Hogwarts: Dumbledore reigned over the wizarding world.

Chapter 259 The Rumors Are Escalating

The struggle at today's board meeting is the most complex political experience Professor McGonagall has ever encountered.

Looking back now, she still feels somewhat lost.

The exhaustion stemmed from this; she realized she couldn't help Vaughn at all. At the same time, she gradually noticed Vaughn's push for curriculum reform, Dumbledore's indulgence, the Board of Governors' opposition, and even the Ministry of Magic's ambivalent attitude today.

All of this suggests that what they are dealing with may not be a simple "werewolf problem" at all.

Professor McGonagall shook her head, deciding not to dwell on it, and asked, "When do you plan to schedule the dueling club?"

The Duel Club is part of the practical course reform, a plan that was established when Isabella Rosier presented the reform plan to Hogwarts early in her tenure.

It's just that the board of directors didn't approve it at the time.

Its function is to summarize and collect relevant practical skills that students must use during the practical course, based on the progress of the practical course, and to provide in-depth guidance and training.

The reason for borrowing the name of the Duel Club is, of course, related to Professor Flitwick.

Sure enough, Professor Flitwick arrived, drawn by the scent. Before Vaughn could answer, a shrill voice rang out beside him: "The Board of Trustees has approved the Duel Club?"

The two turned their heads, and there stood the short Professor Flitwick, perched on a chair, looking at them expectantly.

Professor McGonagall briefly summarized the results of today's Board of Governors meeting, but omitted mentioning that Vaughn had used being bitten by a giant wolf to prove himself. She had heard the results would take another two days, which disappointed Professor Flitwick, but he quickly composed himself and enthusiastically suggested, "Hogwarts hasn't held any dueling-related events in a long time. The last time was a long time ago—so long ago that I was still in school—I think we could turn club teaching into large-scale open classes with school-wide participation, with all professors and all students, yes, from first to seventh year!"

Professor McGonagall instinctively wanted to refuse, because doing so would disrupt the teaching schedule, especially for the fifth and seventh graders who were preparing for exams this year, and they couldn't afford to be distracted by other things.

But since Flitwick brought it up, it means he had thought about it. Just like before the start of the semester, when Vaughn and Isabella approached him hoping he would support the Duel Club, he had his own ideas: "Minerva, after a round of practical lessons, I think you've noticed its positive impact on other subjects. Like your Transfiguration class, the appearance of the cloaked creatures allowed the young wizards to understand for the first time that masterful Transfiguration isn't just about turning mantises into quills or mice into snuff bottles; it can also be vicious, violent, bizarre, and even terrifying. It's not an appendage of any spell."

"My Charms class is the same. Charms isn't just about reciting spells in a formula and waving your wand foolishly. It's also a precise discipline that emphasizes analysis, adapting to circumstances, and flexibility."

"The same applies to astronomy, herbalism, and magical creature protection classes. Many subjects are valued by young wizards because of their practical nature. It has to be said that this is something we have neglected in the past. After all, we are adults and we have enough social experience to know that everything we learn now will be useful in the future. But young wizards do not have this understanding. For them, learning is a tough job that requires a strong will and guidance from a mentor."

"I'll continue with the example of the Hidden Monster, Minerva. Last week, the appearance of the Hidden Monster made the students very focused on Transfiguration, but please tell me, besides its formal significance, does this focus have any practical meaning?"

How could it have no practical significance?

Professor McGonagall immediately replied, "Of course, because the students are very interested, I even gave a few extra classes to explain in detail the transformation characteristics and features of the Hidden Monster."

Flitwick scoffed: "Minerva, what if—and I mean what if—the professor for Transfiguration wasn't you, but some other, less enthusiastic professor?"

Before Professor McGonagall could even think, he continued his deduction: "He will continue with his existing teaching plan and won't offer any additional classes. He might only briefly explain something when students ask him questions. This kind of private instruction is unsystematic, lacks detail, and most importantly, it's passive—passively waiting for students to ask, rather than actively promoting the transmission of knowledge. This will result in only a minority of students ultimately learning the characteristics and features of the Hidden Monster's transformations!"

"Just like what Vaughn and Rozier said when they came to me before the start of the semester to explain the whole concept of the plan, the significance of practice is not to cram, but to use near-realistic hardships and pressures to force them to adapt to reality, and in the process observe what they lack, what they need to master, and which development directions they are more talented in, and then carry out targeted training."

"This is also why I support the Duel Club. In my view, practical classes are responsible for identifying problems, while the Duel Club is responsible for solving them —"

Professor Flitwick's words left Professor McGonagall speechless.

