For the next several days, nearly every conversation at Hogwarts revolved around the petrification of Mrs.
Norris.
Although Leon had defended Harry on the night of the attack, the fact that Harry had discovered the crime scene made him the center of countless rumors.
Wherever he went, students whispered behind his back leaving him frustrated and increasingly uncomfortable.
Defense Against the Dark Arts was the final lesson of the day.
After enduring consecutive periods of Potions and History of Magic, the second-year Gryffindors and Slytherins entered the classroom looking exhausted.
Leon walked through the door, surveyed the sleepy faces, and raised his voice.
“Everyone, wake up.
We won’t be studying from the textbook today.
Instead, we’re going to work on something more interesting.” The effect was immediate.
Students who had been resting their heads on their desks straightened and looked toward him with renewed interest.
“As some of you may already know, I recently completed a new magical tool with help from my three enthusiastic assistants—Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger.” Harry lowered his gaze awkwardly.
Hermione looked surprised but pleased, while Ron seemed delighted to be publicly credited for work he had never actually done.
“This item will become an important part of our lessons from now on.” Most of the students were only twelve years old.
To them, the phrase magical item carried much the same excitement that new toy would have held for Muggle children.
Everyone leaned forward to study the brown wooden box Leon placed on the desk.
He waved his wand, and the lid opened.
Dozens of parchment sheets rose into the air before flying across the classroom and landing neatly in front of each student.
“That’s the magical item?” Malfoy called from the Slytherin side of the room.
“It’s just a piece of parchment.” Several students laughed.
Leon glanced in his direction.
Malfoy wisely closed his mouth.
“This is called an Adventurer’s Record,” Leon continued.
“Using it is simple.” He unfolded the parchment in his hand and touched the center with the tip of his wand.
“Adventure begins.” The students copied him.
Harry placed his wand against the sheet and quietly repeated the phrase.
The old-looking parchment immediately came alive.
Pale blue ink spread across the surface like growing vines, twisting together to create an animated portrait of Harry.
Beside the moving image, several lines of text appeared.
[Name: Harry Potter] [Race: Human] [Chosen Class: None] [Class Level: 0] [Awakening Progress: 89%] A narrow progress bar formed beneath the information, nearly nine-tenths of it filled with dark blue ink.
“Whoa,” Ron whispered beside him.
Harry continued reading.
A six-sided diagram appeared beneath his portrait.
Each point represented one of the six primary attributes Leon had explained during their first lesson: [Strength], [Dexterity], [Constitution], [Intelligence], [Wisdom], and [Charisma].
Inside the hexagon, ink formed an uneven star.
Harry’s strongest points extended toward Dexterity and Charisma, while Strength and Constitution remained noticeably lower.
“This section provides a visual representation of your natural attributes,” Leon explained.
“It does not define your worth, but it can help you recognize your advantages and weaknesses.” He waited until the students had finished studying the diagram.
“Below that, you will find your [Traits].
These are talents, gifts, and unusual abilities you have developed—or qualities you possess without fully realizing them.” Harry looked farther down the parchment.
[Gifted Flyer: Dexterity and control increase while riding a broomstick.] [Parselmouth: Capable of understanding and communicating with serpents.] [The Boy Who Lived: Charisma increased by 1.
Possesses an unusual connection to a powerful undead entity.] Harry’s expression darkened when he reached the final two entries.
He quickly pulled the parchment closer, afraid that Ron, Malfoy, or someone else might see them.
Leon noticed the movement.
“There is no reason to worry, Mr.
Potter.
Each Adventurer’s Record carries a privacy enchantment.
Unless you willingly allow someone to view its contents, the information will remain invisible to everyone else.” Harry relaxed and returned the parchment to the desk.
“Now, put away those astonished expressions.” Leon clapped once and gestured toward the blackboard.
“In our previous lessons, we discussed the differences between Wizards, Sorcerers, Fighters, Clerics, Rogues, Druids, and several other classes.” He looked around the room.
“You were also assigned to choose a class based on your aptitude test and personal goals.
One at a time, bring me your Adventurer’s Record and your written assignment.
Tell me which path you have selected after several weeks of consideration.” Leon sat on the high stool behind his desk.
The students immediately formed a noisy line.
