Harry asked, puzzled, "How did you know?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. Spending so much time around these two was starting to make her feel like the sharpest mind in the room—a smug satisfaction, but one that grew tiring if she dwelled on it too long.
"Isn't it obvious?" she said. "Look at all those desks and chairs they're lugging around."
Harry let out an "Oh," oblivious once again to how she'd outmaneuvered his thinking.
Just then, a few sharp-eyed Hufflepuff first-years spotted Erwin.
"Slytherin's here! Erwin's here!"
The group of little Hufflepuffs surged toward him, buzzing with excitement.
The Slytherins, without prompting, swiftly formed a protective line in front of Erwin. Several burly older students stood at the forefront, their broad shoulders like living barriers.
It was an impressive sight, no denying it.
Erwin waved them off with a grin. "Stand aside, everyone. We're all housemates—no need for the fanfare."
The Slytherins parted, creating a path.
One of the Hufflepuffs stepped forward eagerly. "Mr. Erwin, Professor Sprout says we can join your morning study sessions with the Slytherins!"
Erwin nodded, already piecing it together from the clutter of furniture. "In that case, come on in. The Slytherin common room's plenty spacious for all of us. I'll have someone brief you on the house rules shortly—just stick to them. Chat with your peers if you need help, or ask me, but keep it quiet so no one gets disturbed."
The Hufflepuffs nodded vigorously, their faces alight with anticipation. This was their chance to learn from Erwin himself—an opportunity too thrilling to pass up.
As the students filed into the common room one by one, Erwin noticed Professor Sprout arriving a touch late, her usual bundle of enthusiasm in tow.
She approached with a warm smile, and Erwin greeted her promptly. "Good morning, Professor."
"Young man," she said, beaming, "those children are in your hands now. I have every faith in you. Under your guidance, I reckon their marks will shoot up just like the Slytherins'. Don't hold anything back!"
Erwin chuckled. "You overestimate me, Professor. Of course I won't. I'll pass on everything I know. Though truth be told, it's all borrowed from you and the other professors—I'm just the messenger. My own grasp isn't deep enough for advanced lessons. For the real profound stuff, they'll need to turn to you lot."
Professor Sprout's grin widened. She tapped his forehead lightly with her finger. "Clever lad, always with the smooth words. Truth is, I won't be popping into the common room after today—too much excitement for my old bones this early. Flitwick and McGonagall feel the same, so we'll leave the little ones to you. We trust your knack for it."
Erwin paused, considering. "Regular study time in the common rooms should be straightforward—the prefects can handle that. The real risk comes during spell practice. What if we merged the practice rooms for all four houses, Professor? I could supervise there, and the seventh-years could pitch in. That ought to cover it."
She mulled it over. "Sensible idea. All right, I'll chat with Flitwick and McGonagall about it straight away."
Erwin dipped his head in a slight bow. "As your student, I'll never forget the care you and the professors put in. I'm truly grateful."
"Off you go, then," she said with a wink. "Those Hufflepuffs are probably bursting with questions. Work hard, or we'll have a laugh when they stump you!"
"With you all teaching me," Erwin replied, smiling, "I doubt any puzzle could trip me up for long. If it does, I'll come straight to you for help."
Professor Sprout watched him with growing affection. If she had a daughter, she'd have half a mind to see her matched with a fine young wizard like Erwin.
Erwin, blissfully unaware of her musings, headed inside. Had he known, he'd have set the record straight: between the pure-blood families, Voldemort as a former teacher, and even Grindelwald as a distant figure, he had few outright foes. The rest? Shadows he couldn't quite pinpoint. It made alliances a tricky business.
In the common room, Professor Sprout's prediction rang true. The Hufflepuffs unleashed a torrent of questions—ones too basic to bother their own seniors or professors with, or ones that had come back too convoluted to grasp.
Erwin's explanations, however, cut straight to the heart of things. He never flaunted his pure-blood status, but one edge he held close was his grounding in Muggle academic training: a focus on practical application over rote drudgery. These young witches and wizards often studied without spark, but Erwin's mature perspective—honed by disciplined methods—let him unravel complexities with ease.
He used simple analogies and step-by-step breakdowns, turning dense theory into something engaging and straightforward. What had baffled them under professors or older students suddenly clicked, revealing why Slytherin scores had soared so fast.
The Hufflepuffs left enlightened and eager, though the session left Erwin drained. A full morning of queries had tested his reserves. Still, the rewards were tangible: house points for Hufflepuff, a surge of wizarding acclaim for him, and the quiet satisfaction of progress.
Meanwhile, another milestone unfolded. Draco and Harry had finally warmed to Hermione's sharp insights. Her thirst for adventure sealed the deal, and she joined their budding trio without hesitation.
The story was veering into uncharted territory, inching forward all the same.