Although watching the sweet interactions between her two special students was quite interesting and could evoke memories of her own youth, Professor McGonagall still felt that this kind of flirting during class was a bit too much.
So she needed to stop it, and incidentally respond with a mysterious look, letting this clever little witch think for herself.
Go ahead.
However, from the current perspective, there were even more outrageous things happening in the classroom.
From the very beginning, when she demonstrated Animagus transformation for her students, she'd felt something was off. Usually when Professor McGonagall transformed into an adorable tabby cat in class, the young witches and wizards would enthusiastically applaud her profound transfiguration skills, but today seemed rather cold, even abnormal.
Not only that, though it wasn't very obvious, from Professor McGonagall's years of teaching experience, these young witches and wizards, while appearing very focused, actually often shifted their gazes away from the podium, looking somewhere unknown.
The atmosphere between them was also strange, appearing very tense.
Combined with what most of the students in the class had learned in their previous lesson, Professor McGonagall had roughly made her judgment.
But it was still better to confirm.
So she stopped staring at Hermione and shifted her gaze to look at everyone in the classroom.
"Honestly, can someone tell me what's wrong with you all today? It seems like something is preventing you from wholeheartedly investing in today's Transfiguration class. Haven't you emerged from the relaxation of the holidays yet?"
As Professor McGonagall's words fell, the classroom became even quieter, but most people suddenly turned in unison toward Harry, who sat in a back row seat, as if indicating that today's abnormality was all caused by him.
No one spoke. Dozens of eyes just quietly stared at Harry, making the little boy feel wrong all over, his whole body bristling and scalp tingling.
So Harry stood up under everyone's gaze.
"Professor, we just had our first Divination class. Professor Trelawney had us interpret tea leaves..."
"Ah, as I thought. Potter, if I'm not mistaken, she predicted your death this year, didn't she?"
"?!"
Harry stared in disbelief with his green eyes wide.
Professor McGonagall was completely correct.
"I understand. Well then, Potter, there's something I should inform you..."
Professor McGonagall's tone carried no emotion whatsoever, looking very serious. Seeing this, Harry couldn't help but swallow, and in this tense atmosphere, he felt his heart being gripped by an invisible large hand that might crush it at any moment.
"...What you should know is that since Sybill Trelawney came to work at this magical school, she has predicted the death of one student every year, without exception."
"However, so far, not one of those students predicted to die has actually died. Foreseeing omens of death is her favorite way of welcoming new students."
Professor McGonagall paused, her tone becoming even calmer as she continued:
"From my personal understanding and opinion, I believe Divination is one of the most inaccurate subjects in magical studies. I won't hide from you that I have the least patience for Divination."
"I want to state clearly that the next statement contains no personal feelings—people who can truly foresee the future are very rare, and Professor Trelawney..."
Professor McGonagall gave everyone a "those who understand will understand" look, then moved on to the next topic. She looked again at Harry, whose complexion had returned to a healthy color.
"As I see it, you're in excellent health, Potter, so I won't go easy on you regarding the homework I'm about to assign today. Don't blame me—I hope you can maintain the learning attitude you had in the second half of last year."
"However, I promise that if you die, you won't need to turn in this assignment."
Almost like a joke, Professor McGonagall said this.
In the distance, Draco couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. The surrounding young witches and wizards were also infected, laughing heartily, and the heavy atmosphere dissipated considerably.
Most of the young witches and wizards felt relieved because of Professor McGonagall's explanation.
Exactly! Hogwarts was called the safest place in all of Britain.
How could such a safe place possibly have disasters happen every year!
Although looking at their year group, the past two years hadn't been exactly peaceful, but nothing bad happens three times in a row!
Stable, stable.
"Oh! It seems Professor McGonagall and I share the same view!"
Suddenly discovering that her thoughts aligned with those of her idol and professor, Hermione felt great satisfaction and a sense of being validated.
However, Glenn noticed that not everyone had put down their worries because of Professor McGonagall's comfort.
For example, Harry Potter's friend, Ron Weasley, still wore a bitter expression.
For example, several of Hermione's roommates, especially Lavender, equally looked worried and confused.
Of course, Neville was the same—his face was pale, and he didn't look comforted by Professor McGonagall at all, appearing even more panicked.
Hermione seemed to have noticed this situation too. She touched her head, planning to ask her friends what exactly was going on during lunch.
After a small commotion, Professor McGonagall maintained order, and Transfiguration class continued.
................................................
Noon, lunch time, Hogwarts Great Hall, Gryffindor table.
"You're saying that Professor Trelawney accurately predicted that Neville would break a teacup before the classroom activity began?"
Hermione looked at her friends with suspicion. To verify this matter, she had even called Neville over.
"It's true! If you don't believe it, ask Neville—he experienced it himself, so he definitely knows."
Hermione turned her head toward Neville, who nodded gloomily.
"It's true. Just a few seconds after Professor Trelawney's prediction, when I went to get our group's teacup, one cup inexplicably fell and broke."
"Wait, with your current skills, you couldn't catch a mere falling teacup?"
Hermione widened her eyes. How was this possible? They were all people who had been trained by Glenn—could the training effect really be so different??
That shouldn't be right. She had observed Neville sparring with Glenn or Draco—how could he not catch a cup falling right in front of him!
"I did react! But that cup felt like it had no friction when I touched it—I couldn't grasp it at all. I tried to catch it several times in the air, but it still fell to the ground and broke."
Neville looked miserable. His recently built and not-very-solid confidence nearly cracked because of a falling cup.
"Ah, this..."
Hermione was speechless.
This cup was destined to break today, wasn't it?!
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
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