Three weeks into the term, apart from eating a little more slowly, Lynn's schedule was almost identical to last semester.
Every spare minute was spent on extra reading in the Library, with only one new duty added: teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts to her classmates.
Under Lynn's guidance, the Little Eagles, Little Badgers, and Little Lions she instructed had thoroughly mastered Expelliarmus, Stupefy, and the Impediment Jinx.
On average they met once a week, mastering one spell per session.
Yet for Lynn, 'mastered' meant not only casting the spell, but using it flexibly in real combat.
To achieve that, she staged mock duels with them every class.
Each duel ended with her wand invariably sent flying.
Frankly, her acting skills were poor—and she wasn't even trying. Every Young Wizard in the self-study group could tell she was letting herself be disarmed.
Still, everyone understood it was Lynn's kindness, so no one mentioned it.
After all… after one lesson it felt great to see you'd actually learned something useful!
During those three weeks Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, and Professor Sprout all happened to pass the classroom where Lynn held her sessions.
Their own Young Wizards were studying Defense Against the Dark Arts under her; of course they cared.
Hence the three Heads found excuses to stroll by now and then.
After one such detour, however, they stopped going, reassured.
Lynn taught excellently—this was the unanimous verdict after each Head had observed a session.
The three were already discussing what terms Hogwarts would have to offer to keep her on staff after graduation.
A Young Wizard so talented, clearly destined for even greater things and already a gifted teacher—how could they not want to keep her?
So they negotiated in advance, aiming to make their offer more attractive than the Ministry of Magic or any other destination she might choose.
Lynn knew nothing of the three Heads' plans; to her, school life allowed only one focus: study.
Provided… nothing extraordinary happened.
Eating dinner while reading a book beside her plate, Lynn was so absorbed she paid no attention to what Maranhao and Marietta Edgecombe were saying.
'Merlin's eyes, what's wrong with Slytherin now? They're staring at Gryffindor like sworn enemies—what grudge have they cooked up this time?'
Maranhao clicked her tongue at the Slytherin table and nudged Marietta with an elbow.
Maranhao's sources were usually reliable; she expected Marietta would know.
Marietta glanced up, shrugged, and looked unimpressed.
'Oh, they've cooked up another grudge all right.'
'What happened?' Maranhao laid down her knife and fork, eyes sparkling at Marietta; her curiosity was hooked.
'It's Saturday, so both the Gryffindor House Team and the Slytherin House Team went to the Quidditch Pitch for practice.'
'Then they started quarrelling?' Maranhao lifted a knowing brow.
'Mm-hmm.' Marietta nodded.
'Malfoy made the Slytherin House Team this year, and his father bought the whole team Nimbus Two Thousand and Ones; their Captain and Malfoy used that to mock the Gryffindor House Team.'
Maranhao nodded along; she knew Gryffindors would never swallow that insult.
Sure enough, 'Hermione shot back with a sarcastic jab at Malfoy. He's been a powder keg since our little campaign got under his skin—one spark and he exploded, saying things he shouldn't have.'
Marietta frowned deeply; she loathed the word as much as anyone.
'Again—mudblood?' Maranhao mouthed the last word.
Marietta gave a firm nod; Maranhao rolled her eyes in disgust.
'Stupid Pure-blood families.'
Marietta glanced at Lynn, a slight smile tugging at her lips. 'It didn't end there—and we have Lynn to thank.'
Hearing her full name, Lynn quickly swallowed her steak and looked at Marietta.
Thank her? What for this time?
Instinctively she tried to puzzle it out, but with too little information she drew a blank.
Marietta patted Lynn's head in mock fondness and explained gently,
'Almost everyone on the Gryffindor House Team attends our self-study group. When they heard Malfoy's slur they simply drew their wands.'
'The Slytherin House Team got thrashed—badly.'
Maranhao clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle laughter. 'Then we really do owe Lynn.'
Thanks to her, the Lions' spell-work and combat reflexes in Defense Against the Dark Arts had improved so much that they flattened the Snakes with ease.
One wondered whether, had the Slytherins joined Lynn's group, they'd be regretting it now.
Maranhao shook her head. No—perhaps some Slytherins might think that way,
but fanatics of pure-blood supremacy like Marcus Flint and Draco Malfoy would probably just blame Lynn.
Something occurred to Maranhao and she glanced toward the Staff Table. 'Didn't Professor Snape say anything?'
He usually favoured Slytherin outrageously; this time, after their team was beaten by Gryffindor, his silence was… suspicious.
'Professor Snape was actually fair,' Marietta said, nose wrinkling in surprise. 'He gave Harry and Ron detention—they hit hardest.'
'Flint and Malfoy, the ones who insulted Hermione, lost points and got detention too.'
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