This Is All There Is to This Life!
The next morning, at the Gryffindor Long Table in the Great Hall, Hermione had a long roll of Parchment spread out in front of her, Quill moved swiftly in her hand.
Hermione merely glanced up slightly as Harry, Ron, Seamus Neville down with their breakfast and eagerly laid out their plans for safety training for the younger students.
"I guessed it," she said succinctly, without stopping her pen or even looking up. "Your eyes were off after the meeting last night. Show me the key points you wrote down overnight—if you have any."
Ron hesitantly pulled out his phone, where the plan he had worked on overnight was already edited in the notepad.
Hermione took it, her brows furrowing as she read, not out of opposition, but rather as if she were entering a review mode.
"The idea has fundamental value, but it lacks a systematic approach, risk assessment, and a concrete implementation framework." She quickly summarized, then tore a blank page from her Notebook, tapped it with her wand, and immediately a clear project title appeared: <Hogwarts Lower Years (1-3)>
(Grade) Basic Safety and Situational Response Practice Training Plan (Draft for Trial)
"First, let's clarify the general principles: This program is a voluntary after-school project designed to enhance lower-grade students' basic risk identification, initial response, and teamwork awareness through simulating low-risk magical scenarios. It is not combat training. All activities must be conducted under the supervision of a professor."
She spoke while writing rapidly, her writing so clear and organized that it was truly admirable.
Ron, Neville, and Seamus quickly joined in to add details, such as the safety modifications to Weasley products and the different focuses for different grade levels.
Hermione was responsible for translating the professors and consultants she hoped to invite into rigorous terms and flowcharts.
It has to be admitted that Hermione was incredibly efficient, to the point that Ron even regretted staying up so late last night.
Why not just leave it overnight and hand it over to Hermione in the morning?
Professional matters should be left to professionals.
Seemingly sensing Ron's thoughts, Hermione suddenly looked up and gave Ron a sharp look.
Ron immediately lowered his head, speechless.
Harry sighed inwardly and turned his head away, unable to bear watching any longer.
well----
Tell me about yourself, Ron.
This is how my life will be!
"Alright." Hermione handed the draft to Ron after finishing it. "You can give it to Professor McGonagall in a bit. Now, sit down and eat."
Since it was Saturday, there weren't many people in the Great Hall of Hogwarts.
Most students take a nap in their dorm rooms. Weekends are for sleeping in, and they just wake up and have brunch. Why bother getting up so early?
There are no classes to attend.
After breakfast, they took the draft and arrived at Professor McGonagall's office.
Professor McGonagall was grading papers at her desk when she looked up and saw five students filing in, especially noticing the suspiciously thick roll of Parchment in their hands. Her eyes behind her glasses flashed sharply.
"Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, Mr. Longbottom, Mr. Finnegan, and— Miss Granger," her gaze lingered on Hermione for a moment longer, "If this is a detailed report on the unauthorized fireworks display in the Gryffindor Common Room last night, I think Mr. Finnegan has submitted a sufficiently vivid one."
"No, Professor." Harry stepped forward, presenting the Parchment with both hands. "It's about a new proposal. We'd like to apply for a safety training program for first, second, and third-year students."
Professor McGonagall took the Parchment but did not open it immediately; instead, she examined it carefully.
"Safety training program?" she repeated, her tone calm. "Explain it."
Harry took a deep breath and articulated the core ideas they had discussed the previous night.
Regarding the common lack of safety awareness among lower-grade students, the proposal includes using modified, non-lethal magical props for scenario simulations, a rigorous tiered training system, and a request for professional guidance and supervision from multiple professors.
Ron then added his commitment to safety modifications to Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes products.
"George and Fred said they could make a special Hogwarts training edition," removing all the prank effects and keeping only the basic functions!
Neville explained in a low but firm voice the educational value of combining the Care of Magical Creatures with knowledge of Herbology.
Professor McGonagall listened in silence, her face expressionless.