After a long while, she pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Thank you for your analysis, Felius. I'm sorry I previously thought you supported the Duel Club to continue the dream of the Duel Champion from decades ago."

"Ha, I admit, when Vaughn and Rozier first approached me, I was indeed willing to help because of the word 'duel,' but as I said before, the more I learned about their plans, the more I realized my oversight, and their profound thinking about curriculum reform—since the kids have already laid the groundwork, why can't we old guys be a little bolder?"

But a large-scale open class involving the entire school—that's just too audacious!

Doing so would not only disrupt the existing course schedule—which was decided at the beginning of the semester and cannot be changed arbitrarily—but also because Professor McGonagall had another concern—

The practical lessons identify and summarize problems, and the Duel Club conducts in-depth training based on these problems.

This process seems good and targeted at first glance, but—if it becomes the norm, won't other professors' courses be diluted as a result?

The results of the practical classes so far show that the young wizards face challenges in all aspects of reality. If Vaughn and Rozier want to, there is no course that can escape this framework.

Professor McGonagall had to consider whether, over time, other courses would become mere formalities, while practical courses and the dueling club would "absorb" them, transforming into a massive and bloated interdisciplinary subject.

Never before in the history of Hogwarts has a course with such a broad scope of concepts.

"—I need to think about this carefully."

Professor McGonagall concluded by saying that she looked like she had a headache.

"Minerva will understand."

Watching Professor McGonagall leave, rubbing her forehead and looking troubled, Professor Flitwick cheerfully comforted Vaughn: "She's the vice-principal; she has to consider many things because of her responsibilities."

Vaughn smiled, picked up the juice on the table, and clinked glasses with him: "Thank you, Professor."

He was grateful to Flitwick for helping him set a high standard for the Duel Club from a faculty perspective, through Professor McGonagall.

Otherwise, if Professor McGonagall's plan is followed, the so-called "Duel Club" could very well become a niche learning organization for top students, like the "Transformation Club" or the "Spell Club".

That contradicts Vaughn's original intention to expand his influence.

To be honest, Vaughn was planning to wait for the Board of Trustees' approval before discussing the Duel Club's positioning with Professor McGonagall, and he wasn't entirely confident about it. After all, while the Vice Principal supported his curriculum reform, it didn't mean she would support it without limits.

Professor Flitwick saved him a lot of trouble today.

Flitwick took a sip of his drink with amusement. "No need to thank me, Vaughn. If I hadn't seen the progress you and Rozier have made, and the impact your reforms have had on Hogwarts, I wouldn't have said those things—in fact, Minerva certainly considered those points I made. Her hesitation was simply because she and we were on different sides, just like the Board of Governors—is your left hand alright?"

He stared intently at Vaughn's left hand, which was hanging under the table.

Vaughn paused, then realized what was happening and smiled, asking, "Did you overhear my conversation with Professor McGonagall? Or—"

Professor Flitwick shrugged. "Both. Even the Death Eaters, who were loyal to Mystic back then, were riddled with holes. What about the loose Board of Trustees? It's practically leaky. Not long after your meeting ended, what happened there was already leaked out. I have to say, even if I understand they were guarding against the werewolf class, forcing you to resort to self-harm as proof was really going too far!"

"It's nothing, I understand how they feel."

Vaughn didn't seem to care.

In fact, there's really no need to care. The more the Board of Governors opposes it and the more excessive their attitude, the more the werewolves outside the castle, the giant wolves in the Forbidden Forest, and all those magical creatures beyond humans will understand the preciousness of the name "Vaughn Weasley".

After all, without evil, kindness would be meaningless!

The two chatted for a while longer. Professor Flitwick, who had drunk a glass of wine, seemed to be feeling the effects of the alcohol. He waved his wand, causing the chair beneath his feet to fly up and carry him to chat with other professors.

The matter of the dueling club was not mentioned again during this period.

It seems that the conversation with the vice principal a few moments earlier had no additional purpose.

Gazing at the back of this professor, whose background was the most mysterious in the entire Hogwarts, with everyone only guessing that he might have goblin blood.

Vaughn took a sip of his juice.

Reality is not a novel. In the "plot" he was once familiar with, Harry Potter was the undisputed protagonist, and all events revolved around him, while the presence of other people was so faint as to be almost nonexistent.

But that was due to the limitations of the novel genre.

Now that the story has become reality, every individual is a living being, and every living being has interests, disputes, and stances.

As one of the most senior professors at Hogwarts, what is Professor Flitwick's stance?

