The Return to Hogwarts

“Interesting, that’s not necessarily true—” Ron muttered under his breath.

"That's also why I chose to join—"

Percy said in a very serious tone,

"You probably have no idea how much I have going on right now. I have to attend classes, prepare for the NEWTS exam, maintain order, and plan for my future—"

Percy's plan was to work for the Ministry of Magic, and he made no secret of it.

I thought it was for your girlfriend!

Ginny said with a grin,

"I overheard her chatting with a friend in the foyer. She was very interested in Professor Blaine's course and planned to get Professor Flitwick to sign her application!"

Percy's face visibly flushed red, which made everyone realize that this was probably why Percy was willing to spend time on what seemed to be a worthless physical education class.

“If you want to get into the Ministry of Magic, Percy, I think you could talk to Professor Blaine—”

As the saying goes, academic elites cherish academic elites. Hermione and Percy have always had a very good relationship. She is probably the best-liked Weasley sibling besides Ron. She has asked Percy questions many times, and during their conversations, Percy has also confided his plans to join the Ministry of Magic to her on many occasions.

Although Mr. Weasley also worked for the Ministry of Magic, he was clearly no match for Professor Blaine in terms of connections at the higher levels. Hermione was absolutely certain of this, because Mr. Weasley certainly wouldn't be able to solve the Time-Turner problem for her so easily.

"Oh, you're right, Hermione!"

Percy immediately realized what was happening.

“Dad mentioned in his letter that Professor Blaine has a very good relationship with the Minister and Ms. Amelia Burns of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Maybe he can write me a letter of recommendation so I can work in this department. Oh, that's the most powerful department in the Ministry of Magic—thank you, Hermione. I'll go back and think about how to persuade Professor Blaine!”

After saying that, Percy hurriedly left, taking a few steps up the spiral staircase and disappearing from sight.

"Tsk tsk, a powerless creature devoid of emotion."

Fred shook his head and sighed, and his comment made everyone laugh heartily.

"Speaking of which, what were you talking about just now?" Ginny asked.

“Harry and Seamus were telling me what physical education is like in Muggle schools—” Neville said worriedly. “I don’t think I’m very good at it.”

“Don’t worry, Neville,” Dean comforted him considerately. “You have other subjects you’re not good at as well as this one.”

"But undeniably, it sounds ridiculous—"

Ron frowned, looking puzzled.

“Harry just told us about some of the sports he played in this class when he was in Muggle school. No flying brooms or baseball bats, just a group of people chasing a ball that doesn’t fly around, or lifting an iron ball and seeing who can throw it the farthest. I don’t understand why Muggles would love these sports, and is Professor Blaine going to teach us to play them in PE class?”

"Sir, while football may not be as fun as Quidditch, it's still quite entertaining—"

Harry said, “Many Muggles around the world enjoy this sport—that’s not necessarily true, Ron. We all know Professor Blaine likes to do unexpected things.”

"But no matter what, the name of this course comes from Muggles, right? But Hogwarts is a magic school."

Ron crossed his arms and frowned as he spoke.

"Maybe--"

Hermione gave the most likely answer so far.

"Professor Blaine hopes that we can learn more about the Muggle movement and understand that Mr. Weasley is an exception. Many wizards don't care about the changes in the Muggle world at all, but the Muggles are actually very remarkable. They have overcome many difficulties with technology. Professor Dumbledore also often tells everyone in public that we need to face the progress of the Muggles, but with little effect. Perhaps Professor Blaine is trying to use this method to bridge the gap between the two worlds."

Hermione's point is valid, but Hogwarts already has a Muggle Studies class, so Professor Blaine has no reason to take away Professor Kerridy Bubbage's job.

Professors Black and Snape reappeared at the faculty and staff dining table. They appeared to be unharmed and, as before, ignored each other, much to the disappointment of the few young wizards who wanted to continue watching the spectacle.

The topic of Professor Blaine's upcoming physical education class has been generating considerable buzz for the next few days.

Although the announcement stated that only third and fourth-year wizards were required to participate, in reality, only a small number of older wizards from the four schools applied to participate.

The academy deans are very accommodating to the applications of young wizards. Except in very rare cases, they will approve most applications, but will remind them that the course may be quite demanding and that they should be mentally prepared.

After an anxious Saturday and Sunday, Professor Blaine's 'physical education class' finally began on Monday morning amidst much anticipation.

Chapter 373 Run, Ladies and Gentlemen

2023-07-09

In the early morning, before dawn, only a faint, pale green halo illuminated the distant horizon where the earth met the sky. Wandering on the Black Lake and the rolling grass, the breeze wasn't fierce, but even this gentle wind brushing against Harry's neck sent a shiver through him, raising goosebumps all over his arms.

Harry stomped his slightly numb feet, turned around and saw that Hermione's eyelashes were covered with glistening dewdrops. He subconsciously touched the top of his head, and sure enough, his hair was also wet with dew.

Beneath the towering Quidditch clubs, high in the darkness, about a hundred young wizards shivered in the cold wind. This included all the third and fourth-year students from the four houses, as well as twenty or thirty upperclassmen (fifth year and above) and a very small number of second-year students.

Harry looked at his classmates, each one looking timid and dressed in different ways, and suddenly felt an urge to laugh.

After several days, once the list of all students who had chosen the course was finalized, Professor Blaine had a second-year Ravenclaw witch post a new notice yesterday—requiring all young wizards to be on the playground by 6:00 a.m. on Monday morning and to wear clothing that would allow for movement.