After Harry finished speaking, the office was silent for a few seconds before she slowly unrolled the Parchment and began to read.
Time passed slowly, with only the faint sound of Parchment turning and Professor McGonagall's fingertips occasionally tracing a clause.
She reads very quickly, but with exceptional care.
The atmosphere became somewhat tense, and Ron couldn't help but shift his feet slightly.
He's starting to regret coming along.
Finally, Professor McGonagall raised her head and glanced at the five people.
"A very thorough draft, especially the security provisions and oversight structure." She looked at Hermione. "Miss Granger, you must have been involved in this."
"It's a consensus, Professor." Hermione's face flushed slightly, but she straightened her back.
"Using jokes for safety education," Professor McGonagall's lips twitched slightly, "Is creative, and very Gryffindor. But there are a few key issues before I approve any funding."
She leaned forward slightly, and her imposing presence made all five students unconsciously hold their breath.
"First, how can absolute safety be guaranteed? Any magical operation, even the gentlest one, can have unexpected consequences. Your draft mentions that at least one professor or two qualified seventh-year students will be present during each training session. Where is your specific list? Are all participants familiar with the emergency response procedures? Has Madam Pomfrey been informed of and agreed to provide backup support?"
Hermione immediately replied, "We've drafted a preliminary list of supervisors: Professor Flitwick, Professor Sprout, and, well, if you'd so be it, we'd like to serve as upperclassman supervisors ourselves. The contingency plan is attached to the last three pages of the draft, outlining the complete steps from minor discomfort to extreme accidents—though we're confident they'll never happen. We plan to consult Madam Pomfrey this afternoon."
Professor McGonagall nodded and continued, "Second, the psychological impact. Younger students, especially first-years, are not yet mentally mature. Even if physical safety is ensured, could this kind of simulation training cause unnecessary anxiety and fear, or create a false sense of dread about magic? How can this be assessed and mitigated?"
This time, Neville mustered his courage and spoke up, "Professor, we—we've been through that age. We believe that the root of fear lies in the unknown and sudden dangers. If we can know in advance what troubles we might encounter in a safe and controlled environment," and learn the most basic coping methods, as naturally as knowing to use an umbrella when it rains, it will actually reduce real panic. We plan to have simple explanations and summaries before and after each training session, emphasizing that this is learning and play, not a real threat."
Professor McGonagall's gaze lingered on Neville's face for a moment, as if she saw a certain unwavering strength growing within this once timid boy.
Her gaze softened slightly.
"Third, coordination with existing courses. I understand this won't take up regular class time. But how do we ensure the content doesn't conflict with or overlap with courses like Defense Against the Dark Arts and Charms, but rather serves as a beneficial supplement? You need the approval of the professors in charge of those courses."
"We're preparing to consult Professor Flitwick and Professor Slughorn after you," Harry quickly added. "The training content in the draft deliberately avoids the complex spells in the current school year's syllabus, focusing only on the most basic lighting, cleaning, and moving objects, emphasizing application scenarios rather than the spells themselves."
Professor McGonagall leaned back in her chair, her fingertips touching, and fell into a brief moment of contemplation.
The office was extremely quiet. The sunlight outside the window moved slowly, illuminating the dust particles Leviosa in the air.
"This proposal," she finally spoke again, "Demonstrates a sense of responsibility and planning ability beyond your years. The idea that we should start with first-year wizards, teaching them how to deal with danger early on, is commendable."
She cleared her throat and asked again, "So, did you speak to Dumbledore about it?"
"Uh, well—" Harry scratched his head, "Professor Dumbledore isn't at Hogwarts. He should be in Vienna now, apparently visiting Gellert."
Upon hearing this, Professor McGonagall's face turned even colder.
"I understand." Her voice was almost emotionless, but those who knew her well could tell she was in a bad mood. "Albus has 'historical issues' that he must deal with personally."
She paused, seemingly gathering her thoughts, forcibly drawing her attention back to the proposal before her. Her gaze swept over the five nervous students again, lingering for a moment on Harry's face— Harry knew that Professor McGonagall knew he was Gellert's brother-in-law.
