"Alright, children, time's almost up, that's all for today!"
Professor Sprout clapped her hands, her voice cheerful. "Put away all your tools… Morag, don't forget the shovel you left under the flowerpot… Pansy, be gentle with the geraniums next to you… Don't leave anything in the greenhouse, and remember to finish your homework on time!"
The students, covered in mud and smelling of dragon dung, trickled out of the greenhouse.
Wade walked around a few students and approached Professor Sprout.
"Professor?"
"What is it, Wade?" Professor Sprout held a shovel in her hand, tidying up the plants the students hadn't transplanted properly, as she asked, "Do you need my help?"
"It's like this, Professor." Wade glanced around, and only when the last two students had left the greenhouse did he say softly, "Do you still remember Hailey?"
"Of course." Professor Sprout stopped shoveling, saying sympathetically, "She's a poor child… Do you need something from her?"
"Yes… No, actually, not me." Wade said, "Her sister wants to see her. I asked Dumbledore before, and he said you arranged for someone to adopt the child."
"Yes, I did… Oh, Merlin!"
A look of surprise and delight spread across Professor Sprout's face. Just as she was about to shout, she abruptly stifled her voice and asked, "Her sister isn't… Are you saying… that child, she…"
Facing the professor's questioning gaze, Wade nodded affirmingly.
Professor Sprout's smile almost overflowed from her face.
"That's wonderful… Thank Merlin! I've been so worried about her… And her… her little problem?"
"We're working on it," Wade said. "Dumbledore contacted Mr. Newt Scamander, but he's currently in Cherrapunji, India… I heard it's to rescue a Swooping Evil. Anyway, once he returns, he'll start researching a cure."
"If there's anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask!"
Professor Sprout's eyes were filled with anticipation as she said sincerely, "I'd be more than happy to assist… And by the way, I think the Ministry of Magic's decision is as absurd as having their heads bounced by a Bouncing Bulb!"
Wade couldn't help but laugh, saying, "I agree, Professor."
"Oh, right, the address!"
Professor Sprout wrote down a note and handed it to Wade, saying, "You can take the child to this place, but it's best not to show your face. I suspect the Ministry of Magic has people watching Hailey! They know how much that child values this little girl."
"I know, Professor." Wade looked at the address, finding it was a small town near Kilmarnock, and then asked, "The people who adopted her are…"
"A distant cousin of mine. He's a Squib, and his wife is a Muggle, so she doesn't know about magic. They're both very kind. They don't have children of their own, and they absolutely adore Hailey now."
Professor Sprout's eyes crinkled in a smile as she said, "After all… that child is so adorable and well-behaved, she deserves the best."
…
Sunlight streamed through the narrow window, illuminating the brass chandelier and oak table. Professor Trocar held a book in his hand, lecturing the students.
"Vampires are ancient magical creatures that survive by consuming the blood of living beings. Of course, they can also eat normal food, but their less sensitive taste buds can only perceive very faint flavors, and it's difficult for them to digest."
Professor Trocar's voice was dry as he said, "So most Vampires only like blood or food made from blood."
"Vampires possess extraordinary strength, speed, and healing abilities, but they also have their weaknesses, such as sunlight, garlic, holy water… and, of course, stakes."
The professor's eye twitched, and his body instinctively leaned back, as if wanting to distance himself from the book in his hand. After a brief pause, he continued his lecture.
Wade looked down at his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook and saw that the page just happened to have an illustration of a Vampire with a stake piercing its heart, mouth agape in a silent scream.
He couldn't help but look at the new professor sympathetically, then glanced around, realizing that apart from himself, no one had noticed Professor Trocar's change in expression; most people were drowsy.
Vampires and humans actually don't have very obvious differences in appearance. Wade had only been able to recognize Professor Trocar's true identity because he had studied certain things specifically with Dumbledore, but the other students hadn't noticed this.
"Help me…" Next to him, Michael was also slumped on the table, weakly whispering, "Has Professor Trocar been infected by Professor Binns? This is the first time he's made Defense Against the Dark Arts so boring, buzz… buzz…"
Michael's buzzing successfully hypnotized Goyle, who was sitting nearby. The tall boy fell onto the table with a thud, and the usually stern Professor Trocar merely glanced at him without saying anything.
Michael himself couldn't help but yawn, trying to keep his eyes open to take a couple of notes, when he suddenly realized that Professor Trocar had been simply reading from the book the whole time.
He completely gave up fighting his drowsiness, quietly pulled up Goldstein's hood in front of him, put it on his head to add a bit of height, then confidently leaned down and fell asleep.
Wade covered his mouth with his fist, barely managing to suppress his laughter. Even though he tried to control himself, the amusement spread from his eyes.
Goldstein naturally felt it. He looked back at Michael, then at Wade, and shook his head with an expression of exasperation, but he didn't take off his hood. Instead, he sat up a little straighter.
The boring reading of the textbook continued for most of the class until a student finally couldn't take it anymore and raised a hand high.
Professor Trocar tried to ignore it, but the student's eagerness to ask was so persistent that he had to put down his book and ask, "Is there a question, MacDougal?"
"Professor!" Morag MacDougal of Ravenclaw asked, "We've already read all this in the book. I want to know when we can do practical work?"
"Well…" Professor Trocar said guiltily, "The school doesn't have live Vampires for you to practice with…"
"What about that underground Chamber of Secrets? I heard it's already been renovated!" Blaise Zabini of Slytherin also said, "Professor Abigail told us that we'd be able to have very exciting practical combat training in there this semester!"
"Yeah, yeah!" The other students also started to clamor, "We want to go to the underground Chamber of Secrets! Why aren't we allowed in this semester?"
Professor Trocar actually knew about this.
"Hmm… The school has a reason for temporarily closing the Chamber of Secrets. It involves a certain 'top-secret plan' from the Ministry of Magic, which will only be announced when the Ministry deems it necessary…"
"What plan, Professor?" The students selectively ignored Professor Trocar's latter words and eagerly pressed him.
"I can't say… No one can reveal anything until things are completely finalized."
Professor Trocar refused to say, but under the students' cooing and protesting, he couldn't resist and vaguely said:
"All I can tell you is that this is an unprecedented event… Prepare yourselves, children, perhaps one of you will gain that lifelong honor…"
"Prepare for what, Professor?" several girls pleaded pitifully. "Please, Professor Trocar, tell us a little more!"
"Well... this..." Professor Trocar hesitated for a moment. "If I were you, I would start studying diligently right now, especially Defense Against the Dark Arts... It'll definitely come in handy then. Don't wait until you fail to regret it, children..."
The classroom immediately fell silent.
The students looked at Professor Trocar with confusion and scrutiny, suspecting he was just making up an excuse to "trick" everyone into studying harder.
After pressing him for a while, they couldn't get any more information. Professor Trocar continued his lecture, and soon, the students all looked drowsy.
When the bell finally rang for class to end, both students and professor showed similar expressions of relief.
"Wade Gray?" Professor Trocar stood at the classroom door and said, looking at Wade, "If you have time, could you come to my office?"
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