Chapter 26 - 26: 26: Making Headlines—Again

✨ Support & read up to 12 chapters ahead on P@treon/DarkDevil1???? Join to get early access and exclusive content! __________ "Well done." Sagres scanned the crowd. "More than seventy of you passed the test. To be honest, this ratio has exceeded my expectations." "Professor, is there a reward for those who passed the test?" "A reward?" Sagres hadn't considered this question. He felt there was no need to reward students simply for passing such a test, but since someone had asked, he decided to give a perfunctory answer. "The runic crystal vial is the reward. Everyone who successfully passes the test will receive one from me." He held up the crystal vial in his hand and explained to everyone, "It has been enchanted with an Undetectable Extension Charm and an Unplottable Charm. It can be used to hold magical flames or alchemical liquids, and of course, it can also be used to store food, keeping it fresh — indefinitely!" He could even mass-produce such simple alchemical items, as they were merely basic applications of runic magic, with almost no technical content apart from a few ancient rare runes. Nevertheless, the ability to hold alchemical liquids and magical flames already far surpassed most similar items on the black market. If sold, their value would not be less than six Galleons. ... Flap! flap! Hoot! Hoot! Hoot! On a new day, as the Young Wizards were still enjoying breakfast in the Great Hall, the mail owls shattered the Great Hall's calm. The front-page headline of The Daily Prophet glowed blood-red under the candlelight —"Hogwarts Sees Dark Arts Combat Training? Over Two Hundred Students' Lives Hang by a Thread!" The accompanying picture was a snapshot of a Slytherin girl being struck by a Troll, even though she was now sitting safely in the Great Hall, eating. "What in the bloody hell is this?" Ron asked, looking confused as he held the newspaper. "Didn't Fred and the others say that Professor Greengrass's practical class was a complete success?" "What's that all about?" Harry snatched the newspaper. He quickly scanned the headline, then carefully read the report. Bang! "What rubbish! No one was injured in class at all…" He angrily slapped the newspaper on the table, saying indignantly, "Didn't Professor McGonagall tell us that all students were protected by magic?" "And look at the audacity! They even photoshopped fangs onto the Troll!" Hermione picked up the newspaper and started reading, placing her pumpkin juice cup heavily on the table. She noticed Ron staring at the anonymous interview at the end of the article: "An heir to an ancient family confessed that certain professors are turning the school into a fighting arena in Knockturn Alley." "Another pure-blood family conspiracy…" she immediately understood. "This is slander. Why are they always targeting Professor Greengrass?" "Uh, I heard that Professor Greengrass sent members of several families to Azkaban before he became an Auror…" Ron clearly knew some secrets of the pure-blood families—or perhaps it wasn't a secret at all. "Some were even killed by him on the spot… Of course, those were extremely dangerous Dark Wizards, and they were more or less connected to certain families…" "You mean, it wasn't just that one time? Professor Greengrass has done many similar things?" Harry couldn't help but ask. "Yes." Ron quickly clarified and continued, "You might not know, but Professor Greengrass became a registered Dark Wizard Hunter for the International Confederation of Wizards right after graduating from Durmstrang. Quite a few people have fallen into his hands…" "'Dark Wizard Hunter'? How come I've never read anything regarding that?" Hermione rarely showed such a puzzled expression. Ron answered casually, "That organization was disbanded last year, due to some special reasons… and they didn't have many people to begin with, plus the Confederation prohibited related reports." "Then how do you know?" Hermione was a little suspicious. Ron immediately looked somewhat indignant, feeling as if he had been insulted. "My dad was involved in related work. What? Do you have any more questions?" Hermione raised an eyebrow and said nothing more. Harry was still indignant about the news in the newspaper, but he was clearly powerless to do anything about it. "Initially, Professor McGonagall had some reservations about Professor Greengrass's teaching methods, but after this incident, she seems to have become somewhat appreciative instead," Hermione told them what she had observed. "So what? What does that mean?" Ron said indifferently. "It means that Professor Greengrass's teaching methods are perfectly fine, and even very effective," Hermione stated with certainty. "Aside from Snape, the other three Heads of House have all affirmed Professor Greengrass's teaching results. Doesn't that prove the point?" "It's strange that the Daily Prophet dared to write such a report without any investigation…" Harry was somewhat puzzled. "That's not strange at all!" Hermione said. "The Daily Prophet does this often. They don't care what the truth is." "Hermione is right," Ron added. "That's why our family hardly ever reads the Daily Prophet." "Oh, by the way, the school has a new rule," Hermione suddenly told them. "Lower-year students can also audit Professor Greengrass's Charm Theory class. I've already signed up. Do you want to come with me?" "Ugh! We already have enough classes!" Ron exclaimed. "We don't even have time to rest!" Harry actually wanted to go too, but he also had Quidditch training, and his time was already limited, so he was also preparing to refuse Hermione's suggestion. "Is your answer the same?" Hermione looked at Harry, who was about to speak, and said angrily, "Hmph! Then you'll never get to see my notes… or my homework…" Ron's face instantly filled with dread, and he quickly waved his hands in denial. "You misunderstood, Hermione. I meant that we already have enough classes, so no one cares about adding one more!" "Exactly! Ron is right—and besides, it's Professor Greengrass's class. Of course we have to go!" Harry shouted uncharacteristically. Snape was already messing with him, not getting Hermione's notes would be a death sentence! "Heh. That's more like it.." Hermione slightly lowered her head and wore that wicked smile she had when setting Snape's robes on fire that day. "You know, not just anyone can go. BUT! I got the three of us spots from Professor McGonagall."