In fourth-year History of Magic, Professor Binns would mention the "French Mad Dog Incident." Around 1734 to 1735, Britain had seen multiple cases of people being bitten by rabid dogs.
Professor Binns would mention treatments for the disease, but not describe them in detail, because Muggles had already found a way to treat rabies. Since it was not contagious in the same way as a Werewolf bite, nor did it cause transformations, wizards hardly paid it any attention. Yet the symptoms of rabies often brought Werewolves and vampires to mind, so Muggles of that era believed the afflicted became so fond of biting people only after being bitten by a Werewolf or vampire.
When students reached sixth year, Flitwick would teach them the most powerful illumination charm, shining as brightly as the sun. This was not knowledge ordinary wizards needed to learn, nor was it part of Defense Against the Dark Arts. If students felt they could not understand or keep up, they could drop out. So long as they had not been punished like Hagrid, the Ministry of Magic would have "humble positions" waiting for them to fill.
Being a reporter likewise did not require N.E.W.T.s results. Émilie Taylor, then a fifth-year, had accepted Rita Skeeter's internship invitation. Ever since she had been bumped into by Esmeralda Muck, a fifth-year Slytherin girl, in the courtyard, Émilie had been unable to "forget" Muck. Later, no one knew how Émilie learned that Muck liked Barnaby Lee, a fifth-year Ravenclaw boy, but the matter quickly spread through the school.
Although Esmeralda had the same name as the heroine of The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, she did not look nearly as beautiful or captivating as Esmeralda. In fact, before the rumor spread, no one in Slytherin House even knew she existed.
"Just because Muck