Hermione reached him first and handed over both sheets of parchment.
Leon glanced at the attributes displayed on her record.
[Strength: 6] [Dexterity: 7] [Constitution: 9] [Intelligence: 15 (+1)] [Wisdom: 10] [Charisma: 10] Aside from her extraordinary Intelligence, the rest of Hermione’s attributes were normal for a twelve-year-old girl.
Her base Intelligence was already fifteen, and one of her traits increased it to sixteen—a level many adult witches and wizards would never reach.
She possessed two remarkable traits.
[Sharp Mind: Intelligence increased by 1.
Grants exceptional memory and calculation ability.
Can accurately recall most information seen or heard within the previous month.] [Gifted Learner: Requires half the normal time to understand new academic knowledge and gains twice the normal progress through structured study.] Leon silently marveled at the results.
Hermione’s gifts were almost perfectly designed for the Wizard class.
He opened her assignment.
“You chose Wizard.” Hermione nodded confidently.
“I considered the other options, Professor, but Wizards have the widest access to spells.
I also prefer learning through research and preparation.” “An excellent choice.” Leon stamped the assignment.
“You were born for this path, Miss Granger.
With your talent and work ethic, your future accomplishments may eventually rival my own.” Hermione’s cheeks turned bright red.
She accepted the parchment and hurried away, unable to hide her delighted smile.
Before returning to her seat, she proudly showed the mark to Ron.
Harry approached next.
Leon had already examined his attributes before, but Harry seemed uneasy about the Parselmouth and Boy Who Lived traits displayed on his record.
“Every ability has a purpose, Harry,” Leon said quietly.
“Whether it becomes a gift or a burden depends upon how you choose to use it.
Learning that distinction is part of this course.” “I understand, Professor.” Harry lowered his gaze, thoughtfully studying the parchment.
Leon picked up his assignment.
“Sorcerer.
Good.
It appears you considered my advice.” Harry nodded.
“Magic has always happened when I needed it, even before I knew I was a wizard.
I thought Sorcerer made more sense than Fighter or Rogue.” Leon stamped the paper and handed it back.
“A reasonable conclusion.” “Sorcerer?” Malfoy said from behind Harry.
“Potter must think he’s incredibly charming.” Harry glared at him before returning to Hermione.
Malfoy swaggered forward with his own parchment.
“My Charisma is thirteen, Professor.
That has to be one of the highest scores in the class.” Leon accepted the record and examined the results.
[Strength: 7] [Dexterity: 10] [Constitution: 10] [Intelligence: 8] [Wisdom: 9] [Charisma: 13] Malfoy possessed only one unusual trait, though it was exactly what Leon would have expected.
[Master Provocateur: Naturally skilled at provoking anger through speech, reducing a target’s patience and rational judgment.] Leon nearly laughed.
“Mr.
Malfoy, your trait is certainly distinctive.” “I know.” Malfoy lifted his chin proudly.
“I intend to become a Sorcerer.
It’s the natural class for someone from an ancient pure-blood family.” Leon glanced at the assignment.
“I don’t question your ancestry or confidence, Draco.
However, anyone who carefully studied The Adventurer’s Handbook should know that Bards choose a specialized college as they develop.” Malfoy’s expression faltered.
He had clearly not read that chapter carefully.
“The College of Eloquence grants abilities that weaken an opponent through carefully chosen words,” Leon continued.
“One such ability is called [Unsettling Words].
Your natural trait would combine with it remarkably well.” “A Bard?” Malfoy frowned.
The name clearly lacked the intimidating quality he wanted.
“Do not be misled by the title.” Leon leaned closer and lowered his voice as though sharing an important secret.
“A Sorcerer mainly relies upon instinctive spellcasting.
Some even struggle to control the magical energy flowing through their bodies.
Such an undisciplined path may not suit someone as refined as Draco Malfoy.” Malfoy’s expression slowly changed.
“A Bard, however, controls the battlefield through language, confidence, and artistry.
It requires exceptional taste, presence, and eloquence.” Leon gave him a meaningful look.
“I doubt anyone else in this classroom is more qualified.
Consider it carefully before making a final decision.” Malfoy walked away in deep thought, wearing a faintly smug expression.
