The following afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall, finishing lunch before their next class.
Hermione had placed two polished buttons between them, proudly explaining that she had transformed them from beetles during Transfiguration that morning.
“What do we have this afternoon?” Harry asked, quickly changing the subject when he noticed Ron was still brooding over his broken wand.
“Defense Against the Dark Arts with Professor Cromwell,” Ron replied after checking his timetable.
His expression immediately brightened.
For once, Hermione did not launch into a detailed explanation of everything she had studied in preparation.
The unusual silence caught Ron’s attention, and he leaned across the table to look at her schedule.
“Why did you cross out all of Professor Cromwell’s classes?” Hermione snatched the parchment away and glared at him.
“Because Professor Cromwell is not a proper teacher.
Just look at the books he assigned us!” She reached into her bag and pulled out three cheaply bound volumes.
None appeared to have been officially published; they looked as though Hogwarts had printed them in a hurry shortly before the term began.
The thickest was titled The Adventurer’s Handbook.
The second read When the Wand Breaks: The Art of Physical Negotiation, while the final book carried the even stranger title Think Like a Rogue: A Battlefield Survival Guide.
“Physical negotiation?
Thinking like a rogue?” Hermione demanded, pointing at the covers.
“These are not subjects young witches and wizards should be studying.
I would rather spend the afternoon rereading Gilderoy Lockhart’s Voyages with Vampires.” “I think Professor Cromwell is all right,” Harry said around a piece of bread covered in jam.
“He defended us last night.” “That was not defending you.
It was irresponsible leniency.” Hermione turned her glare on Harry.
“You broke school rules, endangered yourselves, and nearly exposed the wizarding world.
Instead of explaining why your actions were wrong, he praised you.” “Come on, Hermione,” Ron muttered.
“You’re only upset because we drove here without you.
Anyway, this is the class I’m looking forward to most.” “You’ll regret saying that.” Hermione shoved the three books back into her bag.
“If this lesson is as ridiculous as the reading list, I’m reporting him to Professor McGonagall.” By the time the bell rang, the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom was already filled with second-year Gryffindors and Slytherins.
Draco Malfoy sat in the front row with his feet resting casually on the desk.
Crabbe and Goyle stood nearby while he loudly shared the latest rumor he had heard from his father.
“I heard the new professor is barely older than a seventh-year student.
My father says Dumbledore dragged him out of some swamp in Albania.
Apparently, any wandering nobody can teach at Hogwarts now.” “Shut up, Malfoy,” Harry said from across the room.
Malfoy turned toward him with a sneer.
“What’s wrong, Potter?
Do you already admire him that much?
I heard you and Weasley nearly got expelled last night.
Did your precious professor beg Dumbledore to spare you like a—” Bang!
The classroom door swung open before Malfoy could finish.
Leon Cromwell entered wearing a perfectly tailored black robe.
He carried no heavy spellbooks, only a thin stack of parchment held beneath one arm.
Without looking at Malfoy, Leon walked past the front row and lightly tapped one finger against the edge of the desk.
An invisible force swept Malfoy’s legs aside.
His chair tipped backward, sending him crashing to the floor with a loud thud.
The Slytherins gasped, while the Gryffindors immediately burst into laughter.
“Please maintain proper posture during my class,” Leon said calmly.
Malfoy scrambled upright, his pale face burning with humiliation.
He opened his mouth as though preparing to protest, but Leon’s indifferent expression made him reconsider.
Grinding his teeth, Malfoy returned the chair to its place and sat perfectly straight.
Leon reached the front of the room and turned to face the students.
“My name is Leon Cromwell.
Put away your textbooks.
We will not need them today.” He snapped his fingers, and the stack of parchment rose into the air.
Individual sheets separated and flew across the classroom, landing neatly in front of every student.
“This course will not focus on how elegantly you can wave a wand,” Leon continued.
“I intend to teach you how to recognize danger, respond effectively, and survive.” He gestured toward the parchment.
“Begin by completing this assessment.” Hermione frowned as she read the title printed across the top.
Combat Style Aptitude Test The questions beneath it were unlike anything she had encountered in a Hogwarts class.
Question One: You encounter a ten-foot-tall troll in the forest.
What do you do?
A.
Charge forward and strike its knee with a heavy object.
B.
Climb a tree, wait for it to pass beneath you, and drop a rock on its head.
C.
Remain at a safe distance and attack continuously with spells.
D.
Hide nearby while identifying its weaknesses for your companions.
The next question was even stranger.
