In recent days, the most obvious change in Hogwarts is that what they have to learn has become much more difficult than before, and the professors seem eager to teach everyone more knowledge.
But at the same time, they were trying their best to reduce people's fear of Voldemort, and the upcoming second Quidditch game was a good way.
Because during the game, everyone's attention will be focused on the field, and they will cheer and shout with every goal scored. This is also the best way to relieve fear.
As the competition drew closer, the atmosphere in the castle gradually became less depressing.
"Well, do you have confidence... If we can win the Quidditch Cup this year, it will be an unprecedented fifth consecutive championship."
During the Herbology class that day, Professor Sprout found Kyle and said excitedly:
"Other houses have had a record of winning five consecutive championships, but Hufflepuff has not achieved such a brilliant result in nearly two centuries. This year is the closest to success.
"Before this, when Minerva and the others talked about Quidditch, I was too embarrassed to join in."
To be honest, Professor Sprout was exaggerating a bit. It was impossible for the professors to only talk about Quidditch when they got together. Besides, only Professor McGonagall was a serious Quidditch fan. The other professors were not particularly interested in this sport.
But Kyle could see that the reason why she said this in front of everyone in class was probably to express her importance to this Quidditch match, so that more people could shift their attention to the upcoming match instead of thinking about the mysterious man and the escaped Death Eaters.
"Of course I am confident, Professor." Kyle said cooperatively, "We have no intention of giving up the Quidditch Cup."
Two completely different voices were suddenly heard around.
The Hufflepuffs naturally cheered and encouraged, but the Ravenclaws who were taking classes with them booed continuously.
Because they are Hufflepuff's opponents, the Ravenclaws don't think they will lose.
For a moment, the small greenhouse was filled with the smell of gunpowder.
Fortunately, this situation did not last long. Professor Sprout brought out the plants that they were going to learn about today in a timely manner and successfully resolved the tense situation between the two groups of people.
"Knotweed." She said, "It is a widely used plant. Its pods and leaves are indispensable ingredients for many potions..."
"It's also a snack..." Kyle whispered.
Fawkes really likes to eat this stuff as a snack. When Harry was learning Occlumency, he got some from somewhere and ate them one by one on the tree. They were crunchy, just like popcorn.
In this class, they need to learn how to build a trellis for the knotweed vines and how to make them produce pods.
Although it was snowing heavily outside, it was very warm in the greenhouse. Professor Sprout placed several special torches around the greenhouse to keep the temperature that the knotweed pods liked best.
Kyle was the first to complete the task and was rewarded with a small bag of pods, which was just enough for Fox.
The next day was the weekend, and the snow on the field was almost a foot deep. Some people chose to stay in the warm common room to chat and play chess, but the sixth graders had to put on thick robes and go to their first Apparition class.
This special course, which can only be studied by sixth graders, was originally scheduled to be held on the field, but now the snow there is too thick, so it has to be moved to the auditorium. It was scheduled on Saturday morning so as not to delay regular classes.
When Kyle and Kanna arrived at the auditorium, all the tables and chairs had disappeared. I don’t know if it was an illusion, but this place seemed much bigger than before.
Four deans, including Professor McGonagall, were already waiting here, and with them were two wizards from the Ministry of Magic.
When everyone came in front of them, they couldn't help but look at the thin wizard in the middle.
His face was unusually pale, his eyelashes were almost transparent, and his hair was very thin. He looked unreal, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.
Kyle guessed that this should be the teacher who taught them how to Apparate. His frail body was perfect for disappearing. Kyle even suspected that his Apparate might not even make any sound.
As for the other one... Nymphadora Tonks, an old acquaintance, except that today she had changed her hair to the more common black color, and Kyle almost didn't recognize her.
"Hello, everyone." After everyone arrived, the short wizard from the Ministry of Magic said, "My name is Wikkitai Cross. I will be your Apparition teacher for the next twelve weeks. I hope I can help you pass the upcoming exams smoothly."
"My name is Nymphadora Tonks." Tonks also stood up and said, "I am your disguise teacher. Although this course will not be included in the exam, it is very important. It is related to whether you can hide your true identity in the crowd and get rid of the tracking or pursuit of certain wizards."
