Umbridge's Displeasure, Gaius's Little Lesson

"You want to use the Potions Classroom?" Snape frowned slightly. "If you want to practice making Potions, you can go to my office. There are any materials you want there."

"Uh... no, you've misunderstood, Professor."

Xilin isn't very skilled with a few spells, so as her Prefect, it's only right that I help her.

Upon hearing this, Professor Snape turned his gaze to Xilin.

He hesitated for a moment, then looked at Aaron with suspicion, "Miss Mack, you've put more effort into your outfit today than usual!"

Is there a problem?

"No, no, there's no problem at all." Snape's lips curled into a slight smile. "I'll issue you the approval slip right away."

"Wait a moment, Professor Snape." A sweet voice came from the side, Dolores Umbridge said with a smile, "I think I just heard Mr. Gaius say that he was going to teach a little witch how to use spells."

"Yes."

Dolores Umbridge pursed his lips. "Mr. Gaius, to prevent students from falling in love too early, my regulations clearly stipulate that male and female Warlock cannot be alone in the same room."

"Puppy love?" Aaron sneered. "Are you doubting me?"

"That's not what I meant," Dolores Umbridge said. "I meant that Mr. Gaius, your actions might cause misunderstandings, if possible..."

"Professor Dolores Umbridge," Aaron interrupted, "I hope you understand one thing: I am Slytherin Prefect, and it is my duty to help Slytherin students with their questions."

Furthermore, I must say that you have a truly rich imagination. I asked Professor Snape to approve the note purely out of respect for you as the investigator, and to avoid causing trouble.

If it's about puppy love... according to school rules, girls can enter the boys' dormitory, but my dormitory is a single room, I'm sure you know what that means."

Upon hearing this, Dolores Umbridge's expression changed in a particularly interesting way, and he became even angrier.

These days she could clearly feel the students' growing awe of her. Even Harry Potter, after being confined for two weeks, would avoid her when he saw her. Even Dumbledore couldn't do anything to her. Yet Aaron dared to speak to her so confidently. Jane didn't take her seriously at all.

"Mr. Gaius, are you going to teach Miss Mack a spell?"

Can I take this to mean you weren't very satisfied with Professor Flitwick's Charms Class?

"No, I still have great respect for Professor Flitwick," Aaron said seriously, giving Professor Flitwick a reassuring look.

"If it's not a problem with Charms Class, then it must be Transfiguration Class?"

No, not exactly.

"Then it can't be my Defense Against the Dark Arts, can it?" Dolores Umbridge asked meaningfully.

"I didn't say that, you said it yourself."

"You..." Dolores Umbridge forced a smile. "Mr. Gaius, I hope you will support Minister Fudge's work. I am doing this for the educational cause of Hogwarts."

The implication is that students only need to learn the theory and do not need additional tutoring.

If you insist on doing this, you are disrespecting the Minister for Magic.

"I've been very supportive. I haven't bothered you at all these past few weeks, have I?" Aaron said calmly. "Teaching a fourth-year witch won't affect the Minister for Magic's decision. If you're worried, you can come and supervise in person."

"Since Mr. Gaius has put it that way, then I..."

"I might write a letter to Fudge to explain the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Magic's attitude towards me."

I always thought Cornelius Fudge was Gaius's friend, or his subordinate... but he seems to have some issues with me.

"It's a misunderstanding, this is a huge misunderstanding," Dolores Umbridge hurriedly said. Her power came from Fudge, and she dared not displease Fudge.

"It's good that you know it's a misunderstanding." Aaron glanced at her dismissively, then turned and left.

Dolores Umbridge watched Aaron and Xilin leave the Great Hall, his anger seething, his hands clenching involuntarily.

She couldn't do anything to Aaron for the time being, and she didn't dare use the same methods she used to deal with the other students on him.

As long as she remains High Inquisitor, she will eventually find something to use against him, and then we'll see if he still dares to be so arrogant.

"Professor Dolores Umbridge, you don't look too well!" Professor Snape said gloatingly.

"None of your business, Professor Snape."

