The Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom had undergone a dramatic transformation.
Thick cushions were scattered across the floor, and all the clutter by the walls had been cleared away. Only one shelf remained, stocked with rolls of bandages and bottles of potions.
"I heard… Madam Pomfrey insisted on these after a heated protest," Daphne remarked, running her hand over the thick padding with a sense of relief.
"You all saw Potter's nose, right? I don't want to end up with a crooked nose like Professor Dumbledore's someday," she added.
"They say that Potter challenged the professor several times before finally getting roughed up," Theodore Nott chimed in. "If you surrender early, you'll at most get a minor injury."
Draco Malfoy's pale face regained a bit of color, though he still wore a defiant expression.
As the students comforted each other, they began to regain a bit of confidence. Some even scoped out nearby cushions to ensure a softer landing, just in case.
Suddenly, the doors burst open with a loud bang as the new professor strode in.
She marched straight to the front of the classroom and gave her wand a powerful wave. The cushions flew into the air, causing the students to scatter in alarm before the cushions piled themselves neatly against the walls.
Professor Abigail turned to face the students, her expression was devoid of any trace of a smile.
"Madam Pomfrey believes you need these cushions to avoid injuries. But in my class, only cowards and weaklings may request a mattress."
"Does anyone here need one? Raise your hand!"
No one dared to admit they were cowards or weaklings. Even those trembling with fear stood firm, and refused to raise their hands.
After a moment, Professor Abigail tapped her wand against her palm and said, "Good. At least you've shown a sliver of courage."
Some students puffed out their chests ever so slightly.
"I come from America's Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I've also studied at Uagadou in Africa. Many people say Hogwarts is the best, so I personally approached Dumbledore to request this position as your substitute teacher."
She paced among the students and her sharp gaze swept across the room.
"But after arriving here, I am disappointed! Most of you are weak—"
She stopped to scrutinize the pale-faced Daphne.
"Cowardly—"
Her piercing eyes lingered on Lisa's anxious face.
"Clumsy—"
Crabbe and Goyle stared blankly back at her, uncomprehending.
"Hypocrite—"
Draco's face flushed red.
"Your spellwork is sloppy, and you're so unfamiliar with your wands it's as if they belong to some dog from the neighboring village," Professor Abigail said with a mocking smile.
"Honestly, are you even wizards? Or just a bunch of baboons waving sticks around?"
She stopped casually in front of Anthony and tilted her head. "Do you think you're a wizard?"
Anthony's eyes burned with anger, and he gritted his teeth. "Of course I am!"
"What's your name?" Abigail asked.
"Anthony Goldstein!" he said loudly.
"Alright, Goldstein," Abigail gestured with her hand. "Take out your wand and show me what you can do!"
After a pause, she added, "Or if you're scared, just surrender and go grab a cushion to lie down on."
Anthony pressed his lips tightly together, pulled out his wand, and stepped forward. The other students moved aside to make space.
"Expelli—"
The boy barely raised his wand halfway before he was flung across the room with a whoosh.
"Too slow!" Abigail sneered. "Do you think an enemy is going to wait for you to get ready?"
She pointed to another student. "What's your name?"
Michael took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Michael Corner."
Ten seconds later, Michael joined Anthony in defeat.
"Next," Abigail said lazily.
One by one, students stepped up, only to be sent flying in various ungraceful ways.
Most couldn't even finish their incantations before being overpowered. Remembering her earlier remarks about cowards, no one dared to admit defeat voluntarily, even if they were trembling.
Some students lost their wands, which earned them a scathing round of ridicule from the professor, who remarked that in a real battle, they would already be dead.
"But I don't plan on becoming an Auror," Blaise Zabini muttered under his breath, clearly finding the professor's combat-heavy approach excessive.
"Do you know something?" Abigail said, pressing a hand on his head and smirking coldly. "Most of the wizards killed by Dark witches and wizards are ordinary, unskilled folks like you."
Staring into her dark green, beast-like eyes up close, Zabini was momentarily too shaken to respond.
Professor Abigail released Zabini and raised her voice: "Next!"
Wade stepped forward.
