not what I meant,” Umbridge said. “I meant that Mr. Gaius, your actions might cause misunderstandings, if possible…”

“Professor Umbridge,” Aaron interrupted, “I hope you understand one thing: I am a Slytherin prefect, and it is my duty to help Slytherin students with their questions.”

Furthermore, I must say your imagination is truly remarkable. I asked Professor Snape to approve the note purely out of respect for you as the investigator, and to avoid causing trouble.

If it's about puppy love... according to school rules, girls can enter the boys' dormitory, and my dormitory is a single room, I'm sure you know what that means.

Upon hearing this, Umbridge's expression became quite interesting, and he was even more furious.

These days she could clearly feel the students' growing awe of her. Even Harry Potter, after being confined for two weeks, would avoid her. Even Dumbledore couldn't do anything to her. Yet Aaron dared to speak to her so confidently, as if he didn't take her seriously at all.

"Mr. Gaius, are you going to teach Miss Macon a spell?"

Can I take this to mean you weren't very satisfied with Professor Flitwick's Charms class?

“No, I still have great respect for Professor Flitwick,” Aaron said seriously, giving Professor Flitwick a reassuring look.

"If it's not a problem with Charms class, then it must be Transfiguration class?"

"Not at all."

“That can’t be my Defense Against the Dark Arts class, can it?” Umbridge asked meaningfully.

“I didn’t say that, you said it yourself.”

“You…” Umbridge forced a smile. “Mr. Gaius, I hope you will support Minister Fudge’s work. I am doing this for the educational cause of Hogwarts.”

The implication is that students only need to learn the theory and do not need additional tutoring.

If you insist on doing this, you are disrespecting the Minister of Magic.

“I’ve been very supportive. I haven’t bothered you at all these past few weeks, have I?” Aaron said calmly. “Teaching a fourth-year witch won’t affect the Minister of Magic’s decision. If you’re worried, you can come and supervise in person.”

"Since Mr. Gaius has put it that way, then I..."

"But I might write a letter to Fudge to explain the Deputy Minister of Magic's attitude toward me."

I always thought Cornelius Fudge was Gaius's friend, but his men... seem to have some issues with me.

"It's a misunderstanding, this is a huge misunderstanding," Umbridge said hastily. Her power came from Fudge, and she dared not displease him.

"It's good that you know it's a misunderstanding." Aaron glanced at her dismissively, then turned and left.

Umbridge watched Aaron and Sirin walk out of the hall, gritting her teeth in anger, her hands clenching involuntarily.

She couldn't do anything to Aaron for the time being, and she didn't dare use the same methods she used to deal with other students on him.

But as long as she remains a senior investigator, she will eventually find something on him, and then we'll see if he still dares to be so arrogant.

"Professor Umbridge, you don't look too well!" Professor Snape said with a smug look.

"None of your business, Professor Snape."

Snape shrugged. "Aaron is one of my prized students. I just felt it necessary to remind you that he has always remained neutral."

“Neutralization is only temporary, his relationship with Harry Potter is…” Umbridge stopped mid-sentence, instinctively covering her mouth. Some things are better left unsaid; it’s better to keep them to yourself.

"Professor Umbridge, what did you say?"

"Nothing, you heard wrong."

......

Potions classroom.

Aaron sat in the professor's seat and told Celine to find a seat wherever she wanted.

However, Xilin's expression was not very good. In her opinion, this class should be a private space for her and her senior, but she never expected that there would be an extra third wheel.

“McEn, can you please stop looking at me like that?” Draco frowned slightly. “It makes me very uncomfortable.”

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

"Can't you come?" Draco asked with amusement. "Gaius is a good friend of mine, and our relationship is definitely not as good as yours."

Xilin's expression darkened for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

"You're here to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts too?"

"Uh..."

“Alright! Your hesitation has already told me the answer.” Sirin said speechlessly, then looked up at Aaron, “Senior, I personally think that unimportant people are not suitable to stay here.”

"Who told you I'm an insignificant person?" Draco said irritably. "As a good friend, it's not unreasonable for me to eavesdrop!"

"Listen in?" Aaron chuckled dismissively. "Sorry, you're not qualified to listen in at the moment."

Since you're here, you should just follow along and learn properly. One more person won't make a difference.

"I want to learn too?" Draco pointed to himself in astonishment. "But I'm already in fifth grade."

"Is fifth grade something to be proud of?"

You have a good background, and at a young age, your magical energy has already reached the threshold for becoming a mage.

Draco proudly straightened his back. That's how talented pure-blood wizards are. Although he was only a fifth-year student, most graduates couldn't compare to him.