Snape shrugged. "Aaron is one of my most prized students. I just feel it's necessary to remind you that he always maintains neutrality."

"Neutralization is only temporary, his relationship with Harry Potter is..." Dolores Umbridge started to say, but then instinctively covered his mouth. Some things are better left unsaid; it's not good to say them out loud.

"Professor Dolores Umbridge, what did you say?"

"It's nothing, you misheard."

Potions Classroom.

Aaron sat in the professor's seat and told Xilin to find a seat anywhere.

However, Xilin's expression wasn't very pleasant. She thought this class should be a private space for her and her senior, but she never expected that there would be an extra third wheel.

"Mack, can you please stop looking at me like that?" Draco frowned slightly. "It makes me very uncomfortable."

"Malfoy, what are you doing here?"

"Can't you come?" Draco asked playfully. "Gaius is a good friend of mine. His relationship with me is definitely not as good as yours."

Xilin's expression darkened, but she quickly regained her composure.

"You're here to learn Defense Against the Dark Arts too?"

"Well..."

"Alright! Your hesitation has already given me the answer." Xilin said speechlessly, then looked up at Aaron, "Senior, I personally think that insignificant people are not suitable to stay here."

"Who told you I'm an insignificant person?" Draco said irritably. "As a good friend, it's not wrong to eavesdrop!"

"Listen in?" Aaron chuckled dismissively. "Sorry, you're not qualified to listen in at the moment."

Since you're here, you should just follow along and learn diligently. One more person won't make a difference.

"I want to learn too?" Draco asked in astonishment, pointing to himself. "But I'm already in fifth grade."

"Is fifth grade something to be proud of?"

You have a good background, and at a young age, your Magic Power has already reached the threshold of becoming Magus.

Draco proudly straightened his back. Pure-blood wizard are just that talented. Although he was only a fifth-year student, he was better than most graduates.

"It's pitiful to have no talent, but it's pathetic to have talent and waste it," Aaron said casually. "You clearly have the Magical Energy of Magus, but your combat strength is only at the level of High-level Mage."

Upon hearing this, Draco's eyes twitched slightly, as if he had been stabbed in the heart.

Wanting to refute, she found herself speechless.

"Pfft... Hahaha..." Xilin tried to hold back her laughter, but she couldn't help it.

"Try smiling again!" Draco glared at her, then looked at Aaron awkwardly, "I don't think I'd go that far..."

No, it's quite serious.

You'd be second in Slytherin in fifth grade, only after me.

"In terms of actual combat ability, you're at best only slightly better than Crabbe and Goyle." Aaron pinched his index finger and thumb together, leaving a small gap. "To put it bluntly, if you were to compete against him, you probably couldn't even beat Harry Potter right now."

Draco's face darkened. As Harry Potter's archenemy, he could not accept this at all. "Harry Potter is really nothing special."

"How long can you last in the maze of the Triwizard Tournament?"

"I..."

"Looks like we've run out of things to say," Xilin teased Yu.

"Shut up."

Aaron shrugged. "So you're not qualified to audit the class. If you want to get stronger, you'd better listen to my lectures properly. After all, our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor is really... exceptionally bad."

Draco was silent for a moment before slowly speaking, "Can I call Crabbe and Goyle too?"

"No." Aaron refused decisively. "My time and energy are limited, and I can't teach too many people."

Umbridge wouldn't allow me to teach too many people either. She's petty and narrow-minded. It's only because Malfoy and Fudge are on good terms that she's already trying to pick a fight with me right now.

"What did you say?" Draco asked doubtfully. "Does she have the guts?"

"The Gaius family isn't very famous, is it?"

Perhaps in her eyes I was just Warlock from a good family background, not someone she needed to offend, but not someone she couldn't afford to offend.

Besides, my family didn't care about me while I was in school. Two years ago, Buckbeak cut your arm, and Uncle Lucius took Hagrid to court and even had Fudge send an executioner to execute Buckbeak.

But as far as the Gaius family is concerned, they won't care as long as I'm alive, because setbacks make people progress.