The meaning was very clear: keep an eye on your brother-in-law and don't let the Headmaster of Hogwarts keep neglecting his duties.
She tapped her fingertips lightly on the table, the rhythmic "tap, tap" making everyone's heartbeats involuntarily follow the beat.
Seamus even shrank back behind Neville, trying to escape Professor McGonagall's direct gaze.
Finally, the knocking stopped.
"I cannot interfere with Albus's choice," Professor McGonagall said calmly, "But the operation of Hogwarts cannot be brought to a standstill, and the safety of the students is of paramount importance. This proposal stems from a genuine concern for the protection of younger students, and the draft itself is unexpectedly comprehensive."
Her gaze swept over the Parchment again, lingering for a moment on Hermione's hand-drawn flowchart and risk assessment matrix.
"I agree to your pilot program," Professor McGonagall said with a smile.
Ron's expression changed instantly, and he almost cheered, but Hermione glared at him sternly and stopped him.
Neville quietly clenched his fist, while Seamus breathed a sigh of relief.
"However," Professor McGonagall abruptly changed her tone, becoming more serious, "Given the special circumstances of the Headmaster's absence, the pilot program must be adjusted and subject to strict conditions."
She stood up, walked to the bookshelf, took down a thick notebook with the Hogwarts coat of arms on the cover, and quickly flipped through it.
"The first pilot training session is scheduled for next Saturday afternoon from 2 PM to 4 PM. The location Room of Requirement on the Seventh Floor of the castle. I will communicate with the room in advance to ensure that the environment is completely controllable and suitable for lower grades."
The group exchanged glances.
The Room of Requirement is indeed the best choice, as it guarantees privacy and security while allowing the scene to be changed as needed. Professor McGonagall has considered everything very thoroughly.
"The scope of the pilot program," Professor McGonagall continued, her voice clear and firm, "Is limited to first-year Gryffindor House students, participation is voluntary, but the final number of participants cannot exceed ten. Hermione Granger, you are responsible for selecting the list and communicating with participants beforehand. You must ensure that the parents or guardians of each participant are informed. I will provide you with a standard informed consent form template."
"Yes, Professor!" Hermione replied immediately, already automatically entering execution mode.
"Training content," Professor McGonagall closed her notebook, her gaze sharpening as she looked at them, "Limited to the most basic first stage of the draft: environmental risk signal identification. No props that could cause direct physical contact, odors, smoke, light interference, or sound fright are permitted. Only the gentlest audio-visual cues are allowed—for example, marking danger sources with magical colored lights, or simulating alarms with soft chimes. The focus is on observing their instinctive reactions, their ability to listen to instructions, and their path to finding pre-set safe points. Understand?"
"Understood, Professor!" This time, all five answered in unison. The conditions were even more conservative than they had anticipated, but perfectly in line with Professor McGonagall's current extremely cautious attitude.
"Regarding oversight," Professor McGonagall walked back to her desk and placed her hands on the surface, "I will personally oversee the entire process. I will also invite Filius to be present to provide professional advice on Charms application and instruction, Madam Pomfrey will be invited as a medical safety advisor. As for you—"
Her gaze swept over Harry, Ron, Neville, and Seamus: "You may be present as assistant observers, but you must not directly participate in command or interact with the trainees beyond what is necessary. Your task is to observe and record, and to ensure that no unexpected factors interfere with the training. Especially you, Mr. Finnegan."
Seamus jerked violently.
"I don't want your talent to suddenly come into play and blow some unlucky guy to smithereens, understand?"
As she said this, Professor McGonagall's expression softened for a fleeting moment.
It was clear that she was also somewhat unable to suppress her laughter.
But the others weren't so reserved, especially Ron, who grinned and started laughing like an idiot.
Neville, half-sympathetic and half-suppressing a laugh, reached out and patted the injured Seamus, but in the end he couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.