"...Year Three Group, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff 'Protect the Captain' match has entered a white-hot stage!
We have to marvel at the Weasley twins' and Angelina Johnson's superb flying skills. Ordinary attacks have almost no effect on them. Of course, Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff has also shown the strength to dominate the field!"
On the octagon cage platform, Ares personally commentated on the match for his colleagues.
"Everyone, look! Miss Johnson of Gryffindor is tackling the Boggart located in the clearing on the Bottom Lane... Oh, confusing, Miss Johnson's greatest fear is actually a steel wool ball... Why is that? Truly confusing!
But—ah, look everyone, Miss Hamilton of Hufflepuff is already approaching the Boggart in the clearing on the Top Lane... Who will be the first to succeed, she or Miss Johnson...
Here comes the most exciting moment. The Weasley twins have cornered Mr. Cedric Diggory in the Turning Canyon!"
"Don't give up easily, Diggory!"
Professor Sprout's chubby face was almost completely pressed into the vine fence, and her patched hat had slipped to one side, but she didn't have time to straighten it!
Seeing Professor Sprout drop her composure to cheer for her house members, Professor McGonagall, flushed with excitement, finally abandoned her reserve and waved her arms too.
"For Merlin's sake, Fred, George, it's two against one! There's no reason to let him get away!"
"The situation seems bad for Mr. Diggory!"
Ares raised his voice, reclaiming the initiative.
"Diggory and Fred Weasley are both captains, with equally thick health bars and equally excellent flying skills. But Fred Weasley has his brother's help. It looks like... Ah, Angelina Johnson has defeated that steel wool ball... Nice, the Weasley twins immediately activated the acceleration mode—Oh, brilliant! Miss Hamilton also overcame her psychological barrier...
So... yes, indeed, Mr. Diggory has activated the Slow Field. Negative times negative equals positive, completely canceling out the Weasley twins' speed advantage... He's really tenacious, persistently skirmishing... He, oh, Diggory's help has arrived, and it's two of them—looks like Gryffindor is in danger now!"
[Congratulations to Hufflepuff's Cedric Diggory for the final blow, successfully killing Gryffindor's Fred Weasley!]
"Let's applaud Mr. Diggory's tenacity, and congratulations to Hufflepuff for winning twenty house points... Ah, of course, at the same time, Gryffindor loses ten points!"
Ares let out a long breath and gave the final verdict on the match result.
"Two against one, you should have taken him down long ago!"
Professor McGonagall shouted indignantly down into the Mist Valley.
"I'm going to give you detent—oh, at least make your homework essay a foot longer!"
"Oh, save your energy, Minerva!"
Professor Sprout struggled to pull her flushed face out of the fence and smiled at Professor McGonagall.
"They can't hear you."
"I know!"
Professor McGonagall panted.
"I was just... venting, Pomona!"
"It seems I have proven to you all that there are commendable aspects to this method?"
Ares said with a beaming smile.
"Absolutely, Ares!"
To watch this match, Professor Flitwick had even changed his afternoon class to self-study. Having witnessed this "Protect the Captain" match, which was several times more intense than the morning one, his pale beard was sticking up with excitement, and his voice was trembling.
"I really don't know where you got such a genius idea!"
"Thank you, Filius—"
Ares bowed gracefully to Professor Flitwick, then looked gently at the three ladies who held different opinions.
"Um... what do you three think?"
"At least as a competition, in terms of watchability and intensity, it's not much worse than a Quidditch match."
Madam Hooch tried hard to suppress her love for "Protect the Captain" and kept a straight face.
"I only care about order in the library, Professor Delfino!"
Although her shirt was soaked with sweat from the intense match, Madam Pince still kept a stern face.
"As long as you can control them so they don't mess around in the library, I don't care how you teach!"
"It seems you did adopt some methods to prevent collision injuries... Very good. I think those magical cloaks of yours could also be used in future Quidditch matches, to avoid someone always ending up with broken limbs after every game—"
Madam Pomfrey still wore a hesitant face.
"But I still suspect that incorporating this teaching model into daily routine will greatly increase the probability of student injuries... At least, I don't think this teaching model is suitable for new students."
Basically, the opinions held were similar to those at noon—neither fully approving nor fully disapproving.
"And your final opinion, Professor Dumbledore,"
Nodding slightly, Ares finally turned his smiling face to Dumbledore, who was weighing the pros and cons.
"Do you think I can continue running this competitive teaching?"
Is there a deeper intention hidden behind Ares Delfino's behavior?
Although his aged face wore an expression of great interest, uneasiness flickered in Dumbledore's heart!
"Of course you can continue running it, Ares," Dumbledore said pleasantly, suppressing the vague unease in his heart.
"Since we allow students to hold the Quidditch Cup at Hogwarts, in my view, there is probably no reason to forbid them from playing this... 'Protect the Captain' game.
Although, in my opinion, the educational value of this game remains to be seen."
Dumbledore pondered, speaking slowly.
Definitely more helpful to students than the future Gilderoy Lockhart.
Ares smiled faintly and nodded.
"But Poppy and Rolanda's concerns are not entirely unreasonable, Ares," Dumbledore said gently.
"This game involves intense confrontation after all.
For first-year students who haven't undergone professional flight training, attempting this game... my view is that it's a bit too early. They need us to teach them basic spellcasting skills hand-in-hand... Pure self-study might lead them astray."
"So you mean?"
"For students in second year and above, I can agree to let you continue trying this teaching method, but for first-year students, let's stick to traditional teaching methods, shall we, Ares?"
Dumbledore made the final decision.
"Oh, I'm not sure..."
Ares rubbed his lips a few times, raising an eyebrow noncommittally.
"...what the new students will think after hearing your decision, Professor Dumbledore. They might not be too grateful for the school prioritizing their personal safety so much."
"But we must prioritize their safety, mustn't we?"
Hearing Ares subtly express dissatisfaction, Dumbledore actually felt relieved. But this also strengthened his resolve.
After all, if this competition were fully integrated into daily teaching...
If... if...
It would be too easy for Ares Delfino to make certain accidents look like accidents.
He couldn't put Harry in a risky situation anymore.
Although he hadn't figured out the cause and effect of the train losing control yet, he really couldn't take the risk... Whether the wizarding world could have a bright future depended largely on that child.
That child... was destined to go through severe challenges, but... not now.
Now, he wasn't ready, he was too young!
"Stop the 'Protect the Captain' competition for the first years, Ares,"
In a flash, thoughts raced through Dumbledore's mind. He withdrew his aura slightly, staring at Ares with burning eyes.
"This is my order."