Disguise class? The originally quiet auditorium was once again filled with discussion. They had only received a notice to attend the Apparition class, but no one had told them that there was also a Disguise class.
"Please keep quiet!" Professor McGonagall said sternly, and everyone shut up immediately.
"In fact," she continued, "these two are the Aurors sent by the Ministry of Magic to teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts. They are your new professors."
"Assist... Professor McGonagall, we are just assisting Madam Umbridge, we are not professors." Tonks emphasized. It was obvious that she did not want to take on the title of professor.
But Professor McGonagall didn't say anything, just nodded.
"I know what you are thinking." At this time, Tonks continued, "My disguise class will not take up your weekend time, but will be held during the normal Defense Against the Dark Arts class. I am here this time just to deliver some things to Hogwarts on behalf of the Ministry of Magic, and I just happen to get to know you."
After hearing that the camouflage class would not take up the weekend, some people immediately breathed a sigh of relief and responded enthusiastically to Tonks.
It must be said that, as an Auror who had just graduated, Tonks knew these students too well... just like she knew herself.
Tonks looked around at the people standing in front of her, and finally her eyes fell on Kyle and she winked at him. Among these people, Kyle was the only one she was familiar with.
Next, Tekros continued.
“Perhaps some of you know that Apparition is not allowed in Hogwarts, but in order to allow you to learn this magic, Headmaster Dumbledore has temporarily lifted this restriction for one hour, but only in this hall.
"I must remind you all not to move outside the wall, or you will be in big trouble.
"Now I need everyone to stand in their respective positions and leave at least five feet of space in front of you."
Everyone took action immediately.
After everyone was standing in place, Tekros waved his wand, and an old-fashioned wooden circle immediately appeared on the ground in front of each student.
"This is your goal." He began to explain in detail what you need to pay attention to when learning Apparition.
Kyle listened for a while and found that it was similar to what Chris taught him... But this is normal, maybe Chris was taught by him, so of course it is similar.
Because it was the first class, Tekros spoke in great detail. He spent nearly half an hour explaining the points that needed to be remembered and asked everyone to keep them in mind.
Then he gave a demonstration.
Just as Kyle thought, Tekros's Apparition was almost silent. He disappeared naturally and then reappeared in a wooden circle five feet away.
If other people's Apparition is like throwing a stone into the water, then his is a leaf. No matter how high he falls from, no sound can be heard.
"That's it. Everyone sees it clearly."
Tykros shouted, "Now, you will do as I did just now... If you really don't know how to enter the void state, just spin on the spot."
"Now everyone give it a try."
The students in the auditorium began to spin around.
Tycross walked in the middle of the queue, "Yes, that's it, you must relax yourself, remember what I just said... How about trying it once, the target is the wooden circle in front of you.
"Now listen to my command... start!"
There was a sudden crackling sound in the auditorium.
Of course, this was not the sound produced by the Apparition, but the sound of the flesh hitting the ground.
Many people lost their balance and fell to the ground because they spun for too long.
Mikkel was standing in the wooden circle, jumping and waving his arms excitedly. "Look, Professor, I am in the circle somehow. I must have learned how to Apparate."
"No, you didn't... come out quickly." Tekros said expressionlessly.
Mikel didn't know what happened, but he saw it clearly. The child was so dizzy from spinning around that he staggered and fell into the wooden circle... and it was someone else's wooden circle.
Didn't he notice that his position was a bit off? Except for Mikel, most of the people in the wooden circle also jumped in.
"It's okay, it's okay, everyone return to their original positions and let's try again," he said dryly.
Everyone placed the wooden circle and stood in their original positions.
"You don't have to be discouraged. Apparition is not a simple magic. It is impossible to learn it in a day or two. I expect you to have three lessons."
He held up three fingers and said, "If everything goes well, the most talented among you should be able to truly learn this magic by the third class.
"For those who are less gifted it takes longer... I have seen many people who, after twelve weeks of classes, could not move themselves a foot and therefore could not pass the exam."
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"That's not necessarily true..." Mikkel muttered, "What if someone can learn it today?"
He always believed that he had just teleported over, but he just didn't know the direction well.
"Then I'll treat him to a year's supply of snacks and candies." Tycross smiled and said nonchalantly, "Okay, now let's all recall how we felt just now..."
“Bang!”