This is a very interesting question —

After a moment's thought, Vaughn stopped paying attention. In any case, whether they were obstructors or helpers, whatever their stance or demands, they would eventually be exposed.

You'll find out when the time comes.

Otherwise, without sufficient information, overthinking will only increase your worries.

After Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick left, Vaughn spent the rest of the dinner alone—Dumbledore was nowhere to be seen, and in fact, Vaughn had rarely seen him since their last conversation.

Isabella didn't show up today either, but her whereabouts are still clear; she's probably still busy in the small world.

Vaughn entrusted her with the design of the entire small world "dungeon," and she's been having a blast lately—she has an entire "world" to mess with, allowing her to unleash her wildest ideas, and she's so excited she's practically neglecting to eat or sleep!

Mrs. Sprout did come to greet Vaughn, but this Hufflepuff Headmaster, perhaps due to her frequent dealings with plants, had become somewhat socially awkward. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Vaughn and inquiring about the magical plants in the small world, she found herself speechless in an awkward silence.

Of course, it wasn't that no one wanted to talk to Vaughn; for example, Professor Sybil Trelawney.

This crazy witch didn't have a very good relationship with Vaughn before. In the first year, because Aurora Sinesta (the astronomy professor) judged that Vaughn didn't have the talent for Ascension, Trelawney spread this news in the Ascension get out of class.

Judging from her initial intentions, she probably wanted to use Vaughn's example to enhance the prestige of her own divination lineage.

Look!

Even a brilliant young wizard like Vaughn Weasley, without blood or talent, could not learn divination; he would forever remain an outsider!

So naturally, Vaughn also didn't like her.

What kind of professor would rub salt in a student's wounds like that?

Nonsense!

So she tried to strike up a conversation with him several times while holding a bottle of liquor, but Vaughn ignored her each time.

Bassheda Baburin was also ignored.

This teacher, who teaches Ancient Runes, the least popular subject at Hogwarts (the least popular subject should actually be History of Magic, but it's a required course), is perhaps more socially awkward than Sprout because she's been ignored by students for years.

It took her a long time to muster up the courage, but when she finally went to find Vaughn, he had already finished dinner and left.

Completely unaware that he had missed Professor Niven from the ancient world, Vaughn prepared to go to the smaller world to investigate the "unexpected" experience he had during the board meeting that day.

Then, he met Harry and Ron, who were waiting for him at the door.

This was the first time Harry had approached him since the start of the school year; before, Harry would have avoided him whenever he saw him.

"Hi, Harry, Ron."

Vaughn greeted him as usual.

Harry looked somewhat embarrassed and awkward. He still had mixed feelings about Vaughn. On one hand, he remembered the good things about Vaughn and knew that he was currently facing a dilemma. If he were to be honest with Vaughn, things would be much simpler.

On the other hand, he was inexplicably afraid that Vaughn would find out his "secret," a fear that seemed to come from instinct and could not be ignored.

This conflicting feeling made it difficult for him to speak to Vaughn, and he couldn't help but nudge Ron.

Ron remained motionless.

Harry turned around and saw that his friend's face was flushed red and he looked stiff.

Harry pushed him again.

Ron finally spoke hesitantly: "Wow—Wown, are you still playing Quidditch this year?"

Harry: "————?"

"I can't take it anymore, Ron Weasley! What are you thinking? We finally waited for Vaughn to come out, for a chance to ask him if what Malfoy said was true, and whether the practical lessons would be canceled, and what did you ask him? Quidditch??"

In the Gryffindor Tower, in the second-year boys' dormitory, Harry grabbed his hair and yelled at Ron.

Ron also looked desperate: "I—I don't know why—maybe it's because he bullied me too much when I was little. I get nervous whenever I see him, and the words just slip out when I try to say them—"

"He's your brother!"

"Just because he's my brother—okay, my bad—"

Ron gave an awkward laugh and changed the subject: "But on the bright side, at least we know that Vaughn won't be playing Quidditch this year, so you won't have to go through those grueling matches from last semester, Harry."

Although it was inappropriate, hearing Ron say that, recalling the unbearable scenes from last semester, and then thinking about the foreseeable bright future, made me realize that it was all too real.

Harry couldn't help but smile.

Happy!

But his excitement quickly subsided, because he suddenly realized that he couldn't tell anyone about this, especially not Oliver Wood.

Ron was puzzled by his instructions: "Why?"

"Wood has always believed that it wasn't Slytherin who defeated him, but Vaughn." Harry said, troubled. "Vaughn has become his inner demon, you understand? He had previously guessed that Vaughn wouldn't participate in Quidditch this term, thinking that this year was his best chance to win the championship before graduation. He trained us like crazy, and now, if the news that Vaughn himself admitted it reaches his ears—"

Wood will be ecstatic.

