While Vincent and Elphias Doge were having a pleasant conversation, there was another knock on the office door.
It was Draco who arrived, another junior assistant.
"Mr. Malfoy, I thought you would arrive a little later." Elphias Doge gestured for him to sit next to Vincent.
We weren't sitting too close, but we did sit down.
Draco glanced to the side. "Professor, I'm always punctual."
Unlike some people who waited all night only to be stood up.
Vincent glared back. "It seems like it's just wishful thinking on your part. I've always been the one refusing."
"Don't you feel ashamed?!"
"Please reflect on your own actions first."
Elphias Doge coughed lightly, "Alright, that's enough of the greetings."
There's still half an hour before class starts, so let me tell you about your tasks for later.
The two assistants still couldn't stand each other when they left.
"Sigh—" Elphias Doge gently pinched the bridge of his nose.
He knew the Daily Prophet was talking nonsense.
What misunderstanding?!
If they didn't have classes coming up, they would have already started fighting outside.
We still need to work harder if we want things to be harmonious.
Defence Against the Dark Arts Classroom.
When Vincent and Draco walked in together, the students all rubbed their eyes and made sure they weren't hallucinating.
One standing and one lying down is the basic arrangement.
It wouldn't be surprising if one of them carried the other.
But what if both of them are standing...
"Good afternoon, everyone!" Elphias Doge walked into the classroom, putting his arm around one of his assistants.
"We don't need textbooks for today's class. Please come up and line up in two rows."
Blaise Zabini snorted coldly toward the far right, "Professor Elphias Doge, some of our people are quite unpopular. I think it's best not to rank them by college."
Daphne, who was separated from Hermione only by the aisle, lowered her head.
Since yesterday, he has been making all sorts of sarcastic and unsettling remarks around him.
They dare not come openly or secretly, and it's no big deal to say a few careless words.
Elphias Doge smiled at him and said, "I never said we should line up by college."
"You can go whichever side you want; my two assistants won't have any objections."
Hermione got up and walked towards Vincent with Daphne. "Don't be sad. What he did was actually a sign of incompetence."
Her soft words of comfort had a very good effect.
Blaise Zabini is quite pitiful.
They were pampered growing up and didn't understand the wickedness of people's hearts.
Although the alliance of interests may seem solid, it is only on the surface.
Once we lose our greatest support, even more "traitors" will leave.
They stood behind Vincent, meeting the unfriendly gazes of Blaise Zabini and Pansy respectively.
Judging from the number of participants, the outcome seems to be already decided.
Elphias Doge walked to the middle of the two rows of queues and said, "Sometimes, we need to make some very important decisions."
Can anyone tell me the differences between us and dark wizards?
Hermione immediately raised her hand.
"Miss Granger, please speak."
"We are bound by morality and law, and we know how to distinguish between justice and evil."
"Correct." Elphias Doge gave her a meaningful look, "But not entirely correct."
He walked between Vincent and Draco, saying, "We cannot judge a person's character by impressions, nor can we determine who is a dark wizard by their behavior."
He gestured to the two of them, "Please keep your wands up until the end of this class."
Draco pointed in a flash, looking as if he was about to unleash a spell at any moment.
The students on both sides did as instructed, even the leisurely Vincent did not.
Elphias Doge walked down to the bottom and casually looked at the desks.
His nonchalant manner suggested he didn't care about the exchange of spells.
There are quite a few who are eager to act, but they only remain on the surface.
Even Blaise Zabini, who was seething with hatred, didn't actually utter the incantation.
If they are hostile to each other, why not take action?
Because of Elphias Doge?
He winked at his two assistants, then strode out of the classroom.
This is a rare opportunity, why not give it a try?
Pansy glanced at Vincent was equally nonchalant.
If you're fast enough, you might succeed on your first try.
As for the consequences...
She held the wand steadily, and several students pointed at her the moment she moved slightly.
Will this stalemate continue?
Most students couldn't understand what Elphias Doge was thinking.
There are no prerequisites; you just stand there holding a magic wand for a whole class period.
Is he really not afraid of a fight?
The longer it goes on, the more problems will arise.
Vincent remained in a lazy state.
Draco also seems to be ready to cast a spell at any moment.
Is this a test of patience?
Blaise Zabini glanced discreetly outside the classroom.
It seems that Elphias Doge has really left.
There are many people on the other side; sneaking in would not be a wise decision.
He glanced at Vincent and noticed that the man was yawning.
Provocation, is it? Then why would I tolerate it!
Just as the spell was about to be uttered, even more wands Pansy had pointed at him.
There's nothing we can do but wait for another opportunity.
But after waiting for a long time, none of the wands were moved.
"Aha—" Vincent stretched.
This blatant blatantness really tempted Blaise Zabini to take action.
But the opportunity he had been waiting for never came, even as the bell rang to signal the end of get out of class.
"Congratulations—" Elphias Doge walked into the classroom from outside, "You are all good students."
Although Draco inwardly scoffed, he still clapped along with Vincent was perking up.
"At least that's how it appears on the surface." Elphias Doge returned to the middle of the two rows of lines. "Concerned about the other side, concerned about me, concerned about the consequences..."
Don't forget how you felt just now; it will help you make the right decision at that crucial moment.
He scanned the students in front of him one by one.
Perhaps a great wizard like Dumbledore will appear here, or perhaps a notorious dark wizard like Voldemort will appear.
If even a small number of students truly understand it, then this Defense Against the Dark Arts won't have been a waste of time.
"Get out of class dismissed, everyone."
Gryffindor of academic geniuses and high achievers, so they all developed the good habit of asking questions when they don't understand something.
"Professor Elphias Doge probably believes that the dark side of people is a special kind of Dark Magic."
Neville nodded his little head at Hermione. "Neither of us actually recited the spell. Does that mean we won't become dark wizards?"
"Of course not." She looked at the few students who swaggered out of the classroom. "We will grow, and our thoughts will change."
The professor wanted us to always remember how we felt today, and not to become complacent because of small achievements, lest we become reckless and completely go down the wrong path.
"What about Malfoy and the others?"
"I don't know." Hermione glanced at Vincent discreetly.
As Elphias Doge's assistant, he and Draco must have known about it beforehand.
The line between justice and evil is very blurred.
Voldemort has a constant stream of followers because they are still living in the prosperity of the past.
Unfortunately, times have changed, Muggle have developed weapons far more terrifying than magic.
Once someone tears away this last fig leaf, those wrong paths will be shattered one by one.
Hermione guessed that Vincent was probably planning to become that person, which was why he was less concerned about the outcome than Elphias Doge.