Chapter 22: The Quiet Storm at Hogwarts
Douglas had already thought ahead.
If students ended up with three or four additional structured study periods each day, the other professors would eventually notice. But even if some of that time came from what had previously been morning reading or unstructured self-study, the outcome would still benefit the school.
After all, more lessons meant more opportunities—and for Douglas personally, it also meant more points.
For now, the system showed nothing particularly extraordinary.
But Douglas was certain that once the points accumulated, more functions would gradually unlock.
Still, this was only the first day of term. It was far too early to bring up such matters.
The advantages of his teaching method over the traditional Hogwarts approach had yet to fully reveal themselves.
That would take time.
Setting those thoughts aside, Douglas handed the document in his hand to Professor McGonagall, ending their earlier discussion.
McGonagall took the file and glanced at the title.
"There shouldn't be any issue with this," she said calmly. "The school still has plenty of unused classrooms. You may select one as a practical training area."
Douglas didn't respond. Instead, he gestured for her to continue reading.
As McGonagall moved further down the document, her expression gradually grew more serious.
Douglas rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"Douglas," she said at last, looking up sharply, "this idea of yours is certainly interesting. And as the professor responsible for the course, you do have the authority to suggest it."
She tapped the parchment lightly.
"In fact, Hogwarts used a similar teaching approach many years ago. But at that time, the danger level was considerably higher."
She paused.
"There were simply too many injured students."
"In the end, the Ministry of Magic intervened, and the curriculum was adjusted to become far safer."
Her eyes fixed on him.
"So tell me—how do you plan to guarantee the students' safety?"
There was both admiration and concern in her gaze.
Douglas nodded immediately.
He completely agreed with her concern.
Leaning forward slightly, he lowered his voice and explained his plan.
McGonagall frowned and promptly rapped him on the head with the document.
"There is no one else here," she said dryly. "Why are you whispering like that?"
Douglas coughed.
"I'm just worried the information might leak," he said sheepishly. "If the students heard in advance, they might prepare ahead of time."
After the two finished discussing the details, Douglas returned to his office.
He had only just brewed himself another pot of tea when—
Bang, bang, bang.
Someone knocked energetically at the door.
"Come in," Douglas called.
The door opened, and six students filed in one after another.
They were all the class representatives he had appointed that day.
"Good evening, Professor!"
Douglas poured six cups of tea and gestured toward the chairs.
"Well then. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen."
He pushed the cups toward them.
"Have some tea first. Then I'll assign your tasks."
Shirley, the fifth-year Ravenclaw representative, along with the Weasley twins and Hermione, immediately dragged chairs forward and sat down without hesitation.
Valentine Webb, the third-year Hufflepuff representative, hesitated briefly before sitting as well, gently pulling the nervous first-year representative, Martz Hew, down beside him.
Douglas offered what he believed to be a reassuring smile.
Then he pulled two stacks of parchment from his desk and handed them over.
"Miss Shirley, Mr. Weasley," he said, "your task is to mark the exam papers from today's lesson."
"Afterward, choose a suitable time to go over each question with the class."
He pointed toward the adjoining office.
"The answer key is next door."
He looked at them expectantly.
"Can you manage that?"
Shirley immediately took the stack of Ravenclaw papers.
After checking the first sheet—where the correct answers had already been filled in—she nodded seriously.
"No problem, Professor."
In truth, Douglas hardly needed to explain.
Several Ravenclaw students with excellent memories had already written down the questions from the test and were searching for the answers.
The Weasley twins, however, looked miserable.
"Professor, we believe there's a problem here," George said.
"Yes," Fred added. "Isn't this taking up our free time?"
Douglas ignored the protest and placed the stack of papers directly into their hands.
"Time is like the water of the Black Lake," he said calmly. "It's always there."
He smiled.
"Come now. I believe in you."
Then he added quietly,
"I'll be asking random questions during the next lesson. If even one student answers incorrectly…"
He chuckled softly.
The twins shivered.
They exchanged pained looks before reluctantly accepting the papers and muttering to each other under their breath.
Meanwhile, Hermione had already taken out a sheet of parchment.
"Professor, this is the essay I've finished. Please have a look."
She added quickly,
"So far, three students have already memorized the material. The others are still reciting in the common room."
"I've reminded the three who finished to start their homework."