Paranoid Wood is terrifying, but insane Wood is even more terrifying!

Harry didn't want his precious weekend to be ruined, especially this Saturday. He wanted Hermione to calm down for a few days, and then he planned to invite her and Ron to visit Hagrid on Saturday, using that as an excuse to ease the tension between them!

He wanted to resolve his troubles one by one.

Of those three troubles, the conflict between Ron and Hermione is undoubtedly the most bothersome, yet also the simplest.

Late at night, Harry was still thinking about this as he lay in bed.

Ron seemed to be thinking as well, tossing and turning on the bed opposite him. At one point, Harry suddenly heard him say, "Vaughn seems quite concerned about Crevy breaking into Practical Class."

"Of course, it's abnormal that Krivy was able to break into the small world."

"No, Harry, I mean, what Vaughn asked us outside the Great Hall earlier: 'Did anything go wrong during your practical lessons?' I was wondering, how did he know?"

Harry propped himself up, puzzled. "What's wrong? Our encounter with Crevy was definitely an accident. He might have sensed it, or Professor Rozier might have said something to him. After all, the key to that little world is in Vaughn's hands."

"I—I'm not sure—"

Ron hesitated for a moment, then turned over. In the darkness, his eyes reflected the faint moonlight from the window: "What I want to say is, there were four houses in class at the time, so many people, but from Vaughn's questioning, he seemed to be—certain that it was you who had the accident, Harry—"

Harry suddenly froze, a strange chill that seemed to come from nowhere instantly engulfing his body.

My hair stood on end!

""

In that instant, Harry suddenly remembered why he felt a sense of familiarity with Colin Crevey when he met him earlier that day.

The other person smelled of a "notebook" —

In the following days, Harry paid special attention to Colin Crevey.

But what puzzled him was that he never "smelled" that scent on Crevy again—of course, it wasn't a real smell, since he wasn't a cat or dog. The so-called scent was more like an intuition or a feeling.

It's hard to describe.

Harry, who had been in close contact with the notebook, remembered the feeling. If he had to describe it, it was like walking along the Thames in June, with dark clouds pressing down from the horizon, the humid air enveloping his skin and penetrating his lungs.

Damp, cool, yet comfortable.

Slippery, sticky, yet just the right amount of warmth!

It's contradictory, yet it comes from instinct!

In short, Crevy no longer had that "smell," no matter when he met him, so much so that Harry sometimes wondered if there was something wrong with his memory of that day.

Or is it some kind of illusion?

Of course, one thing remained unchanged about Crevy: he still clung to Harry's side, just like he had during the practical lesson that day.

He was incredibly enthusiastic about it; it's said that he memorized the entire Gryffindor second-year timetable and then, with a camera in hand, waited in a corner along Harry's route to every class.

It seems that for him, the happiest thing in a day is to "bump into" Harry Potter a few times, greet the savior he admires, and hear a simple, polite reply: "Hello, Colin" or "Hello, Crevy".

No matter how broken and helpless Harry's tone was when he answered.

Harry was quite ashamed of his worry that Wood would go mad; with Crevy around, he'd probably go mad before Wood!

School life isn't always a hassle.

First of all, the practical classes are still progressing smoothly in all grades, and every day there are "fun" things that everyone enjoys to share.

For example, the day after the second-grade class, during the fourth-grade practical class, all their tasks led to a lake, where they encountered a group of Kaba.

With his extensive knowledge, Cedric Diggory of Hufflepuff recognized the group of magical creatures native to Japan and successfully recalled their weakness—the Kaba loves to eat cucumbers.

Unfortunately, nobody brings cucumbers to class.

So they were all dragged into the lake by Kaba. No one could fight a group of water monkeys underwater, and the whole group failed!

Afterwards, the Slytherin students wanted to cause trouble, accusing Professor Elizabeth Rosier of designing unreasonable challenges and deliberately making it impossible for them to complete the task.

But Professor Rozier personally demonstrated two methods to pass the level.

One method is to use the surrounding leaves, roots, and stems to create a bunch of small cucumbers, thus deceiving Kaba.

Secondly, they cast a "growth spell" on the wild cucumbers growing nearby, causing them to flower and bear fruit rapidly.

"Not only are your transformation skills lacking, you can't even recognize a cucumber vine. Even though I've planted the answer around here, perhaps you still expect me to feed it to you!"

Professor Rozier's final assessment became the buzzword of the week!