Penelope's question made Hermione bristle. She steadied herself. "Five points from my house, Professor... but Professor, if you can't look after this many people at once, anyone badly hurt will cause trouble for Allen."
"Five points from Gryffindor for your behavior." Penelope looked rather pleased with herself, then turned to the students. "In future melee exercises, the teaching assistants will help. As for today... do you think I don't know how far to go? And as for the first-years, even if you don't know magic, you can first learn in real combat how to dodge spells. If you run into enemies, they won't stop attacking you just because you don't know any Charms..." The female professor's expression turned stern as she looked at the young wizards. "So what are you all standing here for? Draw your wands and get in there!"
"Yes, Professor..." The wizards could only draw their wands and, wary of one another, slowly enter the melee field. Before Penelope herself had even moved, the young wizards had already formed alliances on their own, splitting into teams and consciously rushing to seize whatever terrain they thought advantageous. More of the young wizards who had not signed up last year, along with the new students, were mostly panicked and at a loss, wandering aimlessly around the field.
Penelope folded her arms and looked down from above as the wizards searched for partners and positions. Her eyes narrowed, and she drew her wand, ready to enter the field, but the "tap, tap, tap" coming from far behind her made her stop. Her gaze turned toward the Gryffindor Head of House, who was half walking, half running down the high steps.
Penelope narrowed her eyes, turned, and went to meet the professor who had once taught her Transfiguration, her tone somewhat