novel bin Chapter 52 Bad Weather, Good Mood
Chapter 52 Bad Weather, Good Mood
After Divination class ended, all the students fell into a very gloomy state. Although Harry tried to reassure everyone that he would be alright, this was clearly less credible than the Divination professor's prophecy.
"What's wrong with you all today? Why are you all so listless and distracted?"
Seeing the children peeking and whispering at the back of the classroom every now and then, Professor McGonagall leaped down from the lectern and transformed back into human form.
"Today is an important day to teach about Animagus transfiguration, but I didn't get any applause."
Neville and a few other boys turned to look at Harry, wondering how to best describe what had happened in Divination class, when they suddenly heard Hermione raise her hand and say:
“Professor, we just interpreted each other’s tea leaves during our Divination class, and Professor Trelawney looked at Harry’s…”
"Ah, I understand."
Professor McGonagall's brow relaxed at first, then furrowed again as she said:
"So, she chose Harry as this year's lucky winner?"
Like Hermione, almost all the students looked at Professor McGonagall with surprised expressions.
"Hmm... Mr. Potter is a sworn enemy of Voldemort, and with Sirius Black's escape this year, Sybil Trelawney would naturally think the probability of his death coming true is higher. But frankly, I don't think she chose the right person this time, nor was she careful enough. Mr. Potter is the most gifted student the school has accepted in nearly a century. Although he is only in his third year now, if he can maintain his diligent and keen learning attitude, he can definitely reach the level of Headmaster Dumbledore after graduation."
As Professor McGonagall spoke, she scanned the students in the Transfiguration classroom with her bright eyes.
“Let me tell you a bit of school history. Ever since Sybil Trelawney was hired to come to this school, she has used a death prophecy to greet the new class every year. But so far, her death prophecies have never come true. I don’t consider myself someone who speaks ill of colleagues or disparages other disciplines, but divination and magic are very unrigorous disciplines. Looking at the history of the magical world, there have been very few true prophets. As for whether Professor Trelawney is one or not, that’s for you to decide.”
Lavender burst into tears upon hearing this. It's no exaggeration to say that if it weren't for Professor McGonagall's words, she felt she would have been trapped in that smoky tea room classroom for the rest of her life.
"You need to learn to cultivate the ability to think independently and distinguish right from wrong. You're already a third-grade student. Whether you're healthy or not, and whether you're happy in your studies and life, shouldn't be determined by any prophecy. Okay, let's continue with the lesson. Don't think that this will exempt me from today's homework."
"Oh! No!"
"By Merlin!"
A frustrated groan echoed throughout the classroom, but strangely, everyone seemed to feel much lighter.
……
During the lunch break, Harry and Hermione were enthusiastically discussing the feasibility of practicing Animagus at the dinner table, seemingly oblivious to Professor Trelawney's prediction. This greatly worried Ron, who was standing nearby.
"Harry, think carefully, have you seen any large black dogs recently?"
His voice was serious and deep, forcing Harry to put down his knife and fork and reply solemnly:
"No. But even if I saw it, what could I do? Is a dog more dangerous than Voldemort?"
"Ominous signs aren't just a baseless superstition in the wizarding world, Harry. My uncle Billiers once saw one, and he died a day later."
Harry and Hermione exchanged a glance, then asked:
"What if a Muggle who has never known what misfortune is saw a big black dog? Or what if wizards from other countries with different languages and cultures saw a dog as a sign of good luck?"
"This……"
Ron was speechless. Although he had been influenced by some superstitions, he had not lost his ability to think logically.
“That’s just how it is, Ron. Many times, so-called prophecies come true because people believe in them too much or place too much importance on so-called omens. Look, Professor Trelawney even said in class that Neville’s teacup would break, but it didn’t happen in the end, did it?”
Harry's statement was also supported by Hermione, who poured Ron a glass of pumpkin juice and said:
“Yes, Harry is right. And I remember you were the first to see Harry’s teacup, right? You looked at it several times but couldn’t find anything ominous. How come someone else could immediately see that Harry was in danger of dying? Maybe your interpretation is correct.”
Ron was a little embarrassed by the praise, and he scratched his head and said:
"How could that be? How could I possibly have that kind of talent? You've all heard Professor McGonagall say that true prophets are extremely rare. Let's hurry up and finish our food so we can get to Haig's class!"
What was said without intention was taken to heart by the listener. Harry, who was already pondering why Moran had put him on a team with Ron, seemed to have gleaned some clue from the conversation. He glanced at his friend, who often sought his and Hermione's help with their homework, and began to ponder the meaning of the number 8, the ouroboros, the acorn, and the twig.
The rain was still falling outside the castle. The temperature in England in September had already turned cold, and the effects of the Dementors made the Magical Creatures Protection class, which had to be held outdoors, particularly unpopular.
"Harry! You're here?"