Question Two: Which task are you most likely to complete successfully?
A.
Carrying a heavy cauldron without magic.
B.
Escaping down a corridor before Filch catches you.
C.
Solving the puzzle guarding the Ravenclaw common room.
D.
Convincing someone to give you the final slice of pumpkin pie.
Soon, the classroom filled with the scratching of quills.
Even the students who usually disliked written work found themselves fascinated by the unusual choices.
Harry completed the test quickly.
For the first question, he selected the option involving climbing a tree and attacking from above.
For the second, he chose escaping from Filch without hesitation.
Ten minutes later, Leon collected the parchment and scanned the answers.
He turned toward the blackboard and drew a large hexagonal diagram.
At each point, he wrote one of six attributes: [Strength], [Dexterity], [Constitution], [Intelligence], [Wisdom], and [Charisma].
“This is interesting.” Leon tapped the center of the diagram.
“Traditional wizarding education encourages a dangerous misconception.
You are taught to believe that every wizard should fight in exactly the same way—stand still, raise a wand, and exchange spells until someone falls.” He shook his head.
“That approach is foolish.
In a real battle, an intelligent enemy will not stand directly in front of you and wait for a fair duel.” Leon pointed toward [Strength].
“If you are physically powerful, you might use the Levitation Charm to knock an opponent off balance, rush forward, and finish the fight with your fists.
Nothing in the laws of magic says a wizard is forbidden from throwing a punch.” Several Gryffindors grinned at the idea.
He moved his finger toward [Dexterity].
“A quick and quiet person could circle behind an enemy and cast a Stunning Spell before being noticed.
That is far more efficient than announcing your presence and beginning a formal duel.” Finally, he indicated [Intelligence].
“Only someone capable of rapidly judging the situation, choosing the correct spell, and adjusting when the plan fails should rely entirely on attacking from a distance.” Leon stepped away from the board.
“Magic is a tool that allows you to use your natural strengths.
It should never become a chain that limits your thinking.
The purpose of this class is to help each of you discover the most effective way to fight, defend yourself, and stay alive.” A hand shot into the air.
Hermione sat rigidly in her chair, her cheeks flushed with frustration.
“Miss Granger,” Leon said.
“You may speak.” “I’m sorry, Professor, but this is complete nonsense.” Her voice trembled slightly with agitation, but she continued without backing down.
“Defense Against the Dark Arts is supposed to teach us how to deal with dangerous creatures and counter different forms of dark magic.
We are witches and wizards.
Are you suggesting we should put away our wands and charge into battle with swords?” The classroom became completely silent.
Several Slytherins watched with amused expressions, while the Gryffindors looked nervously between Hermione and their new professor.
Leon did not appear offended.
Instead, he smiled at the stubborn young witch and slowly walked down from the platform.
“Miss Granger, as a proud member of Gryffindor House, perhaps you can answer a simple question.” He stopped beside her desk and raised his voice so the entire class could hear.
“What is the most famous relic left behind by Godric Gryffindor, one of the four founders of Hogwarts?” Hermione froze.
The answer was obvious.
Anyone who had read Hogwarts: A History would know it, and she had memorized nearly every page.
“It is… well…” “Louder, Miss Granger.” “It’s a sword,” Hermione admitted.
“A silver sword forged by goblins.” “Correct.
Five points to Gryffindor.” Leon snapped his fingers and turned toward the class.
“A sword.
Not a decorative wand, an enchanted book, or a priceless piece of jewelry.
Godric Gryffindor left behind a sharp, magically enhanced longsword forged from rare materials.” With a casual motion, Leon created an illusion in the air.
A translucent image of Godric Gryffindor appeared before the students, wielding his sword as he charged a towering troll.
“Think carefully.
If Gryffindor believed every wizard should remain at a distance and do nothing but wave a wand, why would he commission the goblins to forge a weapon like that?” Leon paused.
“To cut his steak?” Laughter erupted across the classroom.
Even Malfoy, despite his earlier embarrassment, failed to completely hide a smirk.
Leon allowed the laughter to fade before his expression became serious again.
“The truth is that even Godric Gryffindor understood something modern wizards often forget.
When a monster’s claws are inches from your face, you may not have enough time to pronounce an incantation or aim your wand.” He looked across the room, making sure every student was listening.
“In that situation, the most effective form of defense may be an enchanted longsword removing the monster’s head.” [Milestone: [Milestone: 10 Reviews = +1 Chapter] Enjoyed this chapter?