The sixth grade is probably the happiest time for students at Hogwarts, except for the first and second grades.

There won't be much trouble in academics.

They have already experienced the OWLS exam, and will have to wait another year for the NEWTS exam.

And the course suddenly became easier.

Except for a few like Harry, Hermione and Ron, who got "O" or "E" in almost every subject, the vast majority of young wizards can only take a few courses after starting the sixth grade.

The Defense Against the Dark Arts class taken over by Professor Snape requires students to get an "O" grade in the OWLS exam in order to continue to attend the advanced class.

Other professors are not as strict as Professor Snape.

But if she wanted to continue in the advanced class, an OWLS certificate alone was not enough. Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and Herbology all required an "E" grade. Excluding Divination, if it wasn't for the name of an "advanced class", she would even be willing to recruit students with grades below "A", but Dumbledore didn't allow it.

Most young wizards can only get one or two "E" grades.

That is to say, even if they are willing to pretend to love learning and sign up for divination classes, they have gone from having at least nine courses in the third grade to at most three or four courses now.

They were free to explore Hogwarts at their leisure.

Go have a hearty love affair.

On the first day of school, the sixth grade students' timetable was handed out by Professor McGonagall herself. She needed to ensure that every young wizard's grades met the requirements - the courses in the advanced classes involved many extremely dangerous and unfathomable magics, and they needed to frequently apply to the professor to borrow books from the restricted area.

Harry's timetable was much the same as last year, except that History of Magic was missing.

Hermione is much more streamlined.

Ron did not give up any course and also chose History of Magic, which was the only course, like Divination, that could be studied with an OWLS certificate.

Neville's OWL grades were also excellent, and he was able to take all his courses, including the Defense Against the Dark Arts course which required an "O" grade.

After the first section of Ancient Runes, they had Defense Against the Dark Arts.

The classroom has been changed. It is no longer on the third floor, but has been moved to the original Potions classroom.

The basement is dark and cold.

There was still the scent of herbs and potions in the air.

The walls were no longer hung with titles of herbs and materials, but instead were covered with paintings, portraits of various wizards cursed by black magic, and some examples of distorted anatomy.

The students discussed in whispers.

He looked at Harry cautiously.

Potter was the most convincing person about Snape's true strength, but they didn't dare to ask.

After a while, the door was opened with a crash.

Snape walked in hurriedly and the classroom immediately became quiet. This was a good habit they had developed in the past five years when facing Snape.

"Twelve people." He looked around and recognized the people corresponding to each face. He waved his wand, opened the roster on the podium, and ticked each name. "This number is indeed beyond my imagination."

"Professor McGonagall once suggested to me that we should relax the requirements so that students who get 'E' can also participate in the advanced classes."

"But you all know my character very well. I have no patience for fools and losers."

"Twelve people are more than enough."

Having said this, he paused for a moment.

"You are indeed lucky. In my opinion, most of you are not qualified to get 'O'. There are only three and a half people who have made any achievements in Defense Against the Dark Arts."

His eyes fell mainly on Harry, then on Neville, then Malfoy, and finally Hermione.

Apparently…

Harry, Neville and Malfoy were the three he was talking about.

Hermione was the half-human.

They were the only three who had faced off against dark wizards, fought against them, and survived.

"I was originally going to teach you silent spells." Snape took out his wand, "But like I said at the beginning, I have no patience for fools and wastes."

"So, the first spell to learn is the Patronus Charm."

Many students were surprised.

As the most famous ancient white magic that had shined brightly in the hands of Harry and Dumbledore, they naturally knew it very well.

It is only natural that this content is studied in the Defense Against the Dark Arts refresher course.

only……

They hadn't expected to learn this magic from Professor Snape.

Professor Snape knows the Patronus Charm?

Shouldn't he be a dark wizard with profound magic skills?

Snape and Patronus Charm, these two words put together are really too incongruous.

Snape glanced at the students and they immediately restrained their expressions: "I think there is no need for me to introduce this spell again."

"You should have all seen Professor Dumbledore use it."

"This is a good spell that can test whether you got the 'O' by luck or you really have some talent."

"A fool with no talent, just like those Aurors in the Ministry of Magic, who can only wave their wands and release a white mist that seems to be a bully."

