Teachers used to teach through practical cases, telling stories in the first half and explaining the functions of appliances in the stories in the second half.
For example, a wizard from Devonshire enjoyed a relaxing vacation at home, enjoying the coolness provided by a freezing spell. One day, he heard a curse from his neighbor. After listening for a while, he realized that the refrigerator was broken and that the food had also spoiled...
Based on this, he concluded that refrigerators are appliances that muggles use to preserve food and are prone to damage, while wizards can solve the problem with a simple freezing spell.
It wasn't a problem, but something didn't quite fit.
It was rote learning; these students had never seen anything like it.
The two classes ended quickly, and the students were in no hurry to leave. They remained absorbed in copying the board, their heads slightly dazed, minds full of knowledge.
Melvin put down the chalk and cleared his throat. "For this week's assignment, choose a common appliance and draw a diagram. Make sure the proportions are correct, the components are complete, and the functions of the main parts are clearly labeled. Hand it in before next week's class..."
He collected his materials calmly and walked away.
There was a casual indifference toward the students' lives.
Melvin hadn't gone far from the classroom when he heard someone shout from the front.
"Professor!
"Sir!
"Sir Lewynter!"
Walking down the corridor, Melvin turned a corner and saw two students waiting there. Two red-haired heads, two identical faces, smiling widely.
Melvin stopped, pretending to be confused. "Who are you?"
"I'm George Weasley."
"I'm Fred Weasley,"
said the twins, their voices indistinguishable.
"Gryffindor twins... what do you want from me?" Melvin observed them calmly, trying to tell them apart.
"We're friends of Lee Jordan. We've been reading your encyclopedia and have some questions, so we're waiting here to ask you one.
Professor, you're going to lunch in the Great Hall, right? So are we. Could you spare a few minutes to answer our questions?"
The faces of George and Fred were full of anticipation, looking like eager students.
"Let's talk while we walk."
"Greetings, professor!"
cheered the twins in unison, walking on either side of him.
"The book says there is a metal called sodium that burns and even explodes on contact with water. Is that true?"
"Yes, it involves a chemical reaction. Reactive metals react violently with water, producing hydrogen gas and an alkaline solution." Melvin noticed that the twins were quite studious, as they had already read the chemistry section of the encyclopedia.
George and Fred only heard the professor's statement; the following murmurs didn't matter.
"The book also says there is a liquid called ammonia that gives off an unpleasant smell, like fermented urine. Is that true?"
"Yes..." Melvin paused and then explained: "Ammonia is a slightly alkaline solution of ammonia gas dissolved in water. It decomposes spontaneously and releases free ammonia gas. Urine also decomposes into ammonia gas, so both have a very similar smell."
The eyes of George and Fred sparkled, and they asked in unison: "So, if we add sodium to ammonia, can we make a stinky urine bomb?"
Melvin
remained silent.
Upon reaching the entrance of the Great Hall, some distance from the guest of honor's table, he looked up and saw that Dumbledore, as expected, was present at the dinner. Professor McGonagall was seated to his right, whispering to Professor Flitwick, apparently talking about the lamb served that night. Glancing sideways, he saw the twins beside him and raised an eyebrow.
"Thank you, professor!" "Goodbye, professor!"
George and Fred waved and ran to the Gryffindor table, where they sat together, chatting, apparently discussing the feasibility of a stinky urine bomb.
Melvin suddenly understood Professor McGonagall's feelings.
...
Dinner time.
Ron brought Harry two servings of stewed lamb with onion and carrot, tomato sauce, butter, and parsley. It was delicious. He filled his mouth and murmured, "Try it, it smells so good! We don't have this many spices together in the kitchen."
"You eat it; I can't."
Harry sighed: "I wondered why Snape had it out for me in the first Potions class."
"Did you know him before?"
"I discovered there are wizards in this world a month and a half ago."
"Forget it. George told me the old bat had Gryffindor students in his sights. He worried we would surpass Slytherin in points and take the house cup."
"But why me?"
"Because you have bad luck?"
"Maybe." Harry sighed again and took a spoonful of lamb soup.
Hermione, next to him, suddenly said: "You should have studied in advance."
"What?" You should have studied that
book, One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, in advance, so you could answer the professor's questions.
Harry was speechless and felt a bit tired.
Just this afternoon, Gryffindor and Slytherin first-year students had their first Potions class. Professor Snape singled him out precisely among dozens of students, asked several consecutive questions, and deducted five points from Gryffindor after much humiliation.
When will Granger understand that not everyone can memorize textbooks before classes start?
Even if they can memorize them, Professor Snape always finds opportunities to complicate things elsewhere.
He has such obvious malice.
Harry brought the spoon to his mouth, and the hot lamb soup brought some comfort. At least the food at Hogwarts was much better than the Dursleys'...
"Crunch!"
"Crunch!"
The silver knife cut the steak, scraping the ceramic plate with a slightly rough sound. The teachers in the guest seats... didn't matter. While enjoying the food, they talked about what happened during the first week of classes.
Professor Sprout took a sip of wine, suddenly turned, and asked, "Melvin, are the chemical fertilizers used by muggles effective with magical plants?" Melvin, a bit surprised, with knife and fork trembling, replied:
"The teachers at Ilvermorny have conducted experiments, but there is no definitive result. Very few fertilizers are effective, and some even hinder plant growth. Magical plants are different from ordinary plants, so it's more important to meet their preferences than to figure out which fertilizer they lack."
"Can I ask for specific details?"
"I only know one: when the pus of the Bubotuber tuber is at its stinkiest, adding a smelly nitrogen fertilizer will make it more active and mature faster."
"Incredible! I have to try it."
"..."
Dumbledore listened to their conversation, savoring the overly sweet mousse cake.
Another round of conversation broke out, and the professors always had endless topics in common, from repetitive essay writing to forgetting something in Egypt during a trip...
"The arrival of Melvin has revitalized Hogwarts," toasted Professor Flitwick.
"Thanks, Hogwarts."
"Thanks, Hogwarts." Melvin
raised his cup and toasted the professors one by one. Only Snape had a cold expression. Seeing the raised cup in front of him, he touched it reluctantly with a look of disgust.