At this point, he was the only student in the classroom who hadn't been called up yet. The others, like Malfoy, had already been hit by spells two or three times each.
Seeing him, Professor Abigail's lips curved into a faint smile. She asked, "What's your name?"
"Wade Grey."
"Oh... Book of friends, that's your invention." Abigail's eyes lit up with amusement as she added, "I like the look in your eyes—are you ready?"
Wade wasted no words. He raised his wand and fired a Disarming Charm while simultaneously dodging to the side.
He had observed many times before: this professor cared nothing for dueling etiquette. She frequently distracted her opponents with conversation, then caught them off guard with surprise attacks.
Even though her opponents were mere second-year students, far less skilled than her, she showed no restraint. She would even resort to tricks and ambushes.
When students accused her of unfairness, she unapologetically retorted: This is what real dueling looks like! All the gentlemen are dead—survival is about doing whatever it takes.
True to form, the moment Wade dodged, a red beam of light struck the spot where he had been standing moments before, ricocheting and hitting Goyle not far away.
The boy clutched his forehead as he sat on the floor, and then widened his eyes before fainting without a word.
Abigail, meanwhile, sidestepped Wade's Disarming Charm. Her eyes widened in surprise. "You've got to be kidding me! Was that a nonverbal spell? Or did you secretly recite the spell?"
Wade didn't reply. He used a Shield Charm to block another incoming beam of light and retaliated with a Stunning Spell, only to see it bounce harmlessly off an invisible shield.
With a loud thud, the wall behind them gained a crater the size of an eye.
Meanwhile, another rebounding spell struck Pansy, knocking her flat onto Malfoy. Chaos erupted as students dove for cover, unable to predict where the next spell might ricochet.
At the center of the classroom, Wade and Abigail continued exchanging spells. Magical beams streaked in every direction, rebounding unpredictably, creating pandemonium among the other students.
Terry, hit by a Disarming Charm for the third time, scrambled on all fours to retrieve his wand and shouted in despair, "They're the ones fighting, so why are we the ones suffering?"
"Run!"
Someone yelled, and the class collectively seized the opportunity. The student closest to the door flung it open—only to be struck by a Leg-Locker Curse, toppling over with a thud.
Malfoy shoved the student aside, and dragged Pansy out of the classroom as he led the charge.
In mere moments, the classroom emptied as the remaining students fled, leaving only Wade and the new professor behind, along with the unconscious ones sprawled on the floor.
"Your spellwork is decent... but I heard your last two Defense Against the Dark Arts professors weren't very capable," Professor Abigail remarked.
She didn't seem to care about the fleeing students. Circling Wade to find an opening, she continued, "Is that true?"
"I had a diligent and responsible private tutor," Wade replied.
"If I get the chance, I'd like to meet them," Abigail said, flicking her wand swiftly.
Wade blocked the incoming spell immediately but stumbled as his foot unexpectedly caught on Goyle's outstretched arm, lying limp on the floor.
Before he could regain his balance, a spell hit his abdomen like a sledgehammer, sending him flying sideways and crashing heavily onto the floor.
"In a duel, even a moment's lapse can be fatal," Professor Abigail said with a smile. "Looks like your tutor forgot to teach you to be aware of your surroundings during a fight."
"And the same goes for you!" Wade retorted through gritted teeth.
A willow branch, which had somehow grown unnoticed, swayed and lashed out sharply, striking the professor holding her wand. She tumbled across the floor, and then rolled twice before coming to a stop.
"Well played, kid!"
Professor Abigail knelt on one knee in a dramatic pose and swiftly retaliated with another spell, only to be interrupted by a thunderous roar:
"STOP THIS IMMEDIATELY!"
She looked up to see Madam Pomfrey standing in the open doorway, trembling with fury. Her hand gripping her wand shook slightly as she struggled to contain her rage.
Her anger was almost tangible, forcing even the defiant Professor Abigail to glance away briefly.
Behind Madam Pomfrey, several students peeked nervously yet excitedly into the classroom.
Moments later, an explosive tirade erupted, shaking the room.
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⭐Harry Potter: Becoming a Study God (HP:BSG)- +211 Chapters & 2 Chapters/Day
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