He paused, then read out a name.

"Miss Granger."

Hermione stood up and answered him.

"How long did it take you to learn the Patronus Charm?" Snape asked.

Hermione recalled and quickly answered, "More than two months."

Snape raised an eyebrow, nodded, and waved his hand at her, motioning her to sit down: "A little witch in the third grade, learning the Patronus Charm, can cast a physical Patronus in just over two months."

"I don't ask much of you."

"Two classes. I will only give you two classes. I do not require you to summon your physical guardian angel during this time."

"But at least you have to see some progress. If after the deadline, you can only wave your wand foolishly and fail to exert even an ounce of power from this spell, get out."

"Mr. Potter, and Miss Granger, you are not allowed to help others."

"Oh, and Mr. Weasley."

His eyes were sharp and the other little wizards were wailing. Not being able to get their help would be a huge loss for them.

Snape tapped the blackboard and two lines of text appeared.

"The spell is called Patronus, and there are no requirements for intonation or hand gestures."

"What is necessary to cast a spell is the memory of happiness and the faith to protect."

He read the two lines again: "Now you know everything you need to know."

"Ms. Granger, show them."

Hermione raised her wand and took a deep breath.

"Expect God to Guard!"

As she spoke softly, a bright white light emerged from the tip of the wand, and a lioness nimbly jumped out and rubbed Harry's calf affectionately.

"Let's start practicing." Snape waved his hand.

He announced that his lecture was over.

As always, he said that genius only needed a little guidance, not hand-in-hand, meticulous teaching.

The differences between people are thus revealed.

While other little wizards were still trying to find a happy feeling, Neville was able to make his wand react and spray out thick milky white mist.

Snape was most concerned about Malfoy.

In any case, Draco is by far the best student in Slytherin, and has been recognized by Hogwarts, allowing him to represent Slytherin.

and……

He has always had a good relationship with the Malfoy family. When he was not strong enough and could not integrate into Slytherin because of his half-blood identity, Lucius and Narcissa always took good care of him.

The Malfoys trusted Snape very much.

Although Snape did not show the same level of trust to the Malfoy family.

Draco is the only child in the Malfoy family, and Snape is reluctant to see Draco go astray.

Draco performed just as well as Neville, and he was the only student who could make the spell work as well as Neville.

even……

By the end of the first class, the outlines of some entities could be vaguely seen in the milky white mist emitted by his wand. With diligent practice, firmer faith, and a feeling of vowing to himself, he would be able to cast the Patronus Charm smoothly.

Snape waved his hands, shooing them away impatiently.

The young wizards all obeyed Snape's words. Even Neville didn't ask Harry and the others for advice. He went straight into the library during the lunch break.

Harry and the others were also busy with their homework.

The ancient runes left behind a huge amount of homework, two fifteen-inch papers, and the translation of two books, and they had to complete all of this in one week.

In the afternoon, there are two consecutive Potions classes.

Slughorn placed the classroom in an abandoned classroom on the fourth floor. He liked the environment there very much.

As an old professor, he is very experienced. Although he is a bit boastful and always shows off his connections with some powerful people, the knowledge he teaches is practical. Unlike Snape's cold style of doing things strictly according to the procedures in the book, Slughorn encourages students to innovate.

In their first class, the potion they had to brew was the Water of Life and Death, a very powerful sleeping potion.

Slughorn promised that he would select the best potion among the successful ones and give it as a reward with a small bottle of Felicis.

As he said this, his eyes kept glancing at Harry.

It was almost certain that Harry would be the last and the best.

Two classes are over.

Most of the students failed to brew the potion successfully. Some students followed the textbook completely, but advanced potions required magic power and emotional assistance, and they failed to control the amount. Some students, without the restraint of Professor Snape, completely let themselves go. The former students could at least tell what they brewed, which was barely related to the water of life and death. The potion brewed by the latter was completely unrecognizable.

The result was just as Slughorn expected; Harry was the best.

Next came Hermione, Neville, and then Ron.

Hermione had survived the waters of death and life more than once.

And those who are good at herbology will also have good attainments in potions.

"Congratulations, Harry." He pulled out the bottle of Felicis.

"Professor, I think we can talk about detention." Harry accepted the Felicia Rinpoche and got straight to the point.