Before he could finish his words, he heard a crisp sound coming from the auditorium.
Tekros turned his head stiffly and saw a man standing steadily in the wooden circle.
"You... must not have gone back just now, right?" he asked tentatively.
Kyle smiled but said nothing.
There was another crisp sound, and the next second, he appeared in the wooden circle of the man in front of him again.
"Oh!" There was a burst of excited cheers all around, and even Professor McGonagall, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but curl the corners of her mouth.
Snape snorted disdainfully, "Childish."
Tonks looked at the dumbstruck Tycross and tried not to laugh, but half of her hair turned blond.
When Tycross realized what was happening, his pale face quickly turned red, and he said unhappily, "You must have discussed this beforehand."
"No, Professor," Kyle said, "I actually succeeded the first time, but you just didn't notice it."
"Yes, I can testify to that." Professor Sprout said with a smile. She had been watching the Hufflepuff students, especially Kyle.
Tecross was speechless for a moment. The scene just now was too chaotic. He seemed not to notice that there was a real person mixed in among those people who were doing all kinds of things.
"Okay, okay, I lose," said Tycross. "I will keep my promise."
After saying this, he couldn't help but laugh.
He was also very happy that someone could learn Apparition so quickly. As for whether Kyle had learned it before... he didn't care.
Being able to learn to Apparate before the age of sixteen is a remarkable thing in itself. The younger you are when you learn it, the higher your talent is.
"Okay, you don't have to study anymore." Tekros waved to Kyle, signaling him to go to the side. At the same time, he was more looking forward to the next class.
If one person succeeds, will there be a second one?
Thinking of this, Tecross shouted the command again.
However, to his disappointment, the second attempt was not much better than the first. He opened his eyes as wide as possible but did not see a second person who could Apparate.
It wasn't until the third time that changes occurred.
Some people finished it, but only halfway.
Qiu staggered in the wooden circle, but her right leg stayed in place.
Someone let out a terrible scream.
"Don't be nervous, this is a very normal phenomenon." Tycross said calmly: "Remember what I said just now? Splitting is the most common situation when learning Apparition."
As he spoke, Professor McGonagall came quickly over, picked up Cho's leg and came to her side.
"Pomona, dill..."
"Is that it, Professor?"
At this moment, someone suddenly handed her a bottle of white mulberry essence.
"Yes, that's it." Professor McGonagall looked up at Kyle. She took the distilled essence, applied it on Qiu's wound, and put it back in place like a building block.
"Don't be afraid, try it out." Professor McGonagall said softly, "Separation is not a terrible situation. As long as you reconnect it in time, everything will be fine."
Qiu's face turned pale, he took a deep breath, and took a tentative step forward, only to find that he could still move normally and without any discomfort.
"Don't hesitate next time, and don't worry about what will happen if you fail. We will help you in time." Professor McGonagall reminded her a few words and left again.
Qiu nodded and returned to the team.
But maybe Qiu’s separation this time left a shadow on everyone, but in the next half hour, no one finished.
Everyone, including the experienced Qiu, was repeating the process of spinning in circles and then jumping into the circle.
Tekros was a little disappointed, but he also understood that Kyle was just a special case and this was normal.
After seeing the visual impact of the split, it became much more difficult to maintain determination and composure, which was why he had said before that only the third class would allow someone to succeed.
Overcoming the fear of separation is the most difficult step in learning Apparition, and it takes time.
He tied his cloak and said, "Everyone, don't forget: goal, determination, calmness, see you next Wednesday."
"Wait a minute, Professor..." someone suddenly said, "Don't we learn Apparition every Saturday?"
"That's right," said Tycross, "but I also have to help Ms. Umbridge teach you Defense Against the Dark Arts. The Ministry of Magic originally wanted to send two Aurors, but most of the Aurors have important things to do and can't leave, so they found me."
Kyle didn't know if it was his illusion, but he noticed that Tonks' hair had become darker and she was staring at Tycross with gritted teeth.
Kyle soon figured out the reason.
The other Aurors all had work to do, so didn't that mean that Tonks was the only one who was idle in the entire Auror Office? Kyle couldn't help laughing, but the next second he found himself being stared at by Tonks' sharp eyes, and he quickly shut his mouth in fear.
(End of this chapter)