Douglas stared at her in genuine surprise.
He had not expected Hermione to successfully organize Gryffindor's famously chaotic common room into a place of study.
Webb, the Hufflepuff representative, glanced sideways at Hermione.
Miss Know-It-All was already well known across the school—but he had not realized she was this capable.
He sighed quietly.
His own housemates were currently lounging in the Hufflepuff common room eating fruit and chatting, confident that there was still plenty of time before the next lesson.
The thought made Martz Hew, the first-year representative beside him, lower his head in embarrassment.
He himself had not yet memorized the material.
Neither had any of his classmates.
He had never imagined Hogwarts could become this competitive.
Some people had already memorized the lesson on the very first day.
Douglas took the third-year textbook from Webb and passed it to Hermione.
"Miss Granger, please listen while Mr. Webb and Mr. Hew recite their material."
"I'll review your essay."
Hew flushed bright red and raised his hand timidly.
"Professor Holmes… I haven't memorized the first section yet…"
Douglas wasn't surprised.
He simply told Hermione and Webb to begin their recitation at the desk.
Then he turned to Hew.
"That's fine. You can stay here and finish memorizing."
"Return once you've done it properly."
He added gently,
"This isn't a punishment."
"If you want to be an excellent class representative, you'll need to put in effort that others don't."
Then he smiled.
"I have high expectations for you."
Hew nodded earnestly.
"Professor, I won't disappoint you."
He swallowed nervously.
"I've almost memorized it already. Just a little more and I'll be able to recite it."
Douglas patted the boy on the head.
"Good. Keep going."
For a brief moment, Douglas was reminded of his own childhood—standing in a teacher's office reciting text.
Though in his case, it had been because he was a poor student.
Douglas sipped his tea while reading Hermione's essay.
Her writing was precise and methodical.
He could tell she had put real effort into it.
She had even cited several Ministry of Magic regulations within the paper.
Before he realized it, Wednesday had arrived.
Over the past two days, the atmosphere at Hogwarts had become… unusual.
The tension that normally appeared only among fifth- and seventh-year students preparing for their major exams had now spread throughout the school.
Under the pressure of Douglas's unconventional teaching methods, Ravenclaw students suddenly felt their reputation as the school's top academic house was under threat from Gryffindor and Slytherin.
The most obvious example appeared during meals.
Gryffindor and Slytherin students could frequently be seen holding textbooks at the dining tables, reciting aloud while eating.
After finishing a sentence, they would glare fiercely at one another across the hall.
It looked almost as though the moment they finished reciting about Boggarts, zombies, or vampires, those creatures might appear and attack the opposing house.
Meanwhile, the Ravenclaw table sat directly between them.
While quietly reciting their own material, Ravenclaw students occasionally leaned over to ask their neighbors how far they had progressed.
If a Gryffindor or Slytherin student mispronounced a spell or creature's name, a Ravenclaw would politely correct them.
The result was that the two rival houses, who had been glaring at each other moments before, suddenly froze in embarrassment, checked their books, and continued reciting with renewed determination.
The Hufflepuffs, meanwhile, sat watching the spectacle while drinking pumpkin juice and flipping through their textbooks.
Unfortunately, attempting to read, observe the drama, and eat at the same time meant they rarely remembered anything once the meal was finished.
Thankfully, the situation in the Great Hall mainly affected the lower years.
Fourth- and fifth-year students who had not yet attended Douglas's classes were already circulating copies of the exam papers from Ravenclaw and Gryffindor.
They quietly memorized the answers written on them.
Meanwhile, the students who had already taken the test watched with secret amusement.
Regardless of house rivalries, there was one piece of information none of them would share:
Douglas had given different questions to every year—and every house.
When those confident students finally sat the test, they would discover that none of the answers they had memorized matched the exam at all.
As for the increasingly unusual academic atmosphere spreading through Hogwarts—
the heads of house chose not to intervene.
After all, competition in studying was still far better than students settling their differences with wands.
✨Enjoying the story? You can support me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/MizuSan
✨ Patreon members get early chapter access, bonus content! 🥰
🎉 Plus, I'll release 1 for every 50 Power Stones you send my way! 🥳
🌊 Let's reach 80 Patreon members to unlock 5 extra chapters together
Join Patreon and Claim the Discount ❤️