Substitute Teacher

Winning the Ravenclaw's Diadem was uneventful, but Kyle didn't know what to do next.

For a long time, whenever he tried to study the Ravenclaw's Diadem, he would end up staring at it blankly.

Now that thing has become Voldemort's Horcrux, even if Rowena Ravenclaw hid some information inside, it would be impossible for her to see it.

Why don't you try wearing it?

Kyle held the Ravenclaw's Diadem up above his head for a while, but then gave up on this somewhat reckless decision.

This time, we still came up empty-handed.

When Kyle put the box back and returned to the common room, he ran into Kanna, who was looking for him.

Class is about to start; I thought you'd already gone.

"No, it's just something else." Kyle shook his head, took out a stack of textbooks, and asked, "What's the next class?"

"Defense Against the Dark Arts..." Kanna said with a hint of anticipation.

Since the professor changed and we no longer had to read textbooks or perform stage plays, Defense Against the Dark Arts suddenly became interesting and became most people's favorite subject.

Except for a few Slytherin, such as Malfoy...

His thinking was very simple: whatever Harry liked, he would hate, nothing more.

But he only mocked Professor Lupin's shabby attire, saying he only had a decent robe, not that his lectures were uninteresting.

"I wonder what we'll learn today," Kanna said as they walked. "We've already learned about the Augurey and the Leprechaun, so next should be new Magical Creatures, right?"

"If only he could teach us how to deal with Dementor," she said hopefully. "Yesterday on my way to Herbology Class, I only glanced at them from afar and felt a chill run down my spine."

"Professor Lupin most likely won't teach these," Kyle said, shaking his head. "But if you want to learn, I can teach you the Patronus Charm."

"Is it the spell you used on the train?" Kanna asked.

"That's right," Kyle said. "The Patronus Charm is also recognized Wizarding World as the most effective way to deal with Dementor. How about it, want to learn it?"

"Okay..." Kanna said without any hesitation.

Kyle raised an eyebrow. "Then call me Professor Kyle, and I'll teach you."

"You wish!" Kanna angrily kicked Kyle's shin, then turned her head away, leaving him with the back of her head.

The two made their way to the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom.

Surprisingly, it wasn't Professor Lupin waiting there, but Snape.

He noticed Kanna's sullen expression, then glanced at Kyle, and as if struck by a sudden thought, his face darkened.

Kyle quickly wiped the smile off his face, lowered his head, and silently walked into the classroom and sat down under Snape's murderous gaze.

Kanna also came over and sat down next to him.

Kyle wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but ever since she sat down, he felt a chill on his neck.

Fortunately, the bell rang for class not long after.

Snape strode to the front, turned to face everyone, and said in his usual tone:

"I'm sorry, your Professor Lupin isn't feeling well today and can't come to class, so I'll be filling in for him."

"What's wrong with him?" someone asked with concern.

"You need to raise your hand to ask questions in class. Ravenclaw will lose five points!" Snape gave the student who spoke a cold look, which scared the student into shutting up immediately.

"No danger to life." Snape's tone seemed a little regretful. "Also, if anyone speaks without permission again, deduct ten points."

The classroom was quiet; even breathing had become much quieter.

"Professor Lupin left no records of what you've learned..." Snape continued, "It must be said, this disorganized teaching is truly amateurish."

"Professor Lupin teaches very well..." someone couldn't help but mutter to themselves, and the other students echoed their agreement.

"That's because you're too easily satisfied... I think first-year students should be capable of dealing with Leprechaun... Ravenclaw, deduct another ten points."

The classroom fell silent again.

"We're going to learn something different today!" Snape said in a calm voice. "Everyone, turn to page 394!"

Although everyone felt somewhat confused, because of Snape's reputation, they could only mutter to themselves as they opened their textbooks.

"Werewolf!" Snape said. "Can any of you tell me how to distinguish between Werewolf and a real wolf?"

Several students raised their hands.

"Miss Prince!"

Kanna stood up. "There are a few minor differences between Werewolf and real wolves. Werewolf's snout is slightly shorter, and its pupils are smaller..."

"Very good, Hufflepuff gets ten points."

Snape nodded in satisfaction, then continued, "Werewolf usually look no different from ordinary people, except for one thing. Can anyone tell me what it is?"

Several more people raised their hands, and this time he chose Qiu.

"Werewolf only transform into wolf forms on the night of a full moon."

"Not comprehensive." Snape waved his hand, gesturing for her to sit down, offering no points whatsoever. "In fact, they also become very weak a few days before and after the full moon."

What are you all standing there for? Why don't you write all of this down?

Suddenly, the classroom was filled with the rustling sound of quills and parchment being fumbled for.

"Turn to page 395 of the book; there you'll find a more detailed explanation..."

In the following classes, Snape didn't ask any more questions. He simply had everyone sit there and copy notes about Werewolf from their books.

He himself walked back and forth between the desks to make sure everyone had taken enough notes.

The students seemed to have returned to two years ago, when every class was filled with copying notes.

The bell finally rang, but Snape didn't let them leave.

"Each of you write a paper and submit it to me on how to identify and kill Werewolf. I require you to fill two rolls of parchment and hand it in Monday morning."

Everyone quickly left the classroom, with Kyle leading the way.

He sat there silently for the entire class, trying to minimize his presence.

Kyle had a premonition that if he had said something wrong, or if Snape had caught him making a mistake, the consequences would have been much more severe than for the others.

Thankfully, get out of class finally ended.

Kyle was the first to leave the classroom, and the others followed. Once they were out of Snape's reach, they began to chatter amongst themselves.

"Good heavens, two rolls of parchment," Mikel complained. "That's enough for me to do five times the Defence Against the Dark Arts homework from last time."

"Even Transfiguration Class can take three tries," Ryan added from the side. "I really hope Professor Lupin gets better soon, so we might not have to write this paper anymore."

Kyle didn't join their discussion; instead, he quickened his pace down the stairs.

The feeling of unease only gradually disappeared after he returned to the common lounge and the wooden barrel door behind him slowly closed.