"Those without talent are pitiful, but those with great talent who waste it are pathetic," Aaron said casually. "You clearly have the magical power of a mage, but your combat strength is only at the level of a high-level mage."

Upon hearing this, Draco's eyes twitched slightly, as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

I wanted to refute it, but found myself speechless.

"Pfft... Hahaha..." Xilin tried to hold back her laughter, but she just couldn't help it.

"Try smiling again!" Draco glared at her, then looked at Aaron awkwardly and said, "I don't think I'd go that far..."

No, it's quite serious.

You'd be second in Slytherin in fifth grade, only after me.

"But in terms of actual combat ability, you're at best only slightly better than Crabbe and Goyle." Aaron pinched his index finger and thumb together, leaving a small gap. "To put it bluntly, if you were to compete against Harry Potter, you probably couldn't even beat him right now."

Draco's face darkened. As Harry Potter's archenemy, he could not accept this at all. "Harry Potter is really nothing special."

"How long can you last in the maze of the Triwizard Tournament?"

"I..."

"Looks like I've run out of things to say," Sirin teased.

"shut up."

Aaron shrugged and said, "So you're not qualified to audit the class. If you want to get stronger, you'd better listen to my lectures properly. After all, our Defense Against the Dark Arts professor is really... exceptionally bad."

Draco was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Can I call Crabbe and Goyle too?"

“No.” Aaron refused decisively. “My time and energy are limited, and I can’t teach too many people.”

Umbridge wouldn't allow me to teach too many people either. She's petty and narrow-minded. It's only because Malfoy and Fudge are on good terms that she's already trying to pick a fight with me right now.

"What did you say?" Draco asked doubtfully. "Does she have the guts?"

"The Gaius family isn't very famous, is it?"

Perhaps in her eyes I was just a wizard from a good family background, someone who didn't need to be offended, but wasn't someone she couldn't afford to offend.

Moreover, my family didn't care about me while I was in school. Two years ago, Buckbeak cut your arm, and Uncle Lucius took Hagrid to court and even had Fudge send an executioner to execute Buckbeak.

But as far as the Gaius family is concerned, they won't care as long as I'm alive, because setbacks make people progress.

If I caused this trouble myself, then I deserve to die. They're only responsible for collecting my body, not for seeking revenge, because I chose this path, and I have to finish it, even if I have to crawl on my knees.

"This is insane," Draco said, speechless.

"Aren't your family's rules a bit... inhumane?" Sirin frowned.

“You can’t say that,” Aaron waved his hand and said, “If it weren’t for these rules, I’d probably be no different from Draco, constantly mentioning ‘my dad’.”

Draco: ......

"Um...can we start class now?" Sirin asked, raising her hand.

Aaron shrugged, then took a stack of parchment from Abe's pocket and handed it to the two of them.

"Before the formal lessons begin, I need to understand your level of Defense Against the Dark Arts, so write down the evil curses and creatures you are familiar with."

"Do I have to write it too?" Draco asked. He and Aaron were in the same year and took Defense Against the Dark Arts together.

"What do you think?" Aaron rolled his eyes at him. "A wizard who can't even unleash his true power has the nerve to ask such a question."

Draco gave an awkward laugh and said nothing more.

Ten minutes later, Aaron collected the parchments from both of them and made a simple comparison.

"Tsk tsk tsk! This is really interesting!"

The fifth-year wizards knew only slightly more than the fourth-year students.

“That’s normal,” Sirin said, somewhat annoyed. “After all, not many of our Defense Against the Dark Arts professors have been reliable these past few years. Professor Lockhart is one thing, but Professor Lupin has taught us quite a bit. Compared to fifth-year wizards, we’ve only missed out on learning about one or two evil creatures.”

The imposter Professor Moody taught us the three Unforgivable Curses, but that's very difficult for third-year wizards; many can't even control insects with their Imperius Curse.

Aaron nodded, then picked up the chalk and wrote some spells on the blackboard: Disarming Spell, Barrier Spell, Petrifying Spell, Binding Spell, Sleeping Spell, Revealing Spell...

"That's all for now. If you can master these dozen or so spells, you can easily get an E (exceeding expectations, second only to O) grade in the OWLs exam."

Looking at the spells on the blackboard, Sirin raised her hand in confusion and said, "Senior, I don't think I saw the Patronus Charm, the spell specifically for dealing with Dementors."

"You want to run before you can walk!" Aaron teased. "The Guardian Charm is extremely difficult; even adult wizards may not be able to do it."