Hagrid, who had been waiting for the students at the door of the hut since early morning, greeted Harry and his two companions with a cheerful smile.
"Hag, keep a low profile. You're a professor now, you should act like one."
Hermione's warning did not dampen Hagrid's enthusiasm. He rubbed his mole-skin coat, unable to hide his excitement, and said to the three of them:
"Haha, it's alright, it's alright! I've been waiting for this day for so long. I've been preparing for this lesson for two whole months. You'll understand what I mean when you see the good stuff in class!"
"How about I help you clear up the weather? If the students are all getting soaked, it's hard for them to be enthusiastic in class."
"You can cast the Weather Spell?"
Hagrid, who was usually perceived as honest and slow-witted, was also bewildered by Harry. He instinctively took a step back, but accidentally stepped on Toothpick's foot, causing the big dog to howl in pain.
"Meterolo Evenesco." (The clouds and mist dissipate.)
The pure white spell, like a bolt of lightning shooting backward, shot into the clouds. In no time, the sky transformed from a dense, overcast state to a clear, light gray. The rain gradually stopped.
"By Merlin..."
"Who did that? Harry Potter?"
"Is he really a student in the same grade as us?"
"Haha, yeah, that's good. This year's House Cup is a foregone conclusion. Let's hope that Slytherin can defeat Gryffindor in the Quidditch match."
The astonished third-year students made sounds of either approval or sighs, but Harry, the subject of everyone's discussion, did not feel any joy.
Looking at the occasional flashes of blue lightning among the few clouds, he frowned and said:
"Huh? Why didn't it disperse completely? I clearly used my full strength just now."
Hermione and Ron, already used to Harry's incredible antics, didn't show much surprise. They first glanced at where the thunderclouds were, then surprisingly comforted their friend:
"Maybe it's because there are Dementors nearby? They have the ability to influence the weather. But anyway, it's already astonishing, Harry; I don't think even many of the teachers at Hogwarts could cast magic of this caliber."
"Yes, Harry, Hermione is right. Don't be so picky about yourself. If you're always like this, how are the students from the other houses supposed to live?"
Hearing Ron's comment that "the three of us are too strong," Hermione rolled her eyes at him, then urged Hagrid to hurry up:
"Hagrid, the students are almost all here. Let's get them to class quickly, instead of waiting here any longer."
"Oh, good."
Hagrid reached out and touched his head, then called out to the students gathered in front of his hut:
"Come on, kids! Class is about to start. Grab your books and come with me! Today's lesson will definitely be more than worth it!"
The path leading to the Dark Forest instilled a sense of dread in many students. Besides the warnings from professors since arriving at the school against venturing into the Forbidden Forest, the presence of Dementors roaming the area further increased the danger of off-campus activities.
Fortunately, Hagrid simply led the students along the edge of the woods, and about five minutes later they arrived at their destination—a place that resembled an enclosure.
"Everyone, take out your books and find a place to stand around this fence, making sure you can see what's inside the enclosure."
How do I open this book?
Draco Malfoy, looking displeased, took the tightly bound "Book of Monsters" from his henchman and asked.
"Huh? Didn't any of you open your textbooks before class?"
As Hagrid spoke, he glanced at Harry, seemingly seeking some help from him. Unfortunately, Harry could only shake his head helplessly.
"All right……"
Hagrid shook his head slightly in disappointment and said:
"Like many pets, all you need to do is pet them, like this, you see."
Harry could hear the confusion and doubt in Hagrid's voice, as if what he was saying was the simplest thing in the world, yet no one could understand him.
Draco Malfoy had toned down considerably after Moran's tutelage, but he still couldn't quite accept Hagrid becoming a professor, saying sarcastically:
"Hmm, as expected of the professor, so smart! On the other hand, we were so stupid, why didn't we think of petting them? Oh! I know, it must be because it's easy to get your arm bitten off before you pet them."
Harry, Malfoy, and the others all hoped Hagrid's first lesson would be a success, but ironically, Malfoy's words were indeed true. So, despite their displeasure, they could only force themselves to encourage Hagrid:
"This is... well, quite interesting."
"It feels like a little trick for taking care of magical creatures."
"Keep going, Hagrid. Don't let him affect you."
Hagrid, whose thoughts had become somewhat disorganized, got back on track with encouragement from the three leaders. He clapped his enormous hands and said:
"Alright, everyone, please open your textbooks and turn to the table of contents. I'm bringing the magical creatures we need for the first lesson now. Please wait a moment!"
As soon as Hagrid disappeared, Malfoy's voice once again echoed throughout the grove.
"I knew this school was doomed! First the Dementors, and now this guy's a professor! I doubt he can even write properly!"
Ron and Hermione instinctively turned to glare at Malfoy, but before they could speak, Harry spoke first:
"When school started, Headmaster Dumbledore already introduced who the professor for the Magical Creatures Protection class was. If you really can't stand Haig's class, why are you making yourself suffer?"