If I caused this trouble myself, then I deserve to die. They're only responsible for collecting my body, not for seeking revenge. I chose this path, and I have to finish it, even if I have to crawl on my knees.

"This is insane." Draco was speechless.

"Aren't your family's rules a bit... inhumane?" Xilin frowned.

"You can't say that," Aaron waved his hand. "If it weren't for these rules, I'd probably be no different from Draco, constantly mentioning 'my dad'."

Draco:...

"Um... can we start class now?" Xilin raised her hand.

Aaron shrugged, then took a stack of parchment from Abei's pocket and handed it to the two of them.

"Before the formal lessons begin, I need to understand your level of Defense Against the Dark Arts, so write down the Curse and creatures you are familiar with."

"Do I have to write too?" Draco asked. He and Aaron were in the same year and took the Defense Against the Dark Arts together.

"What do you think?" Aaron rolled his eyes at him. "A Warlock who can't even unleash his true power has the nerve to ask such a question."

Draco gave an awkward laugh and said nothing more.

Ten minutes later, Aaron collected the parchments from both of them and made a simple comparison.

"Tsk tsk tsk! This is really interesting!"

The fifth-year Warlock knew only slightly more than the fourth-year students.

"That's normal," Xilin said somewhat dejectedly. "After all, not many of our Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor have been reliable these past few years. Professor Lockhart is one thing, but Professor Lupin has taught quite a lot. Compared to fifth-year Warlock, we've only missed learning about one or two evil creatures."

The imposter Professor Moody taught us the Three Unforgivable Curses, which are extremely difficult for third-year Warlock; many can't even control insects with their Imperius Curse.

Aaron nodded, then picked up the chalk and wrote some spells on the blackboard: Disarming Charm, Shield Charm, Petrification Spell, Binding Charm, Sleeping Charm, Revealing Charm...

"That's all for now. If you can master these dozen or so spells, you can easily get an E (exceeding expectations, second only to O) grade in the OWLs exam."

Looking at the spells on the blackboard, Xilin raised her hand in confusion. "Senior, I don't think I saw the Patronus Charm, the spell specifically for dealing with Dementor."

"You want to run before you can walk!" Aaron teased Yu. "The Patronus Charm is extremely difficult; even adult Warlock may not be able to do it."

Learning the Patronus Charm takes a considerable amount of time, so I've put it and several other more difficult spells later. If you don't even know these simple spells, then there's no point in talking about anything else.

"I know at least half of it." Draco raised an eyebrow at Xilin with a smug look.

"Perfect match, me too." Xilin retorted defiantly.

Is it something to be proud of?

I had almost learned it all by the time I was in first grade.

The two looked at each other, not so confident as to compare themselves to Aaron.

Aaron waved his Wand, and all the tables and chairs in the classroom moved backward.

The desks and chairs were pressed tightly against the walls, leaving the front half of the professor's room empty.

"It's not enough to just know how to use these spells; you need to master them."

Now, each of you come forward and demonstrate the spells you know, starting with the simplest Disarming Charm.

"I'll go first." Draco volunteered, then a look of confusion flashed in his eyes. "Wait, you're not going to make us practice casting spells against a wall, are you?"

"Of course not."

"That's good. Professor Snape wouldn't be happy if the classroom were torn down."

"Don't worry about that, I know the Repair Charm too."

"I can do that too, but repairing a room is much more difficult than repairing tables, chairs, and teacups."

"Our senior's abilities are beyond our reach," Xilin interjected.

"That's right. As long as you don't turn the room to dust, I can fix it. Besides, you're just practicing these simple spells. Your level of magic isn't high enough to do that."

However, it's best to tone it down; making too much of a commotion wouldn't be good.

"Then how do we practice?" Draco asked, puzzled.

Aaron snapped his fingers, and a stone statue, almost the size of an adult, rose from the ground, holding a long stone sword in its hand.

"Alright, please begin your performance."

"Expelliarmus!" Draco roared after a long pause, and the Longsword in the statue's hand fell to the ground.

"How about it?"

"It's alright, barely passable!"

Draco:...