Convincing a twelve-year-old was not difficult, especially when the argument appealed directly to his pride.
More importantly, Leon had no desire to waste a trait that fit the Bard class so perfectly.
The remaining students approached one after another.
Most selected Wizard, since it most closely resembled the traditional magical education they already understood.
Several Gryffindors chose Fighter or Ranger, while the impulsive Seamus Finnigan confidently declared that he intended to become a Barbarian.
Many Slytherins preferred Sorcerer, Rogue, or Warlock, usually because the names sounded powerful and mysterious.
Leon advised each student based on their attributes, personalities, and natural talents.
Still, he suspected many would eventually abandon their original decisions and return to the Wizard path.
Everyone wants to become a Wizard until they discover how much studying it requires.
Constructing spell models inside the mind demanded intense concentration.
A student also needed to memorize casting ranges, components, formulas, gestures, material requirements, and countless possible spell combinations.
Leon saw no reason to discourage them yet.
Experience would eventually convince the unsuitable students to choose another path.
Neville Longbottom’s choice genuinely surprised him.
The timid Gryffindor had not selected any of the safer ranged classes.
Instead, the word Paladin was written clearly across his assignment.
“The strength of a Paladin comes from an oath, Mr.
Longbottom,” Leon said seriously.
“This is not an easy class.
Do you possess a belief powerful enough to dedicate your life to it?” Neville raised his head.
For a moment, his gaze seemed to pass through Leon and toward a distant hospital ward at St.
Mungo’s.
“Revenge,” he whispered.
Leon remained silent.
“I want revenge against the evil that took away my family’s happiness,” Neville continued.
“The book says there is an oath called the Oath of Vengeance.” Leon studied the round-faced boy for several seconds before stamping the assignment with solemn care.
“That is one of the most difficult paths you could choose.
Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing where it leads you, Neville.” By the time Ron stepped forward, only a handful of students remained in the classroom.
He glanced toward Harry and Hermione, who were waiting beside the door, then took a deep breath and handed Leon his parchment.
Ron’s attributes were ordinary.
[Strength: 8] [Dexterity: 9] [Constitution: 9] [Intelligence: 7] [Wisdom: 9] [Charisma: 9] Compared to Harry, Hermione, and even Malfoy, Ron possessed no exceptional score.
Leon knew, however, that numbers could not measure everything.
Ron demonstrated impressive tactical thinking during wizard chess.
He trusted his companions completely, willingly risked himself for their sake, and possessed a kind of unpredictable luck that often mattered more than talent.
Leon had expected him to choose Bard, particularly a path focused on supporting and inspiring allies.
Instead, the word Fighter appeared across the top of his assignment.
Leon looked up.
“A Fighter?” Ron nodded nervously.
“Forgive my honesty, but your Strength and Constitution are not exceptional.
Choosing this class means placing your body between dangerous creatures and your companions.
You may have to sacrifice the convenience of magic and face curses at close range.” Leon placed the assignment on the desk.
“You do not possess an obvious natural talent for it.” “I know.” Ron’s face turned red, and his hands trembled slightly, but he refused to look away.
He pointed toward Harry and Hermione.
“Harry chose Sorcerer, and Hermione chose Wizard.
Those are the right classes for them.” Ron swallowed.
“But both of those classes usually fight from the back.
They need someone in front of them.” His voice shook, though every word remained clear.
“If we face another troll, or a three-headed dog, or anything worse, someone has to stand between the monster and them.” Ron clenched his hands.
“I may not be especially good at magic.
I might not be strong either.
But I can still stand in front.” Leon stared at him.
Ron had not made his decision because of talent, ambition, or personal strength.
He had chosen the class because his friends needed someone willing to protect them.
A genuine smile appeared on Leon’s face.
He stamped the assignment.
“This is the highest-scoring answer I have received today, Mr.
Weasley.” Ron’s face went pale, apparently believing he had misunderstood.
Leon handed the parchment back.
“It is also the most adventurer-like answer anyone has given me.
“He turned toward the rest of the classroom.
“Ten points to Gryffindor—for Ron Weasley and his remarkable sense of chivalry.” 500 = +1 Chapter] [Review Goal: 10 = +1 Chapter]