Chapter 105 - 105 You know the little wizard.

Chapter 105: Chapter 105 You know the little wizard.

Some sixth-year students at Hogwarts were regretting their choices, and regretting them deeply.

They hadn't studied properly and had failed their Defense Against the Dark Arts exam for ordinary wizard levels. Theoretically, these failing students were not eligible to attend the advanced class in their sixth year.

However, when Professor McGonagall asked Dracula what level of students he was willing to accept for the advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class, Dracula set an unbelievably lenient requirement, allowing students with a "T" (Troll) grade to join.

Students who had done poorly across the board and had few advanced classes available for sign-up were initially worried. If their certificates were too few, their future job prospects would be extremely bleak.

There were few job opportunities in the magical world as it was, and if they couldn't even get exam certificates during school, they might have to go back home and farm... No, even their Herbology grades were mostly failing, so they might not even manage to farm properly at home!

After hearing that Professor Dracula would accept students with a "P" (Poor) grade, those underperforming students were overjoyed. Being able to join the advanced class meant they had a chance to continue studying Defense Against the Dark Arts, which greatly increased their chances of passing the resit exam the following year.

So, the underperforming students eagerly checked the box for "Defense Against the Dark Arts" on the advanced class sign-up sheet and happily handed it to their respective Heads of House.

However, they immediately regretted it after just one session of the advanced Defense Against the Dark Arts class—

Professor Dracula's class was no ordinary lesson; it was a trial by fire!

He made the students in the classroom continuously cast spells, and anyone who dared slack off was punished with spells that, while not lethal, were incredibly painful, until everyone was completely exhausted and unable to move a finger before he would finally stop...

This professor was nothing short of a demon!

"I won't assign you any homework today. Go back and think carefully about how to improve your spellcasting skills!"

As the only one able to "stand" in the classroom, Dracula stood out among the mass of students lying on the floor.

After assigning today's work, he waved his hand as if clearing away trash, pushing the collapsed students to the sides of the classroom, and neatly arranging the overturned desks and chairs in the center of the room.

Dracula looked at the orderly classroom and the chaotic group of students lying on the floor, nodded in satisfaction, and then returned to his office from the front of the classroom.

Twenty minutes later, the students arriving for the next Defense Against the Dark Arts class saw this scene—

Students from all houses were packed against the walls on either side of the classroom, drenched in sweat, their robes soaked through, their faces pale, and none of them had the strength to move their bodies to leave the classroom...

"What... What happened here?"

Cedric, who had come for the class, stood frozen at the entrance of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, hesitant to step inside.

Fred and George peeked out from either side of Cedric's shoulders, saw the scene inside the classroom, and gasped in shock.

"Yikes..." Their expressions were filled with astonishment, "Is this some sort of large-scale crime scene? Hmm... It really seems like something Professor Dracula would do!"

At this moment, they inadvertently noticed a red-haired wizard, pushed into the corner of the classroom and pinned down by several boys.

"Hey, Fred, look who that is!" George exclaimed, excitedly patting Fred on the back.

"Oh, Percy! It's been a long time since I've seen Percy in such a sorry state!" Fred's expression also became one of surprise, and he waved cheerfully at Percy.

Seeing his younger brothers' excited expressions, Percy felt somewhat embarrassed. However, he didn't have the strength to free himself from the pile of burly boys, so he just turned his head silently, facing the wall and retreating into himself.

"Shouldn't it be time for class?"

Suddenly, a voice from the front of the classroom broke the anxious silence of the students at the door.

On the eighth floor of the main tower, in the Hogwarts headmaster's office.

"Professor Dracula, recently many professors have come to see me, all to give their opinions about you," Dumbledore said, looking helplessly at Dracula, who was comfortably sprawled on the sofa across from him. "They all say that after attending your class, the students are too exhausted to pay attention in their own classes."

"What does that have to do with me?" Dracula said indifferently. "Last semester, the failure rate for the Ordinary Wizarding Levels in Defense Against the Dark Arts was the highest, which was quite embarrassing for me. I'm not happy about it."

"So from now on, in my class, all practical exercises must be intensified, so those little wizards who are always thinking about fun will get a good lesson!"

By the end of his statement, Dracula's voice unconsciously grew colder, and the temperature in the headmaster's office dropped several degrees in an instant.

The late summer heat abruptly turned to winter chill!

The phoenix Fawkes, who had been leisurely preening its feathers, suddenly fluffed up in alarm, ruining the painstakingly arranged feathers.

Dumbledore waved his wand helplessly to restore the temperature in the office to its original state, then extended a hand to smooth Fawkes' ruffled golden-red feathers.

"Professor Dracula, I didn't mean to imply that your teaching methods are bad," Dumbledore said thoughtfully, in a tone of negotiation. "I understand your intention; practical exercises are indeed very effective for improving students' grades."

"I know that increasing the intensity of practical exercises not only enhances students' Defense Against the Dark Arts skills but also improves their adaptability, combat quality, and abilities in other subjects such as Transfiguration and Charms."

"Moreover, as we both know, Voldemort has returned and might regain full power at any time. Therefore, having Hogwarts students with better practical abilities would give them a better chance of survival."

Dumbledore, with a serious expression, gave a detailed affirmation of Dracula's teaching methods.

"Since you, Headmaster, approve of my teaching methods so much, why did you call me here?" Dracula asked, puzzled.

"What I mean is, while practical exercises have many benefits, they also have their drawbacks," Dumbledore said. "This method of draining students' energy will inevitably cause them to focus all their effort on Defense Against the Dark Arts, neglecting other subjects."

"If that happens, fundamental subjects like Transfiguration and Charms might be gradually neglected or even forgotten. But Defense Against the Dark Arts is not just an independent course for dealing with dark creatures and dark wizards; it's more like a defensive subject based on various fundamental magical subjects."

"So I suggest, for the sake of the students' overall development, it would be best not to disrupt their other courses."

Dumbledore looked deeply into Dracula's eyes, analyzing the situation carefully.

"Truly worthy of being a headmaster, Dumbledore," Dracula said, sitting up from the sofa with a light laugh and shaking his head. "Your points are quite reasonable, leaving me at a loss for words."

"Not at all, just some superficial teaching experience," Dumbledore said with a smile, stroking his long white beard.

"Alright, then tell me, what teaching methods can balance practical exercises with other subjects?" Dracula asked.

"Professor Dracula, we could actually approach the problem from a different angle," Dumbledore said, winking at him. "Since practicing practical skills in class leads to student fatigue and affects their next class, why not find a time when there are no other classes for practical exercises?"

"You mean... adding extra classes during the students' free time?" Dracula raised an eyebrow.

"Don't put it that way, Professor Dracula; 'extra classes' doesn't sound very pleasant!" Dumbledore said with a smile. "We could rephrase it—perhaps as starting a dueling club!"

"Dueling is a traditional aspect of the magical world for centuries, seen as the most honorable challenge among wizards. No young wizard can resist the temptation of a proper duel. Trust me, they will definitely come to join this dueling club."

"Professor Dracula, what do you think of my idea?"

Looking at the smiling Dumbledore, Dracula's mouth twitched.

"...You really understand young wizards, Headmaster." He acknowledged Dumbledore's suggestion. "But... there are still some students who haven't yet experienced the feeling of being 'worked to the bone' in class. I need to make sure they experience it too. It wouldn't be fair otherwise, right?"

"Then let's wait until next Monday; the dueling club will officially start after dinner next week!"