Sterling felt this week had passed quickly.
Completely unlike the hellish first week of school, without increasingly serious problems pressing down on him step by step, he only needed to study properly and occasionally search for Gerda in Avalon's snowy plains.
Who knew how vast these plains truly were? Supposedly this place was originally created and ruled by a wizard considered formidable even among great wizards. Later, for unknown reasons, the wizard disappeared, and the Snow White Kingdom stood in the snowfields.
God knew exactly where Kai was or where Gerda was.
But thinking about this actually gave Sterling some relief. At least those knights couldn't possibly find them faster than he could.
Nothing had changed in Avalon, and the same was true at Hogwarts, except that the library group of four occasionally became six, and stories about the new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor were circulating among upperclassmen.
Because of Sterling's help, Harry and Ron had grown close to him. Since Sterling had promised Dumbledore to help Harry with his studies, he conveniently guided them during library study sessions.
As for the new "Vitam Inscis" professor... Sterling would meet her very soon.
Sterling and Terry looked with complicated expressions at the... pink Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom before them. The originally simple, even somewhat gloomy classroom had been painted pink from top to bottom by the new professor, with little bows hanging from the windows.
"This is truly... living up to its reputation..." Hermione touched the pink doorframe, which even had candy stickers on it.
"Candy Witch Vitam. Do you think if we perform well enough in class, she'll reward us with a complete set of chocolate frog cards?" Padma said. Hermione looked at her strangely.
"Didn't you say collecting chocolate frog cards was something only children did?"
Padma quickly waved her hands, lowering her voice to a level only they could hear.
"A complete set of Chocolate Frog cards can sell for over ten Galleons! I don't like chocolate frog cards, but who doesn't like golden, shiny Galleons?"
Padma blinked with a sly smile.
Watching her bounce into the classroom, Hermione murmured, "Isn't she also from a Muggle family? How does she seem... as knowledgeable about the wizarding world as Terry?"
"I know about this," Terry said, finding a middle seat with Sterling. "She's different from you. She enjoys reading all kinds of newspapers, regardless of fame or whether they're back issues."
(TL NOTE: The Patil twins are written as Muggle-born in this story.)
That made perfect sense. Learning about these things from newspapers was often quite fast.
Sterling put away his things and quietly waited for the descendant of the Chocolate Frog founder to teach them.
Sterling was still somewhat worried. From various sources, Professor Vitam seemed less like an expert at fighting Dark wizards and more like an eloquent businesswoman.
Every outstanding wizard's authorisation since her adulthood had been negotiated by her, supposedly at low prices.
Even upperclassmen who'd already taken Defence Against the Dark Arts gave vague, contradictory assessments.
Robert said, "Professor Vitam has very strong observational skills. I think she'll be a good teacher."
Penelope said, "Professor Vitam has never demonstrated her magic, and I find it hard to consider her a 'Defence Against the Dark Arts' professor. What she teaches... doesn't have much connection to magic."
Well, combining this extremely negative review, Sterling really didn't have high hopes for her.
Defence Against the Dark Arts without magic? Plus careful observation... Sterling's best interpretation was trap-setting; worst case... a purely theoretical decorative vase?
Of course, theory's importance couldn't be denied, but with only theory, even learning magic would be problematic, let alone using it for defence.
Owl-shaped wind chimes gently swayed. Class time.
A very ordinary-looking middle-aged woman walked in from outside. She wasn't wearing wizard robes but a bright pink women's suit.
Usually pink was the colour most likely to make people look old, but on her it didn't show any signs of age.
She stood at the podium, slowly writing her name and a long string of text that seemed excerpted from textbooks.
None of this showed any trace of magic. All done personally. When Professors McGonagall and Snape wrote on boards, they more or less had other chalk pieces write themselves for efficiency.
Professor Vitam faced them. Sterling suddenly noticed the skin around her eyes seemed different from the rest of her face, as if it weren't the same skin?
She picked up a teaching rod of medium length, as if about to point at her name on the blackboard to introduce herself.
But the instant she opened her mouth, Sterling stood up first and shot a Knockback Jinx at her.
"Excellent!"
After deflecting the Knockback Jinx with the "teaching rod" in her hand, Vitam not only wasn't angry but also showed Sterling a pleased smile.
"You sensed danger, or my malice, didn't you? That's a wonderful talent!"
The rod's exterior peeled away inch by inch, revealing a smooth wand.
Terry, Hermione, and the others had been about to scream because Sterling suddenly attacked a professor. Point deduction would be the least punishment. Hermione was already mentally planning how to petition collectively to save Sterling's enrolment.
She really loved collective petitioning.
Harry quietly released the wand he'd just grabbed. When Professor Vitam raised her "teaching rod", a chill had enveloped him. His body moved faster than his brain, grabbing his wand.
If Sterling hadn't been faster, his "Leg-Locker Curse" would have been cast.
"I'm very satisfied with your performance. Let me think... twenty points to Ravenclaw, and this student, I saw you grab your wand. You're... Gryffindor, ten points!"
Professor Vitam lowered her wand. Her original middle-aged woman appearance flowed off like liquid, and her pink suit flashed with brilliant light, transforming into simple black wizard robes.
Restored to her original appearance, Professor Vitam was a beautiful woman with delicate features, as lovely as the female stars Sterling had seen in Andrew's photo albums, except for a long scar at the corner of her left eye.
"I'm Vitam, Vitam Inscis. You've probably heard many things about me before my class."
"Perhaps it's that I don't display magic? Low magical ability? More like a businesswoman than a wizard?"
Under her gaze, some little Eagles lowered their heads. They'd believed these rumours most.
"Or that I'm kind-hearted, understanding, and give well-behaved children complete sets of chocolate frog cards?"
The little Lions also lowered their heads. This rumour had originated from their house.
"So you completely believed my performance after entering. Not one person questioned whether the Chocolate Frog company owner could be someone not skilled at magic? Whether a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor could be a very gentle person?"
She knocked the blackboard in frustration.
"Not even one person looked at my board writing. Dark wizards excel at disguise and deception, often launching sneak attacks under trustworthy identities!"
"My appearance was an old woman, but what about the rest of my body? Have you seen anyone with such wrinkled faces but such smooth arms?"
"Hogwarts teaching rods are all of uniform length. Who's seen one my length?"
"No suspicion, no questioning! I heard you actively drove away Professor Quirrell and were willing to risk danger teaching you for a year! I even used rare chocolate frog cards to bribe other students to spread rumours, testing your quality!"
Everyone lowered their heads, including Sterling and Harry. Sterling had at most noticed subtle differences in her face, but as for her intelligence, he'd indeed questioned nothing.
He felt somewhat ashamed.
If this had been before they forced Quirrell out, he might forgive himself for believing such rumours. After all, Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers were traditionally unreliable.
But after Dumbledore promised to definitely find a truly capable teacher, he should have immediately questioned this!
Seeing them all beginning to reflect, Vitam smugly curved her mouth corners and quietly dispelled the magic she'd cast upon entering the classroom.
Magic that dulled thinking and prevented rational consideration.
Her words naturally contained exaggerations. Not to mention, what genius would go to such lengths deceiving first-year students? Also, what professor would cast curses on young wizards in their first class?
Even Dark wizards in disguise should lurk for a while first!
These logically inconsistent elements were all resolved by her magic. A little trick for gaining class authority.
Vitam believed they'd definitely value her class from now on. Of course, whether they valued it didn't matter.
Sterling was reflecting now. That was enough.
Vitam narrowed her eyes. She only wanted Sterling's trust and favour... for this, even battling the Dark Lord's curse was worthwhile.