Little Hall's Class Begins

Saturday was truly a delightful day. Today, Hall's little class finally began.

Mornings were always relaxing, and one of Hogwarts's empty classrooms was filled with a harmonious atmosphere.

"Harry, can you read?"

Eli pointed at the textbook, and Harry's expression darkened a little.

"The third instruction on this page tells you to add sneezewort juice. Did you do that?"

"No."

"Then why didn't you? Do you think your method is better than the one in the book?"

"Oh, look, Ron. If you hadn't told me, I would've thought this cauldron was filled with Troll dung."

For some reason, Eli, teaching others for the first time, seemed to have awakened an incredible talent.

Early in the morning, it was as if Snape had possessed him. His mouth was filthier than a toilet.

Harry and Ron's faces were frighteningly dark. They had thought that after getting away from that old bat, they would have to hear less abuse.

They had never expected Eli to be no less vicious.

But Eli, as the person involved, had to say that this felt really great!

He now truly understood the pleasure Snape got from tearing people apart in class.

He wondered who he had inherited this talent from.

Could it have been his biological father?

No, that wasn't right either. James Potter had mostly enjoyed pulling pranks and tormenting people when he was young. He had been bad to the bone.

His biological mother? That was absolutely impossible!

If Snape knew what Eli was thinking, he would immediately fire off an Avada Kedavra.

Could it be...

Pah, pah, pah! His thoughts had gone astray again.

Snape's greasy long hair appeared in Eli's mind, and he shook his head in horror. They didn't look alike at all!

After driving the strange thoughts that had suddenly surfaced from his mind, Eli turned around and resumed his merciless bombardment of Harry and Ron.

Only the little witch beside them escaped Eli's venom.

But honestly, Hermione really gave him nothing to criticize.

She had already memorized the entire textbook before school even began. It was simply insane.

Eli had also watched Hermione brew Potions. Although she couldn't be said to have any insights of her own, at least she followed the book without the slightest deviation.

Harry and Ron probably couldn't reach that level even if they rode brooms after her.

After all, those two could still make mistakes even when following the book step by step.

"Oh my God, you definitely didn't add the porcupine quills, did you? I'm right, aren't I?!"

Eli's roar came from nearby again.

The little witch, who was carefully brewing her potion, helplessly shook her head.

"Uh... yes."

Ron looked timid and submissive.

Meanwhile, big-hearted Harry was still snickering beside him.

"Harry, you actually have the nerve to laugh? I guarantee you don't even know what porcupine quills are!"

After being blasted again, Harry lowered his head with an embarrassed expression and pretended to stir his potion.

Ron seemed to have completely broken down. He let go of everything in his hands and plopped down onto the floor.

With a miserable face, he said, "Eli, I think I'm giving up. Potions and I just don't get along at all!"

"Yeah, I feel like no matter how hard I try, I can't compare to talented people like you."

Harry's little face fell as well, and he echoed Ron from the side. He had already lost all hope for Potions.

He could practically see that old bat grinning maliciously and beckoning to him.

"Are all talented people this foul-mouthed? I honestly thought I was in Snape's class just now!"

Ron looked at Eli resentfully. He had suffered the worst abuse of all.

In just one morning, these two first-year Wizards had learned nearly every curse word they had never heard in their entire lives.

"I think you two simply have no interest in this subject at all!"

Hermione, who had barely spoken until now, suddenly said righteously.

Ron glanced at her. He had disliked Hermione for a long time already. Perhaps this was the traditional feud between poor students and top students.

"Yes, yes. Miss Know-It-All is interested in practically every subject."

Snape had given her that nickname in class because Hermione loved raising her hand to answer every question.

"You!"

Hermione naturally disliked that nickname. When Ron brought it up mockingly, her face immediately flushed red.

"All right, all right."

Seeing that the two were about to start arguing, Eli quickly spoke up to stop them.

He then looked at them helplessly. The two seemed to be naturally incompatible.

Looking at the somewhat exhausted Harry and Ron, Eli understood that too much was as bad as too little.

"Let's stop here for today. We'll continue next week."

Harry and Ron looked utterly relieved when they heard that.

Seeing how lazy those two looked, Eli let out a long sigh.

They might not yet know what dangers they would face in the future. They had no desire at all to grow stronger.

Perhaps they did, but it definitely couldn't compete with their desire to loaf around.

"Learning has to be taken step by step. It's not about talent either. The more you learn, the more you naturally understand."

Eli spoke earnestly.

"But we don't see you studying much either, yet you're still better than us."

Eli looked at Ron and sighed. He was still too young.

"You just didn't see it! Before school started, I stayed at the Leaky Cauldron for a whole month, studying desperately every day!"

Harry and Ron looked at Eli as if they had seen a ghost.

Even Hermione couldn't help glancing sideways at him.

This guy was even more ruthless than me.

Seeing that even Hermione was surprised, Eli couldn't help feeling rather pleased with himself.

Being able to show off a little in front of this top student was indeed no easy feat.

"So, there's an old saying in the East: Where there's a will, there's a way. Nothing in this world is difficult..."

Before Eli could finish speaking with his head swaying smugly, a voice that made his scalp tingle suddenly came from behind him.

"Yes, that mysterious country in the East truly has its own unique strengths when it comes to civilization."

"Professor Dumbledore!"

Harry and Ron hurriedly scrambled to their feet. Even Hermione straightened up a little more.

Eli suddenly felt his whole body stiffen.

This was terrible!

Why had Dumbledore suddenly come here? He had been trying to avoid him these past days.

With Dumbledore's wisdom, it was only a matter of time before he discovered Eli's identity.

With Dumbledore's deep schemes and calculations, he would definitely pull Eli into his plan to fight Voldemort.

When that happened, Eli would probably be led around by the nose.

He was only gifted, after all. Even as someone reborn, the combined years of both his lives still didn't add up to as many as Dumbledore's.

A thousand-year-old tortoise, a ten-thousand-year-old turtle.

The older a person got, the shrewder he became.

Eli turned around. "Hello, Professor Dumbledore!"

He bowed slightly. Did you think he was lowering his head before a big shot?

He was merely avoiding eye contact with Dumbledore!

Dumbledore was a master of Legilimency. As long as they made eye contact, he could peer into Eli's thoughts.

Dumbledore smiled and waved his hand. "Don't be nervous, don't be nervous. I was merely taking a walk, but I didn't expect to find a little class here. I must say, Mr. Hall teaches Potions very well!"

What?!

How long had you been listening?! Don't tell me you heard all my foul language!

"Being young is wonderful, and friendship is wonderful! Seeing you learn from one another makes me truly happy. Gryffindor and Slytherin will each receive five points!"

He looked at Eli again, his gaze impossible to read. "And for an excellent little teacher, Slytherin will receive another five points!"

Huh? What was going on?

Even if you tried to bribe me with points, I wouldn't surrender!

"It seems I've disturbed you. Then I'll be leaving now."

Before any of them could react, Dumbledore turned to leave.

Just as Eli was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Dumbledore suddenly turned back. "However, Mr. Hall would do best not to pick up other people's bad habits, even if that person is your professor."

Dumbledore gave Eli a mischievous wink, then left the classroom.

Leaving Eli shivering all over.