thefictionvixens Chapter 203
Chapter 203
Chapter 203
Early in the morning, on the third day after Hogwarts started school, Loila got out of bed early and sat nervously at the table looking at the books and materials in front of her.
"Loila, haven't you already watched it many times?" Nagini asked softly from the side, then brought over a cup of coffee.
"Th-thank you." Loila thanked Miss Nagini first, then explained, "But I'm still a little—a little nervous."
"This is my first time—attending class!"
"It's not the first time, is it?" Nagini smiled gently, her fingers lightly twirling around Roy's hair as she styled it.
"But I've never spoken before—" Loila said worriedly, clutching her quill pen. "If I—if I stammered—"
"No, it won't happen," Nagini gently interrupted her lack of confidence. "This is your favorite magic array, isn't it?"
"I remember very clearly that you could explain magic arrays fluently to anyone, didn't you?" Nagini said, a smirk playing on her lips. "Just do it the same way as before."
Don't say things with that expression—it's like it's some kind of merit—Loila never thought that her self-indulgent explanation of magic arrays was anything praiseworthy.
"Alright—Loila." Seeing that she still looked worried, Nagini opened her arms and hugged Loila's head from behind.
"Ugh! Nagini—" Feeling the softness behind her head, Loila's face immediately turned red.
"Don't worry, Loila." Nagini's gentle voice traveled through Loila's head along with the warmth of his breath, causing her body temperature to soar.
"The students at Hogwarts trust you, and I trust you too—we all think you can do this, don't we?"
Don't—don't say anything about trust in this situation!
"We're really lucky, Harry," Ron said with a happy expression in the former Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom at Hogwarts.
"I never expected Professor Hamilton to be willing to let us join her course as a special exception."
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Harry was quite pleased to hear Ron's words. He hadn't expected Professor Hamilton to agree to let him and Ron attend class as well—after all, their grades were below standard.
"Maybe it's because you did well in Defense Against the Dark Arts?" Hermione appeared beside them at some point and plopped down on the floor.
"Where did you come from?" Ron asked, frowning, but received no answer.
Hermione was carefully taking a book out of her bag and placing it on the table.
"What's this?" Ron curiously poked it with his finger, only to have Hermione tap his finger with her wand.
"This is a very hard-to-find textbook on magic arrays," Hermione warned. "I went to so many bookstores to get my hands on it!"
"Ah—" Her words reminded Harry that he didn't seem to have his textbooks yet!
You can't blame him, after all, he originally thought he wouldn't have the chance to take this course at all!
I'm not bringing textbooks to the first class. Will Professor Hamilton scold me?
But the thought of Professor Hamilton—Harry felt a slight sense of anticipation—would she scold him like Snape or—
"Pat-pat-pat".
A series of footsteps approached, and amidst the chatter of the young wizards, Harry snapped out of his reverie and looked behind him.
"Um?"
Isn't this—another Professor Hamilton?
That is, Professor Peterson Hamilton—Harry had already taken his class once, as the professor of Muggle Studies—it can only be said that his understanding of Muggles seems to be somewhat different from what Harry has seen.
But why is he here?
"Have you heard? He's Professor Hamilton's cousin," Hermione whispered, recounting the information she'd received from the Pinecone Party.
"Him?" Harry shook his head instinctively. Professor Hamilton didn't look much older than him; his cousin—oh, he almost forgot, Professor Hamilton was already over sixty—
"So why is he here?" Ron chimed in, "Is he interested in magic arrays?"
"I don't know," Hermione shrugged. "Maybe she's just interested in Professor Hamilton."
"Cough cough cough—" Her words made Harry cough violently. He wanted to say something in rebuttal, but found that he didn't seem to have anything to say. So he could only awkwardly wipe his mouth and look at the textbook on the table.
"Don't be so surprised, okay?" Hermione raised an eyebrow at Harry. "Professor Hamilton is the most sought-after wizard right now."
"Everyone wants to win her over, okay?" Hermione's words seemed a bit profound, leaving the two of them stunned.
"The study of magic arrays has infinite possibilities. Professor Hamilton alone earned countless Galleons from that 'Lightless' necklace," Hermione explained in more layman's terms.
"You mean he's trying to get close to Professor Hamilton?" Ron scratched his head and said, "But aren't they family?"
"Ah————" His question made Hermione silent for a few seconds, then she looked away somewhat awkwardly.
Clearly, the analyses just now were not based on this.
Regardless—the presence of another Professor Hamilton here was already enough to surprise everyone.
Naturally, this also includes Loila.
She peeked out through the crack in the office door and shuddered when she saw her cousin.
Why isn't Dumbledore here? You're here!
Even though we're family, this is so awkward! Especially since Peterson knows he's actually—a socially awkward person—
But now that things have come to this—it seems he can't back down anymore—he has already promised Dumbledore to become a professor of magic arrays, and he has also promised Lord Grindelwald to complete his mission—.
He even gained the trust of Miss Nagini and these students.
And—and all of this is for the sake of the great magic array science!
For these things, you must overcome your fear, learn to speak confidently in their presence.
With that thought in mind, Loila took a deep breath, then gently waved her wand and put on the mask.
From this moment forward, I am no longer Loila Hamilton; I am Professor Hamilton.
It was that silent witch—
I must strive to live up to others' expectations—instead of remaining stagnant—I must, as Mill said, step out that door—instead of staying put—
Loila let out a soft breath as she thought about this, then stepped out of the office.
"Clatter".
Professor Hamilton, wrapped in a robe and wearing a mask, walked out of her office. Harry, who did not see her remove the mask, couldn't help but feel a little disappointed.
But as a slightly hesitant yet incredibly gentle voice rang out in the classroom, Harry's disappointment vanished completely.
"It's a pleasure to see you all in the Magic Array Studies classroom."