"What?" Michael looked bewildered.
Hogwarts has a seven-year curriculum, but if you don't pass any Ordinary Wizarding Level exams (also known as OWLs), you'll have to leave school after graduating in the fifth year. Michael didn't understand why Vid was asking such a well-known question.
"Seven years." Vid said with some solemnity: "A year is only fifty-two weeks, and if you subtract the summer and Christmas holidays, we can only spend about thirty-eight weeks in school a year, which is just 266 weeks in seven years!"
"Uh..." Michael thought for a moment, "That's true—so what?"
"So... even if I could finish a book in a week, in seven years, that would only be 266 books! But how many books are there in the Hogwarts library? Thousands! It's like a vault filled with treasures, open for you to take as you please, but after taking a stroll, you only leave with a small bag of Golden Galleons. Don't you think it's a waste?"
Michael felt he made a good point, and he suddenly felt a sense of urgency, like time was running out.
"And just think," Vid continued, "only in these seven years... no, 266 weeks, can we be in the safest place in the world and ask questions of the greatest contemporary wizards at any time: we are taught Transfiguration by Professor McGonagall, one of only seven Animagus masters of the 20th century, spells are taught by the dueling competition champion Professor Flitwick, potions are taught by Master of Potions Professor Snape... Although the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor isn't the best, where else can you find such a great learning environment after leaving Hogwarts? Once you graduate and encounter advanced magic or potion problems, who else can selflessly guide you, teaching you hand-on-hand what to do? When you want to learn powerful spells later but can't find a way in, wouldn't it be too late to miss Hogwarts's library then?"
It wasn't just Michael; a circle of students who had somehow quieted down couldn't help but nod.
"So, Michael—" Vid asked solemnly, "do you still think spending one-seventh of the time to learn only eight books is enough?"
Completely convinced by Vid's theory, Michael shook his head vigorously, wanting to say something but held back, feeling slightly anxious thinking about the two weeks he had already "wasted."
He didn't chat with the girls anymore and fished out the "Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration" that he had tossed into a corner and began to study.
For a moment, the Ravenclaw Common Room became quiet, with only the sounds of pages turning and quills writing. This made two fifth-year students, who rushed back just in time for curfew, think that Professor Snape had invaded the Ravenclaw Common Room, so they didn't even dare to breathe loudly as they quietly crept back to their dormitory.
......
During dinner in the Great Hall.
"Something's not right, Fred."
"Yes, something is definitely not right, George."
The red-headed twins exchanged glances, and they simultaneously reached out, randomly grabbing a student from Ravenclaw College, pinning him on their house table before he could yell.
"What are you two up to, Weasleys?" the Ravenclaw boy they pinned down said irritably, "I don't have time for your pranks."
"Huh? What?" Ron, who was gnawing on a chicken leg, raised his head in confusion.
"None of your business, Ronnie Jr.!" Fred pushed his brother's head back down, and the twins, each draping an arm around the Ravenclaw boy's neck, asked, "Davis, what's happening with you Ravenclaws lately?"
"Reading during meals—"
"Walking with books—"
"Not many Ravenclaw students are seen in the courtyard during lunch break—"
"Quidditch practices aren't as enthusiastic as before—"
"Not even going on dates during weekends!"
"You weren't so keen on reading books before, were you?"
"Seriously, did Snape secretly give you all some potion?"
"—Like a Love Potion called 'Love for Learning,' maybe."
Imagining Professor Snape with something that smelled pink like a Love Potion, Roger Davies couldn't help shivering, "Stop talking nonsense, Professor Snape wouldn't use Love Potions... No, I mean, there's no such Love Potion... No, we just suddenly realized—life is short, and the time available for learning is even shorter."
"Huh?" The Weasley twins stared at him in confusion.
Roger Davies took a deep breath, looking solemnly at the twins: "Fred, George, do you know how long we get to stay at Hogwarts?"
Fred silently reached out to feel his forehead.
"I haven't burned out my brain!" Davies slapped Fred's hand away, seriously explaining theories like "266 weeks," "thousands of books," and "not studying hard is like entering a treasure mountain and coming back empty-handed."
After he finished speaking, Davies hugged his book and went to the Ravenclaw table for dinner, while the Weasley brothers looked at each other, and even Harry and Ron, who were originally focused on eating, unconsciously stopped.
The spirit of diligent learning began quietly spreading throughout Hogwarts.
Of course, most are only passionate for three minutes. For example, Ron, who only worked hard enough to finish his Magic History essay, then started playing with his moving Wizard's Chess; like the twins, they still spent most of their time on pranks and magical tricks research. But some were quietly inspired to start working hard.
Michael was one of those who studied intermittently. He was smart but not diligent, sometimes influenced by Vid to work hard for a period, but he would soon be attracted to something more interesting, like using magic to make little paper figures fight or discussing music or fashion with pretty girls.
The practice room was mostly occupied by Vid, Hermione, Theo, and Leian.
Occasionally, Professor Sprout from Herbology would come to have a look, probably worried they were doing something dangerous. After seeing the practice room's arrangements and the group's learning results, she praised them profusely, awarding five points to each house, stating that students could ask her questions whenever she was free, and she was more than willing to help solve their puzzles.
Professor Sprout was a very gentle and amiable witch. She rarely treated students differently based on their house, only favoring those who showed special talent in Herbology. It wasn't long before Professor Sprout recommended a Gryffindor student to their study group—Neville Longbottom.
The round-faced boy was simple and honest, showing great clumsiness in learning. He learned spells more slowly than anyone else but worked very hard and didn't cause trouble, quickly integrating into their small group.
One weekend night, a notice pinned on the common room's bulletin board stirred all the first-year students—they would start flying lessons the following week!