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Chapter 934: The 5th-year Defense Against the Dark Arts Class
🕑 Added 2023-11-22 10:42:51 +0000 UTC"Dull to the extreme; reading the whole morning," said Colin with a sigh. "This is the most boring course I’ve ever taken. No talking, no sleeping, no fidgeting, not even leaning on the desk. We had to sit upright the whole morning, staring blankly at Defensive Magical Theory. Honestly, I didn't absorb a single word."
"Blimey, how could she do that?" Ron exclaimed in surprise. That sounded really awful.
Especially when everyone knew that all the years had the same Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, even Fred and George in their seventh year were required to buy Defensive Magical Theory as a textbook, which made it even worse.
There were six courses of the Defense Against the Dark Arts per week, which was equivalent to spending one and a half days staring blankly at a meaningless book.
It was truly a nightmare. While Professor Binns might have been tedious, he at least allowed students to do other things during his class. Sleeping or playing games were permissible as long as it didn't disrupt his lecture. Clearly, that was not the case with Professor Umbridge's class.
"And that's not all. She also assigned us homework to continue reading this book and submit a parchment by Friday," Colin dragged out his tone, "Twenty inches on 'The Case for Non-Offensive Responses to Magical Attack'."
"What does that mean?" Ron was a bit slow to catch on.
"I don't know, that book is full of such incomprehensible sentences," said Colin with dull eyes, "I’ve never written such a long parchment before, and she told everyone that this assignment will count towards the final grade of the year. Er... Evan, could you let me take a look at your parchment then?"
Before Evan could answer, Ron shouted angrily, "Just like Snape, I knew that woman..."
"Keep it down, Ron!" Hermione said disapprovingly. "Reading more books would do you good, and it wouldn't be so boring. But I really don't understand. It's a Defense Against the Dark Arts class, so what's the point of her approach? It contradicts the purpose of the course. We should be practicing defensive spells with our wands, especially given the current circumstances..."
"Have you forgotten her purpose of coming to Hogwarts?" Evan reminded them.
"Intervention at Hogwarts on behalf of the Ministry of Magic," said Hermione, recalling Umbridge's speech from the previous night.
"That's right, so we can't confront her, we can't openly oppose the Ministry of Magic, at least not on the surface, it's extremely irrational, and it's not good for us," said Evan. "In class, Do as she says."
Fudge was worried that Hogwarts would become a base for Dumbledore to train his own private army, he didn't want young wizards to learn powerful magic, but rather to restrict their development, and everything Umbridge did had to revolve around this so that Hogwarts would no longer be united.
However, what she was doing wouldn't be effective. Privately, Evan could rally students from other Houses and use the time to help his own people improve their skills. Whenever Voldemort took action, they could directly fight back.
Now was not the time to have a falling out with her, and Evan didn't want to be given detention and be constantly targeted by Umbridge, unable to do anything.
Sometimes, temporary compromise is for a better offense.
"But..." Hermione hesitated.
"Well, Umbridge asked me to have tea with her tonight, and I agreed to go over and have a talk with her before deciding how to proceed," Evan continued. "In any case, she’s currently a professor at the school. Don’t conflict with her in class, reading more books is also good for us, if you are bored, you can read other magic books."
" Diffindo!" He took out his copy of Defensive Magical Theory and lightly tapped it with his wand.
Instantly, the book and the cover were separated!
"Reparo!" Evan put together a copy of his magic research notes and the cover of Defensive Magical Theory.
With a flick of his wand, the two merged into one.
From the outside, there was no indication that the content of the book had changed.
"Evan, how can you do that?"
"What else can I do? Have a big argument with her, and then give her a reason to give me detention?" said Evan, handing the new "Defensive Magical Theory " to Hermione. "That's too childish, I'd better now keep a low profile, at least on the surface. By the way, Professor McGonagall also meant this when she talked to me this morning. Remember to tell Harry not to be impulsive. His mood has been unstable recently."
Evan and Professor McGonagall's concerns were justified. During class in the afternoon, Ron and Hermione relayed what Evan had said at lunch and the things they needed to be cautious about to Harry. It didn't have any effect; instead, it made him feel indignant.
He didn't quite understand. How could Evan bow down to Umbridge and the Ministry like that?!
First Percy, then Snape, then Ron and Hermione, and now even Evan...
Therefore, when Umbridge asked everyone to read the first chapter “Basics for Beginners” in Defensive Magical Theory, Harry questioned without hesitation, “What's the point of them doing this?”
As long as someone took the lead, it was easy to mobilize the resistance of the young wizards, and even Hermione was no longer hesitant.
Although she believed Evan's advice was correct, not to clash with Professor Umbridge in the classroom, it didn’t mean that she was willing to waste time in class, and she had to help Harry.
"Sit down, Mr. Potter! I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully. If you don’t understand, then read them again," said Professor Umbridge in a voice of determined sweetness.
"But there’s nothing written up there in your course aims about using defensive spells," said Hermione.
"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class. And your name is...?"
"Hermione Granger," said Hermione.
"Well, Miss Granger, sorry I didn't hear you clearly, you mean using defensive spells?” Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. “Why, I can’t imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren’t expecting to be attacked during class?"
“We’re not going to use magic?” Ron ejaculated loudly.
"As I said, hand up if you wish to speak!" Umbridge glanced at Ron. "And your name is…?"
"Ron Weasley," said Ron, thrusting his hand into the air.
Professor Umbridge, smiling widely, turned her back on him to look at Harry and Hermione who were still standing.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, I don't know who alarmed you with fibs, making you think that the Wizarding world today is as full of dangers as it was hundreds of years ago, and what you worry about is completely unnecessary, You are in Hogwarts now, in my class, you will never..."
