Charlen was in no hurry about the quest.
The rewards wouldn’t run away anyway.
Even if he left the Horcruxes alone, they would eventually be destroyed, so he just had to sit back and reap the benefits.
The first-year class was scheduled for Monday afternoon.
While Charlen was still preparing in the classroom, a bushy-haired girl had already arrived.
She sat in the front row, holding a textbook that looked as though it had been flipped through countless times over the summer.
Hermione Granger.
She looked very much like she did in the movies, though her front teeth were a size larger.
She looked relatively clean, suggesting that Professor Sprout hadn’t made them do any hands-on work in their first Herbology class.
Back when Charlen was a student, he hadn’t liked Herbology or Potions.
Although his grades were decent, he despised dealing with magical plants and disgusting potion ingredients.
It was especially nauseating whenever Severus Snape gave out detentions forcing students to prep ingredients for him.
“Good afternoon, Professor Gold,” Hermione greeted him, not shy at all.
“Hello, Hermione Granger,” Charlen replied.
Although it was their first meeting, every Hogwarts student had a name tag on their robes.
Hermione looked as if she had a mountain of questions to ask, but she held herself back, knowing that class was about to start.
Soon, the other students began trickling in.
Having already met Charlen, Harry felt relatively close to him.
After all, it was Charlen and Hagrid who had rescued him from that dreadful place and even given him a birthday present.
So as soon as he entered the classroom, he dragged his companion to a seat near the front.
“Hello, Professor.” Harry, who hadn’t experienced Potions class yet, had a face practically glowing with excitement.
Of course, History of Magic in the morning and Herbology in the afternoon hadn’t been very pleasant.
Aside from the History of Magic teacher being a ghost, Harry couldn’t see how either subject had anything to do with magic.
“Hello, Harry.” Charlen glanced at him and pointed out, “You two brought the wrong textbook.” “What?” Harry’s smile froze.
“Oh my goodness, how could you bring *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*?
That’s for Defense Against the Dark Arts!” Hermione leaned over, looking utterly astonished.
“Didn’t you pay attention when you got your booklist over the summer?
It says the textbook for the Pokémon Master class is the *Pokémon Encyclopedia*.” “Sorry, sir, we made a mistake,” Harry said, flushing with embarrassment.
“It’s fine, just remember it next time.
I expect quite a few people made the same mistake,” Charlen said, already spotting a third student who had brought the wrong book.
—Neville Longbottom.
Well, it seemed the boys in that dormitory were a right pair of geniuses.
Neville still hadn’t realized his mistake.
Seeing his two roommates, he trotted over happily and looked at Charlen with eyes full of admiration.
Over the summer, he had read the *Daily Prophet*.
His grandmother had told him that this professor “walks the path of heaven” and was a highly formidable wizard.
“Neville, you brought the wrong textbook too!” Ron groaned, looking entirely despairing.
Neville’s panic was visible to the naked eye.
Before long, the rest of the students arrived in the classroom just before the bell rang.
“Alright, quiet down, please.” Charlen pulled out the register and called the roll.
When he reached the Slytherin students, he took care to “warmly” ask about their family situations.
It seemed most of the first-year wizards didn’t know the full details.
Although the *Daily Prophet* had reported on the matter, the pure-blood families had used their influence to keep the names and families of those defeated by Charlen out of the papers, saving them some shred of dignity.
Even so, quite a few students had their suspicions.
Malfoy’s attitude now was much better than when they had met in Diagon Alley.
After returning home that day, both his mother and his father, who had returned a week later, had warned him to show respect to Professor Gold.
Still, he seemed rather begrudging.
“Excellent.
No one is absent.” Charlen put down the register, then waved his wand, causing the blackboard to morph and shift, looking a bit like a PowerPoint presentation.
“My name is Charlen Gold.
Starting this year and continuing until your seventh year, I will be teaching you a brand-new course: the Pokémon Master class.” “Pokémon—sounds a lot like ‘fantastic beasts,’ doesn’t it?
I’ve noticed about ten students have brought the wrong textbook.
But don’t worry, we won’t be using textbooks for our first lesson,” Charlen reassured them.
This put the students who had realized their mistake at ease.
“Before we officially begin, I’d like to ask: does anyone know what Pokémon are?” As soon as Charlen asked, a hand shot straight up.
“Very well, Miss Granger, go ahead.” Hermione stood up proudly, her face beaming.
“Pokémon, also known as Pocket Monsters, are mysterious and incredible creatures.
There are still many unsolved mysteries surrounding their ecology that humans have yet to unravel.
“Pokémon hatch from eggs, and many can evolve into different Pokémon, growing in size or strength.
They can learn various moves, which they use in battles or other activities.
“Based on their characteristics, they are divided into eighteen types.
For example, Pikachu is an Electric-type Pokémon, while Rattata is a Normal-type.
There are also dual-type Pokémon, like Charizard, which is a Fire- and Flying-type.
Type advantages and disadvantages greatly influence the outcome of battles.” Hermione rattled off the entire definition from the textbook in one breath, then blinked her large eyes at Charlen.
“Excellent.
Two points to Gryffindor.” Harry and Ron stared at her as if she were a monster.
But answering the question wasn’t enough to satisfy Hermione.
She immediately followed up with another question: “Professor, I noticed the textbook mentions eighteen types, but among the hundred and forty-six Pokémon introduced in the book, none are Dark-type.
Why is that?” “An excellent question.
The answer is that the hundred and forty-six Pokémon listed in your textbook are by no means all of them.
In fact, you’ll start learning about Dark-type Pokémon once you enter your second year.” Charlen motioned for her to sit down.
At that moment, Malfoy actually raised his hand.
“Mr.
Malfoy, do you have a question?” Malfoy stood up, speaking in a tone that was half-scornful and half-showy.
“I’m sorry, Professor, but I grew up in the wizarding world and I’ve never heard of anything called ‘Pokémon.’ Is all this really true?
Or does it not even exist?
Otherwise, why would my father never have mentioned them?” He picked up his textbook and flipped to a random page.
“If they really exist, I’m sure I’ll have my father buy me one.”