Generally speaking, except for Saturdays and Sundays, young wizards are required to wear wizard robes during regular school hours. It is quite rare to see more than a hundred young wizards dressed in casual everyday clothes like this at Hogwarts.

The faint light from the horizon offered little warmth, and the young wizards shivered in the cold wind. Few had the desire to chat, including Harry.

Percy's girlfriend was asleep in his arms, Ginny was yawning on Hermione's shoulder, and Ron was simply sitting cross-legged on the grass snoring.

The young wizards around him were mostly in the same state. Harry believed that if Professor Blaine's 'physical education class' continued to require them to get up this early, then the pranks Fred and George were developing for skipping class would probably come in very handy.

Ten minutes later, about 70-80 percent of the young wizards were sprawled on the ground, and most of the rest were also staggering. Only the Ravenclaw wizard who had helped Professor Blaine post the notice yesterday was still staring blankly at the misty Black Lake.

Harry noticed that the little witch seemed to be wearing something around her neck, like a metal necklace, because it was gleaming with a metallic sheen in the faint morning light. With nothing else to do, Harry stared blankly at the little witch's neck, trying to figure out what the reflective thing was.

But then the little Ravenclaw girl suddenly turned around, her silver eyes the brightest thing under the dim sky.

"Oh, sorry--"

Harry immediately realized his rudeness and quickly apologized to her, but then the voice behind him made Harry realize that he had made a mistake and that the little witch was not looking at him.

"I warned you all—"

A familiar, teasing voice was carried by the breeze, causing the drowsy little wizards to jump up from the ground one after another.

"You should get some rest early; there's no time for you to doze off in my class—"

It was Professor Blaine. Like the young wizards, he had shed his wizarding attire and donned a smart Muggle-style tracksuit. Moreover, he was as energetic as ever, as if going to bed early had had no effect on him at all.

None of the young wizards responded to Professor Blaine's joke; they hung their heads listlessly. Perhaps the only ones who were somewhat better were Fred and George, who were good at spending most of the night on night excursions before getting up early for class.

"What do we need to do, Professor?"

Fred stared intently at Professor Blaine, who stood ramrod straight.

"Like Muggles, throwing metal balls into Quidditch baskets? Do we need to use flying brooms?"

“Muggles don’t have this sport, Fred.”

Amostah chuckled, then clapped his hands forcefully, raised his voice, and shouted with great vigor,

"Now, the first thing I need you to do is to perk up and gather around me!"

When Professor Blaine was teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, no young wizard dared to disobey his instructions so rudely. But now, after a long while of dawdling and crawling, the young wizards finally slowly gathered around.

Looking at those listless, childlike faces, Amosta smiled to himself, but didn't frown. These little guys still needed some time to adapt.

When Professor Blaine began to speak, Hermione immediately perked up; she was the only student among all the young wizards who had brought her notebook with her. However, Amosta stopped her this time.

“There’s no need to write down what I say, just listen, Miss Granger.”

Glancing at the dawn that had already risen above the horizon, casting a cross-shaped glow, Amosta raised his voice and said...

"Perhaps you're all wondering why I'm introducing a physical education class at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry that's usually only found in Muggle schools, and what exactly I'll be teaching you in this class—"

This was indeed the most interesting thing for everyone since Professor Blaine had spread the word. Gradually regaining their senses, the young wizards tried to focus their attention and listened attentively to Professor Blaine's words.

"But please allow me to apologize, I will not be answering these two questions for you today."

Amosta's words immediately drew a chorus of disappointed sighs from the chilly Quidditch pitch. Hermione raised her hand, and with Professor Blaine's permission, she frowned and asked, puzzled.

"But we at least need to know what we're supposed to learn—I mean, otherwise how are we supposed to finish our homework?"

"There will be no homework for now, Miss Granger."

Amosta said with a smile.

Aside from Quidditch, every professor at Hogwarts assigns homework. Professor Blaine's statement, instead of making the young wizards happy, only confused them more.

"First of all, you need to know this,"

After the murmurs subsided, Amosta continued,

"This suddenly appearing 'physical education class' will not take up regular class time for the time being. In fact, in the first phase, it only requires you to be here before six o'clock every morning."

“Every day?!” Ron cried out in despair, “Including Saturdays and Sundays?!”

"Six o'clock?" Ron had barely finished speaking when Hermione's roommate, Lavender from Gryffindor, cried out in despair, "But only sufficient sleep can guarantee radiant skin!"

“If you value skin radiance more than your desire for self-improvement, Miss Lavender Brown,”

Professor Blaine's smile faded, and an indescribable air of authority emanated from his calm expression, pressing heavily on the hearts of the young wizards.

"You can go back to your warm four-poster bed now and continue your sweet dreams."

Looking at the group of trembling young wizards, Amostella sighed, her tone softening.

“What I just said wasn’t meant to scare you. In fact, you are allowed to drop out of this physical education class, but only for one month. Within that month, if anyone feels that the class is meaningless, they can drop out at any time without telling me. However, after one month, you must persevere until the end of this phase of the course.”

Hermione frowned, wondering what Professor Blaine was up to. Harry glanced at Malfoy on the other side and saw that Malfoy looked resolute, without the wavering that many young wizards had. So, he put aside his anxiety and waited quietly for Professor Blaine's instructions.

Ron opened his mouth, as if to say something, but then he saw that neither Harry nor Hermione had expressed any opinion, and even his little sister Ginny was clenching her fists, looking ready to fight. So, he wisely shut his mouth.