Ch293- Temp Professor

Ch293- Temp Professor

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The next morning came, and Harry headed to breakfast. The Great Hall was filled with the usual chatter. Umbridge had left the castle earlier that morning. No surprise—she’d been humiliated enough in the past few days, and with Fudge gone, her protection had disappeared. Harry didn’t waste time feeling sorry for her.

Later, in Defense Against the Dark Arts, the class sat in quiet anticipation. Umbridge had been replaced, though no one had been officially told who the new professor would be. Harry suspected who it would be. After all, he was there when Dumbledore told Snape to request Moody’s presence. Harry briefly considered if it was worth lifting the curse on the position now. He didn't have anything personal against Moody, but he had never been taught by him either. Best to wait and see how things played out before making any moves.

The students murmured among themselves, speculating about who the new professor would be. Some were confident it would be a Ministry puppet again, others whispered about rumors of a retired Auror stepping in. The door creaked open, and the chatter immediately died down. Instead of the scarred face of Alastor Moody, it was Dumbledore who walked in. The students exchanged wide-eyed glances, not expecting the Headmaster himself.

"Good morning," Dumbledore greeted with a nod, his usual calm demeanor unchanged. “I’ll be handling today’s lesson. Professor Umbridge’s replacement will arrive soon, but for now, let’s focus on something more useful than Ministry-approved material.”

The relief was almost palpable. No one dared to challenge Dumbledore, and honestly, no one wanted to. If the Headmaster himself was teaching, there would be no pointless theory or shallow spells.

Dumbledore’s gaze swept across the room, his eyes twinkling slightly. “Today, we’ll be covering defensive magic in real-world scenarios. Now, tell me—what are the most common mistakes wizards make when defending themselves?”

“Complacency,” Draco muttered from the back, surprising a few with his participation. "People think casting stronger spells will always save them."

Dumbledore gave a small nod of approval. "Quite right, Mr. Malfoy. Over-reliance on powerful spells is a common mistake. Anyone else?"

Hermione’s hand shot up next, as expected. "Not understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. Knowing what you're up against can make all the difference."

"Very good, Miss Granger," Dumbledore replied. "A proper assessment of your adversary is crucial. Whether it's another witch or wizard, or a magical creature, the approach matters."

Harry sat back, watching as a few more students chimed in, their responses varying in confidence. Still, Dumbledore had a way of making even these sessions useful.

Then the next sequence began, picking up again. By the sixteenth spell, the rhythm was due for a drop, but Dumbledore didn’t slow down. The spell tore through the air with sudden power and speed, almost too fast to track. It was a stunning spell, a quick twist of his wrist to catch Harry off guard. With no time to dodge, Harry raised his wand to brace for it. The spell hit him squarely, and a powerful jolt threw him back. He landed with a solid thud, frozen mid-motion, completely Stupefied.

Dumbledore lowered his wand, eyes narrowing as he took a step closer. His frown deepened when Harry didn’t move, his body locked in place on the ground. Silence blanketed the classroom, and the students looked at each other, unsure if this was part of the lesson or a mistake.

It wasn’t long before Harry felt the world snap back into place. He sat up, rubbing his neck and rolling his shoulders to shake off the spell's lingering effects. Dumbledore raised an eyebrow, offering him a small nod. "I see you kept yourself sharp, Harry."

Harry got up, dusting off his robes. “That last one was so quick, I barely had time to react,” he said, sounding impressed, though both he and Dumbledore knew he was putting it on.

"Ah, I was just getting frustrated with your dodging, Harry. Apologies if I went a bit overboard," Dumbledore said, offering a slight grin. They both knew the apology was mostly for show, but Harry played along.

“It’s fine, Headmaster,” Harry replied, dusting himself off. “I learned a lot. Thank you.”

Dumbledore nodded, clearly pleased with the response, though there was a flicker of something more in his expression—perhaps satisfaction, maybe just curiosity. The class, meanwhile, had been quietly watching, their eyes darting between the two of them. No one dared to comment, but Harry could tell they all witnessed more than they expected.

As Dumbledore turned back to the class, he resumed the lesson, giving instructions on more advanced defensive techniques. “Now, pair up again and let’s go over a few practical exercises.” He flicked his wand, and the chalk on the board shifted, displaying different shielding and counter-attack spells. The students sprang back into action, clearly relieved to return to their usual exercises.

Harry took a seat at the back, letting the others train. He watched his classmates, noting their various techniques, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.

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